Car Maintenance Monday

[+ Chris Eisenhower]

Wiper #1: 45 minutes of cursing + 3 Youtube videos + 4 stages of grief + 1 bottle of Gatorade

Wiper #2: 10 seconds

 

Cause I'm a quick study.

 

"Easy-install" my ass.

[tanman4u]

Changing out car wipers can be as aggravating as trying to fold a fitted sheet.

[+ WmClarke]

Every time my brother-in-law installs mine, it looks so easy.

 

But then, there I am: five to seven years later and I can't remember how to do it. So I just bring the new blades to Easter/Thanksgiving/Christmas dinner.

[RadioRob]

The only thing I do with my car is drive it, use the infotainment system, and put gas in it.

 

I don't touch anything else. If it's a computer, lookout... I can make it sing. If it's mechanical, I got people for that.

 

Mama did not raise no fool... I'm not touching it. I would be trying to change the oil and end up with a disassembled engine and saying wtf from there.

[Gar1eth]

My Dad has a tendency to get excitable. I was visiting home once and borrowed my Mom's car. Now this occurrence happened when I was an adult mind you. It started raining while I was out driving, so I sensibly turned on the wipers. When I did, I saw one-possibly both wipers-when they started moving, they began to bend and mangle themselves. I was totally shocked-it took me a second or so to realize what was happening before I had the presence of mind to shut them off. Well I get to my cousin's where I was to meet my parents. I try to explain. Dad gets angry for a bit. Then he calms down. Turns out he had had the wipers replaced recently, and the guy at the shop had put the wiper on backwards or something.

 

Gman

[Gar1eth]

The only thing I do with my car is drive it, use the infotainment system, and put gas in it.

 

I don't touch anything else. If it's a computer, lookout... I can make it sing. If it's mechanical, I got people for that.

 

Mama did not raise no fool... I'm not touching it. I would be trying to change the oil and end up with a disassembled engine and saying wtf from there.

 

I know what you mean. My first car was a 1967 Mustang-12 years old at the time. My Dad's not a mechanic, but knew how to do simple stuff. He had always wanted a Mustang-so when it was time for me to get a car-that's what we got. The idea had been for him to teach me some car maintenance. But my Dad and I didn't work well together when I was 16. So that didn't pan out. I did learn how to find the choke and stick pencils in it on cold mornings-otherwise it would stick closed and the car wouldn't start.

 

Years later-different car- after having to call my Dad one night to come repair a flat tire for me when I was in college, he did teach me a few days later how to change a flat which has stood me in good stead over the years.

 

Gman

[Rudynate]

Changing out car wipers can be as aggravating as trying to fold a fitted sheet.

 

 

I would much rather change car wipers than fold a fitted sheet. I don't know how she did it, but my mother could fold fitted sheets so neatly that they looked like they were just out of the package. It's beyond me. I also had a friend who folded his T-shirts so neatly that they looked like they had just come from the store.

[foxy]

Many years ago my sister had to have new plates put on her car. My father said he'd do it. A simple job. A couple of days later a cop stopped my sister. He asked her if she realized her plates were out on upside down. Right. My father was leaning over with his head to the ground and his back to the car so.... well you get the picture. We all got a good laugh out of that for some time. Luckily my sister just got a warning from the cop, but my father heard us rib him for years.

[Gar1eth]

Many years ago my sister had to have new plates put on her car. My father said he'd do it. A simple job. A couple of days later a cop stopped my sister. He asked her if she realized her plates were out on upside down. Right. My father was leaning over with his head to the ground and his back to the car so.... well you get the picture. We all got a good laugh out of that for some time. Luckily my sister just got a warning from the cop, but my father heard us rib him for years.

 

Funny story -but I'm having a tough time picturing this. Was he lying down on the pavement looking up at the car? Otherwise I'm not sure how you can replace a license with your back to it unless he was sitting in the trunk bending over the license. I had trouble with technical drawings in Shop Class in junior high too. I'm not very visio-spatial.

 

Gman

[bigvalboy]

Wiper #1: 45 minutes of cursing + 3 Youtube videos + 4 stages of grief + 1 bottle of Gatorade

Wiper #2: 10 seconds

 

Cause I'm a quick study.

 

"Easy-install" my ass.

 

Hmmm...I haven't installed wiper blades in years. I simply go to Auto Zone and purchase the blades, I then tell the AZ associate jokingly that it is impossible for me to install them since I am mechanically challenged, and besides I tell them that I've left my glasses at home, and can barely see the package, much less read the directions, all the while being exceedingly friendly. I offer to pay him a few bucks to do it for me. They always graciously accept the challenge, and they have yet to accept the gratuity offered... Total time at Auto Zone: in and out in less than 5 minutes. No Youtube, grief, cursing or Gatorade needed.

