well, that didn't go the way I'd planned
I had a very early car appointment to get my inspection sticker, an oil change, and to have them check for a possible coolant leak (we spotted some little drips in the snow one day). I'd also recently noticed that when the car idled (when stuck in traffic, for example) the temperature gauge rose higher than usual.
Last fall I had to get a new drivers licence photo, so I called the RMV to ask if I needed new license plates, so that I could take care of both things at once if need be. They said if the numbers were in good shape (they are), not to worry about it.
But the fellow writing up my work order this morning told me that the reflective coating on the plate was too damaged, and he couldn't pass me. (T. had been told by his car repair place that his would need to be replaced, and those are in better shape than mine, so he wasn't surprised).
Bummer for me, that means another trip to the RMV to exchange them. (The RMV has greatly improved its customer service in recent years, so much so that after one visit I sent them fan mail. My last trip only took a half hour, the several trips before didn't even take that long. But I still cringe remembering some 3-hour long winding lines out through a parking lot.)
Unfortunately the coolant leak/temp. is signaling that I need a new water pump. It is not cheap, but this is still the original pump--at 190,000+ miles--so I guess I got my money's worth out of it. And it is better to find out before it fails at an inopportune moment. I had a time deadline and no alternative transportation today, and they didn't have one in stock, so I'll end up taking a personal day next week to deal with both the RMV and the replacement. Bah.
Last fall I had to get a new drivers licence photo, so I called the RMV to ask if I needed new license plates, so that I could take care of both things at once if need be. They said if the numbers were in good shape (they are), not to worry about it.
But the fellow writing up my work order this morning told me that the reflective coating on the plate was too damaged, and he couldn't pass me. (T. had been told by his car repair place that his would need to be replaced, and those are in better shape than mine, so he wasn't surprised).
Bummer for me, that means another trip to the RMV to exchange them. (The RMV has greatly improved its customer service in recent years, so much so that after one visit I sent them fan mail. My last trip only took a half hour, the several trips before didn't even take that long. But I still cringe remembering some 3-hour long winding lines out through a parking lot.)
Unfortunately the coolant leak/temp. is signaling that I need a new water pump. It is not cheap, but this is still the original pump--at 190,000+ miles--so I guess I got my money's worth out of it. And it is better to find out before it fails at an inopportune moment. I had a time deadline and no alternative transportation today, and they didn't have one in stock, so I'll end up taking a personal day next week to deal with both the RMV and the replacement. Bah.