New England B.S. Thread

If the body guy determines it's safe to drive I'll drive it until he can get me in.

Still waiting on the tow. Now getting texts every five minutes apologizing for the delay.

I'll snap the obligatory picture tomorrow so people can tell me it's totalled and I should part it out.

 

I can do that now if you'd like

 

That sucks! Best of luck with the process, never fun to deal with insurance crap and repairs.

 

So, the update without a picture. I sat in Newton for almost five hours waiting for the tow company. I won't name the insurance company, however they have a reputation for great service. I've used them for homeowners and auto for over 40 years. So, when the nice lady I filed the claim with offered to arrange a two through their tow management vendor, I agreed.

I had already talked to a tow company about a block away from where I was parked. They were the ones that suggested I file the claim on the phone immediately and the insurance company would arrange the tow. Apparently they don't contract with the management company and after reading reviews I can see why. They stiff both their subs and the insured.

After three hours, I walked back to the tow company and talked with them again. Given the 25 mile distance and imminence of rush hour, they told me that the best they could do was tow it tomorrow morning. The body shop would pay them and then the insurance company would reimburse them. The guy that runs the tow company said I might be sitting there all night waiting for the contract tow.

I called the insurance company and they called the towing management company who promised they'd have someone there in an hour. All I got from them were multiple lying texts saying that they would be out as soon as possible.

At 5:00PM I said "Screw this" and decided to drive home. I figured if I took secondary roads and kept my speed around 30 nothing too bad would happen. Listening to the whump, whump, whump, on the way home made me wonder if the left rear tire had flat spotted and was causing the noised. Which is why I'll be at the body shop at 8:00 AM tomorrow. I've used this guy a lot and a friend usually has work done once or so a year. He's good, but booked up for a month right now. Which will effect my rental car if I need one.

Made it home without any problems and didn't see any glowing from the left rear wheel, drums, what ever. I even touched the wheel and nothing was hot.

I won't out the insurance company as I said. However if your insurance company uses Agero stay the Eff away. Having someone else tow it and let the insurance company figure out who to pay. In MA, we don't have to use the insurance company preferred anything, but other states might have different rules.

One positive thing is that it looks like the cab itself has no damage. What I thought was a dent now looks like the rub marks from the other cars bumper. The L rear door opens fine, which I take as a good sign.

The day started off with my heating company sending out a guy to change the expansion tank on my boiler. That went fine, but for some reason we have hardly any hot water from the faucets. Heat is fine, but hot water is a trickle.

If i didn't know better, I'd say this was Friday the 13th!

 

Jeez, that's one hell of a Friday

 

Or that it will buff out..ugh what a pain in the ass. WHere is your shop?

 

No shit. I wasted the entire day and ended up what I started to do in the first place. I was concerned about driving on the highway and decided to stop at that tow company. The guy gave me really good advice and if I ended up having to be towed I'd have bit the bullet and used him. I finally just decided to risk something like the wheel falling off.

I'm not even pissed at the other driver, although I think they were at fault. I think, worst case is 50/50. It used to be that in MA 50/50 meant no one was on the hook. I hope it still is.

I'm only pissed at the towing management contractor. From the reviews a lot of low end insurance companies use them and that's to be expected. After reading the reviews I'm surprised that my company uses them. I'll probably end up sending an email just to get that off my chest, I don't expect they'll change because it saves them money.

Even the woman I spoke to after I decided to drive agreed that they got "mixed reviews" from customers. She more or less said that if I ever needed a tow again to use my own and they'd figure out the reimbursement. She also told me that they will pay for two tows. One from the scene and then one to the body shop. I don't think I'll use either.

 

Stoughton on Rte 27, almost at the Brockton line. He does great work, but post COVID he's had a hard time finding good body men who actually want to work. He spends half his day in the spray booth doing the painting. He hired an office manager who deals with most of the insurance stuff, but he actually answered the phone today.

 

Was gonna say my brother in law works in Whitman if you need..

 

I appreciate that, but I think everything will work out with my guy. Once you have a good shop, it pays to stick with it.

 

I’ve seen as high as 35 MPG highway in mine at 75 MPH with the AC on. I visited a friend, 200 mile round trip, just under 35 MPG.

I might get 20 around town if I’m being heavy footed, I tend to average 22-23 MPG combined mainly with the roof off.

 

Totally, or a good person. Different subject but I've followed my tattoo artist to 3 different places, soon to be a 4th. Only person I've ever let tattoo me

 

No truck update, but the hot water is back. The service manager called and knew what was wrong. The crew forgot to turn on valve back on. He talked me through that and the water was back.

 

The Tacoma didn't want to fire this morning again. Cranks fine, threw my jump pack on it just incase it was a voltage thing and still didn't want to fire. Pretty sure my camshaft position sensor is no good, reading high resistance (1.6ohms when cold, should be like .6 to 1.04 cold if I remember right). Also have codes P0300, P0301, and P0303. Multi-cylinder misfire on cylinders 1 and 3

 

Looks like MA doesn't allow a city form of government for a place of less than 12,000 people. They are just under 13,000 but have been falling every year.

 

Picture.

 

What color is it?

 

Truck is at the body shop. Monday, he'll see if he can figure out what the noise is coming from and get it driveable. He'll also know how long it's going to take to get parts. If so, I can return the rental and drive the truck until the parts are in. That way, we will be able to keep the car rental under 30 days.

That would be good.

BTW, the rental is a Kia Accent. Which I think is their version of a Carolla. Only not.

 

Doing my valve cover gaskets, pulleys and tensioner assembly , belt , and ignition coils today. But I’m not sure which belt to get, a Bando or a Gates.
Thoughts?

 

Good to see your ok