posted
Imagine you have a fairly new car. Unexpectedly you start hearing some strange noises under the hood.
After a while, you notice that the car does not accelerate as it used to when you push the gas paddle. You keep driving it because you are too busy to take it to a shop. You compensate by flooring the paddle and accelerating early, as needed.
Then you get black smoke from the muffler, and the steering wheel does not want to turn to the left very easily anymore. You see leaks when you park it somewhere long enough. But this is intermittent.
You fill up fluids more often then you expect but keep on driving. The paint peals in spots, the latch on the trunk won’t close properly, and the radio stops working. No biggie.
One day, the car breaks down at the side of the road and won’t start again. You have to get it towed to a shop.
***
They call you after three days and say your car is fine and ready to be picked up. You go to the desk and pay a pretty hefty bill (which you have been trying to dodge for too long) and then go to the lot to pick up your car.
The paint still looks terrible, but so what. You get in it to drive off, but it won’t start. You go back to the front desk and tell them that there must be a mistake because your car still won’t start so why did they say it was ready to go?
They explain that you are not the mechanic, and that they checked the tire pressure in all four tires, and it was actually right up to specs when you brought it in. The windshield wiper fluid was also tested and the tank was full, so there is nothing wrong with your car.
The bill was for checking the tire pressures and the wiper fluid and the mechanic’s time to look at your car.
You say that you cannot drive it, though, because it won’t start, and would they come with you to the lot and see for themselves. They ask you to hold on a moment while they write something on a post it note behind the desk.
They hand you the post it note and say that this person may be able to help you. There is the name and phone number of a psychiatrist written on the post it note.
Then they wish you a nice day and turn to the next customer in line and say: “Can I help the next person?” You walk out thinking: “Not likely.”
***
You take the car to another shop. They look at the chart from the previous shop and give you a skeptical look, pointing out that the tire pressure has already been checked, but they could check the windshield wiper fluid
(the data on the windshield wiper fluid must not have made it on the chart from the first shop to the second but you don’t mention that). You suggest that it is not the tire pressure or the windshield wiper fluid but maybe something to do with the engine.
This triggers a negative reaction, and you are admonished again to remember that you are not the mechanic. They tell you to leave the car for a few days.
When you are called to pick it up, you are presented with a bill for the mechanic’s time, 2 gallons of windshield wiper fluid, and a new radio.
When you go to the car, you find that the new radio is sitting on the passenger seat with wires going into the old radio that is still in the dash board but not working.
They smile and point out that you have music now and should be happy. You say nothing and tow the car home.
***
The problem is: you cannot get a new car. Thus begins the journey to find out for yourself how to fix the problems and to get help from whomever is willing to offer advice that sounds reasonable and may work.
Along the way you find out that shops across the US have been told to deny any possible engine problem in any broken down cars they see to avoid personal, political, and financial ruin.
Also, their mechanics’ training has been restricted, and trained mechanics have left the field for years.
Marketing of new radios has been aggressively pushed by radio manufacturers and shops are allowed to charge high prices for tire pressure and windshield wiper fluid checks and installation of new radios.
You understand why they act the way they do now, but you still have a broken down car you need to fix.
***
A friend of a friend tells you about a mechanic who still works on engines out of his garage at home. There is a long wait list to see this person because there are so many people with disabled cars with engine problems...
-------------------- Persistence, persistence, persistence!!! "Nothing in the world can take the place of persistence... Persistence and determination are omnipotent." attributed to Calvin Coolidge Posts: 599 | From USA | Registered: Jun 2011
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Silverwolf
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 9196
posted
Hello <<<<< Harmony >>>>>,
That's a fantastic analogy!!!
My father was a shade tree mechanic for many years, he'd like this,if he was still cognizant enough to understand it.
Jus' Silverwolfi here
-------------------- 2006,May-August2006 Dx w/ Lyme/Bartonella/White Matter Lesion Disease on Brain. [ Clinical Dx w/ two positives and several IND's on the tests from Igenex ], Prior Dx of CFIDS/CEBV 1992, and FMS '93-'94 Diabetes*2 Dx 10/'08 Posts: 3581 | From SE Idaho | Registered: May 2006
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Tincup
Honored Contributor (10K+ posts)
Member # 5829
posted
Yes, very good! You've hit the nail on the head, and I'm sorry you did. None of us should be in this position.
Thanks for writing it and sharing it. You are very special.
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