A female internet friend said something that made me think. She said :"Thank God my brother considers my car his responsibility..."
Well, let me say that I want a man like that in my life.
Earlier this week I took my car out to go somewhere. Well, I heard a pinging sound as it was running. That sound scared the heck out of me, I had visions of a repeat performance. I have a 2002 Saturn SL1 which I bought new in 2002, after my 1992 Saturn SL2 bit the dust. Apparently the timing chain (not belt but chain is what they used) broke, or whatever it is that timing chains do, and the engine fried. Rather than deal with putting in a new engine, for about three grand, I opted to get the new car so I would have a full warranty. That's important to me, since I know enough about cars to put on the head of a pin and have space left over.
Anyway, on Monday that pinging sound scared me. I can't replace the engine, or the car, and yes, I am paranoid, lol. I realized that it's past due for an oil change, so I took it to the nearest Master Lube outlet to get that done, and they changed the air filter too while I was there. The guy said it needed to be changed. What do I know? He showed me one (mine he said) and it did look dirty.
Also I have been concerned about my tires. I don't go too far and only have 38,000 kilometers on the car. The All Weather tires are supposed to be good for something like 60,000 I think. So I asked the guy to look at them. He said they should take me through to next winter. Should I believe a guy that only does oil changes? But he's a guy. Guys are born knowing all about that stuff. Right? Funny part is that by the time I arrived at the place, about 6 blocks away from home, the pinging stopped. It might have been making that awful noise just because the car was cold? Again, what do I know?
Another thing, the emergency brake doesn't work. I haven't used it in years, no need when I am in a flat area, so it's probably lack of use that has made it seize, or whatever it is emergency brakes do when they are not used. Kinda pouty of them if you ask me. Anyway, my son-in-law has a standard transmission vehicle and mine is automatic. My daughter wants to use mine when she goes for her road test for her driver's licence next month. She stalls the standard when she has to stop for a light. Not a good thing when being tested. She is the clever one that discovered the emergency brake isn't working in my car. Apparently it will mean an automatic fail for her, or a cancellation of the test, if everything in the car is not working properly at the time of her test. So now I have to get that dang thing fixed, but I don't know the best, most honest, least gouging, you're a woman so we can do whatever and you won't know the difference kind of place to take it to. The dealership seems to be the highest priced place of them all for anything, but it is the place I have trusted the most in the past. My son thinks they are the worst for "twisted honesty". Kinda makes sense since they are in business to sell cars, fixing is a sideline service thing.
My son lives with me. He was on his own but came back about three years ago for economical reasons. He's trying to fast track his student loan repayment. Anyway, he doesn't have a car of his own and doesn't mind borrowing mine when he needs to go somewhere. He also doesn't mind telling me, often, that he hates my gutless wonder and that I should get a Japanese made car. As if I can just go out there and get a new car. I wish I could, but I would probably end up with another Saturn anyway. Aside from pointing out that my car has no "ooomph" he is not much help in the auto maintenance department.
Soooooo, my point is..... I need a man to take over the car maintenance... and while he's at it there are a few other things that he could fix around here too.
I guess you can tell that I was not a flag carrier in the Women's Movement, lol.
