Freakin' Vehicle...

I drive an 11 year old Toyota RAV4. It's been a good vehicle -- I got it my last year in Virginia (which means I've been back in Rochester for 10 years, wow, but time flies!). We're up to around 130,000 miles, but it's "structurally" sound and I can't really afford to sink money into a new vehicle until the housing stuff is finished. So, knowing I have a long drive scheduled to Lancaster, PA in a few weeks, need an oil change, and have a/c that sometimes works, sometimes doesn't, I made an appointment with the Monro Muffler within walking distance of my house. They've done right by me in the past, so I figure to keep sending business their way.

7:45 AM yesterday, Cheyenne and I drive up there. I drop the vehicle off, and reiterate that I'm here for a tune-up, an oil change, and a/c work. The guy takes my key, and Cheyenne and I go on a 20 minute walk back to the house. A fine way to start the morning!

Well, it's another busy day (though I did get a chance to set up WofG for some solitaire fooling around -- and I never do this, so it must be a good sign about the game), so before I know it it's after 4:00 PM and they haven't called me.

I call, and the guy that answers the phone checks the computer and says, "Oil change is done, the a/c worked while in here, so we couldn't replicate, or fix, the problem. It's been ready since this morning."

My response is, "This morning? I never got a call! And what about the tune-up, what's the damage?"

Silence for a few seconds on the other end, then the Monro guy utters, "We apologize for not calling sooner, it's been a busy day. As for a tune-up, you didn't have one scheduled, as far as I can see. Here on the computer it says, 'tune oil change fix a/c.'"

"Huh? I think you forgot to type 'up' after tune, as I've never heard of a 'tune oil change' before."

"Hang on, let me check with the manager and get right back to you."

Hang up, wondering what I did in life to deserve this...

47 minutes later (yes, I timed it), the manager calls back and tells me he can get it done right before closing (which is 7:00 PM) for a sum too large that I'm embarrassed to type it... Needing my vehicle in tip-top shape for the summer's travels, I reluctantly agree.

I walk up there with Cheyenne at 6:30 PM, retracing our steps from the morning, and my RAV4 is still being worked on. Dogs aren't allowed in the waiting room, so no a/c for us while we wait. I find a shady spot under a tree, and we wait. At 7:07 PM, the vehicle comes out of the garage. They're closing up, so I put Cheyenne in the jalopy, they quickly cash me out, give me my key back, and tell me to come back whenever the a/c stops working, to see if they can figure it out.

I drive away to run a few errands, with a much lighter wallet. But the engine sounds good (that funny "knock" I was getting is gone) and the a/c is definitely working. As I'm finishing up at around 8:00 PM, the a/c dies.

Of course, the damn place is closed.

Story of my life sometimes...