Wife will be pleased (hopefully)

[nola mike]

She's out of town. Finally took care of everything with her car (2017 VW Golf Sportwagen, 90k miles)
1. Horn: This thing has 2 horns, both of which have now failed. It sounded so sad and timid before. Now it sounds proper German again.
2. Oil pan leak. Leaking for a few months now. Composite pan from the factory, replaced with aluminum. Internet says they warp, but when I took it off, it looked like a new gasket would have fixed it. Oh well. Oil change obviously as well.
3. Rear brakes. Failed inspection in march. Strange wear pattern, and they were toast. Probably original. New rotors, pads. Reused a couple of TTY bolts holding the caliper carrier to the hub, couldn't get new ones in time. They also happened to be M14 triple square bolts, I only had M12, so emergency harbor freight run needed.
4. Bonus driver's window switch: Been mostly broken at least 2 years. Stupid cheap design. Had to take door panel off, which I hate. Didn't tell her about this one, we'll see if she notices.
5. Cleaned car. Can hardly tell that we have kids and a dog now.

I'm always curious how much $$ I save doing it myself. $300 in parts and oil and maybe 8 hours of my time, I'm sure that all that would have been a few bucks at the shop.

Next up: My car's troubles, including increasing/persistent turbo boost fault (c'mon, easy fix!) and no A/C (scanner says corrupt RAM on climate control 'puter. FFS.). 2014 Mini Cooper JCW convertible. Managed to pack 2 kids + dog + gear today in it.

 

[bajaman123]

@ typical $160/hr shop rates, you had to have saved at least a grand I would say...add in markup that shops add on parts...probably closer to $1,500...

 

[redneck joe]

did that come in a TDI? I have a 14 Jetta sportwagen and we did some 'performance enhancements' when we dropped in the new motor couple months ago. 6 speed stick. if i get into it in 4th, at the torque band or whatever its called i break the tires loose...

TN does not have inspections.

 

[Mc Tool]

I love it Mike , both my brothers are lawyers ....with flash cars , but you should hear them moan about mechanics ( they call them auto technicians ....presumably to help justify the expense ) charges . One needed all new timing chains etc .....all at the back of the motor so out it came ( Audi v8 ). Other one's needed some ball joints and shock absorbers on his Volkswagen , and the $500 oil changes and $250 for wiper blades fitted . After they had complained for a whole bottle of wine about the expensive maintenance bills , Dianne ( my Mrs ) just flippantly said " oh Hamish does all that stuff ....doesnt cost us anything " ......ah ha ha ha ###k them

 

[nola mike]

did that come in a TDI? I have a 14 Jetta sportwagen and we did some 'performance enhancements' when we dropped in the new motor couple months ago. 6 speed stick. if i get into it in 4th, at the torque band or whatever its called i break the tires loose...

TN does not have inspections.

The TDIs were dirt cheap when I bought it (but stopped making them in '15 or '16), but diesel was/is still too expensive to justify the MPG difference. I couldn't convince her to get a stick

BTW, she drove to Raleigh today and has not commented on how nice/clean/worky everything is.

 

[redneck joe]

i use it to pull the boat, the power (especially now) is awesome.

and she will thank you properly when she gets home, i'm sure.

 

[Mc Tool]

and she will thank you properly when she gets home, i'm sure.

Or he has a lot to learn about women