I *HATE* cars!

[rowangolightly]

Well, fuck! Now something else is wrong with the car.

I got down the street about 4 blocks away right before I turn out onto the highway and I felt something 'go' and then a big rhythmic "rattle/grind/thuump" sound from the front left. Pulled over immediately and stopped the engine. Got out and walked all the way around the car; nope, no flat tires, nothing hanging from undercarriage of car, no torn or dripping bits that I could see.

Start the car back up; hear nothing. Soon as I hit the gas the sound starts again but more slowly because I'm moving very slowly. Shit. Can't go turn the CD master to be duped. Fuck. How is Amber going to get to work? And as we discovered *earlier* this week, my AAA is expired. 'Sides, what would they be able to do but tow me. I turn on the hazards and drive sloooooowwwwllly back home; anytime the car speeds up the sound does too and worsens as I get closer to home. But I can't leave the car along the way and I *need* to get back to my safe and secure home, dammit.

So I rolled to a stop just on our driveway. Again look around and under and can't see a damned thing wrong. I called Bruce but he's obviously still in his dentist's office, poor baby. He needs this like, well, like a root canal. Fuck, I hate cars. I called up to Amber who's napping and said, "Well, you're going to have to find another way to work somehow" but I don't think she really woke up.

Fuck.

Comments

[copperdragonfly.livejournal.com]

*hugs*

[rowangolightly.livejournal.com]

Thanks, sweetie! Heard from Bruce, he thinks it's the "axle shaft" which is kinda what I thought without knowing what to call the damned thing.

Now Amber's getting experience in 1) callina a taxi when you live in BFE, 2) calling for a two from her AAA and 3) calling a garage to see if they can fix it today.

*sigh* Again, could be a WHOLE lot worse but still a big PITA!

But hugs ALWAYS help!

[copperdragonfly.livejournal.com]

I just wish I could be there to help you out!

And to give you a *real* hug.

[rowangolightly.livejournal.com]

Me too, sweetie! But hugs is hugs until we can actually see one another (whenever that might be!)

And the local mechanic *is* a good guy; 'tis all done and will cost but not what I thought it might!

I know you know this...

[themadblonde]

but your car-ma sucks. I understand why it's not possible, but even _I'm_ beginning to wish you could just take the thing out into the country & SHOOT it! It surely would be kinder to you all. ;-)

Re: I know you know this...

[rowangolightly.livejournal.com]

Yeah, if it just didn't need to last until we can get another one. And Amber has *got* to have reliabale transportation, dammit.

The car-ma thing had occurred to me too. I donno, maybe it's just protesting changing ownership...you know, separation anxiety since I've had the thing since it was new. Afterall, she's the one who ran into the parked trailer last August, maybe it doesn't like looking ugly.

hmmmm. I'm thinking Amber should put some of the money towards painting it and see if it makes a difference. Yes, I'm anthropomorphizing it, but it has treated me really well all these years. Do you know, that's the same car I had down at Camelot? Yep, it is.

Re: I know you know this...

[themadblonde]

It's all about energy. Put a lot of positive energy into something, @ the very least it makes YOU feel better. Curse & kick it & call it ugly, who knows, it might break down all the sooner? We all feel better about having pretty things.

best to ya

[david-777.livejournal.com]

Man I hope all goes well for ya out there, maybe I sould figure out how to make a windshield for a horse. Might be a few bucks in that, I mean when was the last time you had any luck breeding your car?

Re: best to ya

[rowangolightly.livejournal.com]

*chuckle* True! But that would be one *more* animal I'd have to feed and clean up after.

At least I wouldn't have to worry about the horse pissing on the kitchen floor, would I?

Horse piss

[the-terrible.livejournal.com]

You wouldn't?

[typsygypsy.livejournal.com]

No no no no no no no no!! *sending positive energy at your car*

[rowangolightly.livejournal.com]

Thanks, sweetie. Fortunately, this isn't the one we'll be driving to Dallas. But it *is* the one Amber needs to drive to work! And the one that is nickle and diming Bruce to death!

We can use all the positive energy we can get!

[joegoda.livejournal.com]

did you check for a rock in the hubcap? I know, I know.. silly question...

[billthetailor.livejournal.com]

The vehicular equivalent to "Is the computer plugged in?", but still, it's a valid question. Some 12 year old prick with the urge to do something mischevous can be expensive. Me, I'm all for the cheap solution is there's one to be found and it's the right one.

[joegoda.livejournal.com]

Yep.. Cheap Are Me. Which is why I asked. The description sounded like the ol' rock in the hub bit, or a bad cv joint, or bad bearings. Me, I like the rock solution, especially if it works.

[rowangolightly.livejournal.com]

Well, if it was going to be something like that, the 'prick' would be Bruce's step-son and it wouldn't be just a rock.

He's the one I had in mind when I commented on your post. That one I'd shoot just as soon as look at him. Long story for another time and several glasses of wine (or reasonable substitute) unless we have something better to talk about. The weather would be one topic.

[rowangolightly.livejournal.com]

Actually, I *did* think of that. But it was immediately apparent that it was whatever-attaches-the-wheel-to-the-car.

Now I know that that's called the CV joint. And yes, that plus the break froze up because someone had not put all the bolts back in and the engine also almost fell out because again, not all the bolts were in there.

All told, the guy who called a little while ago said that he'd just caught the parts truck as it was leaving for the afternoon and got them to load on the axle part.

It's likely going to be done by 5, but gods-only-know how much it's going to cost; he couldn't give me an estimate.

