My Unexpected Friday Off Cost Me $604!!
@ElusiveButterfly (45942)
United States
April 5, 2019 1:56pm CST
Who doesn't like to get an unexpected day off, especially when it falls on a Friday? Well, I'll tell you it is me.
The muffler on my car came loose after running it through a back road that was thick with mud from the thaw. My husband fixed the muffler and I was glad to not have that rattling sound. But, fix that and one other sound was evident. It was a grinding sound. I was going to take it to the auto shop as soon as I got a free minute from work.
Well, today as I drove to work I noticed the sound was louder. Not only that, but my rear tire felt like it was wobbling. Scared the bejeebers out of me. I slowed down to way below the speed limit and drove directly to my auto mechanic.
He said it was a bearing and I should only drive the car around town and get it fixed asap. I called the scheduler from work and my supervisor to let them both know I wouldn't be able to work today and why.
Because my mechanic didn't have the tools to fix the problem, I had to go to another mechanic. Although the bill is $604 I will gladly pay it for the knowledge that I will be able to safely drive my automobile. Also that I will have it fixed by the end of the workday too.
Thankful for my bestie who came to my rescue and picked me up. We spent the morning together catching up. Was nice to see her. She also drove me to pick up Little Miss from daycare and drove me home.
Costly day off, but worth it for peace of mind.
13 people like this
13 responses
@ElusiveButterfly (45942)
• United States
7 Apr 19
@amadeo I know many people that go over their limited miles and they always say not to lease if you have to drive a lot.
@ElusiveButterfly (45942)
• United States
6 Apr 19
If I could afford a new car every two years I would indeed be buying one. A leased vehicle is out of the question at this time. I drive too many miles with my work and it would put it over the limit.
1 person likes this
@amadeo (111938)
• United States
6 Apr 19
@ElusiveButterfly that is too bad there.That is the worst of leasing there.
2 people like this
@much2say (57702)
• Los Angeles, California
5 Apr 19
Ohhhhh - that was my Wednesday . . . my oil change day turned out to be other things and coincidentally it cost me $608 (they said I got a deal on a couple things - but still, the total was costly). But good you got to spend time with a friend . . . I walked home and back to the mechanic - and messed up my knee somehow which didn't show up until later.
2 people like this
@ElusiveButterfly (45942)
• United States
6 Apr 19
I almost considered walking to McDonald's to wait it out. But that would have been a long wait time. So I called my BFF and she was glad to come and get me. I would have probably had pain in my knees too. Darned arthritis.
Hope that your knees are feeling better.
1 person likes this
@ElusiveButterfly (45942)
• United States
11 Apr 19
@much2say we want to push ourselves to keep ourselves going. Sometimes it is a good thing, sometimes not.
@much2say (57702)
• Los Angeles, California
7 Apr 19
@ElusiveButterfly I was offered a ride by the dealer, but I figured the walk would do me good - and it really wasn't that far. There isn't much between the dealer and our house - no place to really hang out for a few hours. I don't know what happened to my knee - but thank you - it's tons better now - perhaps it was a warning sign to remind me I am no spring chicken 
.
.1 person likes this
@ElusiveButterfly (45942)
• United States
6 Apr 19
It was a pleasure to drive the vehicle home last night. Still have another repair to have done. The mechanic said it isn't a major concern right now and the car is safe to drive. But, I'll need to get it done sometime down the road. Hopefully will get it done in May when I have a little more money saved up.
1 person likes this
@ElusiveButterfly (45942)
• United States
6 Apr 19
They worked on it for about 3 hours and fixed it up right. It does need more repairs down the road, but they said it is safe to drive.
2 people like this
@JohnRoberts (109845)
• Los Angeles, California
5 Apr 19
Those unexpected car issues can be killer.
2 people like this
@ElusiveButterfly (45942)
• United States
6 Apr 19
There are more repairs that need to be addressed, but not a concern at the moment. I'll have to save to have them done.
1 person likes this
@ElusiveButterfly (45942)
• United States
6 Apr 19
I am happy that I'll be able to drive to see my son and his family this weekend. Thought I would have to cancel because of the car problems.
