Holly and I have been considering buying a new car. Not because we need one but because our 1994 Dodge Colt is a steaming turd. Well, actually it’s a frozen turd since the heater doesn’t work but that’s beside the point. We discussed our options and decided that it would be best if we can squeeze another year out of it. If it can run until December when Holly is out of nursing school, we can get the type of car we want instead of a piece of junk.
Since it’s like 10 degrees here at night when I leave work, I figured that I better start trying to fix the car so that I don’t end up freezing to death on I-15. I stopped by AutoZone and picked up a new thermostat hoping that it would fix my no heat issues. While I was there, I also picked up a new air filter since I know it hasn’t been changed in a while.
I was able to get the thermostat and filter changed out with a little bit of help from a friend. (He helped on the thermostat, I can change a filter.) While we were waiting for the silicone sealant to dry, I mentioned that I had a squeaky belt that was driving me nuts. The offending belt was located and the tension bolt that is associated with that particular belt was then broken as we tried to tighten it. Luckily, the belt is for my AC condenser so we just removed it and I drove home in a now heated car. (I got lucky on the thermostat actually fixing my problems.)
Tonight, I’m going to replace the AC belt, fuel filter, and the top radiator hose. I figure that since the car has almost 200,000 miles on it, if I do these few things, I should be able to get a bit more use from the car. Plus if I do them, then I don’t have to pay somebody else to do them. (I notice that I’m getting cheaper as I get older.)
I never thought that I would be working on my own cars because I’m just not a car guy. I’ve discovered though that it’s something I enjoy. I don’t know what I’m doing but when I finish, and there are leftover parts on the floor of the garage, I know that I can use them next time. Ahhh… Such satisfaction.
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Cars? Those annoying things that break down when you don’t want them too (I recall your experience with stuck lug nuts).
As much as I wish I understood them better, I know that I’d prefer to do other things.
Hell—o,
Cars—I really glad you worked on the heating the inside. Grandpa was the one that fix all our cars. When I moved to SLC, I don’t do cars at all. I learn all I could since then. Now, my boy is learning too. GREAT!!!
You are wonderful!!!
Dad
I remember leaving my Renault stranded in the American Express parking lot one day after work in the early 90s. It broke down there. It didn’t have a heater either, and I couldn’t get the hood up to put water in it. I wasn’t even sad about leaving it there either. Man, I hated that car. After that, grandpa gave your dad a lecture about letting me go to a used car lot by myself.