You are right. Hubs was an honest mechanic. He had more than one customer ask if that was all after seeing the bill.
Lounge Lizards / Misfits / Free Thinkers / Bohemians & the Forgotten :: Young at Heart Only
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This is exactly why folks need to do their homework .. ask around .. my guy is retired from his mechanic job, knows vehicles in and out from the past 40 years, he's in his 70's and has a completely and fully equipped shop with all the modern diagnostic gear, right next to his home, out in the sticks .. yeah, it takes 20 minutes to get to his place, I have to get someone to follow me and take me home and then bring me back a day or two later, but, it's more than worth it for the peace of mind alone ..
and yeah, he's a bit slow, but also worth the wait ..
.. like me, he does not want to kick back on the recliner and actually retire ..
We've got the same thing here Willie. Our mechanic lives in the house right next to his shop and his 2 sons now work there too. We've been going there for years. He's another one we told that when we move he's got to come with us. Fran you're right, good mechanics are hard to find.
When I got my used 2013 Dodge Caravan a few years ago, it has a key fob. A duplicate for hubby was included, but a real key to use if the battery is dead ( to be able to get into the car and drive it) cost $150. I don't even want to think about what a replacement fob would cost! (an emergency key is included in the fob).
Oh yes, and if they don't have the modern diagnostic equipment, they can't help. Most parts now days are components (?). you have to buy the whole component, not just the part due to the computer stuff in the "component".
Fortunately, we have an old school shop nearby that has the equipment and understanding to fix our newer vehicles (2013 Dodge Caravan, 2017 Chevy Econoline). Yes, we pay, but not dealer pricing. Best we figure, it is what it is. We are confident in their work, and if DH can find the parts cheaper, they will install those parts (with no warranty). It is what it is now days to have reliable transportation best we can figure.
HA! I'm the first one here...the early bird gets the worm!!
Oh wait...I have a deep revulsion for worms...never mind..! ( when I was a kid my brother tried to stick a worm down my shirt...I punched him in the face,,he ran home bawling like a little baby..I got a spanking...)
Hope everyone has a good day!
Oh wait...I have a deep revulsion for worms...never mind..! ( when I was a kid my brother tried to stick a worm down my shirt...I punched him in the face,,he ran home bawling like a little baby..I got a spanking...)
Hope everyone has a good day!
Indeed, who wants worms unless going fishing? 
Morning, reprobates. Another sunny and hot day in the PNW. I just keep wondering how much water it takes to erode a hose from the inside...
Yeah, all the electronic doo-dads that are essential, and oh so cheap to repair.... the more complex the machine, the higher the failure rate...
Just be careful on the road, Willie!
Morning, reprobates. Another sunny and hot day in the PNW. I just keep wondering how much water it takes to erode a hose from the inside...
Yeah, all the electronic doo-dads that are essential, and oh so cheap to repair.... the more complex the machine, the higher the failure rate...
Just be careful on the road, Willie!
Morning, lizards.
Second summer of the spring is supposed to be done, we'll see. May even get some rain late today, good if we do, it's been too dry for too long.
Everyone working off that second one?
Second summer of the spring is supposed to be done, we'll see. May even get some rain late today, good if we do, it's been too dry for too long.
Everyone working off that second one?
GOOD MORNING ANYONE...DAVID..
The day's starting out sunny and warm..which I like.
The posts that I've looked forward to all these years and the friends that are no longer posting..or not very much lately...are depressing.
Thank goodness that I still have a few phone nos.
The day's starting out sunny and warm..which I like.
The posts that I've looked forward to all these years and the friends that are no longer posting..or not very much lately...are depressing.
Thank goodness that I still have a few phone nos.
Hello there Kay and David. I've been busy packing. We did so much flying while our daughter was living in CA and CO that I'm not looking forward to doing it again. Oh well, It's the fastest way to get to SC. I hope the airplanes were able to get enough gas...
I got a jury notice in the mail today. It's just the preliminary questionnaire but I guess I'll be getting a notice to serve unless they don't like that I'm over 70. Don't remember them asking that question before.
I got a jury notice in the mail today. It's just the preliminary questionnaire but I guess I'll be getting a notice to serve unless they don't like that I'm over 70. Don't remember them asking that question before.
Aah, finally able to get on.......my computer was acting up and still not sure what the problem was, but it's fine now, so am not asking any more questions.
Been keeping really busy here and by the time 2 pm rolls around, I can't keep my eyes open....thankfully, it doesn't interfere with my bedtime; around 11enish and up between 6 & 7.......
Weather has been exceptionally cool and breezy here and makes for great gardening. This is the first year I remember that I'm not getting bitten by those noseeums as soon as I open the screen door to the lanai. Putting on insect repellent tomorrow though cause the very back of the garden/woodsy area needs some motherly attention.
Have a good rest of the day!
Been keeping really busy here and by the time 2 pm rolls around, I can't keep my eyes open....thankfully, it doesn't interfere with my bedtime; around 11enish and up between 6 & 7.......
Weather has been exceptionally cool and breezy here and makes for great gardening. This is the first year I remember that I'm not getting bitten by those noseeums as soon as I open the screen door to the lanai. Putting on insect repellent tomorrow though cause the very back of the garden/woodsy area needs some motherly attention.
Have a good rest of the day!
Hola ..
