You're traveling along and then you need to repair your car, what do you do?
By writersedge
@writersedge (22563)
United States
March 30, 2010 7:10pm CST
My friend and I had finished shopping and a man walked up to us, "Ma'am, do you know your car has a brake light out?" "No, I didn't know." "Well, you do." "Thank you."
So I had my friend try the brakes while I looked at the back of the car. Sure enough, the right brake light was out. My friend insisted that I get it repaired immediately. So I went to Autozone. I bought brake lights for a little over $4 including tax. Then my friend asked them if they would install the brake light. Even though it was raining, he did and it was icy cold. I tried to help, but I wasn't much help. IF I had had the $, I would have bought a tool kit like the one he was using. Why? Because in 3 weeks or less, more than likely, the other light will go out. I have the other light, but I don't have those tools.
So have you ever been traveling along and needed to repair your car? Did you repair it yourself? Did you have someone else repair it? Did you have to call someone?
1 person likes this
8 responses
@ElicBxn (63235)
• United States
31 Mar 10
Normally, I won't stop and fix something as soon as I discover it, tho I might pick up what I need and take it home.
Now, one time I had to replace my battery and the guy in the store came out and did it, and the other time it was just a ball on the steering wheel to help me steer one handed - since I had the other hand STRAPPED to my chest post surgery.
Both times I was very grateful of their helping me out.
I actually wasn't released to drive yet after surgery, but what could I do? I had to have medicine and nobody to drive me to the pharmacy and then my mom wanted me to come over, and, again, I had no one to drive me.
I will add that I still have that ball on my steering wheel and I love it EVERY day!
2 people like this
@writersedge (22563)
• United States
31 Mar 10
That ball sounds cool, never had one of those. I was going to take it home and have my husband do it, but my friend insisted on right then. I thought it would cost more than $4.
1 person likes this
@ElicBxn (63235)
• United States
1 Apr 10
Probably afraid you'd get stopped and a ticket - but I bet if you said you just learned about it and showed him that you had the new light, he'd've let ya off.
I know I just got a car out of the shop and a police man stopped me because I had no rear lights (the shop had forgotten to plug in the wires.)
I told them that it had just gotten out of the shop and that I would tell my parents the next day, but until then, I needed to go see a friend because I was leaving town the next day. He let me off and, I guess, radioed ahead so I didn't get pulled over again that night.
@carmelanirel (20942)
• United States
31 Mar 10
I am not mechanically inclined and though whenever I watch and help my husband do the brakes, change a tire or the oil and I think to myself, "I can do that" I know in reality, I would mess it up. So if the car broke down or needed a repair, either my husband has to or I would have to pay someone to do it.
@writersedge (22563)
• United States
6 Apr 10
Yeah, it's the gettting to the bulb on a car that's a problem. He just changed it like you would any bulb in your house, but he needed two kinds of drivers to get to it. A flat head and a hex nut, which I didn't have. In a couple of weeks, the other one will probably blow.
@writersedge (22563)
• United States
31 Mar 10
The changing the light bulb is a lot easier and not as dangerous as the others. But I didn't have the tools to do it.
@carolbee (16230)
• United States
31 Mar 10
You just prevented yourself from getting a ticket if the police are really ticketing for this sort of issue. You got a bargain..lol
Am having trouble with a tire losing air. Was on my way to our daughter's house very early in the morning and the low tire light came on the dashboard. It's all highway driving so I knew nobody would be on the highway so early in the morning. This happened 3-4 times this winter. What I did twice was get back in my area and go to a local oil change place where I do business and have them fill the tire. Sometimes the fluctuation in the weather will trigger the light to come on and remain on until air is put into the tire. Could be a slow leak. I would call a tow truck to come and change the tire if I was alone. No way I could change a tire any longer.
1 person likes this
@writersedge (22563)
• United States
31 Mar 10
We go to G-n-G tire, they put plugs in where there is a leak.It's neat to watch them find the leaks. Hope you get that fixed before you get stranded.
@celticeagle (159058)
• Boise, Idaho
31 Mar 10
I got stopped by a policeman a couple of times because I had a light out. I was up in the mountains with a boyfriend and the reverse went out on the old truck he was driving. He had had for forever. So I played in the creek and handed him tool while he fixed the reverse on the transmission. It is a good idea to have a mechanic along with you as well as a tool kit. Hehe
1 person likes this
@bulastika (5966)
• Philippines
31 Mar 10
We always let the mechanics repair our cars. Cars need mechanics like us need doctors. We also see to it that mechanics is a specialist. So that we can be sure that we get what we paid. Also having a regular mechanics can help you maintain your car. Because if you don't maintain your car the sooner or later it end up that you spend more if you want to repair your car.
@writersedge (22563)
• United States
31 Mar 10
I just had my oil changed last week. The light was fine. It recently went out. It's just a matter of changing a light bulb in the back end. Yes, for hard repairs I have my mechanic look at it. But I wasn't risking a ticket for a $4 light bulb that most people can change on a tail light.
@umit_umit (1984)
• India
31 Mar 10
well i do get it repair before going to some distant place!
1 person likes this
@writersedge (22563)
• United States
31 Mar 10
I can't have it repaired every day, I just had it at the auto shop last week and the light wasn't out then. Take care.
@GardenGerty (157555)
• United States
31 Mar 10
I usually need such major repairs that I cannot fix it myself. The one time I had a flat tire, I had a girl friend with me and she wanted to change the tire and have her eleven year old help for the experience. I have had my son come and help me when I had a flat but hubby had removed the jack and I was in a parking lot. I have blown the timing chain and scored the pistons doing seventy on the interstate, and had to have major work done. Fourth of July weekend. Also had a starter go out, another July third, and hour from my home. A friend brought a starter with him that would work and got me home. When I have trouble, I have it really well.
1 person likes this
@writersedge (22563)
• United States
31 Mar 10
Yeah, usually I have something too difficult to do, but this time I didn't. I was lucky. When I can afford triple A again, I'll get them. They've been great.
@sender621 (14894)
• United States
31 Mar 10
I am afraid I would have to call a relative or friend. I would not know the first thing to do to repair anything on a car. My talenys are limited in that department.
@writersedge (22563)
• United States
31 Mar 10
Mine, too, so are my friend's. That's why she asked the guy to fix it for me.
