Seriously.
Jerry, aka dad, is a mechanic (now the proper term is “technician”, I believe). I grew up in a grease monkey’s home. The smell of oil and “garage” was always around. Dad’s hands were always cracked and raw and covered in dirt and grime, and his blue uniforms always smelled of a hard day under the hood of a car. For as long as I can remember, I always had a Ford – until I rebelled and bought a Mazda – then an Isuzu, then a Toyota.
I always fancied cars. I try to stay current with new makes and models, the changes from year to year, prices, options – that kind of thing.
The stuff under the hood, however, I’ve always left to a “Technician”.
In the midst of the construction around my house, I hit a bump in the road. I had to pull our truck (Yes, a Ford) out of the garage. It wouldn’t start. The annoyance was not even that it wouldn’t start, but that every time I attempted it grew more and more weary of me.
“Rowr-rowr-rowr” soon became “click-click-click”. If you know what I mean.
It’s been in storage for years. That’s a nice reduction in annual registration stickers as well as insurance costs – but it sure does wreak havoc on a battery.
I called for some consults, and ended up being referred to WallyWorld (blech) for a new battery. I selected one – someday someone please explain to me why there are so many – and lugged the 50 pound beast home. Then I had to figure out how to get the rusty bolts loose off of this petrified rusty old thing.
Word of advice: don’t wear a nice fuzzy cute new sweatshirt while you do stuff like this. D’oh.
So, I got the old battery out.
I’ve done stuff to cars before, you know, the simple stuff. Added oil. Wiper fluid. Coolant. Changed the air filter. But this, this is harder than that easy shmeazy stuff. Phew. I think I should get some sort of certificate of accomplishment or something, you know?
Do I have any other Amateur Technicians in my midst? Please do show off your mechanical prowess. I am green with envy if you know what size socket wrench to get when you see all my screws loose.
