So,,, Tuesday my friend has my car to get to work and back, he drops it off outside my apartment, gets the garage key then finds the car won't start again. He has a look see and decides we need a mechanic. Gets it towed to a place in Rexdale,,,,I am in Mississauga near Oakville. So, he gets a call the next day, apparently the idler puller had gone, and the timing belt and timing belt tensioner needed replacing . $630 later we get the car and head home. Halfway home, on the 401, 7:00 p.m. I am following my friend in my car and the car does this funny lurching movement, I get over onto the shoulder and 'feel it out'.....it is toast, lurches a couple of more times then will not go. I am sitting on the side of the 401 praying i wont get creamed by one of the semi's that are speeding by so close the car shakes each time one passes me.
Low and behold, out of the blue this truck peels over and screeches to a hault in front of me.....This guy gets out and walks over, leans on the window. Now I have read stories you know, I know what you are NOT supposed to do when your car breaks down and a strange man offers to help. So I sit there talking to him through a crack in the window while desperately trying to get ahold of my friend on the cell to tell him to HELP!!!!! Turns out the guy is the same tow truck driver who had towed my car the previous day. He gives us a good deal and takes my car back to the shop. I am a little shaken up and bummed about my car but trying to be big and brave and not get all girlie by crying.
The next day i am told that my car was ready to go, again,,,,,it seems that the mechanic had not cleaned up all the broken pieces when the pulley went and one of those pieces got lodged under the timing belt causing it to fly off,,,,apparently the cap ?? was damaged somewhat and they were going to find me another one but we were good to go this time. I follow my friend out onto the 401, again,,,,,i am maybe 5 km away from Mississauga road when I hear this clunk under the hood,,,,2 minutes later the engine light comes on, then the heat shuts off, then I start to lose momentum,,,,,i manage to coast to a safe place to stop and shut down. I call my friend, again, he sends the tow truck, again, i try hard to be a big brave girl and not cry.....I lose the battle.
So, the next day,,,,Friday, we are told that the cap was full of holes and oil had blown out all over the place, seals had blown, belts had come off etc. etc. etc. My friend loses his cool and yells at them for a while, they offer a loaner car for the weekend while their mechanic fixes it and tries to figure out if the engine is a write off now. So this morning we go to the shop,,,,again,,,,they give me a loaner,,,,,,we are driving home, I am scared shitless wondering wtf is going to happen now? I manage to get home in one piece. I decide it's a nice day so i am taking the dog to the park, might as well I have not been able to work cause of all this driving back and forth the last few days anyways. i run up and get the dog,,,come down, strap her in, hop in the car and drive away. At the first stop sign, guess what happens? Yup, the loaner car CRAPS OUT starts sputtering and coughing and jumping around. I am so fricking pissed and upset and frustrated I just keep driving the goddamn thing straight to my friends house. He calls the shop, yells some more, then we are sent to a closer shop to get another loaner car. Everybody is apologetic and kind and trying to be reassuring but I am wondering what the hell is going to happen next? The wheels fall off?
I have not worked in days, supposed to go see my kids and grandkids this weekend but of course I am too frickin nervous about breaking down halfway there and besides, i am broke now. muttergrumble
So,,,,,now i am fairly certain I am cursed. Seriously, the auto gods hate me.
sigh that has been my week so far, how is yours going?
Low and behold, out of the blue this truck peels over and screeches to a hault in front of me.....This guy gets out and walks over, leans on the window. Now I have read stories you know, I know what you are NOT supposed to do when your car breaks down and a strange man offers to help. So I sit there talking to him through a crack in the window while desperately trying to get ahold of my friend on the cell to tell him to HELP!!!!! Turns out the guy is the same tow truck driver who had towed my car the previous day. He gives us a good deal and takes my car back to the shop. I am a little shaken up and bummed about my car but trying to be big and brave and not get all girlie by crying.
The next day i am told that my car was ready to go, again,,,,,it seems that the mechanic had not cleaned up all the broken pieces when the pulley went and one of those pieces got lodged under the timing belt causing it to fly off,,,,apparently the cap ?? was damaged somewhat and they were going to find me another one but we were good to go this time. I follow my friend out onto the 401, again,,,,,i am maybe 5 km away from Mississauga road when I hear this clunk under the hood,,,,2 minutes later the engine light comes on, then the heat shuts off, then I start to lose momentum,,,,,i manage to coast to a safe place to stop and shut down. I call my friend, again, he sends the tow truck, again, i try hard to be a big brave girl and not cry.....I lose the battle.
So, the next day,,,,Friday, we are told that the cap was full of holes and oil had blown out all over the place, seals had blown, belts had come off etc. etc. etc. My friend loses his cool and yells at them for a while, they offer a loaner car for the weekend while their mechanic fixes it and tries to figure out if the engine is a write off now. So this morning we go to the shop,,,,again,,,,they give me a loaner,,,,,,we are driving home, I am scared shitless wondering wtf is going to happen now? I manage to get home in one piece. I decide it's a nice day so i am taking the dog to the park, might as well I have not been able to work cause of all this driving back and forth the last few days anyways. i run up and get the dog,,,come down, strap her in, hop in the car and drive away. At the first stop sign, guess what happens? Yup, the loaner car CRAPS OUT starts sputtering and coughing and jumping around. I am so fricking pissed and upset and frustrated I just keep driving the goddamn thing straight to my friends house. He calls the shop, yells some more, then we are sent to a closer shop to get another loaner car. Everybody is apologetic and kind and trying to be reassuring but I am wondering what the hell is going to happen next? The wheels fall off?
I have not worked in days, supposed to go see my kids and grandkids this weekend but of course I am too frickin nervous about breaking down halfway there and besides, i am broke now. muttergrumble
So,,,,,now i am fairly certain I am cursed. Seriously, the auto gods hate me.
sigh that has been my week so far, how is yours going?