My car is sick

I love my car. It's pretty, a nice green Sebring convertible. And it has a black top, so it's the perfect colors. And it's a convertible. Even a kid who goes to BJU knows that that means "dating car." Why, even today a senior girl was complimenting it!

Unfortunately, it's gotten sick. I was driving to the interstate to go home when the little temperature warning came on. Naturally, I pulled off on the next exit and bought an overpriced bottle of pre-diluted coolant and put it into the appropriate hole. I can also put more oil in; that's about the limit of my knowledge about cars.

I pulled out, and the temp. gauge had gone down just a touch, so I figured, problem solved! Then it went back up into the red zone. So, I figured, maybe it just needs a little while to kick in, and I go ahead and head home. The light stayed on for about 15 minutes. Then it goes out, the gauge hits the bottom half of the "cool" side, and the "service engine soon" light comes on. Well, sure enough, I'm past-due for my 3000 mile tune-up. I think to myself, "I'll have to take care of that."

At this point, I've just pulled off of the interstate. I stop at a light, then the service engine soon light goes back off, and the oil light comes on. I don't really have time to think about this, because when I step on the gas, I get about no speed at all. I pulled off to the side of the road, and steam starts to come out of my hood. Oops. Figures this would happen when Dad's on a business trip.

Several cell-phone calls (roadside assistance, Mom, who gets Dad to call me, etc.) and a tow-truck ride later, I'm picked up by Mom and go home. Soon, I got a call from the dealership: My water pump had gone out (so the overpriced gas-station coolant did no good), causing the "head gasket" to mess up somehow. I brace myself.

$1400.

Fortunately, my Dad was actually expecting it to be more, so he didn't kill me over the phone when I told him. (I have such a nice Daddy!)

Today's Lesson: Don't drive with the temp. light on. Ever. Just don't. It's expensive.

UPDATE: Oh, guess what? My ignorance magically transformed what should have been a $400 job (replacing the water pump) into a $1400 job. They say experience is the best teacher, but the tuition is so expensive!

Posted by Blog Jones at March 16, 2004 07:29 PM | Category: Personal