We bought a lemon.

Well today really took the cake. There were several times I pondered stripping naked and running around the van screaming while banging a pot with a spoon.

So Allen and I bought a van a little over a month ago. We don't have a lot of money and can't afford a car payment so basically we could only afford what we got for the truck we sold.

We find a van in Orlando, test drive it the whole nine yards. There were a few things I didnt like about it. As soon as I mentioned them the salesman immediately said "we can fix that". Long story short, we agreed to buy the van under the condition that a few things were fixed. Basically the power windows and locks and a few other minor things. They told us it would take 2-3 days. I said fine we can pick it up then.

Two weeks went by before it was ready.

I was not thrilled with the length of time it took, but they said they were waiting on parts. My sister and I go to pick up the van as Allen was on the road. When I got there the power locks were not working right. There was that "tugging" in my head saying "no deal, just leave". I called Allen and we rambled back and forth. Makily's heart cath was coming up the following weekend and we basically just wanted to have a vehicle that wasnt HOT AS HADES to drive her in. I expressed my anger about the door locks and the salesman told me we could have it fixed at our own mechanic and to send them the bill they will cover it. I made sure to get this in writing and so we bought the van.

Well our fears about buying the van came true. The day after I brought it home the "add coolant" light came on. Allen checked the radiator and discovered it had rust in it....lots of rust. I actually have a video of it. ANYWAY....Allen flushed out the radiator, we added coolant and water and things seemed okay. Three days later the driver side passenger window stopped working. Two days after that it overheated on the way back to my house at 10 pm with Makily in the van.

I called the car lot and explained everything the next morning. Basically he said "how do I know you haven't been driving it for a week with no water?" So I guess they don't make it a point to make sure all their vehicles have appropriate fluids in them before they go off the lot. He claims that all their vehicles are checked out by a mechanic and I asked him how they "overlooked" the rusted out radiator. He didnt have an answer for that.

After much crying he REFUSED to take the van back (I am not surprised)but said to get an estimate on all the repairs and then we would "talk".

This was ALL THE WEEK BEFORE MAKILYS HEART CATH....like I had the time or patience to deal with ANY OF THIS.

So we took the van to get looked at. For the leaking coolant problem and to fix the brake lights that werent working (did I mention that?) it was $325 and the guy was SUPER nice and fixed it the cheapest way he knew how.

We picked the van up today and left soon after to take Makily to Orlando to see the Neurologist. We stopped about half way there to get a snack and when we did the "add coolant" light came on.

I wanted to scream.

Allen got out and the coolant was leaking like a faucet onto the pavement. When he opened the hood it was steaming and spurting water.

At this point I said many profanities. I sounded alot like a sailor and for that God I am sorry.

After about 15 minutes of Allen and I exchanging words, we decided we would have it towed back to the shop in Ocala and have my brother in law come pick us up.

I go to get Makily out of the van, as it's blazing hot and figured we would go inside to cool off, her cheeks are already getting red.

Are you ready?

I unstrap her car seat straps, and

HER SHIRT WAS DRENCHED AND HER G TUBE WAS LEAKING AGAIN.

For those of you who have been following Makily's Caringbridge Page for the last week or so know the significance of this.

I almost WENT CRAZY right then and there. I mean seriously the timing is just uncanny. Our van is blowing up half way to Orlando and now my kid's tummy is leaking like a faucet again.

SOMEONE SHOOT ME NOW.

We go inside the rest area and it's HOT in there. So my poor kid is hot as heck and finally just zonks out. Here she is:



After all was said and done, it was just another hose that needed repair. It is done and the van seems to be running okay for now.

I sent an email to the car lot with an estimate of all the repairs. We will see what they say. If they do not provide us with some kind of compensation I plan on plastering their name and how they sold us a lemon ALL OVER the internet, along with the video documentation we have and everything else.

What's sad is when we initially went to look at the van, I explained to the sales man that we had a special needs child with a wheelchair, which is why we were looking for something roomier. I told him we drive back and forth to Orlando to see her specialists. We are also going to start fostering soon and so we need something VERY safe and reliable.

So knowing this they sold us a van that has all these problems. I just don't understand how people do these things and then sleep at night.

Before you ask I searched lemon laws in Florida. Unfortunately there is ONLY a lemon law for people that buy NEW vehicles. So is you buy something used, you are basically screwed.