I hate cars.
Let me be more specific: I hate the fact that I know very little about cars. So little in fact that someone could completely make something up, I’d believe it was a real problem, and pay through the nose to fix it. So, when the check engine light began to blink on and off in my car while it felt like it was about to stall, I knew that I was the one that was in for a ride.
I wrote a previous post in the CareOne community about the problems we’ve been having with the car, but the short story is after thinking we had the issue fixed for under $10, the car was again experiencing the same symptoms.
It was time for serious action:
Mechanic Visit #1
Diagnosis:
a.) Low voltage from the battery detected due to corrosion on the post. Battery replaced (for free) due to negative post being crossthreaded when installed, thus the post could not be reattached securely.
b.) Dirty throttle body cleaned (reference comment about believing anything…I have no idea what this is, or if it’s even real)
Cost:
- Diagnostics: waved
- Throttle body cleaning: about $50
- New Battery: Free/warranty
Result:
Problem continued to occur. GRRRRR.
Mechanic Visit #2
Diagnosis:
At the time of inspection the code was “inactive,” thus no action recommended.
Cost:
- Diagnostics: $90 but later waved after wife raised holy hell about “paying for nothing.” I seriously love that woman.
Result:
Problem continued to occur. You have to be @#%#ing kidding me!
Mechanic Visit #3
Diagnosis:
Mechanic found a computer flash update was needed related to the fuel/air mixing that could explain everything. New code flashed.
Cost:
- Computer Flash Update: Free due to defect
- Diagnostics: $90 – waived when questioned why we should pay to discover their defect.
Result:
So far, so good. It’s about time!
It took persistence to get my car fixed. Not one, not two..but four different actions needed to be taken (counting the fuel cleaner from the original post) before the problem was finally resolved.
The same is true with almost anything in life worth doing: weight loss, debt elimination, and even getting your car repaired.
I’m on my 4th major effort to lose weight in my lifetime. Each of these times I’ve successfully lost weight, hovered just above my goal, then given up and gained it all back. Will this fourth time be the trick? I’m again just a few pounds above my goal. Only time will tell if my motivation to maintain a healthier lifestyle will be forever this time.
When we started our debt management plan, we didn’t track where our money went, nor did we have a budget. We tried and failed miserably several times to create a budget – but we kept at it, and believe we are on our way to having a great system for tracking and managing our money.
I feel like I’m so close to achieving my goals of finally being able to maintain a healthy weight and have a sound budgeting system to effectively manage my money.
However, if for some reason neither of these stick, I will regroup and try again. I will continue trying until I achieve my goals!
When you just cannot find the right action plan to achieve your goals, persistence is a great attribute to have. Keep trying, keep pushing until you find what will work best for you. But what if you already have an action plan, but still find it hard to gain positive momentum? Check out today’s post at Our Journey To Zero to read about another important tool to achieve your goals!
I hate cars too my friend! I hate inspection time and I hate when a stupid light comes on. My problem usually is because I have a really hard time trusting mechanics. I’ve proven a few times that I was told something needed to be fixed that didn’t need to be fixed. It surely wasn’t because I know so much about cars it was because I got a second opinion. Persistence does pay off!
Great post man! Oh and I’m glad your car is finally fixed without it costing you an arm and a leg. 😀
I’ve actually considered getting automotive education in order to a.) know more so I can fix more myself b.) be educated enough to know if the answers I’m getting make sense. But, it’s one of those “If I ever have the time” sort of things….
As far as persistence is concerned, going through the process to eliminate debt has been a very hard process for me with respect to having to try, try again with respect to budgeting and managing my money the right way. I’ll keep pounding my head against the wall until it breaks. Sooner or later I’ll win!
My dad is a mechanic. I can’t even tell you how much money and headaches I have saved having a mechanic for a father. It is seriously amazing. Light on? Phone call to dad. Weird noise? “Hi, is dad there?” Friend looking at a new car? “Let’s see what my mechanic – I mean father – suggests.” It’s great.
ImpulseSave — Oh how I envy you! I will say this though. My father-in-law is amazing when it comes to things like this. I can’t tell you how many times he has helped me do something I would have normally gone to the mechanic for. Still though, there are things he can’t fuss with because of space, tools, or all the computer stuff, so for those things I still cringe from time to time at the thought of trusting a mechanic to be completely honest with me.
YOUR DAD ROCKS!! 😀
I’ve got some friends and neighbors that know a lot about cars…I’m now leaning on them to validate what I’m being told from mechanics. I just wish there were some “get out of debt experts” I could lean on for the same sort of support and knowledge.
Oh right…forgot what blog I was on, shouldn’t be a problem to find some here. 🙂
Cars are one of the most stressful things in life! When my car died in July, I decided not to replace it and go without one for a while (which is a great thing about living in a city). I’ve never trusted mechanics, either, so I’m glad I don’t have to worry about that. I hope more people consider living without a car whenever it’s possible.
Great point about persistence, too!
Good for you Jeffrey! Car freedom sounds pretty awesome although the thought scares the hell out of me. 😀
You should check out Travis’s post on How Eliminating Debt is Like getting Rid of Athlete’s Foot. Hey without a car, this might be useful someday. 🙂
In rural Minnesota, I don’t see how I could have car freedom…I think I’m pretty much stuck owning a car. The best I can do is minimize it’s expenses…and to do so, I will definitely have to use persistence! Thanks for your comment, Jeffrey – great to meet you in Chicago!
Yay for Vonnie!!! That woman doesn’t take no for an answer very often does she? I have some phone calls I need her to make. Maybe she should start a side business where she gets paid to make tough customer service calls.
Ashley, Vonnie never takes no for an answer….never, ever and I agree that she would be perfect for such a job. I rely on her strength often to be persistent in situations where I would just give up. The same goes for our journey to eliminate our debt. If I slack off and we don’t have a budget discussion for awhile, she lets me know about!
My uncle died a few years ago before his time which was a bugger as he was the family mechanic and a good one. He was able to fix the fuel pump on my first car after the previous owner who rebuilt the car sold it because he couldn’t sort it out so he had the magic touch :-). Since he passed I have had to use other people and right now I am very happy with the guys that do my car as they are a family run business and are honest and upfront with me about anything wrong with my car. My fortune was to buy a good second hand car that has lasted me 14yrs with very little problems until now where it is telling me its getting old so start saving hard for the new car (2nd hand) whilst the present one is still going.
Hi Leisa, I’m sorry to hear about your uncle. It’s awesome that you have found other people that you can trust with your car repairs. We found someone as well…but still hesitant to go to him first instead of the dealer. I HAVE to break that process….they’re ALWAYS more expensive!
This is a good lesson for all that own cars. Ask around for mechanic reccomendations! When you start hearing the same name or company two and three times then BINGO ya got your new mechanic!
Ours is super… because:
1. Local business
2. Individually owned operation.
3. Been in business at same location for over 40 YEARS!
4. They will give me a ride home and come pick me up, (live close by).
5. Fair and honest. I asked about tires one day, they told me to go to Sams!
6. Give great free advice.
7. Price to check over a used car I was buying? 10 bucks!
Don’t always be in a hurry.. take time to chit chat, they know us by name when we come in now.
Been going to same guy for 7 years now. I recommend him to EVERYONE.