Auto repair shop recommendations wanted, Port Jervis, NY.

[randomness]

Heya all! Victoria and I are currently in a Comfort Inn in Port Jervis, NY. Anyone have any recommendations for a reliable auto repair shop?

The steering wheel suddenly developed a decided occasional shimmy. Then, we started hearing a knocking sound. At about that point we decided that discretion was the better part of valor, and we pulled into the motel lot.

A quick shake of the passenger's side front wheel revealed significant play.

From this, I suspect something along the lines of a tie rod end about to fail. Anyone have another diagnosis, from what I'm describing? The onset of this particular set of symptoms was pretty fast: from first odd inklings to "pull it off the road" was sixty miles at most.

If it's what I think it is, failure tends to cause you to lose the ability to steer. I think this would be a bad thing to happen, particularly when going downhill at highway speed, but generally it's a lousy thing to have happen whenever you're driving.

Tomorrow, we look for repair shops. Anyone have either a recommendation for or against in this neighborhood?

We made it pretty far today. All the way from Cleveland! A couple of hours more and we'd have made it to Vic's friends in Putnam Co. But hey, you don't mess with this, if it's what I suspect.

Mostly, I'm glad it didn't actually fail while we were rolling downhill through the Poconos with a semi tailgating us at 75 mph. We'd be flat!

Comments

[drucifer25.livejournal.com]

You are about 20 minutes from where my parents live. I've sent you their number through AIM/mobile device forwarding, so that you can call them about where to get your car fixed. If you didn't get it, call me tomorrow morning and I can give it to you again; I'll be up in about five hours.

[r-ness.livejournal.com]

I got it. Thanks!

If you're up now, let me know. I'll give you a call and we can figure out what best to do.

[rmd.livejournal.com]

HI VIC!!!!!!

[bedfull-o-books.livejournal.com]

Glad you are both safe and that you are able to harness the power of varioius electronic communications devices to get the problem solved.

I still miss you.

Take care of yourself, though, 'kay?

[r-ness.livejournal.com]

I will.

Miss you!

[rather-amoosing.livejournal.com]

Sounds very similar to when the tie rod end on my 93 Accord started to fail, though it sounds like yours got worse a lot faster than mine. I applaud your decision to get off the road - don't mess around with that kind of problem! Good luck finding a decent shop.

I know a great guy in Jersey City....

[maggiebex.livejournal.com]

...though I'm not sure how far Port Jarvis is from JC.
Mike at
ALPHA OMEGA VEHICLE REPAIR
201-798-1647
866 Newark Ave
Jersey City, NJ 07306

Re: I know a great guy in Jersey City....

[tfarrell.livejournal.com]

Far.

About halfway across the state of NJ.

Port Jervis is the NY side of the point where NY, NJ, and PA come together.

[carneggy.livejournal.com]

Echoing the above: HI VIC!

[bloodstones.livejournal.com]

I have no advice about fixing your car. I just think that when you do get it fixed, you should drive to Chicago. We could go to the diner where boysquid proposed. Except, you know, since you're you, you've probably already been.

[r-ness.livejournal.com]

That wasn't Omega in Niles, was it?

That's the only diner I remember going to in Chicago.

[bloodstones.livejournal.com]

No. It's the White Castle downtown near the loop. It's great. If we're there not to late a lot of the customers are all dressed up in suits and it seems like it's the after drinks after a show crowd. The food is greasy. The milkshakes are tasty. We're usually the only white people in the place and the waitresses all call you 'hun', and encourage you to indulge when you order said tasty milkshake.

[tfarrell.livejournal.com]

Goodness, Port Jervis is directly across the river from Matamoras, where my family is from. If I'd found your message earlier I'd have been able to give you a family number to call too.

Small world...