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Just when we thought we had seen it all in the automotive repair industry, we were again in for a surprise. While investigating a noise complaint on a customer’s Chevrolet, we came across Chevrolet Service Bulletin
# 02-08-61-001. The bulletin is titled: “Sub frame/Frame -Clicking/Creaking Noises.

The bulletin states that 2000-2002 Chevrolet Impala and Monte Carlo owners may notice a clicking/creaking noise from the front of their vehicles. The noise is most apparent during stationary or low speed turning maneuvers and may be audible from outside the vehicle and/or inside the passenger compartment. The bulletin states that the cause may be small movement between the contacting surfaces of various brackets, cross-members and side rails that are welded together to form the vehicle’s frame/cradle assembly. The slight movement occurs when the assembly is subjected to certain types of load conditions and in some instances may cause a clicking/creaking type noise. The specific areas affected are the steering gear brackets to the rear cross-member and the right/left rear body mount bracket to the rear cross-member and right/left side rails.

The bulletin goes on to instruct technicians on cleaning the various brackets and frame areas and how to then apply a super glue type thread locker chemical to these areas. The bulletin then states that some early production vehicles may be missing vertical welds on the steering gear attaching brackets. On these vehicles, technicians are instructed to pour the thread locker down the bracket where it makes contact with the cross-member.

As with all GM service bulletins, this repair is covered for free under the 3 year 36,000 mile warranty. After the warranty period elapses, the repair is considered a customer pay upgrade.

After all these years of automotive service, we never thought we would be instructed to repair defective and missing frame welds with super glue. It just goes to show that you never know what you’re going to come across in the automotive repair industry.

Wow - $5000 For Your Old Clunker

When you see an add offering, $2000, $3000, $4000 or $5000 for your car in trade, regardless of its age, mileage or condition, try to remember that "If it sounds too good to be true it usually is." These automotive classified ads were designed to capture the minds of "Mindless People."  Anyone who thinks they would actually get $5000 for a car that’s worth nothing, had better think  again!

(Obituaries Courtesy The Standard Times)
Note: Due to recent requests, we will be adding family survivors to our customer’s obituaries as space allows.

Mae L. (Phelan) Bois, 63, of New Bedford died Saturday, June 5, 2004, at home surrounded by family and friends after an eight-year battle with breast cancer. She was the wife of George Bois; they were married in 1960. Born in New Bedford on Oct. 7, 1940, the daughter of the late John and Mary (Welch) Phelan, she was a lifelong resident. She was a graduate of New Bedford High School. She enjoyed traveling with her husband. One of her greatest pleasures was shopping for and spending time with her grandchildren. She was known to comfort and give to those in need. Mrs. Bois savored the good times and made the best of the difficult times. She lived by the saying, "When one door closes, another one opens." For the past 15 years, she and her son Andrew owned and operated the Irish pub Shenanigans in the North End. Survivors include her widower; two sons, William Bois and his wife, Miriam, of Bel Alton, Md., and Andrew Bois and his fiancee, Teresa Timoteo, of New Bedford; a daughter, Michelle Hernandez, and her husband, Robert, of Coral Gables, Fla.; a brother, William Phelan of New Bedford; two sisters, Ruby Golonski of Long Beach, Calif., and Alice Thurmer of Park Ridge, Ill; and five grandchildren, Hayley, Cara, Bianca, Erica and Zachary.

John M. Izidoro, 85, of New Bedford died Wednesday, July 21, 2004, at St. Luke's Hospital after a brief illness. He was the widower of Martha (Coutinho) Izidoro. A lifelong New Bedford resident, he was the son of the late Manuel Izidoro and Mary O. Martin. Mr. Izidoro had been a shipper at Jemy Sportswear and also worked at the Boulevard Funeral Home. He was a member of the American Portuguese War Veterans, Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 6643 in Freetown, American Legion Panthers Golden Ages. He was the president and vice president of various coin clubs throughout the area. He enjoyed bowling and shuffleboard. He was an Army veteran of World War II. Survivors include a brother-in-law, Joseph Coutinho and his wife, Alice, of New Bedford; and a nephew, Alan Coutinho of Acushnet. He was the brother of the late Mary Izidoro, Anna Izidoro and Manuel Izidoro Jr.

Jeanne (Bachand) Dalton, 79, of Fairhaven died Saturday, May 15, 2004, at Women & Infants Hospital, after a brief illness. She was the widow of Charles S. Dalton Jr. Born in New Bedford, the daughter of the late Arthur and Eloide (Dupuis) Bachand, she lived in New Bedford before moving to Fairhaven in 1989. Mrs. Dalton was a communicant of Holy Name of the Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish. Survivors include three sons, Mark C. Dalton and his wife, Barbara, of Acushnet, and James S. Dalton and his wife, Deborah, and Charles S. Dalton III, all of Fairhaven; a daughter, Patricia Perras of East Freetown; three sisters, Beatrice Bodeau and Claire Galligan, both of Acushnet, and Irene Duclo of Proctor, Vt.; seven grandchildren, Dalton J. Perras, Nathan J. Perras, Kristen A. Dalton, Daniel M. Dalton, Leigh A. Dalton, Andrea J. Dalton and Lacy J. Langevin; and several nieces and nephews. She was the mother-in-law of the late Robert A. Perras.

