Wintertime Fun: My car's electrical system took a shit on me just before Christmas, when we were staring down some sweet sub-zero afternoons. Good times. Luckily, it waited until I was headed home from my last day of work before a two-week holiday break. Regardless, when some electrical crap goes silly in your rig, it takes a little putz'n and diagnoses to nail it down to one cause. Could be the wires, could be the battery, belt, fuses, or the alternator. After a little multimeter testing which showed really low voltage, I decided my battery and was for shit, and hoped it was the sole cause (though I had my doubts). Took it in for bench a test which confirmed my need for a new battery. Doled out some hard-earned cash for a new one, which started my rig, but still wasn't charging up. After re-inspecting all the wiring and connections, with no luck, I pulled the alternator and brought her in for a bench test. Bingo.
Well, as luck would have it, Sara just so happens to have a connection in the alternator rebuild business who was kindly enough to set me up with an amazing deal (Plug: Needing an alternator in North-Central Wisconsin? Fort Ryno Auto Repair relies exclusively on Blue Circle Auto Electric. The Best the Northland has to offer!). After a hell-run to Blaine to pick the alternator up from some well-hidden shop (fuck you, mapquest), it was only a matter of bundling up in the wool socks and long underwear, bolting the damn thing back onto the engine block, tightening her up, crossing the fingers, turning key, and pumping the fist in the air in celebration. Lucky for me, the temperature has surged into the teens today, in spite of the never-ending snow flurries.
Here's the deal: I owe this one to my pops. You know, most sissy-ass douchbags my age (including most of my best pals - sorry douchebags) go running to the repair shop every time something goes wrong with their car. This is because everything that happens after they turn the key is a cosmic mystery to them. I was fortunate, not only to have a car as soon as I turned 16, but to have a dad who fixed stuff when it went wrong. Most importantly, he dragged me out to the garage and made me help him fix stuff that went wrong with my car. As a result, I learned a few things about how a car works, where stuff is, and how to troubleshoot a few problems. Even better, though, I learned to not be afraid of what was going on down there, and to check it out - see if I could fix it myself - before I handed my car and my money over to a shop. There's a ton of satisfaction in fixing and maintaining your car, especially in the money you save and the knowledge you acquire of what the hell goes on under the hood of your whip. Between a Chilton's manual and the millions of automotive forums and do-it-yourself websites, some with step-by-step videos, it's not that difficult to make hundreds of basic auto repairs right in your driveway, parking space, or garage.
A frosty sip of Pabst Blue Ribbon to my old man, for making me get my hands dirty and take my first steps down the long road to Manhood...
