How my day started….
Me: “Yes, hi, I’m calling to see if you’re able to schedule time this afternoon to get my van up on a lift to check the transmission fluid level? The axle was repaired yesterday by a friend who restores old vehicles, and the seal disintegrated, dumping fluid out. It was fixed, but due to the fact that it’s a sealed transmission (and therefore requires special tools he doesn’t have), he wasn’t able to check if he put the correct amount of fluid back in or not.”
Garage: “So, you’re going to need to get that looked at immediately. Your transmission does *insert lecture about transmission functionality*. If there’s not enough fluid *insert list of issues* can happen.”
Me: “Yes. I’m aware. That’s why I’m calling you. Because the fluid dumped and the manufacturer decided to remove the dipstick and made it so that we can’t check it ourselves anymore. Can you get it on a lift today or not?”
Garage: “Well, if you can drop it off we can maybe get to it later in the week.”
Me: “Do you have a loaner vehicle? We’ve only got one car right now and can’t be without one.”
Garage: “We don’t, but you really need to get that looked at immediately. If you can drop it off tomorrow morning, we can try and get to it sometime this week. If your transmission doesn’t have enough fluid in it….”
Rinse and repeat multiple times, all before being properly caffeinated.
Here’s hoping that this evening’s trip to a dealership (where a time slot was eventually located) will involve less mansplaining bullshit and more just fucking checking the damned fluid level like I asked.
Tricksters Road 