Mine are the same. Who bought them and when, I have no idea. Do they sell sets where the two cables/terminals are different? probably.

Most likely someone just bought a generic cable at a parts store and went with it.

 

To update the thread. The claim manager called me on Monday leaving an extremely useless message telling me they would get it towed. Did not say where, did not give me a claim number, did not leave contact info. The only thing he said was if I had questions I should contact the Store's management.

Obviously this wasn't ok, as I had my choice already of where I wanted it taken. I called the Store to be sure and was told what I already suspected, the claim was being handled by CMI. This was the TLE manager who until that point hadn't been involved at all, so I don't blame him.

From the insurance company's (CMI) operator I got my claim number and name/extension of the claim manager. I left him a message about noon Monday and didn't hear back until Tuesday.

Now, when he finally called me back today, he told me I should go head and get it towed where I want and get a rental and they would reimburse me. When I informed him I'm not ok with that, because I don't want to get stuck with the bill his reply was if I wanted the car fixed I had to do that, because its my car so its my responsibility to get it fixed. When I asked his supervisor, he rattled off a name and extension so fast it was impossible for any human being to understand it. Then he hung up on me. The entire call he was very rude (the nicest way I can put it) typical what you expect from the cliche insurance guy.

I called the Store again and spoke to the Store Manager, from him I got the number of the District Manager. When I called that number it turned out the District Manager wasn't in today, but I told the story to his assistant and she said she would try to get back to me. She also said the Store Manager had just called her (must have been right after he got off the phone with me) and he was trying to track down info for the supervisor I wanted to speak to. Once I was off the phone with the DM's assistant I called CMI again and was able to get a name and extension for the supervisor I wanted to speak to. Around 3pm I left her a voicemail asking her to call me back.


Around 2pm I got a call back from the Store manager telling me he talked to the District Manager and while the DM was in meetings all day today, he would be calling me up tommorrow. The Store manager also said he left the supervisor I wanted a voicemail and would be trying again to get ahold of her.

I figured I woudn't hear back until tomorrow since the insurance place closes at 5pm. Then around 6pm I got a call from the supervisor I wanted. I don't know if the Store manager or district manager's assistant was able to get ahold of her but I suspect they were since it was after their normal business hours. My guess is the Store Manager or District Manager lit a fire under their butts.

The supervisor I spoke to talked to me about all of it in a very professional manner. She put me on hold and called the store, who are not towing it to where I wanted it towed. Then she said tomorrow she would call the closest rental agency (they were already closed by this time so she couldn't do it today) and talk to them about setting up a rental paid for by them.

So while I of course don't have an estimate or a final outcome yet, things look good so far. A couple days late but I can deal with that. The store itself and everyone at it were great, the supervisor was great, the only issue was the first claim manager i got, so maybe it was just a matter of luck that I got a bad employee.

Apologies for the wall of text but maybe somebody will find it helpful if they have a similar issue. The store itself and everyone at it were great every step of the way.

TL;DR - Claim manager gave me the run around, Store Manager and District Manager's assistant got the ball rolling. Claim manager's supervisor fixed it so far.

 

Something similar happened to me at Sears. They were putting new struts in my Volkswagon Rabbit and because they come out inside the car, they tore my headliner. When I noticed it -they initially denied it, usual run-around, etc.

I finally told them point blank that I was going to call a cop and file a report, they not only paid for a new headliner, I did not have to pay for the struts either.

Bottom line. Make them pay for everything up front - tow, rental, diagnostic fees, etc. Make them tow it to a dealership that has the proper tools to diagnose potential PCM issues. Finally, make them pay for any and all time you miss out from work because of it.

It is nice that the Wally World employees are being good about it. They are pretty much done with the issue - other then just trying to be nice about it. HOWEVER, now you have to deal with the folks holding the insurance money bag, and they don't really give a crap about you or your problems.They just want to get away with paying as little as possible - same as any insurance company.

If you think this is going to go sour, go ahead and line up a lawyer. Usually you can talk to one for an initial consult for free, and you only have to pay them if you actually use them on the case. That way, if you have to threaten them, you actually have someone to threaten them with, and you won't come off as a blow-hard gas bag.

PS: Get EVERYTHING in writing and keep a copy of ANYTHING you get!

 

Turns out it was just a fusible link. For whatever reason it started right up at the garage, just wouldn't charge the new battery. Everything else checks out fine so they're cutting me a check (bill was only about 90 bucks) and sending it out Monday. So I get to keep the rental over the weekend of course.

All in all it looks like I got unlucky with the techs mistake and then unlucky with the initial problems with the claim manager, I've talked to him since and he's been very helpful.

Thanks again for your advice guys, seems like I got lucky with the actual damage done but I wouldn't have even known how bad it could have been without this thread.