If there is one thing I'm definitely NOT geeky about, its cars. I have a 2000 Saturn sedan and its starting to get long in the tooth.
My troubles with my car started on Sunday when I noticed on the way back from dinner that the front passenger tire was low on air pressure. So I stopped at the nearest gas station to re-inflate it. This particular tire has a nasty habit of going low anyway. In fact, it seems to have always behaved that way since the car was brand new. I'm the original owner of this vehicle btw.
Anyhoo...I'm at the air pump at the gas station and I attempt to inflate the tire. As I do so I notice, I hear hissing. Now I thought it may have been the car wash right next to me but I waited a few minutes while I talked over the situation with my husband and reinflated the tire again. Once again I heard hissing. Generally speaking this is a BAD sign.
I wanted to change the tire right then and there but my hubby thought we could make it home. So we all piled back in the car and we drove home (about 3 miles). We arrive at home, and the tire still has a bit of pressure..doesn't look overly flat, but I decide to change it anyway b/c I'm expecting it to be flat as a pancake by morning. So the tire is changed into the donut and as we're pulling the tire off the car, I notice the rim looks bent. Now I mean BENT not just a little out of true and unfortunately bent in more than one place. This is a bad sign.
We get the donut on, put the busted rim in the trunk and I plan to take my car in for service first thing Monday. Here's where the fun starts.
Understand this car is 7 years old. I bought it in May of 2000 as a replacement for a 1993 Toyota Tercel which I had basically run into the ground. I drive cars until they basically fall apart.
At the dealership I tell the service guy, I need this rim/tire fixed & I'd like a basic oil change too please. Figure this is gonna run about 300 bucks with the new rim and all that. He calls me back to the service desk about 20 minutes later and says we've found other critical things wrong with your car that you need to have fixed like PRONTO.
I say OK what are the issues. First the temperature sensor is reading hot when the car isn't hot. This means that if the temp sensor goes completely out into the weeds, the "idiot don't drive your car" system will kick in and not allow me to start my car, leaving me stranded whereever I happen to be when this occurs. On top of this, the coolant system has a small leak which will make the engine run hotter than it normally would anyway. AND all the coolant hoses and whatnot are factory orignals and should be replaced. <rah>
But wait, that's not all. The rear brake systems are leaking brake fluid into the brakes which could cause the shoes to become "saturated" which will make the brakes basically ineffective. So I need to have the leak fixed, the brake lines checked & possibly replaced & the lines flushed and refilled etc.
At this point, I'm starting to feel sick. Nothing he's talking about doing is going to be cheap. I tell him, right now just do the tires & oil change. I've got to get that done so I can at least get back on the road and leave me an itemized list of whatelse needs fixing and I'll discuss it with my hubby.
That afternoon, they call and say my car's ready. Husband comes and picks me up and as we're driving over there I tell him the details about whatelse needs servicing on the car.
His response, lets get it all done.
So now, at 12:30 PM EST Tuesday afternoon, my car is ready after nearly 1300 bucks worth of work on it. I swear this thing better purr or I'm going to be seriously ticked off and may start the dreaded "new vehicle" purchase process. UG...which I detest by the way. I think I'd rather be shot.
<sigh>
So as my wallet is bleeding, I sure hope my car is stabilized.
<bad car days are here again>