...generally, when the amount of money in my savings exceeds a certain number (and that's not a large number), mainly, because I expect various unpleasant events to take place. Usually, the car breaks down. Sometimes I hit something, but sometimes it breaks by itself just as well.
This Tuesday I came to work, parked my Jeep, spent 9 hours at the office, went back to my Jeep and turned the ignition key.
Nothing. The lights are on, though, radio works, too - I have power. So it's a fuse, or starter. I checked the fuses (found two which claimed responsibility for the starter operation), one was all right, the other one I couldn't pull out without pliers, so I decided, that it's all right, too. It looked nice from the outside.
So I called AAA and asked for the tow to the dealership. The truck came in about half an hour and the driver checked my battery, confirmed that it's not it, and offered me to start my Jeep with a help of two seemingly undocumented individuals, who happened to be crossing the parking lot at the moment, which worked beautifully - he got in, we pushed, he pumped the clutch, tires squeaked, engine sneezed and started like nothing happened.
The truck driver bailed out, since I was able to move by myself, and went back to his shop, probably to bill AAA for the towing.
I drove to the dealership and got really lucky: not only they were still open after 7 pm, they also had a loaner car for me (while waiting for the truck, I called nearest rental agencies just to make sure they are all closed. They were. For a while I was seriously contemplating driving home and parking on the hill - we have many around - so I could start the car in the morning, but decided to check with the dealer first).
So my mood was greatly improved. Not only I was driving home, I was driving home in style on a 5K old Chrysler Sebring Convertible (being middle-aged, noticeably overweight, and loosing hair - just a right guy for the car...).
Next morning brought some sad news: the faulty element was my ignition switch ($220), but I also needed a power steering flush ($180), because old fluid was deteriorating as we were talking about it, and tune-up (another $180).
OK, said I, and transferred $1000 from my savings to my checking.
Next morning was also rather informative. It appeared to be that my ignition switch was damaged, because a piece of plastic broke off my steering column and damaged it. Apparently, if I was to keep my old steering column, it would attack my new ignition switch and damage it again. I need a new steering column ($500).
I transferred $300 more, leaving a total of $2.71 on my savings.
That should do it. I seriously doubt that they will find anything else wrong with my Liberty, since I am entirely out of extra money.
P.S. This just in: the car is ready. I am totally driving down there with a top down, damn it. I am allowed to have at least that much fun.
This Tuesday I came to work, parked my Jeep, spent 9 hours at the office, went back to my Jeep and turned the ignition key.
Nothing. The lights are on, though, radio works, too - I have power. So it's a fuse, or starter. I checked the fuses (found two which claimed responsibility for the starter operation), one was all right, the other one I couldn't pull out without pliers, so I decided, that it's all right, too. It looked nice from the outside.
So I called AAA and asked for the tow to the dealership. The truck came in about half an hour and the driver checked my battery, confirmed that it's not it, and offered me to start my Jeep with a help of two seemingly undocumented individuals, who happened to be crossing the parking lot at the moment, which worked beautifully - he got in, we pushed, he pumped the clutch, tires squeaked, engine sneezed and started like nothing happened.
The truck driver bailed out, since I was able to move by myself, and went back to his shop, probably to bill AAA for the towing.
I drove to the dealership and got really lucky: not only they were still open after 7 pm, they also had a loaner car for me (while waiting for the truck, I called nearest rental agencies just to make sure they are all closed. They were. For a while I was seriously contemplating driving home and parking on the hill - we have many around - so I could start the car in the morning, but decided to check with the dealer first).
So my mood was greatly improved. Not only I was driving home, I was driving home in style on a 5K old Chrysler Sebring Convertible (being middle-aged, noticeably overweight, and loosing hair - just a right guy for the car...).
Next morning brought some sad news: the faulty element was my ignition switch ($220), but I also needed a power steering flush ($180), because old fluid was deteriorating as we were talking about it, and tune-up (another $180).
OK, said I, and transferred $1000 from my savings to my checking.
Next morning was also rather informative. It appeared to be that my ignition switch was damaged, because a piece of plastic broke off my steering column and damaged it. Apparently, if I was to keep my old steering column, it would attack my new ignition switch and damage it again. I need a new steering column ($500).
I transferred $300 more, leaving a total of $2.71 on my savings.
That should do it. I seriously doubt that they will find anything else wrong with my Liberty, since I am entirely out of extra money.
P.S. This just in: the car is ready. I am totally driving down there with a top down, damn it. I am allowed to have at least that much fun.