For the past three or four months, we've had cars in the repair shop almost continuously. I had joined my Bible Study Fellowship group in September, but car trouble continues to plague us. For now, I am considering joining an on-line group, despite my discomfort with Zoom. That's saying something. The silver lining is that my sister suggested we join an on-line group together (how she can swing that when Salvation Army officers hit their busiest season in the weeks leading up to Christmas, I don't know).
In September, the Pontiac needed a cylinder repair. Shortly after that repair, it began leaking oil. We took the car to two shops before it was finally fixed. Then, Trevor's car broke down not far from our house, just a week after a thorough check declared it in great shape. We had it towed, and the mechanic said it was a blocked fuel pump. While his car was in the shop, he drove the Pontiac to his girlfriend's house. When he went to come home, that car wouldn't start (the other cylinder). The repair costs overtook the value of the car. Thankfully, we sold it (only for a few hundred dollars - ugh) to the mechanic in a repair shop we frequent all too often. The mechanic's son had just totaled his car, so he was needing a vehicle for a teen. Still, it cost us well over $200 for the lengthy tow all the way from the girlfriend's house to the mechanic's shop nearby.
Because the Pontiac gave up the ghost on us, I had to take my retirement money out early and purchase a used vehicle to replace the Pontiac as the car I drive.
This 1-owner, 78K miles, Chevy Malibu is a very smooth ride and a joy to drive. However, within a week of having this new-to-me car, the engine light came on. Groan. The issue is deep within the engine, requiring a dismantling that will cost around $500 just to get to the part. Given the troubles with Trevor's car, we are holding off on that repair because the mechanic said it is not an urgent repair.
After the fuel pump repair, Trevor's car was in the body shop for well over a week to repair the damage from his collision with a fox. Not long after getting the convertible back, he drove to his girlfriend's house and the car would not start when he intended to return home. This is always a major pain because his girlfriend lives so far away. To avoid towing it all the way back to our regular mechanic, we had it towed to a shop near them.
This time around, it was the starter. However, given supply delays and staffing issues, the car was in that shop for over a week (requiring lots of trips back and forth to take and pick up the boys from school). The same day the car wouldn't start, he also informed us that when he turned on the defrost, the windshield cracked. We had noticed a small crack after the fox collision. However, the insurance wouldn't cover that because we couldn't prove it was a consequence of the fox. Oh joy! Yet another period without his vehicle.
Bryce has been dealing with car woes, as well. In September, during a drive home from work (he lives in Dallas now and has a lengthy commute to his plant), his brakes went out. Luckily, he wasn't going fast, and he discovered an auto shop right off the interstate. They diagnosed a blown vacuum pump. In October, his car began to shudder. Somebody mentioned a free diagnostic test at O'Reilly Auto Parts. They fixed the issue. Praise God.
Car troubles are taxing emotionally. Trevor has started a new job at Pizza Hut and needs reliable transportation. All told, John says we have spent $10,000 in car towing and repairs over the last few months. Still, even with these car woes, we have so much to be thankful for. I'll take car issues over health issues any day. Yes, it has been expensive, but God has provided for our every need and He is greatly to be praised. Plus, the repairs have seemed to be by honest mechanics. That, too, is a blessing in this day and age. We've never been unable to get where we absolutely need to go, so we'll continue to wade through these woes and withstand discouragement by trusting God to provide.
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