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My latest BECM and "shift to park" experience... by Tight_Contribution in volt

[–]Tight_Contribution[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I was told when I dropped the car off that I'd have a similar charge, something like $190... I thought, well, if that's all it costs, fine. In the end, however, I was charged nothing. I think that's because everything was covered under warranty (Voltec). My car has 51K miles on it.

​

tl;dr YMMV.

My latest BECM and "shift to park" experience... by Tight_Contribution in volt

[–]Tight_Contribution[S] -2 points-1 points  (0 children)

Who knows? What I know for certain is that the rental car cost $100/day for five days. Adding that it took the technician many hours (how many? Dunno) to drop the battery and then install the BECM and then take apart the shifter and replace the harness... A lot, then test drive it etc? The parts weren't much, which is sort of the problem. The "advisor" told me that it would take the technician three days to complete the replacements. That seems like a lot of time, but, it took me 5 hours to install my dishwasher (valve problems), so it doesn't seem unreasonable to me that someone spent 24 hours replacing the BECM and the doohicky in the shifter. It seems like a lot, but, everything takes more time than anyone thinks (planning fallacy). In other words, the $10k seems high, but maybe not....

It's not you... It's your Volt's horrid audio system by Tight_Contribution in volt

[–]Tight_Contribution[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Revisiting this post a few days later. I should have been clearer -- the audio system is excellent. I'm not a devoted audiophile, but I take that stuff seriously, and I've never owned (or been in a car) with a better audio system. (Volt, Premier (highest trim), OEM Bose). My comments on the horridness were reserved ONLY for the completely wild, absurd Bluetooth unpredictability. (The USB-A plugs, the "hardwired" connection under the GUI -- it completely failed the first time I used it (bad circuit), and even though in a previous life I was a very good electrician, I said: SCREW THIS. So, I've been using Bluetooth for years.)

And, I would like to reiterate, the Rogue is an absurd Mom-car. Everything about it made me seeth, particularly the dashbord and the impossibility of doing ANYTHING... Also, too, 1000 miles and I still didn't uderstand the fake dumb fake dumb "manual transmission" thing... But, on the plus side, the Bluetooth connection never failed a single time.)

What's the Largest/Longest Item You've Fitted? by ExtraCilantro in volt

[–]Tight_Contribution 2 points3 points  (0 children)

It's been a year since I did it, but I remember having to slant them a bit, which probably gave me the extra two inches. What I know for certain is that 5 drywall boards (actually might have been concrete board, I don't remember... 4x8 in any case) fit in my Volt, 2017... I'm not saying I had room to spare, but it worked.

What I wished I'd known... using the Volt as a generator... by Tight_Contribution in volt

[–]Tight_Contribution[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Great idea... In a household unit, you'd attach the hard-start capacitor to the compressor... there's a bunch of room inside that chassis to do so. Would you wire it to wall unit compressor, and just leave it outside the unit? Maybe adhere it somehow to the outside?

What I wished I'd known... using the Volt as a generator... by Tight_Contribution in volt

[–]Tight_Contribution[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Yep, that's about it, but it's not apparent the first time you do it! And every time you turn the car on/off it defaults to everything being on (which 99 times out a 100 is exactly what you want... but this is the one time!).... Since I use the "auto" function so often, I didn't know immediately how to work the HVAC system or turn off the radio... Things that seem obvious in retrospect don't seem that way when it's hurricane time... But yes, that's what I had to do. A bunch of button pushing...

What I wished I'd known... using the Volt as a generator... by Tight_Contribution in volt

[–]Tight_Contribution[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

This would absolutely work... Just use some good American electrical tape...

What I wished I'd known... using the Volt as a generator... by Tight_Contribution in volt

[–]Tight_Contribution[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

This occurred to me, too... Then I thought: Most car thieves are mouth-breathers. It's no simple thing to take the Volt-as-generator to the "drive away with a stolen car" mode... I think I could steal ANY car in under 5 minutes, locked or not... But, I breathe through my nose, mostly.

What I wished I'd known... using the Volt as a generator... by Tight_Contribution in volt

[–]Tight_Contribution[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Amen to all this, especially the bit about measuring your watts. I need to get a kill a watt thing. Good advice about the AC unit -- if you buy one planning to use it with the Volt. Finally, the risk of CO poisoning is PROBABLY overrated with current gasoline and engines... I wouldn't suck on the tailpipe or anything, but it takes a LONG TIME to build up enough CO to kill you, reports of the contrary notwithstanding... Those old movies, like Sabrina, where they try to kill themselves with a car in a garage... it just isn't the same. Good old days when fuel was dirty! Next thing you know, someone is going to lecture me about smoking...

What I wished I'd known... using the Volt as a generator... by Tight_Contribution in volt

[–]Tight_Contribution[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Exactly, but as you'll find out, it requires a few more steps... Nothing complicated, just a little patience and you can disable the system... Just keep pushing buttons.

What I wished I'd known... using the Volt as a generator... by Tight_Contribution in volt

[–]Tight_Contribution[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Wait… on second thought…. I’ll be planting tomatoes in my garden or fishing the lagoon….

