Can do the job and care to do the job correctly are very different. Bottom line it went in with no major oil leak and can home with one, it's pretty to understand who the middle person is here, pretty cut and dry. We all make mistakes in repairing a vehicle, in my shop we would bring that back in and fix it without question unless when I got down in there I could tell it's from something total different than we repair. But till that time you treat the customer like it's something you are going cover.
Ask Alaska and United about Boeing's quality again. They were sooo lucky they were climbing through fl160 and not at 39,000 feet, not to mention no passenger was adjacent to the door. This story has stuck with me for years: https://skift.com/2019/09/04/emirates-president-slams-airbus-and-boeing-for-lack-of-reliability/ He's not surprised after this event either: https://www.businessinsider.com/boeing-737-max-quality-issues-emirates-president-alaska-2024-1
I gave up on a reliable ice maker years ago. Also, the Chinese now own GE appliance. https://www.ge.com/news/press-releases/ge-agrees-sell-appliances-business-haier-54b
As to Boeing's quality - since there are now only two major manufacturers of airline aircraft in the free world, I think that Boeing and Airbus have both gotten a little sloppy. Now that it has become public knowledge, I suspect that both will improve their quality control or the FAA will do it for them. Topic two: Our Chinese-built LG refrigerator came with the house in which I have lived for seven years. It wasn't new when we moved in. Other then one of it's cheap plastic drawers cracking, and three of it's even cheaper plastic drawer rollers falling apart (I now keep them in stock) it has been trouble free. The only maintenance I have done to it is cleaning shelving and replacing the water/icemaker filter every six months. No complaints from me.
Saw something on a show years ago that said Refrigerators and washing machines were the best engineered and longest lasting appliances.. Maybe that was before the mfg's turned them into cheap computers.
I'm no accountant but at 200k miles I would think you could have fully depreciated your unit by now and moved on to the replacement. not that a replacement would be any better or easier to work on but it would have a warranty for a while and new stuff is, well, new.
As a business owner there is a huge difference between depreciation and replacement......just because something is out of depreciation on the books doesn't mean you can afford to buy a replacement unit
I've been in this van over 10 years. Its setup exactly how I like it and I know where everything is. The back up van purchased last spring was 47K out the door used. the sprinter in 2012 was 23K with 32K miles on it. It'd been a wheel chair van and was very lightly used. As long as I can keep the old POS moving down the road and bringing in $'s I will. Additionally , I dont plan on being in business many more years and would like to hand over a debt free company.
as above, I don't run your show. I understand there are many different scenarios and your biz is just that. just pointing out that depreciating assets is a dandy way to move money. I love debt free and know how that works. then there was 2% notes and a way to get ahead on that 7% inflation. just have to make sure you have the income or capital to make good on those notes. gamble? yes but one that might make it better than a >200k mile vehicle. as my dad always tells me, "you pays your money and you takes your chances". I hope you are able to find a decent mechanic to remedy your situation.
I still get mileage and maintenance deductions on it. Why replace it if it still works. I really hate car payments. Why I paid off the Transit in 8 months. Any extra $'s go into my SEPP so I can have funds to play with you guys after I retire in a few years.
I believe the original post stated it wasn't working that well. I was just pointing out the ability to "upgrade" with a depreciating asset. I drive my stuff generally as long as I can as it is personal transport. but eventually I spend an inordinate amount of time rolling around on the ground or leaning over the fender maintaining it. Time is money. I know I'd rather be wrenching on my old stuff and spending the time on fun stuff. I want to be able to get in and go with a vehicle. sorry my diarrhea posts wont give it up. I want the best for you and all my imaginary Buick V8 friends. I hope it holds together until you can make that hand off.
Was until it wasnt. If not for having to drop the engine for access I'd have fixed it in a few hours on a Sat morning. Just parts. Now the Transit has developed some issue with the DPF regen and have to take it to Ford to get a manual override to hold me over until the sprinter is back up and running. So glad its not my busy season
Our local Ace Hardware stores carry only Stihl. This is a PITA because they carry parts only for Stihl. I have two chainsaws that both use the same blade. I went to Ace to get a replacement; they told me that it was an oddball chain blade and that I would probably have to order it from the saw manufacturer. A few days later I was driving by a little hole-in-the-wall independent hardware store and decided to stop in to see if they had the blade. They did, and there was an application chart in the package with the blade. It fits at least one model of just about every chainsaw sold in America except Stihl. I am not implying that Stihl chainsaws are bad; most of the local professional tree work companies use them, but it is Stihl that is the oddball.
Nothing new. Boeing had problems with the Pratt & Whitney engines on it's first run of 747s. It seems that Boeing was a classier company then; they refused to deliver those 747s until P&W fixed the problem. P&W did, the 747s were delivered without those engine issues.
While looking for another thread I came across this. Update with the final results. Turns out the massive oil leak was not from the turbo but I do believe, even though I cannot prove it, was caused buy the Dodge dealers work. There is an oil cooler up under the 2 piece intake which has seals for coolant and oil. Thats where the oil was coming from. Just above that there is a "swirl valve actuator" basically an electronic gizmo that opens the throttle blades when ya push the gas peddle. It has 3 mounting tabs and 2 were broken off. Looks like something heavy hit that which then hit the cooler which probably started the leak. Top of the engine, inc the turbo, had to be removed. Another 6500$. Got it back and the leak was fixed for a few weeks. Looks like theres still some oil escaping from somewhere as I smell it hitting the exhaust sometimes. Still has its driveability issues. Still using it daily to get out to the jobs. With all its flaws I still rather be in this one over the Transit. Oh and the transit is in the shop again!
If you are thinking about the missing door bolts, IMHO something doesn't pass the smell test. First, the person or persons who were supposed to install the bolts did not. The person who was supposed to check the door installation did not. The person who was supposed to install the interior panel didn't notice the missing bolts? finally, it should have showed up during the pressurization test. It could be that Boeing is getting a bit fat and sloppy, but I cannot believe that they are that fat and sloppy. I am definitely not a conspiracy person, but I'm wondering if this was intentional? By who or why, I have no idea.
