New Car, New Bills

Already our little TH!NK has a tail light out.  When Mona told me I immediately zipped up to Kevin’s Affordable Automotive here in Friday Harbor, WA and asked him to change the bulb.  Alas, it isn’t a bulb changing kind of fix.  The entire tail light is closed system unit.  I have to replace the whole thing.

Can you say KA-CHING?

I stared at Keven in dismay when he told me. I asked, “How much?”  He knew I meant money.

“You have choices,” he said.  “You can go into Anacortes to the dealership and have them replace the part, or you can order order the part yourself and have me replace it.”

Okay, Kevin charges $20.00 less per hour than the dealership.  Not only that, I’d have to tack a $50.00 ferry ride to the dealership bill.  Even so, I did some calling and checked out the dealership prices — then ordered the OEM Car Parts myself. When they arrive I will call Kevin and make an appointment for him to replace the tail light, tighten the breaks, and give the whole buggy a good once-over for any other maintenance concerns.

When I was in college I used to work on my beater Plymouth myself. I changed the alternator and the fuel pump without the aid of testosterone. I had a handy dandy “How-To” book, my toolbox, and OEM Auto Parts. I’m thinking that when this tail light arrives if it looks straight forward enough I just might replace it myself.