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Author Topic: I freaking hate this  (Read 6533 times)

Balog

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I freaking hate this
« on: December 26, 2008, 01:11:59 PM »
I live in an apartment. Realistically, this means I can't do any work on my car. Aside from the lease explicitly stating that I can't do so on the property, I've got very few tools and no real place to store them, and nowhere to do the work if I had them. Rolling around in the snow with nothing but a screwdriver and a Leatherman seems like a bad idea.

But every time something needs done on the car (oil change, new spark plugs etc) I get really pissed at paying some probably incompetent grease monkey inordinate amounts of money to do something that would take me 30 minutes and $25 in parts. :( :( :(

I effing hate living in an apartment.....
« Last Edit: December 26, 2008, 04:21:59 PM by Balog »
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GigaBuist

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Re: i freaking hate this
« Reply #1 on: December 26, 2008, 01:16:31 PM »
So drive it to a WalMart, Meijer, public park, mall, etc. to do the work on it.

Problem solved.
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Perd Hapley

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Re: i freaking hate this
« Reply #2 on: December 26, 2008, 01:18:52 PM »
Some of those places, especially the mall, will have security folks that might chase you off.  Or could they charge you with trespassing, maybe? 

Or, if they think you just broke down right there, they might help you out.   :lol:
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Tallpine

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Re: i freaking hate this
« Reply #3 on: December 26, 2008, 01:23:09 PM »
Yeah, just pull off on a wide shoulder of the road somewhere. ;)

Then you don't even have to worry about disposing of the used oil, after you had that "sudden leak"  :laugh:

I would not leave the old oil filter just lying there, though ...  :O


BTW, can't you just keep the tools in your car all the time ???  I keep some basic tools in every vehicle just in case.
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Balog

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Re: i freaking hate this
« Reply #4 on: December 26, 2008, 01:24:05 PM »
Let's say I buy tools, and somehow talk my wife into letting me "store" them in a big stack in the spare bedroom. You really think driving on down to the local grocery store and putting it up on the ramps to change the oil is gonna work? :rolleyes: Even when it's not icy/snowy, or raining (this is WA) etc etc there is no way I wouldn't get kicked off the property and fast.
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If government is the answer, it must have been a really, really, really stupid question.

BridgeRunner

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Re: i freaking hate this
« Reply #5 on: December 26, 2008, 01:28:35 PM »
I just did my oil changes in the apartment lot.  It turned out that no one cared if I did some quick maintenance;  what they didn't want was a puddle of oil in the lot, of a car sitting gutted for months while someone puttered around with a major hobby project.  No one would tell me it was ok, but no one messed with me either.
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MillCreek

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Re: i freaking hate this
« Reply #6 on: December 26, 2008, 01:28:51 PM »
I have often thought that there is an unmet market niche: a chain of small garages that would allow people to use the lifts, and tools for a fee.  Most of the larger military bases have them without the fee, though.  But the concept is the same, a warm sheltered place where you can work on your car.  

I bet the liability insurance would be a killer though.  
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BrokenPaw

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Re: i freaking hate this
« Reply #7 on: December 26, 2008, 01:31:21 PM »
Quote from: Balog on December 26, 2008, 01:24:05 PM
Let's say I buy tools, and somehow talk my wife into letting me "store" them in a big stack in the spare bedroom. You really think driving on down to the local grocery store and putting it up on the ramps to change the oil is gonna work? :rolleyes: Even when it's not icy/snowy, or raining (this is WA) etc etc there is no way I wouldn't get kicked off the property and fast.

Do you have a friend who owns a driveway?  Generally a driveway can be rented for an afternoon for a beer or two.  As for tools, friends who own driveways might own tools as well, which can be rented for another couple of beers.

Some auto-parts places will hand out free loaner tools, also.

-BP
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cassandra and sara's daddy

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Re: i freaking hate this
« Reply #8 on: December 26, 2008, 01:34:16 PM »
find a friend with a place like mine  i ran outa places to park my friends wrecks
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cassandra and sara's daddy

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Re: i freaking hate this
« Reply #9 on: December 26, 2008, 01:35:05 PM »
many moons ago military bases had shops you could use
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It is much more powerful to seek Truth for one's self.  Seeing and hearing that others seem to have found it can be a motivation.  With me, I was drawn because of much error and bad judgment on my part. Confronting one's own errors and bad judgment is a very life altering situation.  Confronting the errors and bad judgment of others is usually hypocrisy.


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Desertdog

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Re: i freaking hate this
« Reply #10 on: December 26, 2008, 01:42:39 PM »
Quote
many moons ago military bases had shops you could use
I believe most of them still do.  I don't know about where you live, but some places you can find a detached garage for rent by the month. 
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Balog

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Re: i freaking hate this
« Reply #11 on: December 26, 2008, 01:43:25 PM »
Sadly, I don't know anyone with a driveway, or at least not well enough to "rent" it.

The car in question is unfortunately low enough that to get underneath I need to put it on ramps. And our apt. is pretty anal about the little leasing details. Back in AZ one of my best friends was a mechanic with a house. Out here, I don't have many friends, and they're mostly young apt/condo dwellers too.
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If government is the answer, it must have been a really, really, really stupid question.

DJJ

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Re: i freaking hate this
« Reply #12 on: December 26, 2008, 01:46:55 PM »
Can you rent a garage-sized storage space? Tap into the light fixture for power?
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Balog

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Re: i freaking hate this
« Reply #13 on: December 26, 2008, 01:55:48 PM »
The storage places I've used before have "no living in/working on cars in" clauses. And I'd prefer to not screw around tapping into lighting circuits in a rental space.
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Quote from: Standing Wolf
If government is the answer, it must have been a really, really, really stupid question.

