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My car defeated me today. (lemmy.ml)

submitted 1 year ago by [email protected] to c/[email protected]

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The alternator on my car went kaput. Nowhere in my area would do the job for less than $800-something, and most places were quoting $900-$1k.

So I looked up how-tos on YouTube and it looked like something I, a woman with zero experience or knowledge of working on cars, could do.

I got a remanufactured alternator for $180 and got to work following the tutorials I'd found.

It certainly did not go smoothly, but I managed it. It took me 6 hours to get the alternator out, mainly because every goddamn bolt holding the parts in place were basically cemented in. I had to use my foot to stomp one loose because I didn't have the strength in my arms.

Today I spent another 4 hours trying to put in the new one and all the parts back in place. And I did it!!

Except for the power steering belt. That fucker would not go into place, and trying to force the belt tensioner back took every ounce of strength I could muster.

All that work. All that time and effort and THE VERY LAST STEP to get my car up and running defeated me today. I had to get a task rabbit guy. He's coming tomorrow to get my belt back on.

On one hand I feel proud that I made it this far. On the other I feel like a complete failure because it turns out I couldn't complete the task myself.

Anyway, how was your weekend?

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[–] [email protected] 12 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Things went well in that I didn't break anything except for a corroded bolt. I also dropped a wrench own into the under carriage somewhere, so that'll be fun to hear rattling around.

Dry hole patching is hard, I'm glad things went well for you too!

[–] [email protected] 6 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (1 children)

Twenty years ago I could have done that in my sleep. Now days I know I could not get as far as you got. Good job.

ETA: to be more clear.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Thank you. :) I'm lucky at this moment that I had the time and energy to get most of it done. :)

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Had to correct my first comment. It was I could not get it done as much as you did.

Without the right tools and equipment. It’s hard work. Even with the right tools and equipment, it’s a skill.

My dad was a mechanic. Why I use to be able to do it because he loved doing it and that means us doing it. lol.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago (1 children)

My uncle was one, but he retired before I was old enough to learn much from him. Lol, it's good he had you helping him though!

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago

That where I learned the right tools and equipment make a huge difference. It’s funny basic mechanics was must have skill when I was a kid. Brakes, spark plugs, etc.

Now they last so long, it’s not as important to know. My kid asked me about something on an old key chain. I said it was a spark plug gap tool. Last time I used that was 20 years ago