The kind of stupid that stupid people make fun of...

ManglerYJ

ManglerYJ

Well-Known Member
Joined
Mar 20, 2005
Location
Lexington, NC
So my step-daughter has now blown up her second car motor. She called the other day to say that the car - a 2000 Grand Am "just stopped". She pulled over and some guy offered to help her out (although I'm sure he was just wanting to help her out of her pants), and after pouring 4 quarts of oil in, it still wouldn't run. She claims that he pulled codes and it came back Misfire. He also claims that it has lost compression, but again, she has no idea how he verified that.

I start peeling back the layers of the story by asking questions (mind you, I have not seen the vehicle yet, so I'm blind). Here's the question and answer:

Me: Were there any lights on prior to it cutting off?
Her: Yes, but it's always o.

Me: How long has the Check Engine Light been on?
Her: It's been on for a couple months now.

Me: Did you have anyone check the codes to determine what the light was on for?
Her: No, the gas cap says that the light will come on if it's not tight enough, and I'm not strong enough to tighten it to get the light to shut off.

Me: Do you think that maybe the gas cap wasn't the problem? When was the last time you had the oil changed?
Her: I just had it changed.

Me: Do you think they did something wrong if you just had it changed and then all the sudden the car is out of oil?
Her: I don't know - that was like 3 or 4 months ago.

Me: You do realize that you should have your oil changed every three months.
Her: Should I have it changed now?
Me: I'm sure whoever ends up putting a new ENGINE in will put fresh oil in, since it's a good probability that you have blown up the motor for lack of oil. I thought your dad was keeping a check on your car.
Her: I don't know...
 
She gets her looks from her mom and her common sense from her dad...

Ironically, she is in school to be a teacher. I weep for the future.
 
Could she be tired of driving the old car and purposely driving it into the ground so someone will get her nicer, newer one?
 
mommucked said:
Could she be tired of driving the old car and purposely driving it into the ground so someone will get her nicer, newer one?
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If it was the older sister, I'd say yes - she is that manipulative. This one is just plain..........fake blonde.

Thing is, she is on our insurance policy and hers is the newest model vehicle on the policy. Both my wife's car and my van are both 99's and my truck is a 95. She ended up with it when she blew up her first car (she has had her license for just about a year) and her dad's mom gave her this one.
 
If that's true she's probly better off than the older sis. You may be able to teach her the easy things she can do to help take care of her cars and make them last, the manipulative one will probly not listen to much advice at all.
 
mommucked said:
If that's true she's probly better off than the older sis. You may be able to teach her the easy things she can do to help take care of her cars and make them last, the manipulative one will probly not listen to much advice at all.
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Trust me, I have tried. Her dad's side of the family is poison. No work ethic and they feel as though they are somehow "owed" nice things for nothing. Her dad is pushing 50 and still goes to his mom for money for gas and chewing tobacco when he runs out. He told the girls that the only reason he couldn't have nice things was because of all the child support that their mom made him pay. Yes, $96 a week for two teenage girls is ALL the support they need.

It's hard to instill any sort of work ethic when you are working against a family like that. Now, I just keep my mouth shut and have on hand things that make MY life easier when she breaks down - like a AAA membership.

The only real solace I have taken is that she finally had enough of living under our "rules", (like you can't sleep all day and you need to keep your room clean), so she moved in with her dad. I know it's the worst possible thing for her, but sometimes you just have to show someone that the grass that's so green on the other side of the fence is really only greener because it's over the septic field.
 
ManglerYJ said:
Trust me, I have tried. Her dad's side of the family is poison. No work ethic and they feel as though they are somehow "owed" nice things for nothing. Her dad is pushing 50 and still goes to his mom for money for gas and chewing tobacco when he runs out. He told the girls that the only reason he couldn't have nice things was because of all the child support that their mom made him pay. Yes, $96 a week for two teenage girls is ALL the support they need.

It's hard to instill any sort of work ethic when you are working against a family like that. Now, I just keep my mouth shut and have on hand things that make MY life easier when she breaks down - like a AAA membership.

The only real solace I have taken is that she finally had enough of living under our "rules", (like you can't sleep all day and you need to keep your room clean), so she moved in with her dad. I know it's the worst possible thing for her, but sometimes you just have to show someone that the grass that's so green on the other side of the fence is really only greener because it's over the septic field.
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Not defending the guy but child support is supposed to be half of the support for children for one month. So 96x4=384 then x2 is 768.
 
Jake. said:
Not defending the guy but child support is supposed to be half of the support for children for one month. So 96x4=384 then x2 is 768.
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I hear ya, but even $768 a month seems insanely low for two teenage girls.

I just think it's funny that he complained for years about having to pay for "half" of their expenses and now that she's living with him, he's paying 100% of hers.
 
Speaking of School Teachers, Me thinks she on her way. I have personally known 2 Males teachers, in the past. BOTH of them knew how to insert key & make automobile run, as long as they bought gas! One had asked what might be wrong with his Gremlin, [YES:lol:] because it jerked & shook so bad, he was afraid to drive it. Goober, at the "filling station" took care of his oil. If it got low, he would add some! Around 80K miles, never changed oil, serviced, tuned up, greased, Nothing, but Gas! :shaking: Second one had a Nice late 70s Cutlass! Basically=same as # 1 teacher. He asked me one day, if he was suppose to change oil, & would it need a filter? He only ad about 30K on his!:handed:
 
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