17 October 2008

Ka-ching


The Check Engine light came on in my car yesterday on the way home form work. Ugh. Today I called the dealer and was told to bring it on in. CarGuy asked me when I bought the car why I bought the extended warranty and I said I felt it was a good thing. I've never bought one before and really had no idea why I did this time. This is the second time I've used that warranty. Want to know what was wrong? My gas cap was old and the seal was cracking and there was no vacuum seal in the gas tank. The computer sensed that and came on. O! and when they lifted the hood they smelled burnt antifreeze. Got to checking and the head gasket was also cracked. So they did a stem to stern safety check. Need new transmission fluid (I knew that one) and new front brakes (I wondered on that one because they felt a bit mushy) but it hadn't started to bite into the brake rotors yet which was a good thing because it would be very expensive. So I decided to have them look at one of the power windows too. All-in-all the repairs are totaling $1600.00. My cost is $200. I have to pay my deductible, the gas cap and the transmission fluid. See? I told you I thought an extended warranty felt right this time. Listen to your intuition.

I've lived a lot of years with a car guy. Does it show? I remember several years back I went to Iowa for my niece's wedding with Auntie, TheKid's girlfriend at the time and my Grand Dog. On the way back, I accidentally filled up with corn gas. My mini van did NOT like that and the engine was dying on I-80. Not fun. At Council Bluffs I finally called a tow truck and was towed into town to the dealership. We spent the night in a dive motel that allowed animals and in the morning went back to the dealership. The service manager tried to sell me a new carburetor. A carburetor? Hello! my mini-van was fuel injected, there was no carburetor. Just button it back up and I'll be on my way. What beet truck do you think I fell from? Huh? I talked with the receptionist who happened to be from Colorado and she is the one that suggested the wrong gasoline. I topped the tank with good gas and had no problem from there on back to Colorado. But I think the corn gas led to the demise of the engine as I blew a head gasket several months later.

Another time, the serpentine belt in my car (an Eagle Talon) snapped and took out some of the ceramic seats on some of the pistons because the pistons were up when the belt snapped. Needed a whole top end on the engine that time.

I just want a car that doesn't break like that. Is that asking too much? O, and my car will be ready on Tuesday, so my mode of transportation this weekend is on two wheels.

13 comments:

  1. I'm glad you got the warranty - don't want anything to be cutting into your fabric money! A weekend without a car will give you an excuse to stay home and play with fabric, or yarn.

    I'm one of those people who would have gotten the carburetor. Thankfully I haven't had to deal with a lot of car trouble, as I generally crash my cars before they start breaking down!

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  2. Wow, lucky (or smart) to have that warranty. I think mechanics have a tendency to prey on women drivers. You are lucky to know so much about cars.

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  3. At least it will be a good weekend for two wheeling!

    It has taken me years to learn I can trust my instincts.

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  4. Sorry to hear about the car troubles. That is one thing that really stresses me out. But, I guess at least the snow is piled up outside, that would make for some miserable bike riding! :~)

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  5. *ugh* car drama . . . it's never fun. I am lucky to have a very nice garage that doesn't treat me like an idiot. I know a thing or two about engines but they don't mock when I perform the odd sound that I just heard.
    Glad the weather is still good for biking *s*

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  6. I'm glad you bought the warranty. Have a nice time at home this weekend.

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  7. Where would you get corn gas? And what is corn gas? And isn't it terrible that mechanic would feel that ripping people off is a good way to conduct business. He should be ashamed. Good for you.

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  8. Wow, girl - I can tell you've learned a thing or two about cars from Car Guy! Wish I could talk like that! LOL I barely know what language you're speaking! 8-)

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  9. I too once bought an extended warrenty and never regreted it once!!!

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  10. I always think twice about buying extended warranties... but, in the long run, they've paid off when I, like you, have followed my gut feeling. Glad it wasn't anything more serious.

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  11. I just hate taking the car in for repair. One time the car repair guy told me that they smelled a musty smell when the air conditioner was turned on. They could clean it out for $200. I don't think so! It smelled fine to me! Yikes!

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  12. Proof that by living with someone for a while we do absorb some of what they know.
    And it's a good thing.
    Vicki

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  13. thats fantastic you were able to get everything fixed. I am a ferm believer in intuition.

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