Car Fun
[Moozik: The Mission - Tower of Strength]
I'm convinced that I totally jinxed myself when I announced that I'd paid off my car loan. Sod's law dictates that as soon as you do that, a costly repair is just around the corner. You can probably guess where this post is going ;-)
On Monday I got that dreaded feeling of doom when I spotted an oil stain on the ground as I pulled out of my parking space at work. And it wasn't exactly a little stain either. So, in the true spirit of "holy poo I'd better get that looked at" I called the dealer and booked the car in for today. By the time I took the car in first thing this morning, oil was leaking at a noticeable rate, you could actually see it dripping.
So, long story short, it needs a new rear main seal. Not an expensive part (you know there's a but coming) but to replace said seal, they have to take apart half the bloody engine. It will take the bloke 12 hours. Yes, that's 12 hours of labour. Can you see the same dollar signs in front of your eyes that I can?
As I was driving my rental car home this afternoon I couldn't help but wish I'd studied car engines in my youth. Or post-youth for that matter ;-) Because if you're anything like me, you hate standing there at the mercy of Mr-Smug-Mechanic-Bloke as he treats you like a five year old while explaining exactly what he's going to do.
mechanic: you see Kevin, we need to pull the frobnosticator that attaches to the floovill on the main drive shaft. (chuckles in that smug all knowing way). It's because the flabulation seal is contained deep within the filationishtic device that (nods knowingly) means we'll have to pull the goonishn first before we can even replace the nissunjum.me: (gulp) that's what I was thinking you'd have to do. Ahem. Proceed sir.
Actually don't feel bad, I did learn about engines in my youth and to be honest, today's cars are not the same beasts of yesteryear. I can do the simple stuff but it seems like you almost have to have a degree in "modern-car-design" and go on refresher courses just to get by. Sigh. I just spent close to $600 on something I know I should have been able to do myself. And that sucks.
Really. Don't fell like an ass. If it's any consolation, I have no clue what I'm looking at when I open the hood.
My son got some engine parts yesterday. As i was watching him placed the parts, i got confused. I felt left out by these new cars, oh boy! i really need updates on the new designs.
Don't worry about it...these things happen, as soon as I paid mine off things started falling off etc.
I've just had a new windscreen fitted as the chip its had for ages decided to crack.
Nobody told me I could get the chip fixed free under my insurance so me trying to save money by not getting the chip fixed end up forking out for a new windscreen.
In the words of Homer J...D'OH!