"Will Be Catching Up Next Week" Topic

I've been having an interesting week.

After a recent snow event, I popped in the car to run an errand, and the battery was dead.

My car insurance kindly sent someone to jumpstart the vehicle (easier than hassling a neighbor), then I drove the car down to the shop to have them install a new battery. (I could have done it, but in this weather? Too cold!)

While the battery was being installed, the mechanics noticed my car had a major oil leak. I mentioned I had just had the car serviced a few days ago, and they recommended taking it back there. (They said they could fix it, but then they would be liable.)

So I took the car back to my mechanic shop. The young tech was skeptical that it was their fault, gave a quick look and said everything was OK, but I insisted and that put the car up on the rack. A while later, another tech came to apologize to me. When they did the oil change previously, they failed to properly tighten the plug!

A day or so later, I pop in the car intending to pick up some friends and go out for dinner – and I've got a flat tire! Well, I already knew the tires were due for replacement, and already had new tires on order. My insurance sent someone round to put the spare on the car.

I've had spare tires before on smaller vehicles, and had no problems. Using the 'rubber donut' on an SUV, however, is unpleasant! It hums, it doesn't steer well…

Got the call that my new tires were in. Made an appointment to get them installed the next day. Carefully drove down there to get the tires put on. They said, oh, we just called you, we have to reschedule, we had to send our workers home today. (Huh?) OK, so it'll be a few more days using the rubber donut (well, using it as little as possible). The odd thing is that as I was leaving, the garage door was open, and I could see the workers were in there! But not working on any cars, so I guess something was up.

Ain't life great?

I forgot the staff update…

Editor Gwen is doing well, is eager for more PMs and emails to keep her busy.

Editor Dianna has been sick for quite a while with several health issues, can only work limited hours currently, so keep her in your thoughts and prayers.

Editor Katie recently helped her grandmother celebrate her 84th birthday by cooking spaghetti and getting her a birthday cake. She also enjoys working on all of your PMs.

Recently heard from our former staffers, Editor Julia and Editor Alexa, they are doing well. Julia is in the USA now.

Makes one appreciate the times that seem boring much more!

My, you have had problems! Well done for keeping your cool!
Prayers incoming for poor Editor Dianna. Please give her our best wishes.

Battery. Oil. Tires. Things happen in threes, Bill, so you should be in for some smooth sledding for awhile!

Good luck to you Bill. Trying times indeed.

martin

Interesting they obviously drained the oil out of the sump plug. Most professionals these days use a pump to suck the oil out of the dipstick hole – much quicker, simpler, and less messy!

I reupped last week, but it didn't show yesterday when I opened TMP. So I sent a PM to Bill asking about it. He immediately renewed me and then sent me a nice PM about being behind due to one of those weeks. Now I know just how bad his week was! Not sure I would have been as nice in responding after a week like that. He is really a nice guy.

I don't know where you had your oil changed. But I have had the same thing happen to me at Jiffy Lube. That's what happens when you try to do it in 15 minutes with a line of people waiting.

Since I bought my recent car, I have the dealer do it in 45 minutes to an hour. My VW dealer charges the same as Jiffy Lube. I have bought two cars from them and they give really good service.

I had my Wife's car at the VW dealer to get a new outside mirror. The mechanic forgot to program the safety features and I had to bring it back the next day. When I took it in and had it done they filled up my nearly empty gas tank for free. Didn't charge me for the programing either. I guess they shouldn't, I bought two new cars from them.

What a lucky guy!

You have a car. You can afford to get the work done. The oil leak was discovered before it damaged the engine! This didn't happen when someone was sick, on vacation, or had a critical career moment. You were smart enough to get the roadside assistance option, and shrewd enough to insist they put the thing up on the rack. And nothing "interesting" happened driving on the donut in January.

And you're headed into the second half of winter with new battery and (soon) new tires.

You gotta stop to think about how lucky you are.

All you need now is wipers.

You seem to be taking everything well. I would be livid.

Turned out that when they rotated my tires, they crossthreaded two of the bolts (fortunately, on the same tire).

This meant the tire place couldn't get the wheel off to install the new tires.

So I had to go to a garage. When they tried to remove the bolts, the lugs snapped off. So had to get new lugs.

Then finally got the new tires installed.