Stranded in Tucson

[Xist]

Who's a good girl?! (Scratches the Accord behind the mirror)

[ME_Andy]

Originally Posted by Xist

Who's a good girl?!

Correct answer: the girl who helped you get a hotel room and stuff

[nemo]

Glad you made it back safely.

[Xist]

For some reason I have not heard from Miss Tucson much since I came home. I video-called her when I pulled onto Mom's street, but she didn't answer, so I messaged "Home safely!" She responded "Yay!" I showered, ate dinner, ran my brother's bath, and took him for a walk. She messaged me "Everything okay? Settled in at home again?" and then told me "Sweet dreams! I am going to bed!"

Crazy J said that every mechanic in town is three weeks behind, but he would try to look at it today, although he kept repeating and contradicting himself. He mentioned me finding yet another distributor multiple times, but said that he wouldn't warranty the work unless he bought the part.

It is two bolts, right on top of the engine!

The nearest distributor is an hour and a half away, in Payson. I drove through there yesterday!

I drove through many towns yesterday...

The price has gone down $50, so I can order another from Amazon and have it here on Thursday, or I can drive an hour and a half each way to the nearest location with the right distributor, pull mine out of the car, and ask for a replacement. It would be hot, but I read "Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy!" I always bring a towel!

I keep thinking that a can of compressed air would really help cool down the part, but since it is attached to the engine, I wonder how much good that would do.

I tried to remove the drive gear and swap with the old one. I may have damaged the rest in the process.

This came for sale a few days ago in Show Low: https://www.facebook.com/marketplace...7387394267061/

I think the paint on the hood looks worse than the remaining dents in mine, but which would be easier to fix? The tires only have 200 miles! Mine only have 200 left! 268,000 miles and a bad engine and transmission. I am not swapping over mine just because the roof is better!

The bumper isn't covered in Gorilla Tape and the back seat doesn't have dog blood!

I should be able to remove the tape, but nothing has worked so far, and the corner is damaged. Mom keeps offering to peel off the tape, but it would ruin what is left of the paint.

It really needs to be repainted, though. Peeling tape, removing adhesive, fixing the corner again, and then repainting would probably take a long time.

Maybe the DX's distributor still works!

The owner says "It dose run but it will need to be towed."

I just got out of towing an Accord!

I mean... I am pretty sure that I could tow it with my car...

[Xist]

He asked for my purchase information and wrote:

Once I have this information, I will forward it to the warranty team and they will handle it from there. They will generally respond to you within 7 days with details on the replacement or refund. Amazon will want this part back unless it is hazardous, as in fuel delivery parts. They will send out the replacement first, and you will have 30 days to return the defective part. They will provide you with a link to a prepaid shipping label that you can print out and use to make the return.

Generally respond within 7 days. Do you think that I will then enjoy 2-day shipping?

I could have it at least a week earlier by buying a third one!

[JSH]

Glad you made it home. Have you given any thought to selling both old beaters and buying one new and more reliable car?

Your experience with your credit card is why I always carry two cards when I travel. Two credit cards and a debit card today. In the past when I only had one credit card I would take my debit card too. I also take two IDs (sometimes 3) and keep them separate. That way if my wallet is lost or stolen I still have an ID and a credit card.

I learned this the first time I went to Europe and found out most places didn't allow signatures. It was chip and pin and my credit card didn't have a pin* so none of the kiosks (like for the train and bus stations) would accept my card. That debit card came in real handy for the days it took to get the credit card straightened out.

*Turns out card did have a pin, I just didn't know it. The pin was written somewhere on the original paperwork. They wouldn't change the pin with out the original pin nor would they give it to me over the phone. Instead they mailed it to my address on file so I had to have a friend go get my mail and then email me the pin. My trip was about over before I could use my card.

[Xist]

Hey OP, sorry for going off-topic, but this thread is about an Accord, so this totally doesn't fit in the $1,500 beater thread!

1999 manual with 240,000 miles for $1,500.

2003 manual Accord with 177,000 miles that was driven by someone who didn't know how to drive a stick for 5 months for $1,500.

2000 Accord with 202,000 miles and many new parts for $1,500.

I look at cars all of the time. I test-drove the Fit, but at first the owner said that he was flexible on the price, then suddenly was firm, told me that I was being paranoid, he wouldn't lie to me, and acted uncomfortable with me taking the car to a mechanic.

I believe the problem with my credit card was that absolutely every transaction for the past six months was in Show Low and suddenly someone was charging up hundreds of dollars in, of all places, Tucson, so I needed to tell my bank that I would be traveling.

You don't carry cash? Traveler's checks? An especially-healthy goat for barter?

I was surprised how many people I saw using cash the other day. I rarely used it before six months ago, but I haven't used it once since!

[Gasoline Fumes]

Goat - Don't leave home without it

[nemo]

So you drive old beaters and carry no tools?
Take a trip and carry no cash?

What will you do different next time, what lessons learned?

[Xist]

Borrow Mom's car, still carry tools and cash, as well as a second change of clothes, and my emergency bag.