Dear Tom and Ray:

I had a problem with my '90 Chevrolet Suburban. For a period of approximately one month, I could not get the engine started. I'd turn the key and nothing at all would happen. When I moved the shift handle slightly, it would start immediately. The garage insisted that I needed a starter, which they put in. Since then, the car has started fine. But could you tell me why moving the shift handle would affect the starter? -- John

Tom: It wouldn't, John. I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but I think these guys made last month's boat payment off of you.

Ray: Either they just bought 800 GM starters at closeout, and were determined to sell one to every customer, or they made a mistake and just didn't own up to it.

Tom: If we give them the benefit of the doubt and assume they didn't set out to rip you off from the beginning, here's what probably happened: They didn't diagnose your problem correctly. They didn't listen, didn't hear, or didn't believe you when you told them about moving the shifter. They put in the new starter, and, lo and behold, the Suburban STILL wouldn't start.

Ray: After smacking themselves (and each other) in the forehead a couple of dozen times, someone realized that moving the shifter DID allow it to start, and they realized that what you had really needed all along was a new "neutral safety switch." That's an $11 safety device that prevents the car from being started unless the transmission is in Park or Neutral. And when it begins to fail, jiggling the shifter or putting it in Neutral will often allow you to start the car (just like whacking the side of the TV will sometimes bring the picture back).

Tom: But instead of admitting their mistake, they just quietly slipped a new neutral safety switch in and charged you for the starter anyway. Not very nice, in my opinion.

Ray: So you can go back and discuss this with the manager. If he recognizes that someone in his shop used extremely poor judgment and apologizes profusely, then I'd consider going back there again. If not, tell your 400 closest friends about this episode every chance you get.

Wait! Don't buy another car without the mechanic's checklist that's included in Tom and Ray's pamphlet "How to Buy a Great Used Car: Secrets Only Your Mechanic Knows." It will help you get a good used car and avoid the clunkers. To order, send (check or money order) to Ruin, P.O. Box 536475, Orlando, FL 32853-6475. You can also order online.

© 1997 by Tom and Ray Magliozzi and Doug Berman Distributed by King Features Syndicate, Inc.

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