Thanks folks.
Bought the pump today (FRI.)and tensioner as well.Good price at Young Chevy in Dallas.$165 for pump,$45 for tensioner.(It ain't *what*you know,......)
Doghouse is checked regularly for debris.Personally I think we should be compensated by our municipalities for street cleaning.It doesn't take long for the trash to pile up in there.
Went with stock pump,will install myself.Last time I let some one else work on it,well....
I took it in for auto trans fluid service and to have the horn checked,When I returned to pick it up,I was informed that I would need a complete steering wheel assembly(!)About $800.00 as I recall.
*Oh,Really*?
I took a look for myself and discovered that the *fingers * on the back of the button,which reach down and push the contacts together,had bent to the point that they didn't reach the contacts.
Hmmmmm......
Exit to Parts Department...
"I need two horn buttons for a '90 Vette"
"That will be $10.00 sir "
"*Really*?Hey,thanks man."
Exit to Service managers office....
(Very polite)"Hi,how are you?Great.Hey,I had my Vette in the other day for tranny service and to have the horn diagnosed and you guys wanted to replace the whole steering wheel."
"Yes sir,I'll look into that for you"
He leaves,comes back a few minutes later.
"Yes sir,I just talked to the tech on that job and he says your contacts have gone bad and we don't sell the contacts seperately,GM sells the steering wheel as a whole unit,except for the air bag.We will reinstall the old airbag for you"
Gosh,wasn't that kind of them to install my old bag at 'no additional charge'?
"So you are telling me I am forced to buy the whole steering wheel assembly to make my horn work,you don't just sell the parts?"
"Yes sir"
At this point I take one of the unobtainable parts out of my pocket and show it to him.
"That's not entirely correct,I just purchased two of these horn buttons for $10.00"
He gives me a blank stare and then says,
"Yes,but it is the contacts that are bad sir"
"Do you guys have a Corvette specialist?"
"A Corvette *specailist*?"
"You know,a person who works ONLY on Vettes"
He thinks my statement is quite funny.
" ha ha,no,ha ha ha no,no,no.No Dealer has a person who simply specializes in Corvettes.The techs work on all the models.Ha ha ha..."
"Well,let me give you a lesson in diagnosis my friend.( I pull out the button with the bent fingers)This is the old button from my Vette.See how the fingers are bent?This is why my horn doesn't work.These parts are readily available and they cost $5.00 a piece.NOT $800.00.I have to wonder at this point,how many people have you charged $800.00 for a complete steering wheel assembly when all they needed was one or two five dollar buttons?"
He gives another one of his blank stares.
I add "The dealer at XXXX Chevy has TWO guys who don't touch anything but Corvettes.Wouldn't that make them specialists?"
He says nothing.He knows he has been BUSTED!
I am still polite with him as I inform him that these kind of customer service practices are what gives the dealers a bad name.
And then I leave without getting anything that even resembles an apology or an offer for a free oil change or a free cap or SOMETHING to make up for his IDIOTIC SERVICE MANNER.
Why do dealers F*** them selves out of future business by doing these kinds of things?
It is hard to find a good mechanic.So I have become one.It's just that I'm lazy,and can afford for someone else to do the work.But no one can afford to be ripped off.So I'll just do it myself.
Just had to share an experience.
Talk with ya later.
Oh, Thanks for the input on the high flow pump!!
