I made a stupid mistake today

[Rufton]

Took truck in for tire balance at Wal-Mart.
The truck has wal-mart tires.
Wal-Mart refused to do balance.
Manager said he doesn't know who will be driving it (3 on the tree) and doesn't want the liability if something breaks.

Took truck across town to goodyear shop that's been there since beginning of time (approx). Now we are at a place where people know a little about cars; so I thought. Three bays full so we were chewing fat w/ owner. I heard the distinct 305E V6 high rev sound from inside the air conditioned building; keep in mind it has factory quiet muffler. There goes the GMC around back at approx 3000rpm in high gear. Never smelled stronger clutch burn in my life. Permiated entire shop. Worker's quotes I over heard: "we having clutch for dinner", "why didn't you shift it out of 3rd"I feel so stupid for not going outside in time to instruct driver. Didn't say a word. Interesting the owner gave us complimentary balance. Perhaps a bird wispered into his ear.

The truck still smells of burnt clutch and the clutch pedal has horrible squeek (maybe heat melted grease?)

Live and not learn I guess.

[RANDY COX]

Lordy,Lordy these new kids just don't know,Bet if were to take my 48 fleetline in they wouldn't know how to start it...

[rambler]

I learned on a 3 speed column,,, how hard is it too drive one?

[Rufton]

The tech probably knew I knew; when done he said "I'll let you back it out"

[Rufton]

Originally Posted by rambler

I learned on a 3 speed column,,, how hard is it too drive one?

Pretty hard if you don't use 1st.

[TJ's Chevy]

I learned on a floor shift. Much different than a column I'll say. Once you learn the column though it becomes a piece of cake. My friend has a 67 dodge that has a column shift 3 speed stick. Anyone ever tried to shift a column without the clutch?

[jbgroby]

Originally Posted by rambler

I learned on a 3 speed column,,, how hard is it too drive one?

Back in 2000, my first truck had 3 on the tree, I had to get the mother in law to shift it in reverse for me, never saw or used one before.

[BR3W CITY]

Wait....you actually left the building without saying anything, after watching an employee clearly mishandle your vehicle in front of you?
The first bad is on the shop.....but the second one is on you for allowing it. I would lose my sh!t on a shop if they tried to do something like force past my reverse lockout or mess with my linelok.

[Rufton]

Originally Posted by BR3W CITY

Wait....you actually left the building without saying anything, after watching an employee clearly mishandle your vehicle in front of you?
The first bad is on the shop.....but the second one is on you for allowing it. I would lose my sh!t on a shop if they tried to do something like force past my reverse lockout or mess with my linelok.

Damage already done. I take full responsibility. I was not there alone and didn't see benefit of war.

Anyway, I feel a little better since I found the source of squeak. Shifter linkage was forced out of position and rubbing clutch linkage. Plus all paint still there on bell and bell cover. Smells like an old truck again. I guess the ol GMC will live.

[ChrisDollins]

This is exactly why I dread the alignment.

Chris
Posted via Mobile Device

[likaroc13]

That sucks, & hope it turns out okay. I think I would've had to say something as well, & I'm a non-confrontational kinda guy. IMO they should've let you know there was an issue & not just brush it off so to speak.

On another note, there's still a few good ole boy shops around that know what they're doing. Even with my past daily drivers & current one (which are/were more modern), I try to avoid the chain stores. Instead, I search out the locally owned specialty, performance, or mom n' pop kinda shops.

[Rufton]

Originally Posted by likaroc13

That sucks, & hope it turns out okay. I think I would've had to say something as well,

It will turn out ok.

I'll have to admit, I still get upset thinking about it. Wondering what was going on inside the techs head. Utter disregard for customers equipment. He didn't expect customer to leave comfort of air conditioning to come out in the hot June sun, and he got caught red handed.

[donthekawguy]

I took mine in to have the front tires turned around so the letters were on the inside. The kid couldn't figure out my shifter. It's a B@M auto but the gear indicator is missing and he didn't know he had to pull up the release. Then when he backed it out he got it into neutral but it took him a while to get it into drive. Damn kids!

