~ July 1996 ~
All Belts & Hoses replaced - $177.00.
~ October 1996 ~
Right Front Headlight Broken - $18.00
~ June 1997 ~
Tune-Up - $75.00.
~ 1998 ~
~ October 1998 ~
The radiator sprung a non-repairable leak.
So I had the better $300.00 one put in.
(My mechanic Ed asked me if I was planning on keeping the car. I said yes I am!
And that is what we got the better radiator.)
~ November 1998 ~
A rock hit my windshield and after a $100.00 deductable I had a clear view of the road again.
Christmas 1998
"The Monster" received 4 new White Wall Tires - $180.00.
Total for 1998 - $580.00
1999
~ March 1999 ~
Finally decided to get the Front Passenger Window Motor fixed.
Dropped it off and came home, Miles (my mechanic) called & asked " Brenda, which window?" I said "The Right Front". His reply "Brenda, they all work". Same thing happened in July 1999, took it to Miles, as he touched each window button, each one went down with no problem.
My Mechanic has the "Touch". It took Miles a while to really believe that "He Does Have The Touch". It happened again in the Spring of 2000. Took the car over in the morning for Oil & Filter change. This time the window refused to move, he tried & tried, but nothing happened. I told him that I thought his powers were stronger in the afternoon. He just shook his head & laughted at me.
(but I always take the car to him in the afternoon)
He said to bring it by later & he would try again. Well by mid afternoon I was heading to Mc D's & I hit the button just to see what might happen. Well, I heard a Brrrr, I stopped & tried again, and again I heard a Brrrr. I tried one more time & down the window came. As soon as I got to Mc D's I called Miles and told him the window was working fine. He was stunned, and I told him "I told you your powers were stronger in the afternoon."
I think he is finally starting to believe me.
~ April 1999 ~
We got a new Catalytic Converter.
To fix the Failed Smog Test - with the Dionogstic, Parts, Labor it came to $340.00.
~ October 1999 ~
The "O" ring to the Power Steering was leaking & Ed also spotted the start of a leak from a Freeze Plug, $115.00.
~ December 1999 ~
The Altinator (last replaced in Nov. 91) & Clutch Fan - $196.00.
(I guess this is what My Monster wanted for Christmas.)
Total for 1999 - $651.00
2000
~ March 2000 ~
The Starter (Original) was acting up the end of February - $105.00. When I took it to my mechanic, The Monster would not do the sound for him. Miles (my mechanic) had a hard time getting the Starter out, It had 16 1/2 years to firm up in there. I told him that the new one will go in easier & it did.
~ October 2000 ~
Went in to check the fluids for a trip to my 20th High School Reunion. Asked Miles if he could check the brakes while he was at it & rotate the tires. He got the tires off & found the the brakes were just a hair's breath from going.
So, on Tuesday I had the front brakes done & went back on Wednesday for the Rear brakes. $227.00
I told my Aunt if I can get away with only spending $600.00
a year on repair bills (not including Oil & Filter), I would be a very happy camper.
~ November 2000 ~
Was taking my dogs to the vet as I pull out of the garage I ALWAYS check the floor before I close the garage door. Where the Right Rear Tire was, I found fluid. After we were done with the vet, we went to see Miles.
Poor guy, it was 5 pm and he was still busy. He said to stop by in the morning & he would check it out. Next day he put her on the rack & found it was the Shock that was leaking. I after work to get a replacement. $50.00
When I dropped the car off, I went over to Miles & asked him if there was a car I could borrow. I had a couple of errands to run while they worked on the car. Miles went over & took his keys off the hook & gave them to me. Now how many mechanics do you know of let you borrow their cars and think nothing of doing it???
~ December 2000 ~
mid December it was time for new Windshield Wipers - $8.00 (and a box of Krispy Kremes)
This morning December 20th I was headed out to find a replacement Hood Ornament at a Pic A Part place. I pulled out of the garage & something did not feel right. Got our and saw the problem "A Flat" on the rear pass. Funny thing is I saw the tire was slightly low yesterday & told my Aunt I should take it to Miles & have him check it out.
Well "Baby" had other plans, she wanted to see Miles today!. I pulled out the Jack & got the hub off and the spare out, but with the injury to my hand I could not get the nuts off or the Jack lowered. So I called Miles, who sent Marty over to help me out.
Mary got the flat off (found a puncture, but no forein object) put the spare on & said when I got back from the parts place the tire would be ready.
Well, no Hood Ornament (have to go to Sun Valley & check there), swung by Domino's Pizza & got the Guys a large pizza. Got the tires switched & had a fight with Miles about him wanted to pay me for the pizza (Brat!). Anyway, no charge for the repair and a hot pizza for the guys.
Total for 2000 - $390.00
2001
I promised the "Baby" that the first of the year I would get her the Tune-Up she was just about ready for.
