One of the nice things about doing graphic arts and signs and such for clients is that they become like buddies and we help each other out. When Jerry heard that we were going up north for our friend Sarah’s wedding, he said, we better give Blue a good check up. He knew that she needed a coolant flush (because they fixed the cracked reservoir that was leaking a wee bit and I had been putting water in because I didn’t want coolant all over the driveway…) ((It’s very dangerous for animals… and yet they love it!))
So, of course, how could I refuse? I got a gallon of coolant, a quart of oil, two cans of air conditioning recharge and a box of donuts for the guys! We were ready for spa day!!!
I’m always a bit leary when you put a 17 year old car up on a lift and start looking for trouble. Haha… the whole car is trouble! Well, not really, Blue is an awesome old lady. Still… she’s 17 years old! But up she went and they got started on inspecting her.
As you can see, Mia, the shop dog, was very very concerned. Very.
Up she goes and Steve, wonder mechanic, starts to check her over.
Well, she’s rusty underneath… not surprising, Ford product. They discover that the footwell on the driver side is really soft… It’s going to need a tin plate put in there sooner than later or I’ll have a Flintstone car. I make a mental note to not push tooooo hard on the floor!!!
But her springs and struts and all those wheel things are in good shape. The exhaust is in really good shape and it’s original! Yah Ford!
They decide they don’t like the back tires. Jerry’s got a donor car out in the lot that we’ve been taking parts off for Blue. It’s got good back tires on it, so he sends Floyd out to fetch them. Gosh… wow…
They set her down and start to flush the coolant and clean her up. Get the engine running. All of the guys listen and putter and agree, she’s running awesomely. She’s got a strong engine, sounds good, runs smooth. It’s going to last easily another 20 to 30 thousand miles with care. That’s a huge relief! For us, that’s another 3 or 4 years!!! (We don’t really drive that much) But then they hear a little squeek… and start to investigate while Steve is doing the coolant flush. It might be the alternator! Oh no!!!
But nope… it’s just the alternator pulley!!! Oh good!!! Floyd goes back out to the donor car and returns with a nice stainless steel plated pulley, an upgrade to the black plastic one of Blues! Steve gets that in place pretty quick and she’s quiet as a kitten again! Whew…
Nice new used tires! Thank you donor car!!!!
Well, they get her all done up and oh, yes, filled up the air conditioning… that is nice and got the driver side window working again… they know just where to hit that door panel to giggle that dumb motor!!! And Steve removed that darn mangled up heat shield that came partially loose and was making so much noise as we drove! Wow… I’m so excited and so thankful when he says, now, get outta here before I write up a bill! I pull that happy old car out of the bay, thanking them all profusely and as I turn the wheel to drive away, there is this loud and unhappy sound… I stop… the boys are hollaring for me to stop and they are out there checking it. Oh no…
Back on the lift she goes… oh no… turns out that the noisy heat shield was covering up the sound of wheel bearings going bad!!!! Oh my gosh… I’m getting worried. That sounds expensive. We make a deal for a bit of signage and I buy the parts. A deal! Parts cost $94 but heck, that’s a deal compared to all they have done to this old car!
It takes a while. I start helping out by answering the phones and talking with customers so they can get Blue done. They are a little short staffed because one of the other mechanics broke his wrist and is off for a week or so. I don’t mind at all, it’s kind of fun. It’s a Friday afternoon now, and getting kind of slow anyway. Jerry’s son is working on his race car in the next bay over and that’s pretty interesting. Blue and I have now been here for 8 hours. Can you only imagine what the labor charge should be for 8 hours of work???? These men are angels and this is such a blessing. They don’t want anything to be wrong for our trip, they know it’s important.
I’m beginning to think that we have opened up a HUGE can of worms and Blue is getting mighty comfortable with all this male attention. Being the car of a bunch of girls, well, she doesn’t always get the right attention… we try, but well, never really knew how to do car repairs much more than the basics and such. Now, she’s getting a ton of attention!
6:30 in the evening rolls around and they are done. She’s ready. They take her for a spin, test her out and declare her road ready and in tip top shape! I am so happy. Ended up costing about $130 for the parts, coolant and air conditioning recharge. And donuts. Which they all loved.
(Who doesn’t love donuts? I mean, common…. donuts? Yeah….)
Well, to make a long story longer… old Blue gets us to the wedding on time. In one piece. We are happy. Sarah and Brad are a beautiful pair of youngins and the ceremony is lovely. Of course, from the church to the reception… we hear this weird noise… up front… oh no! Not a flat, but it seems like the front passenger tire is a little weird, but maybe I’m just seeing things… It drives okay, but something is weird… We limp home via a slower highway, because I’m thinking if there is something wrong with the tire, I’d rather not blow it out at a high speed. But of course, Blue gets us home and nothing seems amiss, other than the weird noise.
I had to go back over to Jerry’s that Monday and of course, they wanted to know how the wedding was and how Blue did. I feel so sheepish to have to say, something is weird up front. They are amazed and Steve takes her for a spin… brakes. OH NO! haha… just starting to make a little noise from wearing down! We were so worried that it was something big deal… Steve says get a pair and I’ll change them. So now, she’s got new brake pads, coolant flush, new wheel bearings, changed alternator pulley, two new used tires on the back, no more heat shield foolishness, ah…. air conditioning recharge, window working, oil and fluids topped off and I’m out about $150 bucks. And a cool decal for the back of Jerry’s truck! My gosh… I am so sure that we got the way better side of this bargain! I am so thankful, I could almost cry, it’s just such a wonderful blessing and frankly, a huge relief off my back to know that Blue is finally all ready for another couple months without much left to go wrong!!! Of course, a 17 year old car can always find something to throw, but I feel so much more relieved knowing that Jerry and Steve are on duty and keeping her awesome and loved.
They laughed when I was taking pictures through the day… but I told them… Blue’s got a fan club and an online presence. She is beloved as the Windhaven chariot… It’s gonna be a sad day when she becomes a donor car in the back 40 at Jerry’s place!!!
Hopefully, not for another 30,000 miles, though!!!!
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