2nd Gen Non-Engine/Transmission ALWAYS Check Your Hood Before Leaving The Tire Store!!!

[Evan A. Beck]

Well yesterday I had a new set of tires put on my 2001 Dodge. All was going great until after I left and drove down the road a mile or two. So there I am going about 35 mph, and the hood flies open, and smashes itself up against the windshield!!! I managed to avoid a wreck, and get off the road. I surveyed the damage, and I am going need a new hood, hood hinges, and windshield.



Under closer inspection, I discovered when they closed the hood, they somehow damaged the safety latch, bending it over on itself. Because it was bent, it prevented the hood from latching down properly. It was only a matter of time before it flew open. I guess what baffles me the most, is why the hood was open when all I needed was a new set of tires put on.



So needless to say, I gave the offending store (Les Schwab) a stern phone call, and they could expect me to return there as soon as I get the hood down and secured. About 20 minutes later, I get back to the tire shop, and speak with the manager about the 'incident. ' I filled out a claim report, which is what he said is 'standard procedure. ' The manager was very understanding, and handled things well. I guess that is a plus... But still, my new cowl hood is ruined.



So now I get to experience the fun process of getting it all fixed. I called my insurance office and left a message there, so the wheels are in motion. I'd like to just take care of it through them, and then have my insurance company deal with Les Schwab. We'll see what happens on Tuesday.



I learned two things from all this...



1. Ask them NOT to open the hood for tire service



2. Check the hood no matter what



***I'll be posting again later in the week on what is going to happen next. ***

 

[WadePatton]

Yup

If tire mounting and balancing machines weren't so expensive, I'd never go there.



My "after the service" experience with the body shop, wasn't quite so dramatic. I noticed extra smoke on startup after the work was done. But it started okay and ran fine. Then three weeks later I noticed that they had left the grid heater circuit unconnected and not tightened the passenger battery at all.



So always double check the hood and under and around.

 

[Mad Bomber]

hood

Sorry to hear of hood problems. Was that the Schwab dealer out where you work?I just was there friday, nice guy. The true test of a dealer is how they handle a problem after it happens. I agree that NO ONE wants to have something happen to them but things do go wrong. Keep us updated on what happens. Eric

 

[Evan A. Beck]

Eric,



I went to the Schwab out here in N. Seattle. I think it was at 112th & Aurora. It was close by, and I didn't think I would have a problem. Oh well...



Next time, I am going to take my wheels off the truck, and take them to the tire store SEPARATELY to have them mounted & balanced. This way, the truck is never even on their property.



Maybe I am a little paranoid...

 

[illflem]

Remember it's not the business you have to blame but usually just one lame employee. I'll bet an employee was checking out your engine and didn't get it latched right.



Schwab is a good outfit but you have to watch them every second. They were very good about paying the $1200 damage caused when they "forgot" to install the safety pin and chain on my 30' GN flatbed. Why they disconnected the trailer I have no idea since it was what was getting tires but it came off at 45 mph a quarter mile from their shop, pulled it to the side of the road by the tailgate cables. I had a check from them within two weeks after handing over the bill.

 

[jcbrown]

Originally posted by Evan A. Beck

... I am going need a new hood...

I know where you can get another new hood.

 

[Futures1]

TSB;

I seem to remember seeing a TSB concerning the hood latch of the Dodge Ram pickup's !!

I believe it was dated 01 ?? Any body remember remember that one ??

 

[David Oxland]

Schwab sure treated me OK; no screwups

 

[QRTRHRS]

A few years back, I took my Ford van for tires. After paying the bill, I walk out to find weights hammered onto my alloy wheels. They were Ford wheels, take offs I had picked up at a wrecking yard but like new and nice.



Gentleman (and I use that term lightly) explained that I should have asked for a static balance. I said my mind, chalked it up as one of life's experiances and left never to return to that dealer again.



Can you imagine some nimrod doing that to a new set of high end alloys?



The discount places around me don't do dually's so when my Ram needs rubber, I go to a private very politically incorrect shop. They want to be nosey, they ask to see the engine.

 

[Blakers]

Personally, one factor that I judge a tire stores need for my business by whether they kick me out of the service area or not. I like keep an eye on what they are doing to my beast. Use of a torque wrench on wheel lugs is a plus factor on their part.

