This is topic Fucking Tow Truck Drivers........... in forum General Talk at Northern California Ford Owners  .


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Posted by hidnn.o.s. (Member # 1219) on :
 
So, often times as a service manager a customer has their car towed in and magically the tow truck driver has diagnosed their problem for them. Then when we call the customer back with a $500 or more repair they are like, "WTF, FRED SAID IT WAS QUICK AND EASY AND A HOSE."

So tonight I go home. My ex tells me she stopped to get the mail. Got back into her car and pulled forward to our townhome. The check engine light came on, car idled like shit and there was smoke everywhere.

Anyway, I go out, open the hood and there is oil ALL OVER the passenger side of the engine compartment and dripping down. I fire up the car, have to give it gas or it will die. At idle it sounds HORRIBLE and wants to die. I gave it gas to 4k RPM's and it accelerated smooth, but idled HORRIBLE.

I told her, well, you ARE NOT driving this. I tell her to call AAA and we'll have it towed to my work and have it looked at tomorrow.

She goes inside, calls AAA. Guy gets there and I'm up in my room watching TV and checking my email. I have the door open and am listening to her tell the tow truck driver what happened. I hear him asking her a few stupid questions, clearly hitting on her/creating helpful conversation. She quickly comes upstairs and says, "so and so said he smells coolant and it's likely just a hose or something that's not expensive to fix." I look at her and tell her, "I showed you oil. There is oil all over your parking spot, it's not water/coolant, your issue isn't that easy don't get your hopes up, this is not your problem."

I can see it in her eyes, she realizes I did show her what was on the ground and it was clearly not water.

SHORT STORY, SHE, AS MANY MANY WOMEN DO, WOULD HAVE HAD HER CAR TOWED IN FOR A DIAGNOSTIC. WHEN I CALL HER THE NEXT DAY AND TELL HER THERE IS A HOLE IN HER BLOCK SHE'D SAY, "BULLSHIT, TOW TRUCK BOY SAID IT'S A HOSE, YOU ARE LIARS AND ARE TRYING TO RIP ME OFF."

It's frustrating as there are MANY tow truck diagnosticians.

How's that for a long/lame rant

[ June 05, 2007, 12:39 AM: Message edited by: hidnn.o.s. ]
 

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Posted by Pittsburg Mustang Owner (Member # 6100) on :
 
maybe im a lil slow but....

i dont understand what your getting at.

Did a tow truck driver try to fix her car and he just made it worse?
 

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Posted by slidewayz94 (Member # 3101) on :
 
2nd that don't understand your post
 

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Posted by bottled95GT?? (Member # 1772) on :
 
+3
 

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Posted by hidnn.o.s. (Member # 1219) on :
 
LMFAO, sorry guys. I was typing too fast and hit the enter button by accident, then had to edit to add.
 

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Posted by i work with a wild hog (Member # 7524) on :
 
come on guys... i have ADD and i got it . well i know what you mean dude. i think it's messed up to get the car owner's hopes up only to get a large bill because the tow truck driver is a tool. that sucks for the mechanic because i;m sure he (or you in this case) get a lot of flak from this
 

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Posted by tahoe 5.0 (Member # 4103) on :
 
I am a uti grad. I drive tow truck in sierra's. If you have ever seen a tow truck at kirkwood there is a 90% chance it was me. I don't like being labeled as a idiot because of my carrier.
 

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Posted by hidnn.o.s. (Member # 1219) on :
 

quote:

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Originally posted by tahoe 5.0:
I am a uti grad. I drive tow truck in sierra's. If you have ever seen a tow truck at kirkwood there is a 90% chance it was me. I don't like being labeled as a idiot because of my carrier.

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THEN DO NOT DIAGNOSE A VEHICLE AND GET A PERSON'S HOPES UP, LET A TECHNICIAN DO THAT.
 

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Posted by carajo (Member # 4426) on :
 
next time your stranded or stuck like chuck on the side of the road and call a tow truck,make sure you let him know how you feel about them(tow drivers)BEFORE he hooks up.

and yes i drive a flatbed,just not for AAA
 

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Posted by hidnn.o.s. (Member # 1219) on :
 
Ok ladies....... NO WHERE did I label tow truck drivers as idiots at all.

BUT TOW TRUCK DRIVERS ARE NOT AUTOMOTIVE TECHNICIAN'S. THIS FUCK SAID HE SMELLS COOLANT, IT'S A HOSE. THESE ARE THE IDIOTS I HAVE TO EXPLAIN THINGS FOR AND CONVICE A CUSTOMER TO COME DOWN AND LET ME SHOW THEM WHAT'S REALLY GOING ON.

