More Monkey Lad Paw Prints

[Mike Arman <armanmik@n-jcenter.com>]

No Audi content, but here's a dire warning about letting monkey lads near
your car!!!

Changing oil this afternoon on Dear Bride's 323 Maz*a - not exactly the
most complicated or technologically sophisticated vehicle around. Lots of
them around, too, so it isn't as if no one has ever seen one before.

I've finally broken her of the habit of visiting the local Texaco morons,
but here's what I found left over from the last visit in December of last
year (at which time they managed to break the plastic end caps on the
radiator, and I didn't find out the cause until I "discovered" the invoice
hidden in her business checkbook.)

There's a metal fuel filter on the firewall, just behind the engine. Texaco
changed it, and since it is a little hard to get to, they not only left the
mounting bracket disconnected (flopping around on one remaining bolt,
filter supported only by the hoses), but they didn't even get the fuel feed
pressure hose fully onto the inlet tube of the filter! They just shoved it
on as quickly as they could, not even over the bulge of the tube, and
shoved the spring clamp on - not past the bulge either! All that's holding
the 30 psi fuel feed hose in is a little friction!

If that had come off while the car was being driven, it would have sprayed
high pressure gasoline all over the engine compartment, and the car and
contents would have burned to the ground. I think I'm going to investigate
an attempted murder charge against them.

Be warned - keep all
jiffy-lube-sears-quickie-oil-change-tires-while-you-wait type operations
AWAY from your car - unless you have a death wish!

Best Regards,

Mike Arman