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archive / 2008 / 04 / 14

Posted by Miriam on 2008-04-14 14:07:46 +0000

Car Trouble

This morning I took my car in, again. This time, it's for a week of repairs. Turns out I need all gaskets replaced, big parts sent out to be cleaned, brakes and a tune-up.

Luckily a co-worker has an extra car I can borrow (her daughter's...who is in Scottland for school). Feels weird to drive a Volvo again, a year after selling Ovlov. Of course, this one is a newer model, but it still feels odd.

Also, I just realized I can't take a big deduction I thought I could take on my taxes; guess I have to redo them tonight. Too bad, since the refuld would've gone a long way towards the repair costs.
Posted by tommy on 2008-04-15 16:28:58 +0000
All gaskets? What kind of car is this... how old and how many miles?
Posted by Miriam on 2008-04-15 20:11:44 +0000
2001 Subaru Outback LLBean Edition with 102,000.

On the upside...I had a very decent walk home yesterday morning, and the loaner Volvo drives pretty well.
Posted by tgl on 2008-04-16 23:48:39 +0000
"Turn out I need all gaskets replaced"

Because why?
Posted by Miriam on 2008-04-17 16:02:04 +0000
Multiple leaks. Oil and coolant. When I just called, they guy who answered said he didn't know where they were in the repairs, but that the car was definitely in pieces now. Apparently my mechanic was at lunch when I called. Great.
Posted by tendiamonds on 2008-04-17 16:48:26 +0000
Make sure they top of the blinker fluid.
Posted by Miriam on 2008-04-17 21:10:05 +0000
Apparently, the heads are still out being cleaned. And I need new brake pads and the rotors rotated. Ubarsu may be back together again late Monday or early Tuesday.
Posted by tommy on 2008-04-17 22:05:10 +0000
For what it's worth, I once lost a wheel on the highway while driving my old "Broncette". Scraped my front right rotor on the pavement for at least a quarter mile. It was totally flattened off on one side. Like a capital 'D' shape.

I sold the car to my neighbor, and he drove on that same rotor for 4 years. The car stopped fine.

What I'm saying is that having your rotors turned is overrated. Brake pads usually just conform themselves to whatever they rub against eventually.

Posted by ConorClockwise on 2008-04-18 03:09:07 +0000
No way! That happened to Stamski and me riding in Crazy Johnny's Broncette in Colorado summer '95. The front left wheel just flew off and we slowed down as the left rotor skidded to a halt, and the wheel flew a good 1/4 mile ahead, across the road and over the curb into a river bed.
Posted by tendiamonds on 2008-04-18 03:18:11 +0000
tgl and I had a wheel or so come off a Hornet on the Tappan Zee Bridge once...
Posted by tommy on 2008-04-18 13:00:57 +0000
Awesome. I had no idea this was a common problem with Broncettes. And, front-left no less, huh?

In my case, it was nighttime, and I could see the runaway wheel only while it was illuminated by the sparks being thrown off the rotor. It disappeared into the night on route 3 north in Lowell (near the Wang towers). We walked back to a gas station on route 110 to call a tow truck, and when we got back, the missing wheel was leaning against the car. Is there a Broncette fairy?

Posted by tgl on 2008-04-19 17:04:47 +0000
Ironical that it was a Broncette towing the Hornet.

...or is a Broncette something else?
Posted by tommy on 2008-04-20 01:49:02 +0000
<img src="http://static.howstuffworks.com/gif/1980-1989-ford-trucks-20.jpg" />
Posted by Miriam on 2008-04-23 19:01:29 +0000
With the brake work, looks like it's coming to something over $2K for my car repairs. I think I'll be making the minimum mortgage payment this month. Ouch.

At least I'll have my car back, and in good working order...after 1/2 weeks at the shop.
Posted by Miriam on 2008-04-28 20:44:53 +0000
Update: I picked up the car Wednesday night. Thursday afternoon I got into it to drive to Cincinnati for the weekend. Unfortunately, it was 86 degrees outside and the A/C was blowing HOT. I spent 5 hours on the highway with the windows down, sweating profusely. I'm taking it into the shop again tomorrow morning for a hopefully easy, free fix. Did I mention that it blew very cold air before the engine was taken apart? I feel like that $2500 was a downpayment.
Posted by Miriam on 2008-04-29 14:15:55 +0000
L: Took it in this morning. A local FBI agent was having his car worked on, so I think I wasn't taken for a ride, so to speak, by the mechanic.

Turns out one of the O-rings they replaced was leaking, along with a tube that was nicked while putting the engine back together. They did the repairs and charged the A/C for free.

As I left the repair shop, I told the owner that, "No offense, but I hope I don't see you for a while." He smiled.
Posted by Miriam on 2008-04-29 14:18:18 +0000
I did a little research yesterday, and found out that the model and year car I have has a tendency towards cracked head gaskets. Luckily I caught this in time...or I'd be in real trouble: a worthless, broken car and no money to buy or lease a new one.

Starting to think it was worth the effort and expense.

Now that the car is fixed, any suggestions on a city-driving car? I take the odd road trip, but the majority of my driving is the 5 miles between home and work.
Posted by Miriam on 2008-06-27 19:35:46 +0000
It's been a month now of on and of "Check Engine" light in my car. My mechanic advised me to take it to the dealership for work. Did that this morning, but they were unable to identify the problem; they couldn't find the code for the part that's broken. I have to wait until the light comes back on before they can work on it...or diagnose it. Great. I feel like someone forgot to write the ending of my car repair short story.
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