I haven't had a new vehicle since 1985. I have had a genius "boy" (his term) since 1996. He's a brilliant lawyer and a genius anal retentive mechanic. I've been driving a 1993 Mazda truck for the last 6 years. Sure, some stuff has been addressed by local mechanics (front and rear axles, head gasket, radiator, etc.) but other annoyingly breakdown stuff has been repaired by a rad geek attorney-at-law/car guru.
Twice the valve lifters have been replaced -- clicking sound and crushing of the third thingy spark plug which has had issues. Oil and coolant disappearances -- not good. The google said that the crappy cylinder head is crappy.
One week -- diagnostics, ordering parts from another genius auto parts guy, dismantling shite I don't understand and ordering other parts and anal retentiveness.
So -------- for those of you who don't understand automotive shite as well as I do, here's how it is done:
Unhook and take out all the crap that is in your way. Always own bungee cords, rope and plastic thingies to stabilize the timing chain (who knew?).
Take off a tire so you can utilize 17 bottle jacks and other raising apparatus in order to remove bolts you can't reach unless you are a three year old child with a brilliant automotive mind. Discover that the oil pan is rusted and you want to shoot the truck with a twelve gauge but realize there is toxic chemical crap that can keep the oil pan intact for at least 4 months before you have to rip out more shite to replace the oil pan (usually happens in the dead of winter).
Carefully place the old cylinder head on cardboard so your moran friend with zero talent re: automotive stuff can take a picture.
Carefully place the new cylinder head on the back drop down door thingy so your moran friend with zero talent re: automotive stuff can take a picture.
And finally -- for all of you morans who pay lots of money to have your car fixed by strangers -- here is the secret of sure fire home-repair-fixer-upper re: any automotive issues. Don't spread this picture around because it is a secret:
The beer is part of the standard grocery list: the ancient horseshoe was found on the bank of the East Branch of the Naugatuck River, one block from my palatial third floor apartment. Here's the connection -- I have German ancestry somewhere 1,000 years ago as to the Heineken -- I'm Irish and we know everything there is to know about rusty horseshoes and vehicles.
I hope this extraordinary diary on car repair is helpful to all those who are beer drinkers and superstitious.
Oh -- and for the needy pootie/woozle people:
Wondering why it is taking so effing long to do a simple automotive fix.
I hope everyone has a relaxing weekend.