Laurent N. "Pat" Gregoire, 76, of Rochester died from colon cancer Wednesday, Aug. 11, 2004, at home surrounded by his family. He was the husband of Theresa (Choquette) Gregoire; they were married 54 years. Born in Fairhaven, he was the son of the late Norbert and Laura (Benoit) Gregoire. He was a communicant of St. Rose of Lima Church. He established Gregoire and Son Plastering in 1956 and taught the trade to many men who consider him a legend. He retired due to illness a month ago. He was nicknamed "Popsy Bear." He was a past member of Knights of Columbus, Good Sam's Camping Club and New Bedford Local 39 Plasterers Union. He collected antique car parts and took pride in restoring his 1932 Chevrolet. He was gentle, honest and proud of his family. He enjoyed playing pitch with his close friends, Maurice and Helen Bourbeau; traveling with his wife; clambakes; yard sales; singing and yodeling; cradling babies; raising chickens; ushering in each week at 8 o'clock Mass, followed by breakfast with his dear friends, Butch and Doris Boucher; and family get-togethers. Survivors include his widow; three sons, Leonard Gregoire and his wife, Christine, of Freetown, Marcel Gregoire and his wife, Lorraine, of Wareham and Gary Gregoire and his wife, Erin, of Mattapoisett; two daughters, Jeannette Oliveira and her husband, Felix, of Largo, Fla., and Elaine Cellana and her husband, Peter, of Orange; a sister, Cecile Arruda of Fairhaven; 13 grandchildren, Melissa Gregoire, Marcy Gregoire, Aaron Oliveira, Derek Gregoire, Seth Gregoire, Amy Jean Oliveira, Kristen Cellana, Hannah Gregoire, Zachary Gregoire, Nicholas Gregoire, Kyle Cellana, Sorrel Gregoire and Cedar Gregoire; three great-grandchildren, Ayla Gregoire, Annalea Ramseyer, Kaiya Gregoire.
 
Nancy M. (Shiels) Doyle of Marion, formerly of New Bedford, died Thursday, Aug. 26, 2004, at Sippican Healthcare Center after a brief illness. She was the widow of William T. Doyle. She was the daughter of the late Thomas H. and Margaret (Apsey) Shiels, and was a communicant of St. James Church. Mrs. Doyle was a retired Verizon employee, and a former member of the Telephone Company Pioneers. She also was a member of St. Luke's Hospital Auxiliary and was a volunteer for the American Cancer Society. An avid golfer, she was a member of the Country Club of New Bedford and a former member of the Reservation Golf Club in Mattapoisett. Survivors include Daniel Riley and his wife, Nancy, of Taunton, and Jeffrey Riley and his wife, Johanna, of Mattapoisett. She was the sister of the late Barbara E. Shiels and the cousin of the late Auberta A. Riley.

John P. "Cuddles" Ramos, 70, of New Bedford died at home with his family at his side Monday, Sept. 13, 2004, after a long illness. A lifelong New Bedford resident, he was the son of the late Mini (Grace) Ramos Barrows and Peter Ramos Sr. He was a communicant of Our Lady of the Assumption Church. Mr. Ramos was a curer at Goodyear Tire & Rubber and had worked for the New Bedford public school department for 12 years. He was an Army veteran, serving as a mechanic. He was the vice president of the AFSCME Local 641 and the Bisca Tournament Club of New Bedford. He was a Ward 3 delegate and a delegate to the Democratic National conventions. He was the patriarch of his family. He enjoyed traveling, spending time with his grandsons, the company of his family and friends and photography. He was a Cadillac aficionado. Survivors include two daughters, Linda M. Ramos of New Bedford and Gina M. Moraes and her husband, Richard, of Acushnet; four grandsons, Jarrod J. Ramos and Jordan John Ramos, both of New Bedford, and Richard Moraes II and Jonathan L. Moraes, both of Acushnet; his companion, June Cosme of New Bedford; two sisters, Margaret Ramos of Kissimmee, Fla., and Beatrice Ramos-Fernandes of New Bedford; three brothers, Antone P. Ramos of New Bedford, Richard P. Ramos of Sunny Vale, Calif., and Joseph "Butch" Barrows of Somerset; and several nieces, nephews and godchildren. He was the brother of the late Clara Sylvia, Peter Ramos Jr., and Daniel P. Ramos.