2 people like this
@snowy22315 (192157)
• United States
6 Apr 19
Oh that is scary..I hope that doesn't happen to me. I don't blame you for getting that fixed pronto. It is no fun to drive a car with big problems.
1 person likes this
@ElusiveButterfly (45942)
• United States
7 Apr 19
I was happy to be able to drive my car once it was fixed. The cost of it put a dent in the bank though.
1 person likes this
@TiarasOceanView (70020)
• United States
10 Apr 19
Love cars that is why I dont have one now.
1 person likes this
@ElusiveButterfly (45942)
• United States
11 Apr 19
I do love my car when it is running great. When I have to sink money into it to keep it running, I get a little upset.
@Juliaacv (54072)
• Canada
5 Apr 19
I am so glad that you got into see your mechanic as quick as you heard that noise.
My husband's old SUV made a funny noise for weeks, and I kept on telling him to take it in or replace it. He waited and on his way into the mechanic shop, I was ahead of him, he had to call me to come and get him. Both rear wheel bearings gave way in front of another mechanic place and he needed a ride home.
I wanted him to leave that truck there and just replace it, but no, he had it repaired and still drove it for almost another year before he parted with it.
Wheel bearings are nothing to fool around with when they start to go.
2 people like this
@ElusiveButterfly (45942)
• United States
5 Apr 19
Really scared the crap out of me especially when Little Miss was in the car when I took it to town.
2 people like this
@ElusiveButterfly (45942)
• United States
6 Apr 19
They were glad that I brought it down right away. I really didn't dare to drive it.
1 person likes this
@LadyDuck (477962)
• Italy
6 Apr 19
@ElusiveButterfly You did the right thing, it was too dangerous to drive that car.
1 person likes this
@lookatdesktop (27143)
• Dallas, Texas
6 Apr 19
The muffler is connected to the exhaust system and if the muffler was damaged it might have not only been torn or a hole created but if it is separated from the exhaust it can be an expensive repair. We had our mufflers replaced due to basic rust and some holes from the rust over time, but after the repairs that were not that expensive at the time, I realized I was smelling exhaust fumes under the dash so I realize that those so called inexpensive repairs were not fully done, as now I have to have another mechanic look over the entire exhaust system and it is a dual exhaust so it will end up costing a lot just to have it checked.
1 person likes this
@ElusiveButterfly (45942)
• United States
6 Apr 19
My husband welded the part that came undone to make sure that it doesn't happen again. I had travelled dirt roads that were really muddy when they thawed. My car sank to the rims and the undercarriage dragged through the mud. Thankfully I found an alternate route to my client's home where there are more paved than dirt roads to travel. Having to go there 2-4 times a week was proving to be quite damaging to my car.
1 person likes this
@ElusiveButterfly (45942)
• United States
7 Apr 19
@lookatdesktop there are a few dirt roads in Vermont. They are treasured by the back road enthusiasts. I prefer a paved road.
@lookatdesktop (27143)
• Dallas, Texas
6 Apr 19
@ElusiveButterfly I think that is terrible news. A road like that one really needs paving. I remember driving my 61 Valiant up north in Washington and the roads were completely dirt and mud. I drove right by a muffler that had fallen off by a vehicle that had gone ahead of me just a short time before. Well, as Noam Chomsky said recently, pot holes and such serve only to increase the nation's Gross Domestic Product.
1 person likes this
@ElusiveButterfly (45942)
• United States
6 Apr 19
I have more repairs to address, but that is further down the road.
@Courtlynn (67091)
• United States
22 Apr 19
Oh boy. I'm glad you were able to get the time off and get it fixed. Even better that you got to hang out with your friend for some time too.
1 person likes this
@ElusiveButterfly (45942)
• United States
22 Apr 19
I can't wait to be able to spend time with her when I retire.
1 person likes this
@Courtlynn (67091)
• United States
22 Apr 19
@ElusiveButterfly I bet! how much longer now?
1 person likes this
