Just Drive It

Episode #822

November 2, 2024

When I owned my Rabbit sedan I used a Volkswagen mechanic who knew everything
…about Volkswagens.

As the car aged I brought it in to Klaus more and more often. The problems ranged from brakes wearing out to engine timing issues. At 300,000 miles the dash lights started malfunctioning. The first couple of times it was just bulbs. These repairs were expensive because it was difficult to remove the dashboard to get at the display. 

One day I got a check engine light and brought the car into Klaus. He connected his diagnostic tool to the OBD-II port and shook his head.

“You have P0601 error code,” he said, in a low voice.
“What does that mean?” I asked.
“The Engine Control Unit (the car’s computer) itself is malfunctioning.”
“Can you fix it?”
“I can replace the ECU, but it will cost $1000 and may not solve the problem.”
That was a lot of money. “Will the malfunction harm the car?”
“The problem is that the ECU will not warn you of other problems and the check engine light will always be on. Your car has a lot of miles. My recommendation is to put a piece of black tape over the check engine light and JUST DRIVE THE CAR.”

I have never sold a car that I have owned. I always drive them until they die. I took Kaus’s advice and just drove the car. It lasted another three years with regular maintenance until one day the engine failed. The car had almost 400,000 miles.

I bought a used riding mower from my friend. I got a tremendous deal because he moved and no longer needed the mower. Two months after buying it the mower would not start. My mechanic neighbor took a look at it and thought he could clean the carburetor to get it running. He did and it did, for only another couple of months.

I bought a new carburetor on Amazon (they are not expensive). My friend replaced the carburetor. Problem solved. 

The battery would not hold a charge. I spent the next few years jumping the mower with my truck every time I wanted to use it. Eventually I bought a new battery and it solved the problem. Easy.

Later the gas tank developed a leak. Also easy to replace.

Then, one by one the tires failed. My great deal on the riding mower was starting to be not so great.

Next, while mowing the tall mustard in the paddock, the blades stopped turning. The drive belt for the mower deck had worn out and slipped off the pulleys. Youtube said that removing the deck and replacing the belt was not difficult. They were wrong. There is a cable connector that just would not come off. Stubbornly and painfully one of my neighbors and I got the new belt on.

While we were working on the mower deck I noticed that the cutting blades were very worn so I ordered a set of high quality Oregon mulching blades. They arrived from Amazon in a few days, but did not include a blade stop. A blade stop holds the blade from turning while removing or tightening the nut. Youtube said to just wedge a 2×4 into the mower deck to jam the blade while removing the nut. Because I can’t remove the deck, gravity would not allow the 2×4 to stay up inside the deck.

Another friend had loaned me the socket and cheater wrench to remove the blade nut, but did not have a blade stop. Another hour on YouTube taught me that I could use a “C” clamp as a stop. Some WD-40, a “C” clamp and a couple of automobile ramps later and both the new mower blades were installed.

The mower worked great! I finished mowing half the paddock when I went half way down a ditch and almost flipped the mower. The rear two wheel drive should have given me enough traction to avoid his dangerous imbalance. On closer inspection I discovered that only one wheel was driving. The other wheel was just turning free. The transaxle was broken on one side. This is a very expensive repair.

The mower was still mowing. I recalled Klaus saying, “JUST DRIVE IT!” So I did.

I am careful about turning on a slope, but I have been driving my troublesome mower for several acres on my property. I still does a good job of mowing.

There comes a time in the life of every machine when I recognize that it is older and imperfect.
When that happens I “JUST DRIVE IT.”

IF YOU LIKE THIS BLOG YOU’LL LOVE MY BOOKS:
“Skydivers Know Why Birds Sing” by Ricki T Thues is now available on Amazon.
It is a Love story of Rick and Paula Thues and their 35 years of Skydiving.

Click HERE to buy the paperback or Kindle ebook at Amazon.

Follow Ricki T Thues on Amazon HERE.

ALSO AVAILABLE:
“Technically Human” by Ricki T Thues, the iMentor, is available on Amazon.
It is a compilation of selected episodes from this bLog which tell the story of Humanity through the eyes of the iMentor.

Click HERE to buy the paperback or Kindle ebook at Amazon.
The ebook version of “Technically Human” is also available on Kobo. Click HERE.
For you Barnes and Noble Nook readers it is available for Nook. Click HERE.
The “Technically Human” ebook is also available on Apple Books . Click HERE.