A good weekend into the new year...

[mapsedge]

This was Automotive Weekend at our house. I changed the oil on both vehicles and fixed a slow leak on the Civic's right-front tire¹. After having not touched an engine with any tool more complex than a paper towel for more than ten years, it was an interesting experience to say the least. At least I remembered how.

The van's drain plug was an issue, until I found the right size socket (17mm, for future reference); that found, it was easily finished. The Civic gave me the most problems. The Civic engine compartment is designed in such a way that unless you park on an incline greater than 45° - or hang the car by it's front bumper from something Really Tall - the oil from the oil filter is going to drain onto the frame and exhaust system. It makes for smoke and smell and a day's worth of drip marks in the driveway, so it's impossible to tell if there's actually a leak or not.

To repair the tire leak I had to remove the wheel which had stuck solid to the lug plate. After fifteen minutes of beating on the wheel with a dead-blow hammer, tugging, pulling, WD-40'ing, swearing, etc., it broke loose with a loud pistol-shot of a pop. Fixing the puncture (a ring-shank drywall nail, if you're interested) took just a few minutes.

In the end, between the oil changes and tire repair, I saved us about $100 by doing it myself.

The Halloween party was a lot of fun, in spite of having to wear a costume. Ate good food, played good music with good - and new - friends. The other guitarist besides me and aerie13 was a guy named Cody, who's been performing on stage with a guitar in his hands since he was four years old. Terrific player, terrific person: humble and appreciative.

Finally, we closed out the weekend with a visit to glesyn and raibeart 's house.  They live a small distance away, a very pleasant drive through some beautiful Missouri country.  We had a great meal, and even better visiting.  The kids are having trouble adjusting to the time change, so by the end they were totally out of control.  Once in the van and moving, they calmed down and got sleepy, if never actually asleep.

So, a good meal with good friends, and on the drive home we saw a shooting star.  A good way to end the weekend and start the new year.



¹Although, whether it is actually fixed or not remains to be seen. Hafta wait a few days and watch the pressure.

Comments

[purpledumbass.livejournal.com]

Good to hear about your experience with the car repairs, Bill. I do many of my own car repairs, where I've seen similar situations that friends of mine are rushing their vehicle to the shop. It DOES save money, and that saving has been something I absolutely MUST do at this point.

For me though, DIY car repair helps me feel a bit of a connection with my father, as he would work on our family cars for the exact same reasons. On more than one occasion, he found specific repair manuals, then tore apart the automatic transmission on a car over a period of several weeks. These days, when either one of us is working on cars, we have a bit of a "line in the sand" drawn as to how far we'll tear apart a car or take it to an appropriate shop. We can tear into it, but how much time is it worth? This is weighed a bit before we spend the money to have someone else fix it.

There is also a bit of personal satisfaction in the fact that you've accomplished something by taking a bit of time and did it yourself rather than paying Jiffy-Lube to do it. Congrats to you on that!

[billthetailor.livejournal.com]

This is weighed a bit before we spend the money to have someone else fix it.

Had a decision point like that with the van. I thought I had the right socket but didn't and started to round off the plug..."Do I risk completely rounding it off and try again, or cut my losses and take it in for service?" A tense few moments relieved by realizing I didn't have the correct socket.

It's funny how we achieved a very similar connection, but for different reasons. As I'm lying under each car, I'm thinking, "My father wouldn't have been caught dead under a vehicle for any reason," knowing that I have surpassed him, at least in that way.

Personal satisfaction, indeed.

[glesyn.livejournal.com]

After you guys left, we found the garlic salt.

ALLLLLLL the way at the back of the cabinet.

I knew we had it.....

:D