The fucking "idiots" who "do" this are "IDIOTS." If you do not do this, I am not talking about you

[ June 05, 2007, 01:19 AM: Message edited by: hidnn.o.s. ]
 

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Posted by hidnn.o.s. (Member # 1219) on :
 

quote:

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Originally posted by carajo:
next time your stranded or stuck like chuck on the side of the road and call a tow truck,make sure you let him know how you feel about them(tow drivers)BEFORE he hooks up.

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quote:

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Originally posted by tahoe 5.0:
I diagnose it so the costomer doesn't get screwed by the dumbass mechanic who has less experience and knowledge and ability than me. I know the mechanics and owners of all the shops that I recomend. they like me diagnosing the problem. It saves them work. I can also make sure the shop can handle the job.

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You recommend some really stupid shops then
 

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Posted by hidnn.o.s. (Member # 1219) on :
 
So what about this kid, who said he smelled coolant tonight, it's probably just a hose. Had my ex VERY excited at the tow truck drivers diagnosis. To her, he was confident and in the automotive business, towing or not, and was very sure of his diagnostic. In a sense, he is male and knows more about cars for that reason. She atleast knew he knew more than her so it wasn't out of reason in her mind.

THESE ARE THE "IDIOTS" I'M SPEAKING OF.

If you can't tell the difference from a tow truck driver as I experienced tonight and often do in my business compared to a person like yourselves who wouldn't tell my ex/any woman, it's probably just a hose and will be inexpensive, UNLESS YOU SEE A FUCKING HOSE HAS A HOLE IN IT AND KNOW THERE IS NOT BLOWN HEADGASKET ETC...........


 

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Posted by tahoe 5.0 (Member # 4103) on :
 

quote:

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Originally posted by hidnn.o.s.:

quote:

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Originally posted by tahoe 5.0:
I diagnose it so the costomer doesn't get screwed by the dumbass mechanic who has less experience and knowledge and ability than me. I know the mechanics and owners of all the shops that I recomend. they like me diagnosing the problem. It saves them work. I can also make sure the shop can handle the job.

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You recommend some really stupid shops then

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quote:

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Originally posted by tahoe 5.0:

quote:

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Originally posted by hidnn.o.s.:

quote:

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Originally posted by tahoe 5.0:
I diagnose it so the costomer doesn't get screwed by the dumbass mechanic who has less experience and knowledge and ability than me. I know the mechanics and owners of all the shops that I recomend. they like me diagnosing the problem. It saves them work. I can also make sure the shop can handle the job.

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You recommend some really stupid shops then

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If you ever break down in tahoe your gonna gamble if you don't know the shop you going to. If you wanna get screwed I can give you a list.

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quote:

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Originally posted by hidnn.o.s.:

quote:

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Originally posted by carajo:
next time your stranded or stuck like chuck on the side of the road and call a tow truck,make sure you let him know how you feel about them(tow drivers)BEFORE he hooks up.

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You can rest assured I will not ask the tow truck driver to diagnose my vehicle.

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quote:

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Originally posted by hidnn.o.s.:

quote:

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Originally posted by tahoe 5.0:
I diagnose it so the costomer doesn't get screwed by the dumbass mechanic who has less experience and knowledge and ability than me. I know the mechanics and owners of all the shops that I recomend. they like me diagnosing the problem. It saves them work. I can also make sure the shop can handle the job.

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You recommend some really stupid shops then

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..ZING!!
 

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Posted by Cobra5.0Jeep (Member # 1482) on :
 
Tow Truck drivers are tow truck drivers for a reason, they couldn't get a job as a mechanic anywhere.

Tow truck drivers drive too damn fast i think, i'll be in the slow lane doing 65 and i'll have one race up on my ass while hes towing someone.
 

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Posted by Jdub07 (Member # 2728) on :
 
Tow truck driver I got in tahoe when I rolled my mounty refused to tow it the 100 miles I told him to. Truck had AAA on the side, there was no mistaking. Guy said "fuck that I'm not driving that far our of my way, its to late in the day."

So I never got to recover my vehicle cause it was 3 hours away and not worth the effort once I got home.


 

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Posted by 94gt (Member # 3060) on :
 
I think he's pissed that when an uneducated/unexperienced driver tells a customer of his "Don't worry, it should be just a $15.00 hose" When it turns out their raditor blew.... the customer yells at him and not the tow truck driver for giving them a false fix/hope.
 

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Posted by tahoe 5.0 (Member # 4103) on :
 

quote:

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Originally posted by Cobra5.0Jeep:
Tow Truck drivers are tow truck drivers for a reason, they couldn't get a job as a mechanic anywhere.

Tow truck drivers drive too damn fast i think, i'll be in the slow lane doing 65 and i'll have one race up on my ass while hes towing someone.

