Am i wrong ?
Platinum Member
Joined: 01-09-2007
Posts: 16,081
From: SE USA
Anyone ever heard of the guy who bought a car that had a terrible rattle ?
He was trying everything to locate & fix it.. Finally the dealer found an empty Coca-Cola bottle inside the box frame.
Was just tight enough not to break, but loose enough to drive the owner half-nuts..
Don't remember the car brand or model. Just the old story..
He was trying everything to locate & fix it.. Finally the dealer found an empty Coca-Cola bottle inside the box frame.
Was just tight enough not to break, but loose enough to drive the owner half-nuts..Don't remember the car brand or model. Just the old story..
Senior Member
Joined: 07-05-2008
Posts: 5,464
From: Akron Ohio
While I wasn't there, I have to agree with hyperv6. I think people forget what cars used to be like. I only know from stories, not experiences. From what I've heard, most people had to tinker with virtually new cars every weekend to keep them running right! And from the horror stories I've heard about how the people worked in the shop (my grandpa being one of them) it's surprising GM didn't go bankrupt sooner! One thing in particular, he said they would put a wood block under the brake when a new guy would be driving the cars off the line, so he couldn't stop and smash the car in front. Isn't that the car you want to buy? They would just wedge a hammer in the door and slam it shut if it wouldn't close properly...
I'm thinking these cars today are great! They last many years and many many miles before major problems. (other than the occasional lemon).
So while there are issues, I'm still happy with mine. Better to have a rattle then to be breaking down all the time!
I'm thinking these cars today are great! They last many years and many many miles before major problems. (other than the occasional lemon).
So while there are issues, I'm still happy with mine. Better to have a rattle then to be breaking down all the time!
I remember the old timers telling me how often they would get flat tires. You had to stop and fix 3 or 4 on a trip from Ohio to Georgia. Bias tires in the 60 lasted only 15K miles.
But on the other hand try to change the plugs in a Lexus RX on the back side. You have to remove the top of the intake to do it. Not good. I saw one with 35,000 miles and one of the plug coils went bad and they had to remove the top of the intake to get to it.
That is one thing with mechanical things it is always interesting.
Member
Joined: 07-30-2006
Posts: 52
From: new york
Had the same rattle which seemed like coming from the right rear. I knew taking to dealer would likely be a "we can't find it" situation. So I got in the back floor area while someone drove car around. Was hard to locate. Finally tried to open the tailgate slightly and hold it tight but not locked while someone drove me around. It did not make the noise. Took to dealer, they did a quick tailgate adjustment under warranty, and all was silent for 3 years until I traded it in for a new 2010 HHR.
Senior Member
Joined: 02-16-2009
Posts: 6,038
From: Frankenmuth/Flint, MI
Anyone ever heard of the guy who bought a car that had a terrible rattle ?
He was trying everything to locate & fix it.. Finally the dealer found an empty Coca-Cola bottle inside the box frame. Was just tight enough not to break, but loose enough to drive the owner half-nuts..
Don't remember the car brand or model. Just the old story..
He was trying everything to locate & fix it.. Finally the dealer found an empty Coca-Cola bottle inside the box frame.
Was just tight enough not to break, but loose enough to drive the owner half-nuts..Don't remember the car brand or model. Just the old story..
One of my high school teachers (who I am now friends with) has a 1965 Mustang his mom bought new, then gave him as his first car. He just did a frame off restoration, and found an old ice cream bar wrapper wedged behind the wheelwell, and it actually had overspray on it. It had been there for over 40 years, since it was rolling down the assembly line!
Senior Member
Joined: 10-21-2008
Posts: 1,831
From: hemet, calif.
Anyone ever heard of the guy who bought a car that had a terrible rattle ?
He was trying everything to locate & fix it.. Finally the dealer found an empty Coca-Cola bottle inside the box frame. Was just tight enough not to break, but loose enough to drive the owner half-nuts..
Don't remember the car brand or model. Just the old story..
He was trying everything to locate & fix it.. Finally the dealer found an empty Coca-Cola bottle inside the box frame.
Was just tight enough not to break, but loose enough to drive the owner half-nuts..Don't remember the car brand or model. Just the old story..
Platinum Member
Joined: 01-09-2007
Posts: 16,081
From: SE USA
Many years ago I cleaned out an elderly neighbors rickety old shed..There was a bucket of rusty hand tools mostly full of rain water.
I drained the water & threw the bucket & rusty tools in back of my truck.
Later I was just curious & hit some of them on my grinders' wire wheel... Yep Craftsman.
I cleaned all just enough to half way read the name "craftsman" & headed for Sears.
They replaced every Craftsman tool in that bucket...:one:
MERRY CHRISTMAS !!!!
Senior Member
Joined: 08-06-2008
Posts: 1,761
From: Grand Haven, MI
Good story though 