SoCal (OC and LA County), help....

[Alternative]

Why is it too difficult to get a hold of Dan Cragin and Dave Jenkins. I've tried to send emails, and have left voice messages. I can understand why it's been difficult to reach Dan, as he was on vacation, and is currently moving. But Dave, is he on vacation? I wanted to visit Dave, but I don't know where his shop, or what dealership he works at. I'd like to have some routine maintenance work done.
I've worked on cars before, but I'm intimitidated to work on
the Viper (picked up Viper about a month ago). I know normal oil changes is not a problem, but since I have 13K+ miles now (previous owner had the gear oil changed), I also want to flush the radiator and brake fluid. Also, maybe changed the brake lines to SS braided lines, replace spark plugs, and change plug
wires if necessary. I'm afraid to miss any "special procedure" (if any for this type of work on the Viper), and I don't want to jack the car up the wrong way. Owner's manual stated how to lift one wheel, but didn't cover how to lift both front or rear wheels.

 

[genXgts]

Good luck, I lost a car on lack of call back, if your not in the area your SOL, for Jenkins I just heard today you can hunt him down through the number at the dealership he works for, and not the phone number he leaves for the board to call, I tried that in excess of 20 times........
good luck
Ryan

 

[Ulysses]

Dave Jenkins works for Neighborhood Dodge in Irvine.

Everything you want to do is pretty simple. The hardest task you have there is the radiator flush but only because it is real time consuming.

 

[Brad Manhattan Beach]

Alan:

You can try John Horton in Temecula. He is a Viper Tech who opened his own tuning shop. His number is 909-676-1204.

Dan Castletine is also another good Viper Tech who can do your service. he is at Don Kott Chrysler in Carson. His number is 310-816-2600.

The maintenance that you want is pretty rountine for any of these guys.

Good luck and I hope that this helps.

Brad

 

[David Jenkins]

Alan, on the first message you left, you didn't speak loud enough.(last week?) The digital machine does not pick up a voice if it's not loud. I just got another message from you this afternoon(4:28 pm Thurs.) and had planned on calling you back Friday morning. I haven't gotten any new e-mail from anyone since March 6th.(Brad's clutch)
Ryan, I'm sorry we had to play phone tag. The only email I got from you was on the Feb. 20th, after our phone conversation. Last call I made was to the seller, the last week of February, leaving him a message to bring the car in. You knew I was going to do that. He returned my call with a message asking when. I returned his call with a message telling him to drop it off Saturday so I could inspect it. Next thing I get a call from a guy in NC wanting me to fax him records because he's buying the car. I'm sorry I didn't return your calls, that was wrong, but in no way did it stop the car from being brought in. It's really no excuse, but I've missed a few days work the past couple of weeks going to physical therapy and getting an MRI on my back. Also have missed some days taking care of legal issues for my upcoming divorce trial on Tuesday. I know of an extremely clean Red '97 GTS owned by a CART car crew chief that will be on the market shortly. If you still haven't found a car and you may want this one, let me know and we'll talk. You have my word. 9k miles, new 18" BBS', SVSI headers, Borla c/b, MSD wires, SVSI shifter, T&D 1.7 shafts, K&N's-smoothies, Eibachs, anti-toe brackets, perf. street alignment. Nice piece. It's in Indy. dj

 

[Greg 99ACR Red and Silver]

When people pay $70-$90K for a Dodge, they don't want to play email and phone tag for Service. If someone is away, busy or whatever, it should not affect the interaction with the customer and a satisfactory result.

This has been my only gripe with Viper ownership. For any other car I have ever owned, the phone gets answered by a human when I call for service.

 

[ACR Larry]

Gentlemen, Give the man a break. I have had to deal with many auto technicians throughout the years that have been dishonest and unreliable to say the least.

Jenkins has more integrity and is more reliable than any other auto tech that I have ever dealt with (and I am an old dog).
He has come through for me 100% of the time and has been super courteous to boot. He has got a few things to get organized at the moment so I say again "give the man a break". You won't find a better Viper tech anywhere!

 

[Vic]

Dave Jenkins is a decent human being, who has to deal with a lot of "irons in the fire". He is friendly, when I come by to chat. (Usually I'm just taking one of my other cars to the nearby Jiffy Lube, WHICH I DON"T RECCOMEND AT ALL), (By the way)

Where was I? Oh, yeah..

Dave has a full plate of Vipers to work on, but still has time for my questions and chit chat, so much so that I actually feel that I am taking up his time. He gets paid to fix Vipers, and any time he stops to answer the phone, or chat, actually hurts his work picture. Anyway, what is the phone suppossed to be, some kind of a whip to harrass service providers? Be patient, because good things are worth waiting for.

Dave has flawlessly installed my Corsa cat backs, and a new oil cooler which got punctured by a rock. In my opinion, he has the highest standards of quality workmanship and courtesy that I have EVER seen, among the dozen or so new cars that I have owned and had serviced by dealers. Give the guy a break, he is doing a lot of work, and holding up really good, especially considering the life changes he is going through.

 

[Vic]

Ryan-

I had seen your post about the car in Orange County, but I can't post back from my house, because I don't have a valid e-mail address to register from at home, except hot mail, which is not accepted for board registration purposes. All my e-mailing is done from work. Problem is, I'm never in the office. So I just lurk on the board at night at my home, but can't post back to find out where that car was. I work a lot of late hours in the field, so its kind of hard for me to play computer tag.

I wanted to go look at that car for you, but couldn't hook up. You never know, it might blow up, and then you'll think it was the hand of God that led you to a better choice.

Anyway, sorry I couldn't look at it for you.
-Vic