[Clyde65]

I have an auto, but I don't let anyone drive my truck but me, my dad and one of my friends who is a mechanic. If I take it for an alignment, I drive it on the rack, or I go somewhere else.

Years ago i had a shop "test driving" it after a front brake job, I was working 20 miles away and it was parked in someones drive way down the street. I called the owner and asked about my truck ( while standing 3 feet from it) he told me it was on a short test drive, almost finished and would be done when i get off work. I hung up and knocked on the door, asked for my keys and drove it home. Needless to say the shop owner and I had plenty of words, I paid his bill and have never been back.

[tincan1966]

I see a couple concerns here- mostly from the shop owners' side:
being a shop owner here's my take The shop owner has a responsibility to the customer, to recognize a "unique" or uncommon vehicle and ask the customer about any special operating conditions ie shiftes, clutch, no power steering etc. second, rather than just throw the keys to anyone, the shop owner needs to make sure the tech can actually drive the vehicle. Third, the shop owner should have stepped in when seeing the situation and stopped the person attempting to drive the truck.
I also feel it's the custoemr's responsibility to ask the shop owner if they have any questions or if they'd prefer you drove it in- which also presents issues with insurance, etc.

Either way- I am glad you have no permanent damage.
The shop owner got off lucky- the "free balance" you got probably cost him about $10-15(labor, wheel weights, etc) which is a helluva lot less than a clutch replacment.

[ob1monkey]

I agree with both sides of the debate, however no one I do not know personally drives my classics. to many things could go wrong. I even do the alignment test drive and voice my concerns if it needs to go back on the rack. keys never leave my hand. I have worked at tire shops before and witnessed the abuse bad employess put on customers cars. extra long test drives burn out and crap like that. I just tell them I will pull it in and most do not have a problem with that, I am sure there insurance does not want to replace what most of them have never even seen. reminds me of the time I worked at big ten tires(16 at the time) a nice 49 chevy two door pulled in and i begged to put it on the alignment rack. little to my knollege there was a blower hiding under the hood. as i tapped the pedel it jumped so hard, I almost crapped my pants trying to feather it onto the rack. mechanic laughing the whole time.

[Cape Codder]

I bought my son his first car in 1998 a 65 Valiant slant 6, 3 on the tree. He said whats that. After a little instruction he figured it out and amazed all his friends. A couple weeks later he said I like the 3 speed none of my friends ask to borrow it. A year later he needed a clutch. That was the smallest lightest trans I have ever seen, just pull it out and stick it in by hand.

[MikeN]

After I got used to it, which didn't take long, I almost preferred the column shift to a floor shift. It sucks for trying to drive fast, you can't shift fast, but for cruising and normal driving I think I prefer it. Very comfortable and easy to do.

[bmur66]

It's a GMC. It can handle it.

[gofastnut]

When I had my Chevelle it needed an alignment BAD and I couldn't be there with it, only drop it off. I tood a short length of 3/8" copper tubing and smashed it almost flat in the middle. I stopped at the gas station about 3 blocks from the tire shop and replaced my fuel filter with this "burn-out preventer" then took it on a short test drive--it worked great under normal around town driving, even up to 55, but get on it and it ran out of fuel fast! Anyways, dropped it off, then came it after work to get it.
"The alignment turned out fine, but there's something wrong with the car, it won't get out of it's own way" the guy said.
I grabbed the owner and showed him what I did to keep his guys from tearing up my car.
I know 2 guys got a serious but chewing for trying to hot rod my car! Both guys apologized and everything came out fine.
Oh, I put the fuel filter back in and did a nasty burn out when I left!
I don't know how they treat other people's cars, but they even treat my wife's minivan like it's loaded with nitroglycerin!

[Rufton]

The shop owner saw nothing because he was inside.
My Dad told shop owner about 3 on the tree and shop owner said "no problem".
My Dad knew nothing till we were leaving and he smelled burn.