[RadioRob]

I know what you mean. My first car was a 1967 Mustang-12 years old at the time. My Dad's not a mechanic, but knew how to do simple stuff. He had always wanted a Mustang-so when it was time for me to get a car-that's what we got. The idea had been for him to teach me some car maintenance. But my Dad and I didn't work well together when I was 16. So that didn't pan out. I did learn how to find the choke and stick pencils in it on cold mornings-otherwise it would stick closed and the car wouldn't start.

 

Years later-different car- after having to call my Dad one night to come repair a flat tire for me when I was in college, he did teach me a few days later how to change a flat which has stood me in good stead over the years.

 

Gman

That's what AAA is for. I got people.

 

(Actually my new car has run flat tires... those things are AWESOME. Was on the Beltway on 495 in DC and had a tire go bad. All that happened was a warning on the dash and I could continue driving. I exited the Beltway and headed to the dealer to fix/replace the tire. Worth it's weight in gold... I could have been stuck on the side of the road for HOURS when I was trying to get to work.)

[foxy]

Funny story -but I'm having a tough time picturing this. Was he lying down on the pavement looking up at the car? Otherwise I'm not sure how you can replace a license with your back to it unless he was sitting in the trunk bending over the license. I had trouble with technical drawings in Shop Class in junior high too. I'm not very visio-spatial.

 

Gman

 

I can understand what you mean. My father was standing up when he put on the plates with his back towards the trunk and bent over looking down so he was reading the plates with his head facing the ground. Pretty crazy I know. So he was reading the plates right side up but upside down. The more I try to explain this the more confused I'm making myself lol.

[foxy]

There's much to be said for tipping people to do those annoying things that will take us too long to figure out. I once said to a very good friend of mine named Cooper (yes the famous Cooper) I'm never sure when it's appropriate to tip? His reply "it's always appropriate to tip". Words to live by.

[+ sync]

Wiper #1: 45 minutes of cursing + 3 Youtube videos + 4 stages of grief + 1 bottle of Gatorade

Wiper #2: 10 seconds

 

I had the same experience, minus the Gatorade. My brother's wipers were so bad I thought I would surprise him with new ones. "No good deed goes unpunished."

[+ Robster]

Wiper #1: 45 minutes of cursing + 3 Youtube videos + 4 stages of grief + 1 bottle of Gatorade

Wiper #2: 10 seconds

 

Cause I'm a quick study.

 

"Easy-install" my ass.

 

So butch. <swoon>

 

I can put gas in my own car, but other than that, I pay someone else to do it.

 

Rob

[+ Chris Eisenhower]

So butch. <swoon>

 

I can put gas in my own car, but other than that, I pay someone else to do it.

 

Rob

 

My backup plan has always been to douse the windshield in Rain-X and not worry about the wipers so much.

 

Update: it just rained like hell here in DC so I got to try them out in the parking lot. So far so good. And Robster—your new avatar is HOT.

[+ Robster]

And Robster—your new avatar is HOT.

Wow. Coming from you, that's incredibly flattering. Thank you!

 

Rob

[+ Chris Eisenhower]

Lord knows I love a businessman.

[+ pdxleo]

Timely topic- just finished about three hours on a spring service on the pickup- air, fuel, and cabin filters, coolant drain and fill, and new battery cable. Dad and I spent many many hours under the hood of various hoopties while I was a teen, having a wrench in my hands brings back a warm memory- miss ya, pops! Of course, I don't lift a finger on the company car, just a drive through the car wash every Monday, but keeping this 19year old truck on the road is a source of pride.

[+ sam.fitzpatrick]

I've had the misfortune of needing to change three flats on vehicles over the years. The worse was when I had a 1989 Ford E150 van. The actual act of changing the tire wasn't bad, but the process of removing the spare from the underside of the van was a problem. I actually had to (a) find and (b) then read the User Manual.

[bigvalboy]

Timely topic- just finished about three hours on a spring service on the pickup- air, fuel, and cabin filters, coolant drain and fill, and new battery cable. Dad and I spent many many hours under the hood of various hoopties while I was a teen, having a wrench in my hands brings back a warm memory- miss ya, pops! Of course, I don't lift a finger on the company car, just a drive through the car wash every Monday, but keeping this 19year old truck on the road is a source of pride.

 

What is a "hoopties"?

[rvwnsd]

Wiper #1: 45 minutes of cursing + 3 Youtube videos + 4 stages of grief + 1 bottle of Gatorade

Wiper #2: 10 seconds

 

Cause I'm a quick study.

 

"Easy-install" my ass.

 

Every time I get my oil changed I also get the wiper blades replaced. I could, and have, done the wipers myself, but why bother? I mean, I could easily stick a couple of fingers up my ass, but I prefer to hire someone to use the real thing.

[Guy Fawkes]

Better watch out; he may stick a pencil finger in your choke to get you started... (Of course I didn't quote the message that generated this)

 

http://www.snowblowersatjacks.com/Images/Articles/snow-blower-choke.jpg