So I got one of those little annoying dash lights that come on. Right before licensing. And I've had studded tires on all year but haven't really driven my acura that much. At any rate, today's the first day they are legal again, and as soon as my wife and kids and brother in law get home from taking wayyyyy too long for knowing I was heading out - I am heading out to Timberline Lodge tonight.
I'm sick. Got dizzy and cramped up and was going to throw up at work today. Since I'm the boss, I have a bit more freedom. So I finished my work this morning at 8:30am (2.5 hours of work - I'm salaried - we all know what THAT means......yeah.....harumph) and came home. When my wife kindly informed me our car could be towed for having expired tags. Only expired one day but still expired. Anyways, so rather than rest, I end up getting up to figure out how to repair the car.
Got tired of the light coming on and do enough repairs myself that I bought a diagnostic tool so I had plugged it in before and remembered something about the EGR valve.
EGR valve? What's that?
Well for some reason couldn't find my Chilton Repair manual so I had to go on the internet. Seriously? Just buy the manual. Don't fuss around with the internet on car repairs. Just buy the book. One time - table of contents - pictures - instructions - tools - you name it - all you need to know right there.
Well - I looked it up on the scary internet because I don't know if they are really giving me the straight dope on it all - and this is what it looked like. EGR means Exhaust Gas Recirculating (valve) - AH! Lovely. Now what? How much are those? YIKE$$! About $400.
Poked around on the car until I found something that looked just like that. Read a bit on Yahoo! Answers (If you've never used Yahoo Answers, it really can be a great resource for some things, religion bashing mostly, and about fifty million questions by girls asking "Could I be pregnant?" or whatnot - but anyways - figured out how to clean it.
And - saved myself about $600 depending on how unscrupulous the mechanic is. All it was was two nuts, I have all my tools - but a universal joint for my socket set - a 12mm socket - a six inch extension - a socket wrench - and a bit of WD-40, a blade, a paper towell - and a bit of patience - and 20 minutes later - problem solved! FOR FREE! (If you don't count all my tools).
Much car maintenance really is easy - once you get in and get over your fear of it all and PAY ATTENTION! And be methodical in it all.
So - I WAS thinking of taking the kidlets with me - but they REALLY are being hyperactive - so - I think I'll let them go to bed and go have a hot cocoa at Timberline Lodge! Whoohoo! Oh, and reset the OBDII Codes on my car and go for a drive to reset it all. Hopefully I don't get stopped for expired tags.....
