[Xist]

When I had the pre-purchase inspection for my Civic the mechanics said that it leaked from the rear main seal and told me to just top off the oil periodically and have the seal changed when I had the timing belt replaced. They said there was a larger timing belt kit that included the rear main seal.

I wanted to replace the timing belt myself, but I was nervous about replacing the timing belt for the first time on my only car. There had been places where you could work on your own car, but one place stopped doing it, and I had them do everything. I wasn't happy with them, but they seemed to do good work.

They didn't give me an estimate. They said that it could cost as much as X, as little as Y, or maybe Z, which was in the middle, but they promised to call and let me know what it needed before starting work. I did not hear back, so I followed up.

"We're all done!"
"You said that you would call me before you started! How much work did she end up needing?"
"All of it!"

Good times.