Calf Rope!

Uncle!

Olly, Olly, Oxenfree!

Time out!

Make no mistake about it, I've had enough. I have piddled until I am piddled out. I am fed up with little picky repair projects.

Yesterday I returned to the equipment yard to do a bit of troubleshooting. The last time I had been to Waco, BS 222 threw me a curve. Highway 6 had just been surfaced, there was no center stripe, it was dark, there was intermittent rain, and the road was packed with vehicles. It was one of those deals where your reference points were not visible. Finally, when there was a break in on-coming traffic I clicked the dimmer switch for the high beams. The lights went out. Immediately I clicked again and the low beams came back on. Talk about surprised! I didn't risk clicking the high beams on again until I was at the yard in Abilene. As I coded into the security gate, I clicked the high beams on and they lit up the yard! As I drove in, they began to flicker. I parked the rig waiting for day light to look it over. Last week I had gone over wiring harness, connections and such but never found anything suspicious. I also never got the high beams to come on. In July I was chasing down a cruise control problem and I had replaced the combination cruise control, signal light, dimmer switch assembly with a brand new part from the dealership. $128.00 part. It didn't fix the cruise but I left it in place. Being the conservative I am, I placed the old one in the plastic bag and then in the box the new part came in. Yesterday I took the steering column apart and began probing with my test light. It became evident that the problem was located in the two month old controller. Finally I retrieved the old cruise, signal, dimmer switch controller and plugged it in although it dangled beside the new one (which was still bolted in place) . When I turned the lights on the low beam headlights came on as planned. When I clicked the dimmer switch the high beams came on as intended. The new part was bad. Since I am curious and since we are fixing to be taking all of this equipment to a remote location where the closest dealership is a three hour round trip, I began to test and probe to see which of the sixteen wires control the high beam lights. I then plugged the new piece back in to make sure that the corresponding wire on it was not carrying current. Sure enough, it wasn't so this started me looking for problems with the small printed circuit board and its connections. What ever it is, it is inside. I do intend to visit with my parts man about the "brief life" of the defective part. I have enough legitimate problems going on without working with faulty replacement parts. In brief moments, I had removed the faulty controller and re-installed the old one it had replaced. The faulty one is back in the bag inside the box. I suppose in a pinch if a guy can run low beam head lights only, this controller could be used for it's other functions.

Best part was, I did get the problem resolved.

I moved on to BS 2. I needed to re-install an electric brake controller under the dash. Actually the only time this is ever used is when the company travel trailer is being towed. Sometime during last season, one of the drivers had decided to take this controller out. Don't ask me, it is a truck driver thing. This small project turned out to be pretty time consuming but worst of all when I opened up the dash, I discovered an air leak.

Turns out the dash mounted trailer charge valve had a small air leak. I guess better here than on the road with someone who isn't skilled enough to fix it. Realize this wasn't a safety issue, this leak was minimal enough that until I was working inside the dash it was not discernable. Once the air system dropped to ninety-three pounds the valve would seal again but once the compressor cycles and air pressure builds over a hundred pounds, the valve begins leaking again. I decided to take apart the valve. I was confident it was just an o-ring problem and shortly I had the spool removed and "in hand". Plastic with multiple o-rings, inside and out. I gathered tools and locked the big truck down and crawled in my pickup to run down the street to a parts store. When I arrived there, the counter man asked broad questions and then told me it would have to be a complete valve replacement, not just the spool. I almost gagged. I didn't ask the price, but I know it would've taken all the good from a hundred dollar bill. About that time the parts manager came out and told the guy waiting on me that repair kits were available. In a few minutes I was looking at a repair kit. A spool replacement. $57.00 plus tax. Luckily I didn't have a check or my wallet so I told them I would have to come back. I stopped in down the street to check on some air seats for Pepa's KW and while I was there I inquired about a repair kit for my valve. The answer was the same, spool replacement. Price $51.00 plus tax. I was still not convinced I needed the whole thing. Finally, just before five, I pulled into the driveway of the house and dropped the tailgate and began totally dismantling the spool. Sure enough I found a torn inner o-ring on the plunger. When I was working in industrial sales we used to give these parts away they were so cheap. I am willing to wager that in the morning I can take a dollar bill and buy all the replacement o-rings. Add a little lithium grease to re-assemble it, I figure within a couple hours I'll have the truck back together and ready for it's annual inspection.

I am alarmed that so much of our world is disposable. I am alarmed that counter people are not concerned about helping their customer, but making that "big" sale. What happened to service? What happened to "the customer is always right"?

Greed and laziness. Most people would rather stuff the company coffers and get accolades from superiors. I am sad to say that the new generation of countermen are there only for the check and aren't going to look past their easiest solution for a problem, not what is in the best interest of the customer.

Last week I was chasing a brake fitting and was waiting in line at another of the dealerships in Abilene. An elderly man was sittings on a stool at the parts counter and a younger man who was accompanying him was talking with the parts man. I've been around the block a time or two so I do have a little knowledge of repairs and I was positive that what this partsman was selling them wasn't what they were asking for. My first thought was with some of the questions the young man was asking he probably had no business working on what he was working on. I was more concerned that the parts man seemed to be loading them up. When it came time to pay out the parts man told the younger man who in turn loudly told the older man the total and that he needed to pay. The older man stood and took out his wallet and removed a twenty. He replaced his wallet and pulled out a small coin purse. He told the parts man "I don't want no coins". Following this the parts man handed a copy of the invoice across the counter and told the men he would have to take the money to the business office. As soon as the parts man left the counter the older man and the younger man walked out the door. I thought they had very possibly paid exact money. In a moment the parts man returned as inquired as to where the men went. I told him they were getting in their vehicle. The parts man let out a small laugh and said, "I guess that old man doesn't need his change". I asked him if he wanted me to call them back in but the parts man said that wasn't his business. I went to the door and whistled as the men were just backing out, they pulled back in and I told them the parts man had some change for them. The younger man returned and claimed the change. It was about twelve dollars. The parts man made the comment that he thought maybe the old man didn't need the money and the young man chimed in agreement. When the young man left, I stepped to the counter and inquired about the fitting I was looking for. The parts man went to the back and returned with my part and while my ticket was printing he told me, "You cost me my beer money".

I said "What?".

He replied, "You don't know how often that happens. Someone comes in and pays cash and leaves without their change. I put it to the side but come the end of the day, if it is still there, it goes in my pocket."

I'm sure I paid a premium for my part. Cash, and I did wait for my change.

I don't think I'll patronize that dealership again.

Reminds me of another establishment owned by people who seem to be fine upstanding, church going people. If they have a customer who they think knows too much, they charge a "stupid tax".

Wonder if the two businesses are related?

I've had enough busy work. I am tired of repairs. I need to go to the jobsite for R & R.

FATHER, help me to always go the extra mile and to treat others as I want to be treated.