I am Going to Get My Hands Dirty
Ok so I guess I’m a little late on the not being reactive about the whole $317 that it will cost to get my windshield wipers motor fixed. Seems how I had my meltdown moment and oh pity me moment already.
But…instead of sitting back having to check the weather every single day before going anywhere to make sure that I won’t get stranded due to the rain I’ve decided I can be proactive and do something about this situation. I’m just not willing to come up with $317 to fix the windshield wiper motor even though I know it’s a NECESSITY! But in the back of my mind I kept thinking that there was just no way that $317 was justifiable because it didn’t seem like it could be that huge of a deal. It just didn’t seem to be a big mechanical problem in my mind. But then again hey I’m a woman that is pretty clueless about mechanics but something in my gut just told me that it wasn’t that big of a job!
Tuffy Muffler was adamant about not getting a motor from a junk yard. Told me that was not a wise decision. Well of course they are going to tell me this I mean hello they want that $317 sale!
But according to Caleb’s dad…I can get one from the junk yard (and he’s not the first person to tell me it was ok to do so!). So I just went online to a local junkyard and guess what? I found the part for $25!!!! And guess what else? I’m going to get my hands dirty!
Girls I’m going to be fixing this MYSELF!
Yep you read that correctly. Little miss don’t know much when it comes to cars is going to be fixing the windshield wiper motor problem herself.
How?
Simple. It’s a matter of taking out 3 bolts, unhooking a little doo dad thing (not sure the name of it lol) removing the bad motor and then putting the new motor on, hooking up the little doo dad thing and screwing the 3 bolts back on.
I was quite shocked at how simple of a fix this really is! Even looking under the hood at the windshield wiper motor I was like oh heck yeah I can so handle this! Not a problem at all! It seriously can’t be more than a 10 minute project! It’s that SIMPLE!
Now too bad I didn’t have someone here who could be the photographer through the process cause I know you’ll be dying to see pics of this! Believe me I’ll want to see pics of this for myself! LOL
If someone ever told me that I’d be fixing something mechanical on a vehicle I would have peed my pants from laughing so hard. Now I’m actually looking forward to this little project that is on my ‘to do’ list!
After this little empowerment trip I’ll be saying I am Woman Hear Me Roar 
1Mara
wrote on 17 April 2009 at 11:00
You go, girl! You can do it! I’m looking forward to hearing hour your first try at mechanics goes.
Mara’s last blog post..Does Your Child Wet the Bed?
2Heather @ Girly Blog Designz
wrote on 17 April 2009 at 13:33
I second the “You Go Girl!” I’m all about the DIY (Do it Yourself!) Although I would be a little afraid to fix something on my car by myself, but you know what if I had to I would. Usually hubby takes care of those things only because I’m lazy, lol!
You know what you’ve motivated me to try and replace the blinker on my car. I really need to be more comfortable myself when it comes to fixing things on the car. It’s really just a matter of replacing a light bulb, LMBO!
I think I will do that today, yay!
Go us, the car fixing mommy’s! LMBO!
Heather @ Girly Blog Designz’s last blog post..Learning Twitter Lingo
3Christina
wrote on 17 April 2009 at 14:26
Good for you!! If there are truly that few steps then you should be done within an hour…and will have saved ALL that money!
Get Caleb working the camera…you’ll be so proud of yourself when your finished
4Angie (Losing It and Loving It)
wrote on 17 April 2009 at 18:50
You go girl! You CAN do this and if you need any guidance feel free to call us and Kev can try to help walk you through it but it SOUNDS simple enough LOL
Our neighbor’s dryer broke and as usual Kev was able to fix it with a new part but the cool thing is I could have even done it. Forget paying someone to do it, they charge an arm and a leg these days.
Can’t wait to hear all about it.
Angie (Losing It and Loving It)’s last blog post..Health tips from around the web
5Kim Smith
wrote on 17 April 2009 at 19:25
You continue to amaze me! You GO GIRL!
6Tishia Lee
wrote on 17 April 2009 at 19:30
Ok now that I’ve got all you lovely ladies rooting for me I’m all paranoid about messin it up! You guys are giving me stage fright. ROFLOL
It will be probably Wednesday of next week before I can get the part picked up from the junk yard – oh no I just thought of something…what if it’s raining next week? ROFLOL
Tishia Lee’s last blog post..I am Going to Get My Hands Dirty
7Chrissy
wrote on 17 April 2009 at 21:17
You stage fright??? You have it done before you know it! However, I am willing to bet you struggle getting the bolts off that old thing LMAO (that is the only thing I see that might slow you down honestly) Can’t wait for the story.
Chrissy’s last blog post..The words of others
8Chrissy
wrote on 17 April 2009 at 22:31
I nominate you for an attitude of gratitude award. Details on on this post. http://workingmomwrites.com/2009/04/attitude-of-gratitude-award/
Chrissy’s last blog post..Attitude of Gratitude Award
9Tishia Lee
wrote on 17 April 2009 at 22:32
Chrissy ya know I already thought of that. I have a trick up my sleeve for if I struggle with those nasty old rusty things. My grams gave me this stuff to spray on rusty bolts to help loosen them when I bought a car last year and I couldn’t get the bolts off the license plate so I’ll be pulling that stuff out if need be
10Carol Norris
wrote on 19 April 2009 at 14:30
Try Rain-Ex, available at most shops like AutoZone or maybe even at Walmart. My husband uses it on our vehicles so we can drive without wipers most of the time cuz’ we get tired of replacing wiper blades LOL. It does such an incredible job at repelling the rain, you really can drive without wipers about 90% of the time. Amazing stuff….and a whole lot cheaper than fixing it for now. It would at least buy you more time and still keep you safe driving in rain. We can’t have anything happening to ya, but over $300 is a hunk of change! Good luck!
11Mary Lutz
wrote on 19 April 2009 at 22:50
Yep, Rain-ex works!!! Jeff and I use it on our vehicles. He prides himself on the fact that he can drive without windshield wipers. I don’t know why I didn’t think of that sooner?!?
Try to get Caleb to take pics as stated above! Post ‘em up as a reminder of how awesome you are!!!!
Mary Lutz’s last blog post..Blogging About Whatever I Want Today