New Car... Again

A week ago yesterday, my daughters car broke down in Norman. For those that don't know, it's a ways away. Her transmission went out. So, with the help of one of my friends from church, we drove down there, loaded her car up on the trailer and came back. Which was an adventure, all into itself.

Anyway, Tuesday, my daughter and I went out shopping for a new car. Her car was in no condition to put a new (or rebuilt) transmission into it. Well, Saturday, in the 105+ degree temperature, and 7 car lots later, we finally found a car (and a few days during the week of shopping as well). It's a 2001 Hyundai XG300. Here it is...





As you can see, its really nice. It beats her last car which was a 1993 Saturn and her first car which was a Mazda 323 (don't remember the year).

Here is hoping it lasts better than it's predecessors.

Caliber update

A year ago May, we bought a new car. Well, over the weekend (11/17), we broke the 30,000 mile mark on it.

Took a little less than 18 months to put that many miles on it.

The car is still working great! I enjoy it, still getting between 27 and 30 mpg, so that's not to bad.

I'm just glad I don't drive a lot, or that 30K could easily be much, much more.

Breaks!

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Originally uploaded by jarrard@swbell.net

OK. So I went to change the front breaks on the truck. This is the same truck we just took to Arkansas and then drove through the mountains in. Well, here is one of the break pads. The top one is the new one. See how thick that is? The bottom one was what I took off the truck. All 4 of them looked that way.

That there is what we call metal on metal... Not a good thing.

I got them all fixed up, and took it for a spin. Works real nice.

Funny thing is, last night I was working on computers, this morning, I was working on cars.

Wreck

As those who read my blog know, I normally get up every morning to go work out. And I usually leave the gym around 6:30 to come home. Because of my trip I didn't today.

That is a good thing. Just another example of how God watches over us even when we don't know it.

As I was getting around this morning, I heard a wreck around 6:30. I went an poked my head out the door, cause I knew it was close. Shortly thereafter, I heard sirens, but by the time I got to the door, I didn't see where it went. A Few minutes after that, more sirens. This time, I saw the Fire/Rescue truck go through the stop sign and turn off his sirens.

I went for a walk.

2 pickups (a mini and a full size) had a wreck at the corner of 12th and Broadway. Which is where I probably would have been in the car if I had gone and worked out. And that would really have put a damper on my fishing trip.

The dark little pickup was off the road and at first I though it had ran the stop sign and skidded off the road. However, as I go to 12th street, I saw the gold full size pick-up, UP SIDE DOWN.

My guess is the little pickup did run the stop sign, and hit the full size just right to flip it.

It wasn't pretty. However, the doors on the ambulance that was at the site was not open, so my guess is seat belts were used and no one was hurt too badly.

Pray for the people involved in the wreck. And for me as I drive to Missouri this morning.

See y'all when I get back.

Cruisin'

I got the cruise put into the Caliber today. Yippee!

I dropped it off about 7:50, and they called me at 10:30 telling me it was done and ready to be picked up.

They (and I) didn't expect it to take long, but this was the first they had put into a Caliber, so you never know what complications might show up.

It was a nice drive home today not having to worry about my speed.

Caliber Update

We have had the Caliber for almost 4 months and I love it

Plus, I have good news. Monday, I will take the car in to FINALLY get the cruise control installed. They had 2 come in today and my salesman called me. I was impressed and happy.

I'm getting ready to take that trip this weekend, and I really didn't want to do it without cruise.

Also, I've learned something very important. It is important to put the right kind of oil in the car. I'm sure it is possible to hurt the engine if the wrong kind of oil is in it (maybe), but it can also hurt fuel efficencie. On my first oil change, I took it in to the dealer to change the oil. They had a special for a $10 oil change. I couldn't change it for cheaper, so I used it. Well, they used 10W30. The car said it wanted 5W20.

On the first tank of gas, I noticed my miles per gallon drop. Well, it was still new, and the gas mileage fluctuating wasn't surpising. But the next tank was just as bad if not worse. As was the next and next and next, etc.

On the last oil change I made sure to put the correct oil in it, and my gas mileage toped 30 MPG. I was happy. My next tank was around 27. So it appears that the oil was what cause the problem. It sorta surprised me.

Car problems yet again

My daughter came home from school today. Changed for work, and went out to go to work, and her car wouldn't start.

She took our truck.

I'm not 100% sure what is wrong with the car. What I do know is it wont turn over. Wont even click. It has juice, well, enough for the radio and lights. I tried jumping it thinking it had enough juice for everything else, but just not the start. No dice. I hope it's not the starter.

OK, I pull out my daughters books on her car, and start reading.
Fuse? Nope, it's good.
Maybe it's not in park good? Nope. That's good too.
Hot and not want to start? Again no.

OK. I hit Google. From the research I've done there, it is either a) the starter or b) the battery cable.

So, out I go. I jack up the car and get it on blocks. Then the hunt is on for the starter.