Bogie

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Re: i freaking hate this
« Reply #14 on: December 26, 2008, 02:00:35 PM »
A lot of auto parts stores (i.e., Autozone) don't mind... I've seem people doing alternator swaps, etc., etc... Just be neat/clean, and you're good.
 
Your wife needs to get used to a toolbox in the trunk.
 
I suspect the liability, especially with a hydraulic lift, would be a killer. #1 rule would have to be that the thing's keyed, and only an employee can place/lift/lower vehicles... I've seen people doing some really stupid things... Had a neighbor who did both his front brakes, lifting the front end with a floor jack. On a hill. Without chocks. And I looked in, and the parking brake wasn't set. It's a miracle it didn't take off...
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DJJ

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Re: i freaking hate this
« Reply #15 on: December 26, 2008, 02:02:55 PM »
Quote from: Balog on December 26, 2008, 01:55:48 PM
The storage places I've used before have "no living in/working on cars in" clauses. And I'd prefer to not screw around tapping into lighting circuits in a rental space.
Well, it wouldn't necessarily be within "the letter" of the rental agreement. You'd just have to rent a space big enough that you could close the door while you're in it, and use one of these:

http://www.shop.mobile-shop.com/product.sc;jsessionid=61E3D20F3591B948C791AAEF45A210B5.qscweb23?categoryId=5&productId=125
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Balog

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Re: i freaking hate this
« Reply #16 on: December 26, 2008, 02:22:21 PM »
I've changed batteries and an alternator in the parking lot of an auto-parts store before. I bet I could even do a brake job there and they wouldn't mind. But the most frequent maintenance (oil change) would probably be a nogo for liability; both from the possibility of oil spills and the car falling onto you. Dunno, maybe I should check with em. No help now, but I'm sure the snow will have melted before I need to do it again.
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Quote from: French G.
I was always pleasant, friendly and within arm's reach of a gun.

Quote from: Standing Wolf
If government is the answer, it must have been a really, really, really stupid question.

Bogie

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Re: i freaking hate this
« Reply #17 on: December 26, 2008, 02:26:04 PM »
Last time I considered doing it myself, I figured I could save about $3 or so over the cost of having the guys at Wal-Mart change the oil. And since they'll replace stuff like headlights, etc., and it's a Chevy van, hey, more power to 'em... I HATE getting up in there... Haven't been able to talk them into going for the air filter yet tho... And it's probably about time...
 
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Bogie

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Re: i freaking hate this
« Reply #18 on: December 26, 2008, 02:31:22 PM »
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White Horseradish

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Re: i freaking hate this
« Reply #19 on: December 26, 2008, 03:07:12 PM »
Once upon a time there used to be places that would rent shop space and tools. I seem to remember reading that the Click and Clack guys started with a business like that. I've never seen one. What happened to them?
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grislyatoms

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Re: i freaking hate this
« Reply #20 on: December 26, 2008, 03:07:27 PM »
I have a similar clause in the lease...

Never had a problem with them telling me to stop, and I'm frequently doing something. Front brakes, water pump (that got a bit messy), alternator, etc. I try to clean up well, afterwards, too.

I have even had a couple of the maintenance guys come over and ask what I'm doing, dispense some advice and swap auto repair horror stories... :laugh:

I have a good set of cheap (pricewise, they seem to actually be good quality) tools that fit in a plastic case I can tuck behind the seat. Got the set at Costco for about $50 7-8 years ago. I'll look at the manufacturer's name, if you're interested.

By no means a complete set, but as I need something I'll go out and buy it. I have two .50 caliber ammo cans behind the seat as well, one with tire chains and the other with the miscellaneous tools I have collected. Got a pipe wrench, a huge crescent wrench, and a fan wrench set back there, too.

I wouldn't attempt to swap an engine or tranny in the parking lot though. That might be pushing my luck a bit... :laugh:  

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grislyatoms

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Re: i freaking hate this
« Reply #21 on: December 26, 2008, 03:19:15 PM »
Quote from: BridgeWalker on December 26, 2008, 01:28:35 PM
I just did my oil changes in the apartment lot.  It turned out that no one cared if I did some quick maintenance;  what they didn't want was a puddle of oil in the lot, of a car sitting gutted for months while someone puttered around with a major hobby project.  No one would tell me it was ok, but no one messed with me either.

That's been my experience.
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wmenorr67

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Re: i freaking hate this
« Reply #22 on: December 26, 2008, 04:55:12 PM »
Quote from: MillCreek on December 26, 2008, 01:28:51 PM
I have often thought that there is an unmet market niche: a chain of small garages that would allow people to use the lifts, and tools for a fee.  Most of the larger military bases have them without the fee, though.  But the concept is the same, a warm sheltered place where you can work on your car.  

I bet the liability insurance would be a killer though.  

Most if not all major military bases have an auto craft shop that you can use for a few dollars an hour.  I used to do my own oil changes when I was at Campbell.

I have actually thought of looking for a three or four bay garage around to do that same thing.
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Firethorn

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Re: i freaking hate this
« Reply #23 on: December 26, 2008, 05:33:12 PM »
Quote from: Bogie on December 26, 2008, 02:31:22 PM
Heh...
 

Okay - that's not working...

You need to use [ instead of <
img insteal of a href.
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Re: i freaking hate this
« Reply #24 on: December 26, 2008, 05:38:39 PM »
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