Saturday the check engine lit up on my dashboard. The last thing I wanted to do was pay more money to have another fixed on my car. For the past two years, or longer, I had been forced to take care of the maintenance of my car. At that time I begin to listen to the hums my car murmured.
In order to keep tabs on the routine checkups I created a maintenance list with dates and costs. Every three months, I remember the oil change and if wipers were needed to go to Walmart, which was much cheaper than Valvoline.
Then each time I went to the mechanic, I asked questions, and reread my receipt to verify what was being done to my car. So, in August when my steering wheel began to shake, I knew car trouble and thousands of dollars was about to take place.
And it did. Only I walked into Mavis for one new tire and tire rotation and my rotors checked. I left with two new tires and the ball and joint replaced and a list of need to fix items and their cost. Within the next three week, I budgeted the cost and made an appointment to have my rotors fixed, a bar underneath (still don’t know the official name) and wheel alignment. I actually received a free wheel alignment on my second visit.
I was not quite happy with the ride of my vehicle, it felt like the back jumped and squeaked. But in the back of my mind, I recalled years ago a mechanic informing me that new rotors or spark plugs give the care a different feel until broken in (like a new pair of jeans or shoes).
Imagine my surprise when the check engine light lit up on my dashboard on Saturday and did not disappear on Sunday after getting an oil change without the ability to get an inspection. Not again.
However, today, Monday, Nov. 30, 2009, the mechanic at Healy Brothers said I took really good care of my car and my car only needed a diagnostic check, in which the check engine light disappeared. I was ultimately happy with myself. And I remember my $20 coupon to top off my car care.
angchronicles 