Locate an Auto Repair Shop in Hawthorne, Nevada

The letter I got was a "Warranty Extension-Transmission Valve Body" I took it into Pacific Volkswagen in Hawthorne, CA where I bought the car used. They told me that they would have to "hook it up" to see if that "part" was the problem & that it would cost me $125.00 - IF "that part" was the problem, I would not have to pay the $125. Ihave been having trouble with "hard shifting" for a while & they could never feel it or diagnose the problem, but now that this letter came, I figured they figured it out - WRONG!! This is totally rediculious - I KNEW they would not find a problem with the ONE part & keep the $$. They say it is: 004.01-Check DTC memory CODE 17116 3 GEAR 2 INCORRECT RATIO INTERMITTENT What the heck is that? They didn't even suggest rebuilding anything - They say I have to get a whole new transmission - at the cost of ... $5,246.87 PLUS $1,000.00 labor! Ihave been laid off for 2 years - paid the car off during that time & have no $ to do ANY of that, so they let me drive away. I have taken the car in to them for all it's regular service & oil changes & on top of the Trans, thay say that my brakes are metal to metal, my cv boots are cracked & leaking and that I need: the Trans (5,246.87) ; 2(two) Driveshafts (@328.90 each) ; 2 Boots (@108.72) ; 2 MORE boots (@136.80) ; brake lining (@ 87.75) ANOTHER brake lining (@128.70) ; and a brake wash (@6.94) these prices don't include labor & I was told that the Trans labor would be $1,000.00. NOW I went home, looked up Kelly Blue book & saw that my car "In FAIR condition" & we can see that if all the above is true - it is NOT even in FAIR condition - but the FAIR condition Trade-in value is $4,500 - Private Party Fair condition Value is $6,025 & N/A for POOR condition - Why would you invest MORE $ in a car than what it's worth? I have 82,000 miles on it & REALLY have enjoyed my car, but what's next? When I was working & had to put $ into it, it wasn't so bad, but now, I just don't know what to do. Thanks for letting me vent - if you've got any suggestions, I'll listen

"Negotiations for M-B to sever with Studebaker began in December 1964 and by Feb. '65, a deal was struck. Studebaker agreed to sell its M-B distribution rights and related assets in the U.S. and Canada to Daimler-Benz AG for approximately $9 million. Daimler-Benz then formed their own wholly-owned M-B distribution company called Mercedes-Benz of North America with headquarters in Fort Lee, NJ. The Canadian branch was called Mercedes-Benz of Canada, Ltd., and was centered in Toronto, Ontario. Thus, after almost eight years, Studebaker relinquished its association with Mercedes-Benz." Source: Turning Wheels magazine, June 1991, "Mercedes-Benz Sales, Inc., a Studebaker Subsidiary 1957-1965" by Fred Fox, long known as the foremost Studebaker historian extant. This excellent fifteen-page article, with many photographs, also has a sub-article by Harry Hawthorn, who was part of the M-B division at Studebaker, and information provided by Tom Torrance, who also worked in the M-B division while at Studebaker.

What're a few largely harmless bacteria among friends anyway? Sorry the article is a little long, but as the Minister of Safety for the Edmunds group I think this is very worthwhile. By the way, charging for bags just started here so it is a controversial issue. Back to plastic? Reusable grocery bags may cause food poisoning Posted: May 20, 2009, 11:00 AM by Karen Hawthorne plastic bags, health, environment Get out your bleach and launder those reusable fabric grocery bags after each use. You're not clogging up landfill with plastic throw-aways, but your environmental conscientiousness could make you sick. A microbiological study — a first in North America — of the popular, eco-friendly bags has uncovered some unsettling facts. Swab-testing by two independent laboratories found unacceptably high levels of bacterial, yeast, mold and coliform counts in the reusable bags. "The main risk is food poisoning," Dr. Richard Summerbell, research director at Toronto-based Sporometrics and former chief of medical mycology for the Ontario Ministry of Health, stated in a news release. Dr. Summerbell evaluated the study results. "But other significant risks include skin infections such as bacterial boils, allergic reactions, triggering of asthma attacks, and ear infections," he stated. The study found that 64% of the reusable bags tested were contaminated with some level of bacteria and close to 30% had elevated bacterial counts higher than what's considered safe for drinking water. Further, 40% of the bags had yeast or mold, and some of the bags had an unacceptable presence of coliforms, faecal intestinal bacteria, when there should have been 0. "The presence of faecal material in some of the reusable bags is particularly concerning," Dr. Summerbell stated. "All meat products should be individually wrapped before being placed in a reusable bag to prevent against leakage. This should become a mandated safety standard across the entire grocery industry." Don't use your cloth grocery bags for toting gym clothes or diapers or anything but your groceries to prevent possible exposure to a superbug called community-acquired MRSA, a highly antibiotic-resistant form of a common infectious bacterium, Dr. Summerbell cautioned. The study was funded by the Environment and Plastics Industry Council (EPIC), an industry initiative to promote responsible use and recovery of plastic resources. EPIC is a committee of the Canadian Plastics Industry Association. Conclusions from the study? This may have you gladly handing over the coins for plastic bags at the supermarket: • The moist, dark, warm interior of a folded used reusable bag that has acquired a small amount of water and trace food contamination is an ideal incubator for bacteria. • The strong presence of yeasts in some bags indicates the presence of water and microbial growth substrate (food). • There is a potential for cross-contamination of food if the same reusable bags are used on successive trips. • Check-out staff in stores may be transferring these microbes from reusable bag to reusable bag as the contaminants get on their hands. • In cases of food poisoning, experts will have to test reusable bags in addition to food products as the possible sources of contamination. Read more: Reusable Bags

Don't know if you're still looking, but Pacific VW in Hawthorne (South Bay LA) had an R-Line or two in stock when I was there over the weeknd. Hope this helps.

Just took delivery of a 2011 Hyundai Sonata SE tonight from Keith Hawthorne Hyundai in Charlotte NC. Only SE in stock-Pearl White. Sticker-$23,650-Options-Pearl White Paint-$200, Floor Mats $100, IPod Cable-$35. Paid less than $22,000 including Hyundai Owner Rebate of $500. Also got 2.9 Financing. Great Dealership-No Ad On's, in and out of the dealer ship in less than 2 hours! Looked at Accord EX and Camry SE. Car is far superior to both, larger, better equiped, XM Radio Standard. Offered a unbelievable deal on the Camry SE, but the new Sonata is a much nicer and better equiped car.