Well today the 18th was her day, she got her Oil Change and her Minor Tune-Up $80.00.
All Spark Plugs were changed and all Hoses and Belts were checked. Miles said the Belts & Hoses were fine, only the lower belt have very minor cracks.
We are going to check them again on her next Oil Change in March.
~ February 2001 ~
Replaced the Right Front Cornering Socket - $26.00
The Right Blinker Light on the dash always stayed on when I put the headlights on at night.
Miles tried to fix it, evertime he went under & pushed the wires into the socket, the Cornering Lamp went on when the Blinker was turned to th right. But as soon as Miles let go, off it went. When I had the Tune-Up done in January, I asked Ed about it. He popped under the car & took a look, said the socket was bad & he would order me a new one.
Well, for three weeks, he forgot & I forgot to remind him. But we finaly got the part & in it went & no more steady right blinker light on the dash at night.
~ March 2001 ~
Thought this was going to be a quiet month, OK I was wrong.
Received my Car Registration, Smog Test Only...AGAIN.
I thought, why me again?
I protested and was sent to a Smog Referee, passed everything but....Ignition Timing.
Boy Was I Pissed!
Took Baby back to her mechanic who did the Catalytic Converter transplant 2 years ago. He put her on the scope & also saw she was running high, but the Timing was fine according to him. He did up the idle a bit.
Found out Baby had a Cracked Air Tube - $36.42, a bad EGR Solenoid - $25.08.
Total for 2 days work & 6 times on the scope - $186.42.
I am still 2 points higher than the maxium allownce. But D. J. said to ask for excemption, since I passed everything else.
UPDATE March 27, 2001
Yesterday I went back ready to try the Smog Test again.
I was told that there are new rules for exemption: $450 or over on repair work, income under $12,000.00 a year.
So in other words: Brenda Don't Qualify.
This means I have to replace the Cat Converter. I had to stop by work today after getting my new cast on. And I happen to run into one of the guys at work who is a car buff. Told him the prob, he suggested I check a place in Wilmington that he bought his Cat Converter from. He got a real good price on it.
Today 27 March 2001 would have been Uncle Mac's 76th birthday, so I stopped by the cemetery to give him his card, balloons, flowers & a Tall Can of Budwiser (yes I take beer to my dead uncle).
After telling Uncle Mac the latest I headed for the shop my friend told me about. When I got there I remembered I had been there before. Back when we had two cars, the Baby & the Nissan Sentra, both were 83's. The Nissan had a problem with her muffler coming loose. This was the place that welded it back into place.
Back to the Cat Converter.......
I asked the guy what the cost would be for my baby, he said $110.00 +tax, I asked when could he do it, he said "when could I pull her in". I pulled her in and in less that 20 min I had a new Cat on the Baby. My retest is 8:20 am Wed. March 28th. Let Us Pray!!!!
I Passed!!!!!
But I need to find out what is making the Cat go bad (I hope it is not the Carb.)
I hope that April is a better month.
~ Early July 2001 ~
The Baby was not driving right, she had a odd noise & was pulling to the right.
Thought it might be a Wheel Alignment problem, so I went to a Tire Store.
She went for a test run & I found out her alignment was fine, her tires had wore out to the replacement nub (which lets you know it is time for new tires)
So $332.00 later I was the proud owner of 4 new tires.
I was also complemented on how well the car looked underneath. The Alignment was fine, the Brakes were fine, and no Underbody Leaks.
~ July 2001 ~
Had some water on the garage floor....Water Pump.
Went to AutoZone and got a High Performance Water Pump
(did not need to get that one, but I did it anyway)
$49.00
My mechanic installed it for me for $30.00, and while he had my car, I had his car all day.
I thought it was a fair trade.
Bought Baby a Car Cover - $45.00
~ 15 August 2001 ~
The month before I went to a A/C Shop to find out why my freon keeps leaking out.
For $29.00 I found out my Compressor is fine, but the seals were shot & my tubes needed to be replaced.
So, after I got my wonderful Tax Refund Check from ol George W. I called the A/C guy & made a appointment.
4 hours later and
$291.70 I had my A/C back.
~ 8 September 2001 ~
Fuel Pump acting up
$86.77
In July I ordered Personalized Plates, the arrived in Spetember
"UNCL MAC"
~ 2 weeks later ~
The Starter is messing up big time, but I can't find my reciept from the year before. So.......in goes another one
$105.00
~ 7 November 2001 ~
Finally got the Heater Core replaced
I was quoted back in 1996 - $400.00
Final Price - $212.00
Got her back on my birthday - November 9th
Have had some minor switches go out since the Heater Core went in.
We need a new Diaphram. Upper Vents are not working.
