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| Repair kit on the right = cheap Broken porcelain on left = NOT cheap |
I began tearing apart the toilet. Aside from the black stuff building up on my hands from the ten year old grommets in the toilet tank, the repair was seemingly straight forward. I should have seen it coming.
Contorting myself to fit between the wall and toilet while I bent on one knee with my left hand forcing a screw driver into the tank and my right hand ratcheting a nut onto a bolt under the tank. I almost impressed myself considering I have ZERO experience with toilet repair. That's when I heard it.
Crack! My heart skipped a beat as my $10 repair turned into a $200 repair because I just overtightened the nut and cracked the porcelain toilet bowl. I should have seen it coming.
For some reason, when I attempt a seemingly easy repair myself, it tends to turn into a big, hairy mess.
Which is why I took my gas guzzling Suburban to the shop for an oil change today. $40 and 60 minutes later, Big O Tire informed me that the vehicle I would be depending on to take my family 600 miles to Disneyland in four weeks needed just under $2000 in repairs.
Low coolant led them to pressure test my radiator and I've been informed the radiator is "completely falling apart." Of course, they can't recommend a new radiator without new hoses, thermostat, etc etc.
Long story made short, they recommended front hubs, a 100,000 mile tune up, complete radiator overhaul and more that I can't remember. I went in for an oil change. I should have seen it coming.
Some day I'll share the story about how I tried to save $50 and do my own tune up. I cracked the spark plug in half inside the engine block. The dealership had to take the head off the block and hone out the spark plug hole. It cost me over $1000.
This day just plain sucked.
Awwww i feel for you, my husband and I have been there and done that, both projects I mean..he was famous for tightening just a little too much and water gushed out of our toilet..needless to say we had to get a new one. The bad thing is, my husband is really very handy but always doubts himself and goes toooo far. Your article made me smile even though I know it wasn't a good day for you. Hope tomorrow is much better, it has to be...you have girls!! By the way, my husband no longer does our oil changes either. Love your blog!
ReplyDelete@Paula...we have to smile at these kinds of days. Otherwise, we'll go crazy when we have them. Wifey and I ended up going to the gym. It always makes me feel better if I can push some weights around. Glad to hear I'm not the only guy with this problem.
ReplyDeleteMy buds always ask why I don't save the money and do the oil change myself. There's just not many ways to tell them I have a 95% chance of dropping the car on my leg after jacking it up without sounding like a total "nancy". LOL!
Do you have a blog? I love to read Amish perspectives!
Please get a second opinion on those engine repairs. Those quick oil change joints are notorious for their 'you must do this' repair scams.
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