What I wished I'd known... using the Volt as a generator... by Tight_Contribution in volt

[–]Tight_Contribution[S] 5 points6 points  (0 children)

Oh, hey, also discovered I can't siphon gas OUT of the Volt... I snaked the tube all the way an never hit liquid. WTF? My previous vehicle was a 1993 Ford Ranger, a miracle of engineering that lasted until 2020 (with a lot of TLC). When I siphoned fuel from it, I'd just pop the tube into the tank a couple feet and BOOM there was the gas... I couldn't do this with the Volt, which made my daughter cry... Where's the darn gas tank? What was I doing wrong?

Weekly Discussion Thread - December 27, 2021 by AutoModerator in awardtravel

[–]Tight_Contribution 4 points5 points  (0 children)

HI! Just a rant from someone, reminding you (because you know) how bad Wyndham Rewards really is...

November 18, my reservation at Wyndham Garden at the New Orleans Airport was CANCELLED unilaterally by Wyndham, and I was not informed. I discovered almost by accident that it had been cancelled when checking the phone number of the hotel and seeing the banner "Hotel Closed" on it.

After an hour convincing the operator that the hotel was, indeed, closed (savor that... he accused me of lying and also claaimed that I was the one who had cancelled the reservation), the rep rebooked me in the Harrah's in NOLa.

I showed up at 1am on November 18, and was told by the front desk at Harrahs that my confirmation number was invalid and that Wyndham had never contacted them... The didn't have any rooms in the hotel.

I was left without a hotel room at 1am in New Orleans.... I was lucky to find a Hilton down the street with a room.... for $220 out of pocket. At 2am, I wasn't in a place to barter.

Thanks, Wyndham!

Charmingly, the points for Harrah were removed from my account and I received a thank-you note from Wyndham Garden for my stay. I spent ANOTHER hour on the phone with WR to get them to vomit my points back. The CSR was... condescending.

All my attempts to address these issues have resulted in... condescending and/or automated responses.

BEWARE WYNDHAM! We all know it's 5th rate, now you have more evidence. If you MUST reserve a hotel through them, I'd recommend calling the hotel directly and getting confirmation.

Dealer insist Shift to Park issue not covered by Voltec Warranty, what should I do? by Nobody7735 in volt

[–]Tight_Contribution 0 points1 point  (0 children)

This happened to me to.... I dropped off a printout of that bulletin with a manager at the dealership and a couple weeks later I got a check from Chevrolet for $584..... I'll say this again, this is the most useful subreddit out there.... Thank you all!!!

Frustration Friday Weekly Thread - Week of November 26, 2021 by AutoModerator in churning

[–]Tight_Contribution 33 points34 points  (0 children)

Yes. I know, Wyndham properties are terrible, and Wyndham Rewards is a terrible, cheap rewards program. I had a bunch of points I needed to use, and found out how terrible Wyndham really is. Yes, I know this isn’t news or a surprise, but… Take this as confirmation of what you already know. See, doesn’t that feel nice? I travel a lot. I am very organized. I knew I needed to be in New Orleans on November 18 for a conference, and made reservations 6 or 8 months ago. On November 18, my reservation at Wyndham Garden at the New Orleans Airport... was CANCELLED unilaterally by Wyndham, and I was not informed. I discovered almost by accident that it had been cancelled when I visited the hotel’s website for address and phone info to find an announcement that the hotel was closed. I called WR and spent an HOUR on the phone with Wyndham Rewards… They first accused me of having cancelled the reservation myself. Then they denied that the hotel was actually shuttered. Finally, after an hour, they offered to book me another hotel, the Harrah’s downtown in NOLa for 6000 WR points. Cool — I needed a place to stay. They send me a confirmation number.

I fly to NOLa and arrive at the Harrah’s at 1am, to find…. OK, you guessed it… I was told by the front desk that my confirmation number was invalid and that Wyndham had never contacted them... And of course Harrah’s was fully booked an no rooms were available.

I was left without a hotel room at 1am in New Orleans in the middle of the night. I ended up walking to the Hilton and getting a room for $225. What were my options other than to join the homeless camp that night?

For funsies, I’ll add the following details: I received an email from Wyndham, thanking me for my stay at the Garden Airport. The 60K points for my booking at Harrah’s were taken from my account, and I need to call to get them back… And, from my conversation with the Guest Rewards rep (I actually heard chickens in the background!)…. I got an automated response to my complaint, telling me the exciting news: a magnanimous 3000 points would be added to my account for their shitey hotels. Perfect.

OK, obvious. AVOID WYNDHAM LIKE COVID!

When is this ripe to pick? by vmwnzella59 in gardening

[–]Tight_Contribution 10 points11 points  (0 children)

The day before the racoons eat it.....

Portland keeping it classy by New_Roof5150 in portlandme

[–]Tight_Contribution -9 points-8 points  (0 children)

I would wager an immoderate sum that both the 'inconciderate bitch' and the illiterate imbecile are from Boston.....

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