A minor redemption.

Bit of a busy day,  in the running around department. 

Took the Merc in for a brake job.  Didn’t go to the stealership dealership,  since they were quoting just about 150 bucks more than most any other place,  including SWC Automotive.  Which is where I ended up.

You may recall that last summer,  when I was installing the humongous front window,  I had a couple strapping lads who were willing to come by and hoist the thing up for me?   Well,  one of those guys works at this place.  That was kind of the way of introduction.  Plus,  I had taken Daughter Number Two’s car there,  so I figured I’d see if they were willing to work on the Merc. 

Anyway,  I never even mentioned that I was taking along the winter tires,  but since tires need to come off to take a gander at the brakes,  I asked if they wouldn’t mind just swapping them out for the summer ones.  No problem.  And no charge.

Hey,  it’s starting to get bloody cold in these parts,  so now is as good a time as any.

Here’s the other thing:

Once upon a time,  when I took the Merc to the dealership for an oil change,  they said they’d need the car ALL DAY.  Are you kidding me?  I’ve done oil changes in my driveway in well under a half hour.  All day?

I could never get my head around that,  unless of course their shuttle driver was off for part of the day.  Who knows?  But hey, they did wash the car.

Big whoop.

My appointment this morning was for 10:30.  I got there a few minutes early,  and the car was already on the hoist by 10:30.   See,  that kind of efficiency works for me.  Plus, I could see them working.  Not back in some mysterious labyrinth only accessible through doors marked,  “Authorised Personnel Only”.

And that’s not to say I stood around in the shop watching.  Not cool.  They don’t need me there.  But I still like to know what’s going on.

 

Oh,  and I almost forgot.  They had already ordered the parts!  No waiting around.  Like the lad at the desk said,  “If there’s no restocking fee,  we’d sooner just have the parts here at the ready,  so you’re not waiting all day.”

What a concept.

 

But I’m getting side tracked.  There were a couple other little errands that I had to run,  including picking up a mattress,  as well as the trim for the family room (for lack of a better term) at my sister-in-law’s place.  The floor was done YEARS ago,  and nobody ever bothered to put back any trim.  We’ll sort that.

Whatever.

 

The end of my day consisted of washing the summer tires before putting them away,  which was interrupted by a little repair.

The left rear tire has had to have a little air added to it about four times this summer,  and I had a sneaking suspicion that I had picked up a nail.

 

Sure enough.

It’s that metal bit next to the yellow mark.  Not sure where I got a roofing nail,  but that was the culprit.

Now here’s the thing.

I can fix that!

 

YEARS ago,  I bought a couple little tire repair tools for just such a contingency.  It’s been a few years since I’ve used it,  but I haven’t forgotten how it works.

 

 

Anyone who has done this knows the drill.  First,  find the nail.  That was thanks to the eagle eyes of Daughter Number Two.  (I’d still be out there).

Then,  all the while trying not to let all the air escape, (although it doesn’t really matter if you have a compressor)  make the hole big enough for that big darning needle thingy.   There’s a strip of some sort of rubbery goopy stuff that I’ve shoved through the end.

Then shove that goopy bit all the way in,  yank it out (‘cause then it breaks off) and yer done.

Bob’s yer Uncle.

 

No more getting dire warnings from the TPMS (Tire Pressure Monitoring System) next summer.

I hope.

 

I’ll be scanning the driveway for nails.

 

That’s all I got. 

No really.  I’m just happy to have fixed a slow leak and not have to pay for it.  My version of something akin to “redemption”.   Makes up for the fact that I ordered the wrong sized mattress,  but we’re not going there.

 

 

Keep it between the ditches.

Thanks for stopping by.