Update on the van... the transmission suffered "catastrophic failure", losing 2nd and 3rd gears with reverse going as well. I called and talked to the shop yesterday and heard that it was definitely a transmission problem (glad that was clarified), but they hadn't been in touch with the Topeka shop where I had the first transmission rebuilt and thus purchased the lifetime warranty. He assured me everything looks good, but needs to make the confirmation. Unfortunately I heard nothing from them today as promised in regards to a time estimate on the van, but he was pretty confident that it would be much longer than Monday. Another unfortunate piece of news is that they will NOT be covering the rental car I am stuck with until repairs are done. However, I have already been in touch with the powers that be in terms of getting something worked out (I shouldn't have to pay if the shop is behind, IMO), so hopefully I'll catch a bit of a break there. But at this point, I have no real clue as to when I'll be getting the van back.
Weather-wise, the GFS is looking rather quiet through most of next week, my Spring break. With the vehicle situation I have before me, that may not be a terribly bad thing. But I do know at some point I will have to go back down there to get the van, so I'm hopeful I can get a chase in at some point around that, then swap out the rides along the way.
That's the status as of now... if I don't hear anything by mid afternoon tomorrow, I'll call them back. Can't say I am terribly satisfied with the service thus far between the rude greeting and lack of them contacting me with any news (again, I called them yesterday). I understand they are busy, but they are also well aware I am out of state in a rental I am paying for, so they'll have to forgive me for being pushy for info. As far as I am concerned, warranty or not, an $1800 major repair and rebuild should last more than the less than 2 years since the rebuild (granted at 50,000 miles). With that said, I feel I am deserving of at least that, especially since I paid an extra $600 for the warranty. I'll keep you posted.