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quote:

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Originally posted by Jdub07:
Tow truck driver I got in tahoe when I rolled my mounty refused to tow it the 100 miles I told him to. Truck had AAA on the side, there was no mistaking. Guy said "fuck that I'm not driving that far our of my way, its to late in the day."

So I never got to recover my vehicle cause it was 3 hours away and not worth the effort once I got home.

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you got towed by emearld bay...formally pallco. chp called them not aaa. the difference is money. aaa doesn't pay shit. chp rate does.
 

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Posted by fasthatch (Member # 7277) on :
 
i love it when the service writer or service manger tells a person what wrong with the car before a tech looks at frist b/c they really know what they are doing an yes some tow truck drives have no clue what the are doing but alot do
 

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Posted by six 5.0 (Member # 3153) on :
 
I hear you Don... A fukking valve spring broke on my 03 Jeep. The Tow Truck Driver was convinced that my gas gauge was faulty & I was running out of gas .

[ June 05, 2007, 05:52 AM: Message edited by: six 5.0 ]
 

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Posted by Black88GT (Member # 394) on :
 
Having a Mustang, I choose to have AAA. My car has taken the 100 mile trip to Marks house in Sac a few times. Ive never had a bad experience with them, except the night they made me sit for 3 hours or so in Vacaville to get over the rush hour mess. Maybe the tow truck driver was trying to be the hero in your case..... There are those kind of people everywhere, not just in the towing field. I have that in my field too. The recycle driver will tell the costomer "oh yea the garbage man will take that for you", and I get there, and Im like you better show me the money that extra shit! lol...
 

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Posted by 1FAST89GT (Member # 5071) on :
 
being in the same profession As u i feel like choking these tow truk drivers sometimes, they need to shut up, hook up and get on with there job, i don't walk out to there dispatches and tell them how to hook up there riggs, if they are so mechanically inclined get a job at a shop!!!!!

Don I Fell Your Pain
 

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Posted by 2tone50 (Member # 6003) on :
 
You'll find the good w/ the bad everywhere you go. Carajo is one of the good ones.
 

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Posted by svt306snake (Member # 1967) on :
 
not all the tow truck drivers are bad - i was an excellent one and knew about most cars and problems - not all but alot and could al least help narrow it down - it would help to ease the customer and yes i drove for auto guardian(AAA not a contract station) about the best you can do for the tow world
 

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Posted by Cobra5.0Jeep (Member # 1482) on :
 

quote:

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Originally posted by tahoe 5.0:

quote:

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Originally posted by Cobra5.0Jeep:
Tow Truck drivers are tow truck drivers for a reason, they couldn't get a job as a mechanic anywhere.

Tow truck drivers drive too damn fast i think, i'll be in the slow lane doing 65 and i'll have one race up on my ass while hes towing someone.

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I like the accident recoveries, repelling 75 ft. down cliff to roll over car, then get it out. most tow drivers are not mechanics...but I am. I choose not to work on car because i'm lazy. I make more money towing somewhere else.

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quote:

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Originally posted by Cobra5.0Jeep:

quote:

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Originally posted by tahoe 5.0:

quote:

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Originally posted by Cobra5.0Jeep:
Tow Truck drivers are tow truck drivers for a reason, they couldn't get a job as a mechanic anywhere.

Tow truck drivers drive too damn fast i think, i'll be in the slow lane doing 65 and i'll have one race up on my ass while hes towing someone.

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I like the accident recoveries, repelling 75 ft. down cliff to roll over car, then get it out. most tow drivers are not mechanics...but I am. I choose not to work on car because i'm lazy. I make more money towing somewhere else.

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why did you do that? Its not economically sound, costs too damn much. Off mosquito ridge in foresthill there is 15 cars and trucks down the 100ft cliff. we get calls all the time from drivers who see them and think they are an accident or something. They never pulled the cars out cause its not worth the trouble.

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quote:

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Originally posted by tahoe 5.0:

quote:

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Originally posted by Cobra5.0Jeep:

quote:

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Originally posted by tahoe 5.0:

quote:

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Originally posted by Cobra5.0Jeep:
Tow Truck drivers are tow truck drivers for a reason, they couldn't get a job as a mechanic anywhere.

Tow truck drivers drive too damn fast i think, i'll be in the slow lane doing 65 and i'll have one race up on my ass while hes towing someone.

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I like the accident recoveries, repelling 75 ft. down cliff to roll over car, then get it out. most tow drivers are not mechanics...but I am. I choose not to work on car because i'm lazy. I make more money towing somewhere else.

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why did you do that? Its not economically sound, costs too damn much. Off mosquito ridge in foresthill there is 15 cars and trucks down the 100ft cliff. we get calls all the time from drivers who see them and think they are an accident or something. They never pulled the cars out cause its not worth the trouble.

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quote:

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Originally posted by court:
Id take a chill pill and just blow it off.

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