My poor little car (a 1989 Chevy Celebrity...in desperate need of a new coat of paint) has been broken down almost since I got home this summer. It started running really roughly, almost as if one of the cylinders was not firing, and it was almost dying as I drove it and the speedomiter was not working at the same time. I took it to three different mechanics - the first two wouldn't even agree to look at it because they didn't know what was wrong... Then I took it to another place, and they told me it needed a "tune-up" and that a leak needed repairing. So I agreed to the tune-up, in hopes that that would take care of the problem. Well, they did the tune up -- they changed some spark plugs and wires and cleaned a filter or two -- and charged me $438. But... I went to pick it up, and the car was still not working. They said the intake and radiator were both leaking so I needed to have more work done on it... $1000 worth all together. I had just had some leaks repaired last summer and I haven't noticed any fluids dripping from underneath, so I thought this sounded very strange.
So I took it back... but was out of money for the moment so I knew I had to wait a little longer to have anything major done. But I took it back over to one of the other places I took it to in the first place, and asked them to look at it again and see if they can tell what was wrong. They said they wouldn't do anything to it unless I was willing to spend $200-$300, and I agreed. (I think they were concerned because it is such an old-looking car that they thought maybe they would try to fix it and it wouldn't get fixed and then I wouldn't pay them)... So they agreed to take it; they kept it there a week and a half (enough time for my aunt to send me $200 for my birthday!) and then called and said that the computer in it had gone bad (and that they checked the intake and there was NO leak!!). They said they went to the salvage yard to find a used computer so that the cost wouldn't "bury me" (like the cost of a new computer would)... and then told me I could come pick it up the car today.
There was a bit of a scare when I went to get it with my mom, because after they gave me the keys and I got into the car to leave....I turned the key in the ignition, and I couldn't get it to start. The mechanic had to come start it for me. He said he thought that there was just some dirt in some pipe that they sprayed and that it would clear itself out, but to bring it back in if I had any more problems. I went to the school and practiced for a little while, and when I went to leave it started like a charm. :-) Good old car.
And I'm so grateful when I find an honest mechanic....
Some new posts on my reflections blog: http://jacquelynsreflections.blogspot.com/2011/08/i-feel-as-if-god-placed-his-foot-into.html