 

[bmoeller]

Re: TSB;

Originally posted by Futures1

I seem to remember seeing a TSB concerning the hood latch of the Dodge Ram pickup's !!

I believe it was dated 01 ?? Any body remember remember that one ??

http://dodgeram.info/tsb/recalls/973.htm I was sent a notice from D/C about this recall a few months ago. Covers trucks from '94-'99.

 

[Pit Bull]

What a bad deal. What did the manager say when you ask him why they had your hood open? I alway take mine to shops where I can watch every move they make and I make sure they know I "care" and that I am watching. Seems to help them do a better job when I also take my gun out and check the bullets in the cylinder

 

[JohnE]

Sorry to hear the new hood got ruined.

Les Schwab = More I TRIED TO BY-PASS THE CUSSING FILTER

Hope you get full restitution



I DO NOT miss seeing those shops.



BTW, which hood did you go with?

 

[Evan A. Beck]

Turns out they opened the hood to check the brake fluid, which is not something I wanted nor did I ask for it... I specifically asked for them just to swap my old tires off with a new set of Michelins I bought from a friend. Should have been a very simple process.



John, I went with an all-steel cowl hood from Reflexxions. The finish on it was absolutely perfect. No imperfections at all, and when it was clean & waxed, it looked soooooo beautiful... It just makes me sick to see that mangled hood on my nice truck. THis truck has 118,000 miles on it, and looks like it just came off the dealer lot. I guess the best part of the situation is that nothing other than the hood and hinges sustained damage. A-pillars and everything else came through without a single blemish. One other thing, I will get a new windshield out of it, which is something I needed anyway.



Oh well, things happen, and now I get to deal with it. I'm just happy no one, including myself, got hurt. It could have been much, much worse.



In the meantime in-between time, I am driving our shop truck, a 1997 F250 with a PowerStroke. No need to get a rental car, which is an added plus.

 

[JohnE]

Brake fluid does make sense. A lot of tire shops train their crew to check the brake system while the wheels are off.



ooooh the Reflexxion hood. I've drooled after that first seeing one on Rob's truck.

How did it look on a 2wd?

 

[Evan A. Beck]

It looks AEWSOME on a 2WD... The way the 2WD rig hunkers down, the hook just adds to the dynamic look... I love it!!! Needless to say, I will be getting another one!



Looking forward to getting things rolling on Tuesday... I've been trying to convince myself that 'everything will be ok,' but it still just makes my gut sink when I see it... :{

 

[willyslover]

Evan. . If you need a hood fast , I have a stock one in my garage you may have ... iffff'in you can't get the cowl hood fast enough.



It's a Brite Silver one the came off my rig when I put on my cowl hood.

 

[MGordon]

Other Thing to Check

Not to get off topic, but one thing I always check after a tire install is the lug nuts. I have had two instances where the shop forgot to tighten the lug nuts. The first was 150 miles into a trip through the mountains. I hear a noise coming from the front tire area as we are driving through a particularly winding area (steep grades, drop-offs etc. ). I stop and pull the cover and there are two lug nuts rolling around inside the cover. Two others are almost off - only one nut holding the wheel. You want to talk about a cold chill running down your spine!



The second time I checked as soon as I got home from the shop. Now I check every time!

 

[CumminsPower98]

I was doing something with tires one day at my local tire shop back when I had my Nissan Maxima. I had a pretty big stereo set up in it at the time. I was inside most of the time while the guys worked but I was able to look out the windows and saw them poking around looking at the stereo including opening up the back doors and the trunk. I'm sure they had heard me on the street in the past and were curious. I haven't had any major problems with them and they do torque lug nuts. The owner always makes sure to tell me to recheck my lug nuts after a few miles.

 

[FishDoc]

hood flying open

Similar experience. Driving at hiway speed, hood flew open. I was able to pull over with no further mishap; only damage was to hood. It had been about 500 miles since I checked under the hood.



On close examination, the safety latch mechanism was loose. I thought Dodge might be willing to share in the repair, but of course they weren't interested.



I also learned there was a hood latch recall, but only in the "rust belt" where the main latch corrodes and then fails. Since I live in California (pretty salty and rusty on the coast, however), the truck wasn't included even though there was a defective part.



My insurance did fix it with no hassle.