lesley
Drama Llama
My best friend Turriff, desperately missed.
Posts: 7,182 
Location: Scotland, Scotland, Scotland
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Post by lesley on Aug 4, 2015 14:34:05 GMT
The garage where I get my car serviced or repaired has been on holiday for the last two weeks, so I've been driving around for nearly three weeks with an annoying knocking from my front wheel. I assumed it was the suspension, as I've had problems there before, and the noise was the same. I mentioned to the owner that I had put on two new front tyres, and also that I'd had a bit of vibration from the pedals. He gave me an alarmed look, and said, before anything, he would do a 'stupidity' test. He checked both front wheels and the wheel nuts were very loose on both. The garage where I bought the tyres had not tightened them in any way! He immediately called the manager there and told them to check who had done the job, as it was shoddy in the extreme, and I was lucky to be alive. My blood ran cold at the thought I might have been on a flyover when the wheel came off! So today I'm grateful to be alive.  |
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Post by pierkiss on Aug 4, 2015 14:38:27 GMT
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stittsygirl
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,580
Location: In the leaves and rain.
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Post by stittsygirl on Aug 4, 2015 14:39:16 GMT
Wow, I'm so glad you're ok. That's always something I think about after I have my tires rotated - is everything back on correctly and tightened well? So scary what might have happened  . |
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Post by gailoh on Aug 4, 2015 14:44:43 GMT
I or my husband would be in someones face so fast...I really hope something was done to the person who did this to you. How many others out there who are driving may have this problem because of this person. I would follow up to see if this was addressed. It may save someones life...
Glad you are ok.
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Post by smalltowngirlie on Aug 4, 2015 14:50:17 GMT
The basics are so often taken for granted. The guy that did your tires probably does them pretty much on auto pilot not even thinking about what he is doing. That is when simple, but often time tragic, mistakes can be made. If every once in a while a supervisor did a spot inspection or check they woudl stay on their toes a bit more.
Glad you are OK, and your regular mechanic is honest enough to check that and not find a "problem".
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Nicole in TX
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 2,951
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Post by Nicole in TX on Aug 4, 2015 14:58:26 GMT
Glad you are OK! I hate to think of what could have happened (mentally picturing you driving around on beautiful Scottish cliffs that drop off suddenly...)  Please don't ignore car noises for 3 weeks from now on, OK?  |
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Post by wallyagain on Aug 4, 2015 15:19:14 GMT
I do know that when DH changes tires, he tightens the nuts. But then he always (and tire shops recommend this, as well) checks them again at about 50 - 100 km (30 - 60 miles). Not sure why that happens, but apparently it is common for the nuts to come loose during that time frame.
Glad you are safe.
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Post by magentapea on Aug 4, 2015 15:35:28 GMT
Glad that nothing terrible happened and it was an easy fix. BTW, what is a "flyover"?
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Post by ~KellyAnn~ on Aug 4, 2015 15:52:12 GMT
Thank goodness you are OK!
My bil had his oil changed and tires rotated at a local dealership. About five miles away, as he was coming home, one of his front tires came off! Luckily, he had been turning and was going slow.
I don't know what sort of compensation or apology occurred to rectify the situation. I do know the dealership lost (potential) customers, though, by the bad publicity.
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Anita
Drama Llama
Posts: 5,646
Location: Kansas City -ish
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Post by Anita on Aug 4, 2015 16:18:33 GMT
That is scary. Many years ago, some prankster in our apartment complex thought it would be hilarious to go around loosening lug nuts on vehicles. We were driving down the highway when our wheel came off and went spinning down the road ahead of us. Talk about frightening! Fortunately, DH had slowed to about 40 mph from the 70 he had been doing before we lost the wheel. That was one tough little truck, though. It did more damage to the asphalt than to our truck We recovered the wheel, put it back on, and drove away. It didn't even put a dent in the truck. Even though we park in a garage now, we still keep an eye on the lug nuts.
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lesley
Drama Llama
My best friend Turriff, desperately missed.
Posts: 7,182
Location: Scotland, Scotland, Scotland
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Post by lesley on Aug 4, 2015 21:47:13 GMT
Please don't ignore car noises for 3 weeks from now on, OK?  Normally I wouldn't leave car issues that long, but I didn't want to go to an unfamiliar garage. But I hear what you're saying. Glad that nothing terrible happened and it was an easy fix. BTW, what is a "flyover"? A flyover is an overpass. |
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Post by Dori~Mama~Bear on Aug 4, 2015 21:53:20 GMT
That is so bad.... I hope the guy who did the tires got punished. He needs to be more careful.
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Post by JoP on Aug 5, 2015 6:32:07 GMT
Wow lesley that's terrible, glad you're ok. Was it a local tyre place or a chain? |
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lesley
Drama Llama
My best friend Turriff, desperately missed.
Posts: 7,182
Location: Scotland, Scotland, Scotland
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Post by lesley on Aug 5, 2015 6:56:17 GMT
Wow lesley that's terrible, glad you're ok. Was it a local tyre place or a chain? It was a local family firm. They have three or four garages around Lanarkshire, and they have an excellent reputation. I have used them for years with no problems. I am quite sure that someone's head will roll for this, as they are very proud of their reputation. |
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Post by gar on Aug 5, 2015 7:01:01 GMT
Close calls are scary!! Glad you're ok |
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Post by jenjie on Aug 5, 2015 19:33:19 GMT
Wow wow wow I'm so glad nothing happened and your mechanic found the problem!!!
I had 3 people telling me my car was unsafe to drive this month. After driving pretty much nonstop for months! BIL took it to his mechanic, who drove it around the block and said it sounds like a dump truck. I knew that but we have had that noise forever and just had the car repaired in the fall! And it still made the noise and steering wheel vibrated. I'm so glad people were looking out for me. $400 later it is nice and quiet.
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Rhondito
Pearl Clutcher
MississipPea
Posts: 4,664
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Post by Rhondito on Aug 5, 2015 19:42:43 GMT
I happened to turn on a road one night behind my daughter and one of her rear tires was wobbling - although wobbling is an extreme understatement. I managed to get her attention and made her pull off the road. The tire only had ONE lug nut on the wheel! I almost threw up. Heck, thinking about what could have happened makes me want to throw up even now.  We never found out what happened to the other lugs. |
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Time to get off the internet!
We never found out what happened to the other lugs.