The Engine Is Smoking
Just when I thought that we were going to have a relaxing weekend, The Girl called in a panic because the engine compartment of her car was smoking. Once I determined that she was out of the vehicle and that the engine was turned off I got in my car and went to “rescue” her. When I reached the parking lot where she was, I saw a piece of plastic on the pavement in the middle of a big puddle of antifreeze which is never a good sign. Fortunately, the engine wasn’t too hot when the part broke so, although there was a lot of smoke, the coolant dripping on the engine and exhaust manifold didn’t start a fire. I had to stop a few times to let the engine cool; but I was able to drive it home.
We’re not spending money unless we absolutely must; so I spent the rest of the afternoon diagnosing the problem, driving to the auto parts store to buy a replacement part and installing it. It turned out to be a$14 hose fitting so including antifreeze it was a $20 repair. But it took the rest of the day to remove and reinstall all of the parts that so I could reach where the new part went. (Car repairs are often like that.) And of course I dropped the obligatory bolt inside the engine and spent 20 minutes getting it out. In the end, the vehicle was drivable, and we probably saved $100 or more by doing it ourselves. And, thankfully we have a DVR so I won’t miss the big game.
