Snow day

When I got up this morning, there were over 8 inches of snow already on the ground. I had to dig my car out and take it to the dealership for it's 35K mile inspection.

I have heard plows out in our parking lots here. This is a good thing. They have not been doing a very good job this year, so far.

Anyway, the service techs at the car dealer found lots of work that was needed on my car, which I had suspected they would, because of changes in performance.

The front brakes had been making grinding noises, and pulling to the left. Alignment was off when I would cruise on the straight and narrow. One of the tires was wearing unevenly, so there was a "thumpthumpthump" sound when driving. There was a funny sound coming from under the hood once in a while.

So they diagnosed lots of stuff, and a porter brought me home. They will pick me up this afternoon, when it's ready.

It's still snowing. Has not stopped all day.

I had hoped to get out and do my grocery shopping this afternoon, but, with the snow, and the fact that I am not really feeling up to par, I will probably not bother doing that until tomorrow.

This afternoon, I will just get my car and come home.

So, anyway....what was wrong with the car?

The drive belt was cracked, which was probably the funny sound coming from under the hood occasionally.
The brake rotors were about a quarter inch thick with rust, and the tires were dry rotting and almost without tread (they were the factory originals...it surprised me that they only lasted 35K miles, but what do I know). One of them had worn unevenly, and was causing the thumping.

Each of the tires, in it's own way, was a blow out waiting to happen. All that would be needed was a pot hole...and around here, in winter, the pot holes are on the attack!

I was getting tired of always sliding on the pavement in this rough winter we're having, anyway. I had started to refer to my outings as "automotive figure skating."
I had also grown tired of having other drivers flip me off, and honk at me, because of me sliding uncontrollably into their lane!!

Go around a corner, and keep sliding sideways, and hope no one is in the other lane. Yeah. Plus, there was NO traction pulling away from stops, or trying to go up hill, or, sometimes, just trying to move forward in snow on flat ground.

The new tires will help with all of that 100%, I am sure.

I recall my first winter with this car, and how THRILLED I was with how it handled in the snow. I had NOT exactly forgotten that. I know it's supposed to be better than it's been!

Last year was borderline. There were some tense moments, but it did OK.

But, this year has just been plain bad.
In fact, when the forecast is bad, I have been getting a ride to work with a co worker, because it's been scaring me to drive my car when there's "stuff" on the pavement.

At first I thought it was just because this winter has already been worse than ALL of last winter...but then, it's become more and more obvious to me that something was not right.
I was even skidding the other day because there was frost on the dry pavement.

So....as much as it hurts, financially, it was time. Past time.

Good thing I have lots of room on my credit card. Today's repairs are costing me over $1300.00.

I freaked out about that at first. Even made a fool of myself when I cried in front of the service rep at the dealer. BUT, he knocked about $1000.00 off of my total when I burst into tears, so I guess that's good!

Oh, and they're also replacing the air filter and the heat/ac filter, and only charging me for the parts.

Because, you know, I cried.