I FINALLY found it. Back of the motor. Half way up the block. *sigh*

Off the blocks it comes. Tomorrow, I'll try to tow it to my mechanic and have him look at it. Nothing else I can do. There is no way I can reach the starter with the clearance I have. And to make it worse, I was going to pull it, take it to AutoZone and have them test it. My luck if I did try to get the starter off, that wouldn't be the problem.

We'll see.

Funny thing though. The last time I worked on my daughters car was on July 30th. Today it August 30th.

This better not be a habit.

Worn out!

Today has been a busy day for me.

After work, which I left early, I mowed my grandparents as usual and my yard.

After finishing my yard, I still had some daylight, so off to Auto Zone to get oil and filter to change my oil in my Caliber. This is it's second oil change since we've had the car. We've gone about 6000 miles in 3 months.

I'm excited that I got it all done.

Car update

Let me start off by stating how stinking hot it is outside!

Ok. Well, after church, my wife dropped me off at my daughters work for me to get the truck so I could go work on the car instead of taking my boy to the birthday party he was going to at Incredible Pizza.

So, I go and look at the car. Nothing. I see nothing. No cracks in the hoses or radiator. No signs of a leak. So, I turn it on. Once I get the water moving, I should see the problem easy. Still nothing.

While it was running, it took it a bit to heat up, but once it did, it didn't take much to get over the 50% mark on the temp gauge. I'm leaning towards this being a thermostat problem at this point.

I decide to go into Big Lots and cool off while I'm waiting on the car to cool down. While I was in there, I called one of the men from our church who works on vehicles for a living (meaning he knows WAY more about this stuff than I do). He gave me a couple things to check. Make sure there isn't a bleeder for the coolant system (some have them, didn't know that). Also, make sure the fan was on.

So I got back out to the car, and read some more in the repair books that we have for her car. It talks about how the fan will come on with the AC, or if the AC is off, when the car reaches a certain temp. So, I check. The fan is off. I turn on the AC, and it is on. So, the fan works. I turn off the AC, and wait. The temp gauge got back to the 50% mark, and the fan still hadn't come on. Ding, ding, ding, ding! I think we have a winner.

I turn on the AC, and the temp drops some. So, I close up the truck, and the car, and take the car for a drive with the AC on. Never once did the car ever reach that 50% mark on her temp gauge. I took her back her car and asked if they were running the AC yesterday or not. She said no. So I explained that I think she has a sensor out, and until that can be replaced, the run the AC all the time.

The book actually talked that if the fan worked, then it not coming on automatically could be a combination of a few different things. This one may take a real mechanic to fix.

Now, I'll have to wait to hear how the car is doing with the AC running.

Caliber

We got the car back today from getting the windows tinted and the sun roof installed.

Here you go. Actual pictures of our car.

New Car

Saturday, my wife and I traded in our 2000 Oldsmobile Intrigue and bought a 2007 Dodge Caliber.

We had been having some problems with the Olds, and a month or so ago, my wife saw an ad for this one in a paper. We both thought it was cool.

The car is Inferno Red, and by the end of the week will have tinted windows.

It's a cool looking car, if I do say so myself.

Once we get the windows tinted, I'll post some pictures. That was suppose to happen today, so I had waited to say anything till now, but since it wont happen till Friday, I wanted to go ahead and post about it.

Time for a road trip!

Silly Car

So, as I've said before, my car was acting up this morning.

I was afraid it might be the transmission, so I called my mechanic, and made an appointment for Friday morning. I just took the car down there, and had absolutely no problems with it. None at all.

So, either I've completely lost my mind, or it's going to be one of "those" problems.

I decided to leave it down there and let him take a look at it anyway.

We'll see what he has to say I guess.

Gardens Etc

Title sounds like a name of a store.

My garden is doing pretty well. It wont be long till we are eating lettuce from our garden. The spinach is starting to go. The cilantro is about to bolt I think. And the peas are doing well. Last week, my wife picked up a square collapsible tomato cage. I took it a part and opened it so the peas could climb on it. But it only did one row. So, I went today, and got 2 more so I could get the peas to climbing. While I was at Atwoods, I also picked up a gate to go behind the pond, 2 roma tomato plants, 2 jalapeno plants, and 2 Rutger's Select Heirloom tomato plants. Got them all planted and mulched. Got it planted 6 days earlier this year than last year.

Earlier today I changed the oil in mine and my daughters car. I hate doing it, but I'm happy once it's done.

Soccer was ok. The kids had fun. I'd have more fun if the other coaches would concentrate on teaching all their kids how to play the game instead of making sure their "good" players get the ball so they can score a lot.

Highway 169 dangerous?

I drive to and from work on Highway 169. Lately, there seems to be a lot of accidents on 169.

And what I find strange, is that the accidents (mostly) are not happening around the construction where you would expect there to be more accidents.

A few days ago, a pew came out of a truck and through the windshields of a pick-up killing a baby and injuring the 45 year old baby sitter. This was at 136th St N.

Today, a dump truck with its bed up hit the 36th St N Bridge.

