What a day!!

My car has a bad brake switch. A $7.99 part. Pop in, pop out, job done.

Nope. Uh uh. Since Friday, 11 people have diddled with this stupid thing, and I am sitting here now whining because it still isn't fixed.

I've burdened at least 3 people for over 4 days. The car has been jumped off no less than 10 times. At one point there were 5 men under the hood or dash scratching their heads. Wiring issues were discovered - fixed. Bulbs were blowing out - fixed. But the brake switch is still bad. Went to 6 different auto parts stores. The part was the wrong one at every store, but we did discover a "country boy" solution. Meh - Jerry-rigging was part of the reason the thing is screwed up - do I really want to add more? A trip to WalMart for gorilla tape and super glue (no, this didn't fix anything either).

I finally called the shop this morning and explained the issues we'd been having and was immediately told "Well, that's what you get for dealing with commercial auto parts dealers." Ok, so I was trying to avoid spending $75-100, shoot me! He says he can get the part, even if he has to go directly to Nissan to get it. But he can't get to it today - he can look at it in the morning. So again, I have to rely on someone else to even get home. Ugh.

But, back to my day. The guy that came over to help me, was a guy I went to school with over 30 years ago! I was talking to him on Facebook and mentioned the car issue. He offered to come over and see what he could do. This was the start of a very l-o-n-g day. I'll skip all the boring, standing around in the heat, "I have no idea what you are talking about," "What next?" stuff.

A few interesting things did happen. One being I was getting depressed. Here are these strangers going out of their way to help me. Everyone is thinking this is a 10-15 minute job, and hours are passing. We're hot, thirsty and hungry...and all because of me. I was feeling bad over everyone going to so much trouble, frustrated at the numerous problems we kept running into, and I was missing my man! I made the mistake of getting in the car and putting my face in my hands, and after a few seconds I heard a "What are you doing?" I looked up and saw Mr.X looking at me. "I just feel so bad. I'm putting everyone out." He smiled and said "Do you hear anyone complaining?" I thought a second, and said "Just me, huh?" and smiled back. These were good people. They were doing what they could to help someone and doing it willingly. I should have felt gratitude and not guilt. Attitude re-adjusted.

I did what I could to make things a bit easier. Getting bottled water, grabbing old t-shirts for dirty hands, holding tools, keeping up with multiple sunglasses and eye-glasses, attempting small talk (I know, sounds petty, but, hey - a mechanic I am not). We did take a break and go to dinner. Chinese buffet. Had a few laughs and a great meal.

One thing that really had me laughing - Mr.X is a good ol' boy. Classic country bumpkin with a heart of gold. Factory worker (same place I used to sweat 12 hour days), and has to rely on ingenuity and quick thinking to get by sometimes. He was in a beat up Ford pick-up (over 30+ years old - reminded me of my Dad's old Chevy truck). When he first raised the hood, I noticed he had a logging chain on it! Huh? He takes a key out of his pocket and unlocks a big Masterlock. He sees me grinning "My anti-theft device." All-righty then. LOL

We took a ride to WalMart. It was getting late so he turned the headlights on, and I see Xmas lights come on, on the dash right below all the gauges and meters. Wth? "Pretty, huh?" Uh, ... "Had a short that needed to be fixed back around Christmas time - saw these on the bushes and it hit me - hey, those'll work." I want to laugh, but I've been there-done that, and they worked! Even changed from red to green when he hit the brakes (I woulda changed that part lol).

The hours ran on. I was wanting the day to end. Not because the company was bad, not because I still felt guilt over everyone going to so much fret and worry, but because it had seen it's end. There was nothing left to be done. All that could be done had been done. I was eager to get back to my man and tell him all the weird and silly things that had happened, and to settle down. The car may not have been fixed, I still had the same worry to face today, but I made new friends. I realized I am not as shy as I used to be. No one asked for a dime (other than the commercial parts stores and GodzirraMart), offers were made to help me out with this overgrown lawn and random other 'issues' around the dump.

I was part of something that is far too rare these days - people helping people because it's the right thing to do. I'll have to make sure I do my part in making this something that isn't so rare. Dunno how, but I'm sure there will be an opportunity arise. I'll be looking.
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Update:

Seems all that trouble yesterday was for nuttin'! Turns out to be a horse of an entirely different color. The brake switch was fine. The switch that was removed was for the cruise control. It's the electrical system. Meaning the steering column has to be removed, wires traced all along the side of the car (under the carpet, of course) and back to the rear of the car (back seat coming out). They said labor alone could run 5-6 hours @ $80 per. Parts another $100-200.

I was heart broken. Tried to hold it in, but started tearing up right there in the room. The poor guy didn't know how to handle it. I told him to put the car back together so I could drive it off a cliff. He walked out to the shop area and talked to the mechanic. He came back and asked if we could make a deal. He wouldn't charge me over $300, if I'd stop crying and smile again.

What choice do I have? I left the car there and he brought me home. They're going to start on it first thing in the morning. Lord, please let this be an honest man. I hate it when they have your vehicle and you have no control over what they do. If it's over $300, I may still drive it off a cliff, but I will be taking him with me.

Cross your fingers for me. :)

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Fixed! They found the bad wire beside the driver's seat. Didn't have to tear the whole car apart.

Damage: $193

I'm happy. :)