The Accordian Factor

They treat the dead better than this... Yes, accidents do happen, when its someone else, you think "Poor soul." Then its your turn, I have never been treated with less attention. My car was hit in the back end. Thankfully only property damage, I was  shaken but not seriously injured.  The police (serve and protect?) Took my license, for info I am sure, nothing was said to me, not even fuck you. The driver that hit me was very apologetic, just a driver making a mistake. Its the insurance company that I am really pissed at, oh and the Deer Park Police. The cop (lucky I refer to him with that much respect) "car will need to be towed, should we just call... can I have your license?" Nothing was said to me until the cop brought me my license; as he handed it back he said, "You're free to go". Standing there at the side of the road, my little car crushed into an accordion. Thankfully the tow truck driver was a nice guy. He gave me a ride to the tow yard, I was able to use their phone, called a few (including but not limited to my insurance agent) and after a whole big ordeal was allowed to drive one of the used cars home.
Practically 20 hours later, I have still not heard from the other drivers insurance agent, the police have disappeared, my Green Monster (Ford Probe) sits in a junk yard and I am spitting bullets.      Now has been 48 hours and still no word on what is being done, if anything is being done to take care of the damages. I do realize it is the weekend, but accidents happen at anytime, insurance should be ready act and act quickly, or at least respond. A simple phone call would be fine; just to let me know they are aware of and plan to cover the damages.  I would smile on a check for $4000, like that's ever gonna happen. 

A Few More Hours

Alternator, fixed, man what trip. Finally found a garage I am comfortable with, have had a few repairs done. Satisfied for the most part. This last one was comical to say the least. "When do you need it back?" this was on Thursday, so I had a vehicle through work at my disposal, I tell him Monday would be nice. Roger answers, "ok, we can do that." I walk away confident that I will get the beast back after the weekend, with the "Cadillac" Ford F250 at my disposal for the weekend. so I get to work, do my job all day and near end of day I call Roger; looking for info on the ole Green Monster. "Give me a few more hours." At 3:00 pm, time of my phone call, I am thinking; this isn't so bad, instead of Monday I will get the car back on Tuesday. I can work with this. I let the anticipation go, and drive the Cadillac one more day, bad starter and all, I only had to tap the starter with a hammer a few dozen times this week. Tuesday, I call... same story, "few more hours" well... I am seeing a pattern here. Wednesday "working on it now, come get it at 7." I answer, how bout I pick it up tomorrow?" Call him one time this morning, usually wait till mid afternoon, but story hadn't changed, "few more hours" I was starting to get a little worried but I being the nice guy I am figure, I sure as heck can't work it myself, I call a little later. Finally, the answer I have been waiting on, "its done come get it." So to end the call I ask, "what's the damages?" at this Roger says "I haven't even put it to paper yet, had to add a belt" yata yata yata... I say "a few bucks more than the $215 you said?" barely had that but... 



Well a bit of a happy ending here, ends up costing less than what he had estimated, battery charges, but more to do. Seems I have an exhaust system malfunction some where... more repairs, will it ever end?

Steering Wheels and Skirts

Was told by a friend, a man of course; if it has a steering wheel or in a skirt it means trouble. I will vouch for the steering wheel part, will also... well not going to incriminate myself here, I love my girl friend. Its that dang steering wheeled object. Now last night, well mid-afternoon to most I get in my Green Monster and all is fine. Well almost anyhow. the alternator is going out, the motor runs hot most of the time (according to the gauge on the dash) etc etc etc... well you know the ordeal, used car no payments but repair upon repair. Park said vehicle at home and even went up to the store last night to get groceries, and needed items, all was fine. Get in the Green Monster this morning, after adding water to the radiator, needing to do that for a bit. It took say a 3/4 gallon or so, start it up first to get the "juices flowing" so to speak... sounded loud, obnoxious and... well not being a mechanic, nor mechanically inclined I don't know wtf.. the car just did not sound like it usually does. Oh, did I mention I am in love... girl friend is great :)... but the dang Green Monster, fix one thing and another goes wrong. Alternator is being fixed this weekend, still lots to go but it is better than a car payment.

So my friend at work, a little more inclined to the mechanical stuff tells me it sounds like a slipping belt, well I already know about this, thus the repair on the alternator. I said no, I mean the sound of the engine. He tells me it sounds like an exhaust leak. Well this certainly beats the idea I had which was a cylinder missing or timing jumped. 
       So my boss being the great guy he is lets me pick up the old truck that just sits at the shop so I will get to work tomorrow, and Saturday too, get the car back on Monday and go from there, another chapter in the dealings with The Green Monster.











Oh did I mention, I am in love!

Monster

         Oh man, its the Green Monster again! This one like all the others has been a problem for some time now... the Alternator had a set number on its days. I got in the car this morning and didn't hear the squeaking belt that I normally do, I did notice but didn't think alot of it, or maybe it was I thought it wasn't a problem anymore. Imagine that, a car that fixes itself ... haha. Now when I got in the car to drive home again, I didn't hear the squeaking, but I did take the time to look at the battery gauge in the car, was way down. Thus I surmised the alternator had pushed its last bit of power to the battery and now is just a matter of days till it won't even run anymore. Bummer! So I'm at home, need to get up to the store, do I gamble on the power left in the battery? do I walk? Not being a big gambler, I decide to step out of myself for just a minute and go for the gamble. Well... beat me with a stick or two... the alternator is squeaking again, which means its trying to work and on the short drive to the store the battery gets charged back up. Who ever said a car doesn't repair itself? Oh yea, that was me that said that. New alternator is on the to do list.
        So the car is ready again to take me to work in the morning. 






Got to work fine this morning... so I stop by the shop I called yesterday, asking what would be the charge to put a new alternator on my 96 Ford/Mazda Probe... "call me back in a few minutes". First call back "what year is that Probe?" second time I called back; the standard "bring it by in the morning"... I'm like dude, I have to work, didn't say that but did say how bout tomorrow evening? "Yea that will be fine." So I go in today after work, guy brings the gauge out to the battery, "start the car up, run everything, the blower the wipers..." Turns out I need an alternator, duh... I knew this already. I still have not gotten a price though.