Okay - I couldn't keep quiet any longer on this...
I used to own a gas station and a fee of $400 for changing the spark plugs on your car...they aren't cutting you any deals. They are charging you for every little thing they can and they are charging you for everything they have to take off and put back on that car. That is their right BUT you are trying to save money here and that is your right. LABOR LABOR LABOR $$$
I just goggled it and the instructions are out there on the internet. This may be something your husband and your S18 are going to have to do together. BUT together they can do it. And yes, it is going to be an all day job but they can do it. MWG - I bet that even you could do it.
As far as the emissions go. Been there too. In the two states that I'm familiar with if your emissions fail they are to give you a print out of what is wrong and the minimum you have to fix in order to pass the emissions.
MWG - my 1994 Jeep still passes emissions and we don't do anything. We do not have any of the work done any where else but our driveway. DO NOT let these station owners make you feel dumb or try to intimidate you. It was one thing that I would not tolerate as a gas station owner. They will try it on you/women. They try it on my daughter...she just raises and eyebrow at them and says...you can come square with me or I'm calling my dad tonight who does this type of stuff for a living and he will tell me what is what. Yep, they usually get embarrassed but they usually come square and it is usually a savings of hundreds of dollars. And it's the same place she goes to all the time.
Sorry to vent on this - I just hate to see people taken when it comes to cars and getting the work done on them. Can you tell it makes me mad?
I have been to the auto parts stores and for one plug and one wire it is $76--yep, $76. I have six of these, and I can buy them and have the place put them in.
There is no room to do this in my driveway and we do not have enough light and also, there is no way to lift the car. It has to be on a lift in order to do this.
The wires and plugs are the real cost here, not the labor. I called NAPA, went to Auto Zone, Checker, the dealer (always the worst, and of course the NAPA auto center who can install these.
It is a bummer but that is what it costs.
The Bomb: 08/05 H moves out: 06/2006 H moves back: 01/07 & Out again: 01/07 H moves back: 03/08 & Out again: 04/08 H moves back: 05/09 & Out again: 07/09 Divorced 08-12 Kids: 22, 20, 19
He acknowledged receiving a letter from H but did not reveal the contents and I did not ask. He said he has not written back to him because she just does not know what to say and he said he does not want to come across as sounding angry. That is why he has not written.
I told my FIL that I understand his position and I also gave him h's cell phone number.
I think I am going to take a rest. I have been sneezing today a lot and I have had a terrible sore throat, esp. tonight. I don't want to feel like this for D's birthday but that's okay. SHe and I did stuff together today.
The Bomb: 08/05 H moves out: 06/2006 H moves back: 01/07 & Out again: 01/07 H moves back: 03/08 & Out again: 04/08 H moves back: 05/09 & Out again: 07/09 Divorced 08-12 Kids: 22, 20, 19
I'm glad to see that your FIL posted to you. I do hope he will call his son. His son needs his father now more than ever.
Please take care of yourself.
Sit quietly, the answers will reveal themselves when you least expect them to. The past is gone, the present is a gift and you need to focus on today, allow the future to reveal itself when it is ready.
Today is D17's birthday. She texted her dad this morning to see when he was coming and she has yet to hear from him. We did her birthday without him. She wanted to go to the movies with him (she has a movie gift card) but since she has not heard from him she changed her plans and is doing something else.
My car is really acting up and I am afraid to drive it very far, if at all. It is running very rough, the engine light is coming on again and the coolant temp. keeps rising (I am not even running the a/c!).
Such is life.
The Bomb: 08/05 H moves out: 06/2006 H moves back: 01/07 & Out again: 01/07 H moves back: 03/08 & Out again: 04/08 H moves back: 05/09 & Out again: 07/09 Divorced 08-12 Kids: 22, 20, 19
Hi MWG, sorry your d didn't hear back from her dad-his loss. I,m a bit worried about your car, you could be storing up huge problems if you don't get it fixed. Driving it as it is will probably cause more problems. I know I hate cars too! Would it be possible for you to trade it in and get something cheaper to run and much cheaper to repair, you might not have so many gagets but you don't drive too far anyway do you.
M, I'm sorry you are still feeling under weather and I'm also sorry to see that your h didn't come over for his d's birthday.
I think the time has come to sit down and have a very nice heart to heart w/your h about the car. Obviously, your son cannot use it to go to work and you can't use it to run errands and take packages to the PO for your ebay sales. It's time the man bite the bullet and turn over the keys to the car he's driving and give you the opportunity to utilize it. It's doing no one any good w/him sitting in his dark hole w/the car sitting there. You and your son need a car now.
M, it's time...
Sit quietly, the answers will reveal themselves when you least expect them to. The past is gone, the present is a gift and you need to focus on today, allow the future to reveal itself when it is ready.
The kids are needing rides here, there and everywhere today and I cannot do it. And none of them have heard from their dad.
A different car would be nice but there is no steady income. That is not an option.
I already know that the car needs almost $5,000 in total repairs.
H will never ever give us his car. I don't see why not, his ow has her truck and she works just 5 minutes from their batcave.
The Bomb: 08/05 H moves out: 06/2006 H moves back: 01/07 & Out again: 01/07 H moves back: 03/08 & Out again: 04/08 H moves back: 05/09 & Out again: 07/09 Divorced 08-12 Kids: 22, 20, 19
H told me that I can use MY portion of the income tax money to pay for repairs which would leave me with nothing while he gets a few thousand!!
The Bomb: 08/05 H moves out: 06/2006 H moves back: 01/07 & Out again: 01/07 H moves back: 03/08 & Out again: 04/08 H moves back: 05/09 & Out again: 07/09 Divorced 08-12 Kids: 22, 20, 19