I dropped $700 on my 2011 truck in prep for my Road Trip .. the old girl still is a great truck, I like it, Chevy does not make it anymore and it's got one of the best engines Chevy ever made .. on the highway, it's smooth and quiet as silk .. and, these days, with Truck and Car prices to the point of the ridiculous, I'm not drawn to changing .. at all .. a buddy of mine dropped $80K on a new truck a couple weeks ago and I was not impressed .. I don't care for all the doo-dads, electronic this and that, big screen readouts, hell, the durn thing did not even come with a key, fercryinoutloud .. it was some fob gizmo and a push button start .. I wonder what those things cost if you can't find it .. ??
Maybe they'll end up making 'em where it recognizes your ...., and your .... only ..
And, just a general factoid on brake jobs .. they are one of the most overcharged bits of maintenance out there .. in most cases, a brake job on one axle should be around $150-175 .. instead, they want to charge for new rotors, etc, and hit you for $600 clams for one axle .. always, always, hunt down an Old School honest shop that will turn your rotors, etc .. and, avoid Dealerships if at all possible, unless it's warrantee work ..
I've got another buddy that drives a Lexus SUV .. he pays $250 for an oil change .. it must be done at the Lexus dealer, because, otherwise, it voids the warrantee .. what a racket ..
I like all the electronic do-dads on our new cars. Keyless entry, keyless ignition, drivers seat automatically adjusts to who's driving based on their 'fob', blind spot warning lights, auto on/off high beams, remote start, heated seats, after the cars been parked on a hot day I can remotely roll all the windows down while walking up to it, and the backup camera in the dash, oh my God how did I back up without one of those.
It'll drive/steer itself down the highway too ... but that feature is too spooky for me. I don't use it.
As to the cost of brake jobs being rip off ... it's been that way forever. Even many years ago when I first started driving the cost of pads was cheap but to have most shops install them cost an arm and a leg. I got to the point I could change a set of brakes (2 wheels not all 4) in about 30-40 minutes. I wasn't paying for something I could do for pennies on the dollar compared to a shop price. Oh and front disc brakes when they came out could be done even faster then break pads.
One of the reasons so many people need new rotors now-a-days, is they come from the factory as thin as they can get away with. There's not a lot of metal to turn them down, so it's buy new ones. One of the weight saving 'things' manufacturers did was to make the discs as thin as possible.
Good morning. It's a beautiful, sunny 50 degree morning going up to 80 today. It's a good day for flying. I just saw some temps for SC and think I should adjust some of the clothes I packed. It's a good 10 degrees warmer down there.
I think I have everything ready. Yesterday I showed Mike how to clean and refresh the hummer feeders and I've got a months worth of suet made in the fridge. Bird seed and cat food is ready. PVs are ready with plenty of juice and I've downloaded several books on the kindle - all the important stuff is taken care of.
I'm so glad we have the Z-coils now. So much easier than packing supplies for re-wicking.
There was a list of "excuses" for not serving and being over 70 yo was one of them so I guess that would allow me to opt out if I wanted. The thing is I've always thought it would be pretty interesting to serve on a jury, but I've never been chosen. I go and sit in a room with a bunch of people for 1/2 a day and then get told to go home.
I think I have everything ready. Yesterday I showed Mike how to clean and refresh the hummer feeders and I've got a months worth of suet made in the fridge. Bird seed and cat food is ready. PVs are ready with plenty of juice and I've downloaded several books on the kindle - all the important stuff is taken care of.
I'm so glad we have the Z-coils now. So much easier than packing supplies for re-wicking.
There was a list of "excuses" for not serving and being over 70 yo was one of them so I guess that would allow me to opt out if I wanted. The thing is I've always thought it would be pretty interesting to serve on a jury, but I've never been chosen. I go and sit in a room with a bunch of people for 1/2 a day and then get told to go home.
Aah, finally able to get on.......my computer was acting up and still not sure what the problem was, but it's fine now, so am not asking any more questions.
Been keeping really busy here and by the time 2 pm rolls around, I can't keep my eyes open....thankfully, it doesn't interfere with my bedtime; around 11enish and up between 6 & 7.......
Weather has been exceptionally cool and breezy here and makes for great gardening. This is the first year I remember that I'm not getting bitten by those noseeums as soon as I open the screen door to the lanai. Putting on insect repellent tomorrow though cause the very back of the garden/woodsy area needs some motherly attention.
Have a good rest of the day!
How strange about your pc...I've been having issues lately also ! But mine is probably considered old...app. 7-8 years
I'm beginning to think that every thing is deliberately made to break down quickly nowadays...It's great to "see' you Gracie!
Morning, all.
Cloudy and cool for a pleasant change, and some overnight rain was the topping
Safe travels to all!
Cloudy and cool for a pleasant change, and some overnight rain was the topping
Safe travels to all!
So I wonder who determines the UPS driver's delivery route. The driver? A computer? Following my deliver on the UPS map the truck was about 2 minutes from my house. Now it's 40 minutes up county from me. WTH?
The magic hour is almost here! 2pm!!!! Just got in from working in the woodsy section in the back, and I'm done for and done for the day.
It actually isn't all that bad though cause last year I laid cardboard and then oak leaves on top of that and the grass that was growing was all on runners so was rather easy to pull. My plan is to put giant green spider plants that are Florida natives and Caladiums that will add a lot of color.......just need to finish up, but this afternoon won't do, and tomorrow ain't lookin so good, either.
It actually isn't all that bad though cause last year I laid cardboard and then oak leaves on top of that and the grass that was growing was all on runners so was rather easy to pull. My plan is to put giant green spider plants that are Florida natives and Caladiums that will add a lot of color.......just need to finish up, but this afternoon won't do, and tomorrow ain't lookin so good, either.
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