Grumbles

[spirithorse21]

Dear Truck,

Please stop breaking down and eating my entire paycheck. I know you are a 1998 vehicle with over 100,000 miles, but this is just ridiculous. Last month it was a wheel bearing WHILE we were in North Caroline, JUST after you had received a full service and thorough inspection. This month, you won't start and my mechanic says it may be a fuel pump. Taking my entire paycheck is rather selfish of you, especially as I was just about to take a big step and pay your loan off early. It makes me sad.

These are some of the things I had planned to use my next paycheck for:
1. Yoga classes
2. A horse show
3. Regular monthly bills
4. Paying off your loan

But now I may not be able to do that. Furthermore, your need to die and get TOWED to the shop rather than giving me warning signs that would allow me to DRIVE you to the shop is really irritating. On top of all the other expenses, towing expenses are not appreciated.

I know you may think it's nice to have all these new parts--you're practically a new truck by now. But could you lay off for a little while? Hell, I had planned on getting you all these fancy flushes that mechanics recommend for cars your age, but now we don't need them because I dropped loads more putting in new parts, like the alternator, the drive shaft, and the transmission. On top of this, in the past 12 months, you have received new wheel bearing, new brakes and rotors, your usual service checks, fixed your oil leaks, new cooling system...oh, the list just goes on and on. The only thing left is the engine and I'd really appreciate it if you could keep that in good condition, because I just can't afford to fix that.

K? Thnx.

Sincerely,

*sigh* Your dejected driver.

Comments

[glenatron.livejournal.com]

I hate the moment when you realise that for the amount you spent on the car in the last three months you could have replaced it...

[spirithorse21.livejournal.com]

I've had several of those moments. And I have thought about replacing it. But then we just keep going forward and these are all major parts that have lifetime warranties, So I won't have to pay for them again. And that is *some* consolation. Still...*sigh*

And, as much as I'd love to buy a new vehicle right now, this one is almost paid off, and that's one less debt, which makes it just that much easier to get the BIG loan for my farm in a couple of years. I'm secretly hoping that I can buy a new truck as part of our farm expenses with that big loan. *crosses fingers*

[chiere.livejournal.com]

Let me guess, Is it a Dodge Dakota?? LOL! That's what my husband owns, and what a piece of crap!!!! Driveshaft??? DRIVESHAFT???? On a truck with only abt 100,000 miles??? Have you been drag racing again?? That had to be a factory problem. The other stuff is concievable for a 10 yr old vihicle, but the only times I've ever lost a driveshaft (And I've driven a shit ton of craptastic cars while I was a poor single mom for 15 years) was in an ancient cadillac. The car started shaking like we were in an earthquake, so I pulled to the side of the road. And it went, 'clunk' and fell out. The other time, I was riding with a boyfriend, in his 195something truck, and we heard this "BLAM BLAM BLAM BLAM!!!" from under the truck. Looked behind us just in time to see the driveshaft shoot up into the air as it bounced off the pavement one last time w/o encountering the bottom of the truck. Good thing no one was behind us, as it went higher than the truck, then all over the place when it hit the ground again. We, of course just rollllled to a stop, =-)

If it's a Dodge of any kind, keep a close eye on your ball joints, lowers and uppers. Uppers almost never go out,... Unless you're ina Dodge. There's even a recall for it on some Dodges. Alas, not Dakotas,...

Ours has 165,000 miles on it, and has had 3, 3, thats THREE transmissions so far, the upper AND lower ball joints replaced, two air conditioners, a palmetto bug infestation like a Twilite Zone episode, and a hole in the firewall that we can't find, so that when it rains, (which happens in Florida) the passenger side floorboard fills up with about 4" of water.

Currently, the check engine lite is on, the engine is sputtering and missing (water in the gas? Throttle body injector needs cleaning? Or something more ominous like the timing belt is fixing to go?) and sometimes it makes burning smells, =-O

My husband wanted to replace it w/ a Ram so we could pull the horses (cuz that Dakota ain't strong enough, even w/ the tow package to haul our fatties) but I said hell no to another Dodge!!! I want a Chevy or Ford deisel. What I really want is for those companies to come out with a mukin' big hybred that can do the heavy duty stuff! But alas, I see no plans for that any time soon,...

The best money I have ever spent is our annual AAA membership. We get the premium package, and include my daughter. It has paid for it's self 100 times over. If you can, scrape up the $90 a year and get it! The only thing is, they won't tow a horsetrailer.

But these guys will, http://www.usrider.org/faq.html They are $200 a year, but if you haul a lot, well worth it!

[spirithorse21.livejournal.com]

Chevy Blazer, actually. I love that truck. But I've used it hard. It's a V6 and I do haul horses with it. Dad and mechanic say that's fine, and it hauls great. But that is hard on such a small truck.

We do have AAA, but not the premium kind. So, when it was towed last month, that was our tow for the year. I think next year, an upgrade is in store.

[tabascokat.livejournal.com]

automobiles have joined forces to all breakdown before the end of the first quarter.

[spirithorse21.livejournal.com]

I think you're right.

I was talking to my dad earlier and he informed me that it is coyote season, not car season, and I should really stop shooting the truck! We had a good laugh over that one anyway. :)

[wldhrsjen3.livejournal.com]

Heh. My little silver bullet (an Alero) has 99,000 miles on it and now it's beginning to fall apart. Little stuff, but gah. It leaks, it creaks, and it keeps flashing random warning lights. Living off a gravel road is hard on cars, I realize, but good grief. We keep replacing parts, too.

I am lusting after a full size, extended cab Chevy Silverado in a gorgeous shade of blue...

Good luck with your truck. I do hope you won't have to worry about any other repairs for a good long time!

[spirithorse21.livejournal.com]

Thanks. She's home now and all fixed up. I hope we're done for a while.

Mine too

[snugimp.livejournal.com]

Let's see radiator had a leak last winter, mechanic noticed brakes were in need of replacement, oil leak, fuel pump went out in Noblesville at Perkins. Most recently the fuel injectors doing something funky, lucky he did a little flush and she appears to be running alright. you remember my alternator problem from college.....our twins are rather like twin frankensteins!

Re: Mine too

[spirithorse21.livejournal.com]

My mechanic said that the Blazers are great, but major problems start at about 95K miles. *sigh* They have been good twins though, don't you think? Despite everything?

Re: Mine too

[snugimp.livejournal.com]

oh yes, she has been quite good to me!

[darcylynne.livejournal.com]

Oh boy - not encouraging news! My truck is just coming up on 71,000 miles. :( Hope all will go well for all of you. And snugimp what does your icon mean? Is it a logo you designed? I have never seen it before.

[spirithorse21.livejournal.com]

His user name has to do with the fraternity he belonged to in college (Sigma Nu) and his nickname (Gimp)...that's where we became friend.

The coat of arms is for the country of Spain, which he has visited and loves. It might be specific to Barcelona, I'm not sure.

The truck, she is fixed now. Cost and arm and a leg, but she's home and running well.

[snugimp.livejournal.com]

that is actually the seal of España It comes from the coat of arms for the Bourbon Dynasty that still rules in Spain today.

The reason I use it....is because it is one of my favorite places. I have visited once. Took four years of the language in high school. Did two years teaching it as part of an after school program.

This is probably far more than you wanted to know, but it is here anyway.

[darcylynne.livejournal.com]

I really enjoyed reading about the history behind your icon. Very interesting to say that least and I can understand you passion. Thank you for sharing. :) And it was not far more than I wanted to hear.