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I found a guy in Florida who ran his own auto shop. No idea how I found him but he was a great mech and had a pitbull by the name of Terminator. He got Terminator to patrol his compound at night after a breakin. Terminator was around back on a really strong chain. He barked a lot but Dana saw he was wagging his tail. She slowly and calmly approached and became Terminator's friend. Turned out T had heartworms and didn't survive the winter but the mech took him home for Christmas and he spend his last days with the family inside.
The guy was a great mechanic and took care of me and whatever I was driving at the time.
Then we moved to the opposite side of Jacksonville, the largest city in CONUS in land mass. A long ways away. And I went onto the Car Talk bulletin board and found a recommendation for a couple of goobers near us. They were literally shade tree mechanics. Funny guys who had this huge oak tree in their drive. I mean huge. They had a block and tackle on one of the limbs and used it to haul out and drop in engines. And they had a boat in the last bay on the right. If you've ever listened to Car Talk on NPR you'll understand the boat reference. They took care of me and my vehicles.
Then we moved to her in Texas. And I just found a new mech to work on both cars. Marco is from Brazil although he got here in 1979 so I don't think he's going to be deported. He started his own business three years ago after spending the previous time working for Mercedes. So ha knows German cars AKA, Smart and Mercedes. And he can figure out the American ones like Dana's Rav 4. He changed the timing chain in her car in an afternoon. And fixed my brakes. And wants us to bring the Rav 4 back in when we get a chance so he can see how some things he fixed are working.
AND, best of all, he needs computer support. Not much. Just a bit here and there.
I cleaned 60GB or so off his drive using Winderstat and told him I'd get us set up so I could remote in and do some things that would help. His shop is on my way home from the Ranch so it is easy to stop by and put my hands on the keyboard.
The perfect set up for both of our cars is to have someone want to help us keep them running as long as possible.
I have no idea how much the Toyota place would have charged for a timing chain replacement but I'm sure the car would be there for another week or two. So I'm pretty happy.
Better car karma.
The guy was a great mechanic and took care of me and whatever I was driving at the time.
Then we moved to the opposite side of Jacksonville, the largest city in CONUS in land mass. A long ways away. And I went onto the Car Talk bulletin board and found a recommendation for a couple of goobers near us. They were literally shade tree mechanics. Funny guys who had this huge oak tree in their drive. I mean huge. They had a block and tackle on one of the limbs and used it to haul out and drop in engines. And they had a boat in the last bay on the right. If you've ever listened to Car Talk on NPR you'll understand the boat reference. They took care of me and my vehicles.
Then we moved to her in Texas. And I just found a new mech to work on both cars. Marco is from Brazil although he got here in 1979 so I don't think he's going to be deported. He started his own business three years ago after spending the previous time working for Mercedes. So ha knows German cars AKA, Smart and Mercedes. And he can figure out the American ones like Dana's Rav 4. He changed the timing chain in her car in an afternoon. And fixed my brakes. And wants us to bring the Rav 4 back in when we get a chance so he can see how some things he fixed are working.
AND, best of all, he needs computer support. Not much. Just a bit here and there.
I cleaned 60GB or so off his drive using Winderstat and told him I'd get us set up so I could remote in and do some things that would help. His shop is on my way home from the Ranch so it is easy to stop by and put my hands on the keyboard.
The perfect set up for both of our cars is to have someone want to help us keep them running as long as possible.
I have no idea how much the Toyota place would have charged for a timing chain replacement but I'm sure the car would be there for another week or two. So I'm pretty happy.
Better car karma.