BetterMost Community Blogs > Cellar Scribblings
Cellar Scribblings
CellarDweller:
--- Quote from: Jeff Wrangler on May 31, 2019, 10:54:33 pm ---My father would not have let me out on the road if I couldn't change a tire myself. I even used to put on my own snow tires. He made sure I knew how to check and add oil and wiper fluid and water and/or antifreeze to the radiator.
One thing he did not teach me, or think to teach me, was to check and add water to the battery--you had to do that back in them days. At least when the battery went dead once because it had gone dry, he couldn't blame me for it because he never told me I had to do that! :laugh:
--- End quote ---
It was the same for me. My dad taught me how to do all that, and I remember adding water to the battery of my first car too.
brianr:
I had forgotten about checking water in battery. I am afraid I never check anything these days. I might check the oil before going on a long drive but it is over 15 months since I drove more than 100 km away from home. I had to fill the windscreen washers recently. There is a cat that sleeps on my car and its paw marks are all over the windscreen each morning. Luckily guns are restricted here or it would be dead.
My car needs a WOF (Warrant of Fitness) in November and I get a full service in February. Apparently it was first registered in Nov 2009 and I bought it from the dealer in Feb 2010. Except for a new battery last year, I have not had any major repairs but expect that will not last much longer. Cars need so little servicing now compared to when I first owned a car (was a 21st birthday present) in 1965 (a 1958 Holden all cars since I have bought brand new).
In those days the road side service would not change a tyre for a male but thankfully that has changed. I have had one flat tyre on my present car, I was in the North Island, dressed to go out for dinner and it was raining so called AA. Like most new cars, the spare is not supposed to be used for any great distance and not above 80kph so I had to waste holiday time the next day having the tyre repaired. I have bought 2 complete new sets of tyres in the 9 years.
Front-Ranger:
One thing that irks me is that when you have a problem with a tyre, they want you to buy 4 new tyres. What a waste!
brianr:
--- Quote from: Front-Ranger on June 01, 2019, 08:44:17 pm ---One thing that irks me is that when you have a problem with a tyre, they want you to buy 4 new tyres. What a waste!
--- End quote ---
Not sure who ' they' are. Generally I find that there are deals to buy 3 and get the fourth free. On previous cars I would have the tyres rotated when I had a service but that seems not to be done now that the spare cannot be used in the rotation. I never have a 'problem' just that they show me that usually 2 (front?) are getting down towards the legal limit. When I replaced those 2, it was only a year before the other 2 needed replacing and I did not get the 4th tyre free so next time I bought 4 at once.
Jeff Wrangler:
--- Quote from: serious crayons on June 01, 2019, 09:16:40 am ---I know how, but I've never done it and have never had to.
The closest I came to having to was when I got a flat at night (maybe around 8 or so? it was dark, anyway) on a freeway in an area not near commercial development but near some houses. I jumped a fence, knocked on the door of a house and asked the guy inside for help. He changed it! There are some advantages to being a woman -- I think a man would have a harder time doing this. (On the other hand, a woman is in somewhat more danger knocking on a stranger's door.)
Now, in the era of mobile phones and roadside assistance, I wouldn't even need to do that unless I was in the middle of nowhere with no service.
--- End quote ---
Nice to know there are still a few Good Samaritans out there. But I guess maybe you did take a chance. If I had a daughter, I wouldn't recommend it.
Do you belong to AAA? They've provided roadside assistance to members for, like, forever. It's probably even easier to connect with help now in the age of smart phones (or even flip phones ;D ). I once had a situation where my car battery went dead because I didn't notice that when a passenger got out, somehow he bumped the switch on the dome light, so the light stayed on after the door was closed. AAA came out and gave me a jump, even though the car was in a parking garage.
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