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kpinder
New User
Oct 4, 2007, 8:53 PM
Post #1 of 3
(1209 views)
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This seemed fishy
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I have been lucky to have a reliable, even handed, repair shop. Over the past few weeks I have run into a problem that seems, on the surface, kinda fishy. Please advise.
About 5 weeks ago I went in to get a muffler bracket replaced on my '02 Prizm. While there I had a rotation and balance. So far so good. About 3 weeks ago the R Front tire developed a slow leak. It'd drop to 15psi and stop. I decided to go back to get the tire repaired. The night before I went in I was going up onto the expressway so I recharged the R Front tire up to its rated psi. The car ran smooth as a baby's bum.
The shop found 2 nails in the R Front tire and plugged one as the other didn't go thru all the way. They did some other work as well. I needed a new engine belt, wiper blades, etc.
When I got the car back, I noted a thumping sound at 20-35 mph. I figured something was out of balance with the repaired tire. I went back and out of the blue they said my L Front tire was "hopping" from what they described as a "belt shift." They said the tire needed to be replaced. The shop guy said I really needed at least 3 new tires. I bought the car used at 29k. Its now 46k. The tires have not been replaced during my ownership. There are 2 Firestones and 2 off brands, so I imagine 2 are probably original and 2 are replacements.
I have to say I wasn't pleased. They had no explanation how I had a "belt shift" while up on their lift. They made no attempt to explain how no one noted the need for new tires during the balance and rotate, but 5 weeks later they did. I had them roll the car out w/o any work while I decided what to do.
I don't know if Prizms are supposed to have omni or uni directional tires. If the balance and rotate tech switched from side to side instead of front to back, could this have caused the shift? They are doing a lot of road work here and the tires have taken some hard hits from raised man holes and uneven paving. Could this have caused the shift? Could the shift have occurred some time ago, but only manifest itself when the weight of the car was off when it was on the lift?
I cannot wrap my head around the idea that this belt shift was absent the night before the R front repair, but was present the following morning after coming down off their lift.
As I said, this shop has always done me square. I am inclined to go back and let them replace the tires they recommended. Before I go back and give them more of my business I'd like to know if they are giving me "the business."
Any feedback will be greatly appreciated.
Keven Pinder
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DrElectrics
Enthusiast
Oct 4, 2007, 9:00 PM
Post #2 of 3
(1206 views)
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Re: This seemed fishy
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Hey matey, This just seems like bad luck. These things do happen, and its uncanny as heck when it does. Same thing has happened to me. I used the same tire place my whole driving life, and i got 2 nails in a tyre, they fixed it, next day another one was flat went back, fixed it, next day same thing..all 4 tires got patched in 4 days. Thats unlucky!! But i knew it wasnt them as i was standing right there when they were doing it.
If these guys are square with you, i wouldnt suggest they would be shady, as they appreciate your word of mouth advertising and your repeated business. Just sounds like bad luck to me.
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way2old
Veteran
/ Moderator
Oct 5, 2007, 4:04 AM
Post #3 of 3
(1204 views)
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Re: This seemed fishy
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If the vehicle has 46k on it and you suspect 2 tires are original, I would replace the tires anyway. They are close to the end of their safe useful life. If the other 2 are off brands, I would replace them also. Then you have a definate place to start as you know when all tires were replaced.
Being way2old is why I need help from younger minds
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