Which makes me nervous.

[6strings.livejournal.com]

My first thought, on description of symptoms, was CV joint. I've never had one fail - in Hondas they usually start clicking long before they must be replaced. Don't know yet about my VW.

[kainthornn.livejournal.com]

Hugs hugs hugs! The drive axle isn't hard to change yourself (or your husband's self) depending on how knowledgable you (or hubby) is on cars. Ya can get the axle for between $50 and $150 depending on the car itself. They'll want the old axle in trade too. I hope it all returns to normal fast and inexpensive!

[rowangolightly.livejournal.com]

Thanks, dear!

*chuckle* First of all, you've not been 'with' me long enough to know the story here. If you're bored and have time on your hands sometime, go back in thebruce's journal at about 6-30-03 and mine starting 6-15-03 (which was a post-dated entry long before Bruce and I were 'out' as a couple.)

Needless to say, it's been a soap-opera story with us finally getting together for our 'happily ever after' but we aren't married. I like to shick people who ask, "are you guys married?" by saying, "No, we're happily living in sin!" I love the looks on the faces.

But the car? It's all taken care of. Bruce has the skills and the tools but not the time. He words an hour away as a SysAdmin and had me call a local mechanic who fixed it this afternoon, and knows Bruce so he said, "Aw, heck, he knows where the lock box is, I'll put the keys in there, you put a check in there and we'll be all done."

Yeah, it's a little hick town but things are still done on a hand shake here and that's very cool. I grew up in a little Iowa town that was (is still prolly!) that way so I can take the 'bubbas' as Bruce calls them, with a grain of salt and be truly grateful that such hometown honesty still exists.

There was lots else wrong; some bolts hadn't been put back in and the engine was about to fall out! So considering they've fixed everything and prolly more that needed it all for under $300....I'll not be complaining!

[aoifemacewen.livejournal.com]

"I like to shick people who ask, "are you guys married?" by saying, "No, we're happily living in sin!" I love the looks on the faces."

There is nothing wrong with "living in sin"...Matter of fact my parents AND one set of grandparents are doing just that. For some reason that little piece of paper causes ALL kinds of trouble for them...LOL!

[aoifemacewen.livejournal.com]

I should say that at one time both couples were married...I'm not from a long line of bastards...LOL!

I'm free!

[kainthornn.livejournal.com]

I used to watch that show alla time when I lived in England. Mrs. Slocombe and her pussy...

Hee!

[kainthornn.livejournal.com]

Dang, I'm a stinkin noob! He'p! Apologies for assumptions on my part...

In any case, I'm glad it's all fixed now, I know what it's like when a car goes belly up on ya. Being able to do your own car repairs saves buckets o cash! Especially brakes.

[rowangolightly.livejournal.com]

*hee* No, it's quite alright, my friend! We get that ALL the time, believe me! Ask anybody else on my flist; we're so perfect for one another that everybody assumes that we've been happily married for *years!* which is really a lovely compliment.

We've only been living together since, well, it will be a year on March 21! But yes, he not only *plays* a Scot, but IS one as well, as am I, so saving money by DIY is our trademark. Fortunatly, we're both really handy and unafraid to learn new stuff as well.

[joegoda.livejournal.com]

Yeah, but what was wrong?? The obsessive compulsive fixer in me has got to know...

[rowangolightly.livejournal.com]

Actually, it was several things. The CV valve was toast but that was the least of it but was, fortunately what made me aware that things were wrong. Apparently when I had the transmission replaced *TWO years* ago, the bastards didn't put all the bolts back in. And then when the same bastards worked on the breaks, ditto, so that brake froze up (yes, I know I'm not explaining well, but I truly don't grok car repairs at all!)

He said that the only thing holding the engine in once they got it up to look at it was a jack.

Yikes. I've half a mind to call the guy (I remember his name) at the Firestone Shop my ex-boyfriend (the one who moved away on me with my girflriend while I was out of town - yeah.) had me dealing with and chew him a new one. But I'll let it go. Bastard coulda killed me, and that does tend to tick me off just a tetch!

But all's well that ends well, and I've got a good mechanic to trust and an amazing partner who makes everything all right...life is good!

[joegoda.livejournal.com]

Yep.. I'd say you are protected in a number of ways. The engine thing does scare me a bit, though, however am very glad it turned out the way it did.

Regardless, as the bard said, All's well... etc...

Hope to see you folk soon!

I *HATE* cars!

[the-terrible.livejournal.com]

That makes two of us.

Re: I *HATE* cars!

[rowangolightly.livejournal.com]

*hee* You know, somehow I thought you'd agree with that.

Re: I *HATE* cars!

[the-terrible.livejournal.com]

Well shoot, it durn sure wouldn'ta made much sense if I hadn't. :)

Re: I *HATE* cars!

[thebruce.livejournal.com]

What makes the huge difference here is that I have the skills and knowledge to tear a car completely apart and put it back together correctly and fix anything on it that breaks; I have the tools and jacks and air compressor, and everything...

What I don't have is the stinkin' time. So I get to pay a mechanic $265 for doing something that would have cost me $50 and 4 hours to deal with. The $50 I got... the 4 hours I don't, so there ya go...

Sometimes there just needs to be two of me, but then the world would explode.

Re: I *HATE* cars!

[the-terrible.livejournal.com]

I lack money AND know-how, so it looks like we're two sides of a coin.

If there were two of ME the world's fate would be far worse than a mere explosion. :)

Re: I *HATE* cars!

[joegoda.livejournal.com]

Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmm.