vehicles

van expenses

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I got my van back from Tom & Gerry’s.  I blew a radiator hose a few days ago, but while it was in the shop I asked them to look at why the steering is so stiff.  It turns out the entire rack and pinion steering system was worn out.  Total cost for replacing all those parts and repairing the cooling system: a little under $2000.00.

The steering is now a lot more responsive, easier to handle.  It was like a stubborn mule before, having to strong-arm it to turn.  Now, all is well.

overheated and stranded

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I was on my way to students’ house in Cardston when my van overheated.  So now I’m stuck out here waiting for a tow truck.  I left town at 2:30pm; now 4:20pm; still another 1 hour before the tow truck shows up.

In the mean time, I was kept company by about 4 or 5 dozen cattle.  One of them named Dolly (obviously a pet) ate grass from my hand.  I would like to have stayed out there, but it’s cold out.  Now that I’m sitting in the van, it’s colder in here than out there.  How’s that?  I could feel their collective heat.

Could this be my winter travel I was hoping could happen?  Considering the van now has an issue, this might be it!

 12/8/2024  3:15 PM      3800429 stranded on HWY 5 with cattle 20241208_151517.jpg
 12/8/2024  3:16 PM      1313326 stranded on HWY 5 with cattle 20241208_151620.jpg
 12/8/2024  3:25 PM      4961156 stranded on HWY 5 with cattle 20241208_152550.jpg
 12/8/2024  3:25 PM      5210336 stranded on HWY 5 with cattle 20241208_152554.jpg
 12/8/2024  3:26 PM     10425014 stranded on HWY 5 with cattle 20241208_152558.jpg
 12/8/2024  3:36 PM      2823603 stranded on HWY 5 with cattle 20241208_153654.jpg
 12/8/2024  3:38 PM      2462500 stranded on HWY 5 with cattle 20241208_153827.jpg
 12/8/2024  3:38 PM      3475047 stranded on HWY 5 with cattle 20241208_153829.jpg
 12/8/2024  3:38 PM      1259535 stranded on HWY 5 with cattle 20241208_153844.jpg
 12/8/2024  3:41 PM      1694790 stranded on HWY 5 with cattle 20241208_154111.jpg

new summer tires

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I finally have new summer tires for the T&C.

I decided to go with Kirks for new rubber.  They corrected an error by K1z Auto and Gary Moe Chrysler (the annoying rattle in the rear end), new brakes all around, new winter tires, and other stuff.  They seem to know their stuff.

My last tires were pretty badly worn.  Floyd got some service done on his vehicle.  They said he needed new tires.  I compared his to mine, and he had three times the tread that I did.  Oh my.

Bird electric scooter

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It seems we have a new rental electric scooter company in town.  Anybody hear of Bird?

The last company, Neuron, had bright orange scooters – rattly things that were like a tank version of a scooter.  (I’ve never actually rented one, but I heard others talk about them.)

Now we have Birds.

first scooter ride of the year

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I’m at Starbucks having a tall Pike.  I got here by scooter.  Yesterday was the first time this year being out on the scooter.  It’s still a little cool out – 10° today, 14° yesterday – but it was still a good ride.  The Harley riders and the diesel screamer pipe rednecks are out as well.  And I ride by with my silent but quick scooter.  Put that in your pipe.

snow tires and rims – Chrysler T&C

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I finally got new snow tires for the Chrysler van.  I know it is the middle of February, and I should have done this before, but money is tight.

I got new rims, too, so I wouldn’t have to rely on a garage to change over from summer to winter tires and back again.  Unfortunately, it changes the look of the van completely.

unprepared for havoc

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Okay, I admit it.  Havoc happened.  I went out to start the van this morning, and it wouldn’t start.  I forgot to plug it in.  So I plugged it in and waited.  Still, the engine spun around and around, but it didn’t fire up.  I used the little Noco Boost Plus battery booster, and it still just spun around but didn’t fire.

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flat

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Flip! I got a flat. I knew it was low Friday evening. I borrowed FT’s car to go to Milk River for tutoring. But today it’s flat than a pancake (but only on the bottom, so that’s good).

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