~ 27 December 2001 ~
My Power Steering Pump went out, I had Power Steering Fluid all over my garage.
$99.58
At the same time I had the Belts replaced, they were 5 1/2 years old
$67.17
And last of all the 2,000 mile Oil & Filter Change
$25.00
~ 31 December 2001 ~
Back in November 1998, the windshield had to be replaced, Allstate Insurance send a repair person over to the house.
Well....The guy who did it, did not do it right, everytime it rained, I would get a small drips in the upper inside corner of the driver's side.
At first I thought it was the Weather Stripping on the Driver's Door (is was bad). I found out it was the Windshield.
So off I went to the "Windshield Doctor" for a fix.
$35.00
We kind of went over a bit for this year, but she is well worth it.
Total for 2001 = $1,669.89
~ 5 January 2002 ~
Body & Paint Job & Rear Axil Seals Replaced - $4,000.00 + 700.00
Has to be redone.
Won Small Claims Court Case - deduct $3,302.00 from above amount.
~ February 2002 ~
Left Rear Shock Leaking & Right Rear Brake Cylinder Leak.
$65.00
~ Late March, Early April 2002 ~
It was Front Pass. Window Don't Want To Work Week!
Few days later, we are back to our happy up & down self again.
Baby also blew a fuse....Not Working - Auto Door Lock, Interior Lights, Horn, Trunk Button.
We went & saw Ed, did our little Boo Hoo's.
Ed put in a new fuse & honked the horn. Asked what I owed, was told it would be on my next bill.
~ July 2002 ~
Still need to find Vaccuum Diaphram for A/C
~ August 2002 ~
Time for the oil, filter & tire rotation
~ December 2002 ~
Replace Channel Run that was screwed up by Restoration Shop
By Wally at Windshield Doctor in Carson, CA
$40.00
~ Total for 2002 ~
$1,503.00
~ January 2003 ~
Oil, filter & tire rotation
~ 10 - 13 January 2003 ~
Found a shop who was able to get the "original material & color" to re-do the front seats on Baby.
So from January 10 - 13, Baby has been at American Upholstery in Hawthorn, CA
getting the front seats, arm rests & headliner, visors re-done.
$700.00
~ 26 January 2003 ~
Went to Pick A Part & found a 84 Caprice Sedan, removed the chrome trim from around the Driver's Door Window to replace the damaged chrome that the stupid restoration shop did to my chrome. Got two pieces from that car, but could not get the third piece removed. Went home & to a razor blade, putty knife & a bottle of cold water (it was hot that day). Went back & found a 85 Caprice Wagon, pulled the same two pieces off the driver's door window (took me 5 minutes each). Got to work on the third piece, a half hour later and one small ding, I got it off.
The next day I showed my glass guy Wally my prizes. He picked out the best of the one set, and the next day installed the two last pieces of chrome molding.
My chrome is complete!!!!
~ 29 - 30 January 2003 ~
Baby has been a "Brat" for almost a month, even though we have been very lucky and have had 72 - 85 degree temps for the month of January. The nights & early mornings have been cool to cold 42 - 56 degrees. Well, dear little Baby hates cold weather with a PASSION!
So for the last month, on the days I drove her & not her sister Gertie, she would get cranky, and when started, would stall & stall & stall. When fed gas at the turn of the key, she would scream for 5 - 10 seconds!!!!
So I asked her if she needed to go see her Uncle Miles. Called Miles & asked if she could spend the night (she only pulls her little stunt with a cold engine, first thing in the morning.) Miles said that would be fine, so Wednesday evening, we went over, Jose drove me home. The next day about 11:30 I called Miles to see if she did what she had been doing at home for him.
Miles said she did not scream, but stalled 3 times. He adjusted her belts, and she still screamed. But he found out why she does the stall, stall, stall every morning & does the burp, I don't want my engine turned off when you try to shut her down.
It seems that there is a little pin that pushes the choke open and releases it to close the choke. This little pin was broken.
So, after Miles got Baby to stop screaming, and bought the replacement part for the choke. She no longer screams in the morning, and starts on the first turn of the key & stays running.
Total = $86.01
~ 4 February 2003 ~
The broken filler pieces are to be removed & new painted pieces to be installed.
Total = $365.00
~ 19 March 2003 ~
Mid-Februcary found a salvage shop in Arizona who had a 1983 Caprice A/C Unit.
Cost me $36.00 shipping included
Could not take Baby over to get the new part installed till after my surgery on 24 Feb. 2003. Finally when I had time & Ed had time, I ran Baby over on March 18th, she spent the night & the next day Ed put her replacement part in.
We Now Have Cold Air In The Upper Vents!!!!!!
Before Paint Job
What still needs to be done:
Get the rest of the money from the shop I won the suit on.
Next Court Date: 7 April 2003