Also today, there was a head on collision at 46th St N when one car crossed the median and hit a car in the other lane. Both women had to be cut out of their cars.

Yesterday morning, around the construction at I-244 and 169, there was a nasty wreck. Tulsa Police had 169 North bound blocked off at the I-44 bridge for clean up of the wreck.

So what is it about this highway that seems to act as a magnet to accidents?

I really don't know. There is a lot of traffic on this road. But I don't think it's that bad.
The road is in pretty good condition, so that can't really be blamed either.

Truth is, 169 is probably no dangerous than any other road, but driving it and seeing some of the wrecks, and hearing the reports from the news... It can make you wonder.

Booster Seats

On my drive into work I pass a billboard that says 4'9" is the magic number. Below that they need a booster seat.

I had brought that up over Christmas with the family, and there was much discussion. Well, today, I finally remembered to take a look at the sign closer, and found a web page.

www.boosterseat.gov

On this page, there is a calculator that helps parents on picking the type of booster/car seat their child needs.

I was right about the 4' 9" height limit, but what the sign didn't say, but the web page did, was there is also an age limit of 8.

I put in my son's information on the calculator (the best I could remember) and this was what it told me.

Children who are over 40 pounds should use booster seats until they are at least eight years old or 4-feet 9-inches tall. Install it in the back seat of your car. Booster seats position a child so the safety belt, which is designed for adults, fits properly and prevents injury.

Recommendations are from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

And for the record, my son does use a booster seat. To him, it's absolutely normal.

Busy Day

I did it! I replaced the radiator in the pick-up and it didn't have any leaks!

It really wasn't as bad as you would think it would be. I replaced the radiator, 2 hoses, 4 clamps and the thermostate for about $205. Not too bad.

I also got the car's oil changed and cleaned it up a bit and a couple loads of laundry done.

I'm exhausted. I'd like to rest, but I have to get some dishes done and finish up the laundry.

Look, I'm a mechanic... I hope.

Tomorrow will be an interesting day for me.

I will be replacing the radiator in the pick-up and changing the oil in the car.

I'm strangely looking forward to this. Maybe I'm sick?

This could be interesting.

Car problems, -2 +1

Tuesday night, the Mass Air Flow Sensor and the Crank Shaft positioning sensor were replaced on my car. I actually did the Mass Air Flow while a friend worked on the Crank Shaft sensor. It's nice driving without that silly check engine light staring at me.

However, As I stated before, with the truck overheating, it is time to replace it's radiator. Guess I get to learn something new next week.

Car problems (again)

I've had an interesting morning.

This evening, I will be getting 2 sensors in my car fixed finally. They have been going out for several months but we didn't have the money to get them fixed. Now I do. So I've made arrangements with one of the men in my church who is a mechanic and he said he'd fix it. I got the parts ordered, and we are to fix it tonight. Because of this, I was going to have my wife take the car today so it wont get as hot as if I had driven it into Tulsa. That left me with the truck.

The morning started pretty good. I got up and round and left on time. Dropped my boy off at day care and was on my way to Tulsa and it appeared I would be at work on time.

Just after I passed Owasso, my "check gauges" light came on and the truck was getting close to 250 degrees... Still out of the red zone on the gauge. I pulled over and steam was just came billowing out of the engine. Once I got the hood opened, what I found most interesting was the cap to the radiator was cool to the touch, not the least bit hot.

I knew the truck had a radiator fluid leak, but it had never gotten bad enough to overheat it, even when pulling a loaded trailer in the middle of summer to Falls Creek.

Well, my wonderful wife was able to leave work and come help me out. We got the truck filled with fluid and off again. We took are car to where we will work on it tonight, so it will be nice and cool when replacing those sensors. We then went to my wife's parents house and they let us borrow a car for the day. My wife took the truck back to work, and I followed her to make sure she got there safe and sound. Once she was at work, I finally made the trip into town. I was only 1.5 hours late. Oh well, guess it could have been worse.

17 years ago

17 year ago today, I had a car wreck.

I had gone to see a friend for her birthday. I was driving home down a gravel road, and topped a hill like I had done hundreds of times before, but this time, there was a car topping the hill in front of me. At the bottom was a one lane bridge. (and I knew you could not get 2 cars across a 1 lane bridge at the same time)

I hit my brakes as hard as I could, but not too hard, gravel handles like snow), and the other car got across the bridge and I tried to get my car onto the bridge and missed getting my right tire on the bridge by about 2 or 3 inches.... The car flipped into the creek.

Long story short, I ended up having some complications in the hospital. I had 105.8 degree temperature, 106 is brain hemorrhaging. I had NIGHTMARES and only remember bits and pieces of that time. I ended up with rheumatic Fever. I opened my Christmas presents in the Hospital that year, but I didn't (and still don't) remember doing it. When I finally got home from the hospital mom had to show me the presents.

God was watching after me during that time. The doctors told my parents that they could do nothing more for me, and whether I lived or died, it was up to me. (Course we all know it was up to God)

I had planned on talking a bit more about this, but it's late.