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Things I Don't Have Time For, Auto Edition

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  • Things I Don't Have Time For, Auto Edition

    After church I was driving around looking at Christmas lights. I do that every year. I got a bit lost, but stopped for gas and potty and found my way from the town I was in to my town.

    Now let me interject that I *still* have temporary license plates because I didn't know I was supposed to send the title and receipt to the capitol. I got a notice from the DMV a couple of weeks ago (have had this car since October) and sent them in and just now got the registration.

    Well that's good because five minutes from home tonight I got stopped, which I was afraid for the last 2 months was going to happen for whatever reason. (Why is it always on Wednesday nights??) I got 3 warnings:
    --small tail light is out, meh
    --temp license plate is supposed to be in the usual place down bottom,
    not in the window
    --I couldn't find my proof of insurance right away

    OK, the friend who bought it for me and helped with the online registration had told me to put the temp plate in the bottom left of the back window. I've always seen them there. Cop boy (really young) asked if I knew the temp plate was supposed to be under the bumper. I had to answer that I had no idea but I guess I could tape it??

    And the insurance: I have it in my phone but I couldn't find it right away because I thought it was in my gallery, not my text messages. I did find it after he wrote the warning, sigh. And then......

    THE VIN AND THE YEAR ON MY INSURANCE CARD DON'T MATCH THE
    REGISTRATION. What did Esurance do? Or what did I do??

    Stuff like this is why I do not like to buy from a private seller. When I bought another friend's car a few years ago I got pulled over for not being registered. I still couldn't tell you what we did wrong as far as the process, but that cop was kind of mad. "You can't just be driving around unregistered!" OK, we made a mistake. We didn't do it to tick you off! At least I just got a warning that time.

    I can't afford to take on a loan from a dealer and besides, there's a threat of
    wage garnishments or a lien, so sometimes between this stuff and all the accidents I've had I think I should just go car-free again. I always get opposition when I mention that, from a particular friend and my mom especially. My biggest issue is the other bus riders.

    Anyway, I just called about the insurance and that'll get fixed. I can go to Wally World tomorrow to get a frame thingy with plastic because I am driving to my dad's Sunday (about an hour) and it's supposed to rain. I should have had my new plates by now, if there hadn't been a delay, ugh. And the tail light, well, I don't know.

    The problems are fixable, but I'm just frustrated. I guess I should
    be glad it happened because I might never have known the insurance was
    wrong. I just want to pull my hair out.

    UPDATE: Insurance info is fixed and I got one of those license plate holders with plastic cover. A neighbor is going to help me get it put on; I need help in the dark. But I did take her in for a checkup and found the brakes need to be fixed and was quoted over $1700. Just...no. I have a couple of friends who know what they're doing and will fix it for cost of parts so it's not a total loss--and of course I didn't even pay for the vehicle--but I'm just feeling upset that it's not the safest car to be driving. Well, if I keep on top of brake fluid levels and get it fixed as soon as I can, things will work out. It's just the principle of the thing: the previous owner was a mechanic but some of the repairs he did are dubious. I just...what is he doing to others' cars? Sometimes a blessing is a burden. I'm seriously considering going car-free again. I hate driving anyway.

    FINAL UPDATE: I took it to a third place for an assessment and it's being fixed as I type this. My friend, who used to fix cars when he was physically able, recommended this place. He works for a car dealer and yet will come to this little local dealer for repairs. The quote was lower than $1,000 with the tax. I don't have credit with them but I can easily cover the cost. I was thinking I'd have to bring it back another time but I don't have to. So I just need for the mail carrier to bring my darn plates. They were mailed Dec. 13th, ugh.
    Last edited by Food Lady; 01-02-2017, 07:08 PM.
    "Is it hot in here to you? It's very warm, isn't it?"--Nero, probably

  • #2
    $1700 repair sounds like more than just brake line leaks. All the fluid in world won't do much if the pads, rotors, and calipers are shot.

    I know lots of professional mechanics that try to make a buck on cars they pick up cheap. Car comes in for repairs: customer can't or won't pay, and mechanic gets a mechanic's lien. They cut corners on any further repairs so they have negotiating room when selling the car. I'm not saying that it is right, I am just stating what they've been willing to admit to me: "It's a car I'm tryin' to sell!"

    Career suicide is being a mechanic that works at a used car dealership. Legitimate shops will only hire those guys on if they are desperate for help, and never for as much as they would otherwise. Those guys get micromanaged almost to death, and get stuck doing a lot of oil changes for a long time.

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    • #3
      It is all those things; until I can get my friends to fix it for the cost of parts* I will have to deal with the fluid and drive as little as possible. I've got bus money in my wallet.
      "Is it hot in here to you? It's very warm, isn't it?"--Nero, probably

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      • #4
        I've never seen a temp plate anywhere other than in the rear window. It's just paper, or is it laminated? Because it pretty much rains 95% of the time here, even a cover wouldn't help as condensation would get in...
        Replace anger management with stupidity management.

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        • #5
          It's paper. It's supposed to rain Sunday.
          "Is it hot in here to you? It's very warm, isn't it?"--Nero, probably

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          • #6
            After a quick look it seem like there's something about the plate needing to be lighted, or otherwise visible? Haha, I'll just stop there, because fratch fratch. You know.

            Funnily enough I can't seem to remember what I did when I bought my car. I know I went in with the paperwork, but I think I just used the plates that were already on the car. I bought it from a private party. Hopefully I did everything right, since I think all that was done was sign over the title... I feel like it's okay since the DOL has all the right info on their site, I renew my tabs online.
            Replace anger management with stupidity management.

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            • #7
              I live in the same state as Food Lady, and I can say that I've seen the paper temp plates in both areas. (Not the same vehicle, obviously.)

              When I brought the Jersey Devil home from NJ, we attached the temp plate to the car.

              Unseen but seeing
              oh dear, now they're masquerading as sane-KiaKat
              There isn't enough interpretive dance in the workplace these days-Irv
              3rd shift needs love, too
              RIP, mo bhrionglóid

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              • #8
                In Colorado you must have the temp plate where the permanent plate goes.

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                • #9
                  Quoth No Coupons 4 You View Post
                  In Colorado you must have the temp plate where the permanent plate goes.
                  That is where I see most temp plates. Why wouldn't you put it there?
                  "I don't have to be petty. The Universe does that for me."

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                  • #10
                    Quoth Ironclad Alibi View Post
                    That is where I see most temp plates. Why wouldn't you put it there?
                    Because our DOT website and the temp plate itself say in the window.
                    "Is it hot in here to you? It's very warm, isn't it?"--Nero, probably

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                    • #11
                      Quoth Food Lady View Post
                      Because our DOT website and the temp plate itself say in the window.
                      Isn't it wonderful when things like this are standardized among the various states?
                      "I don't have to be petty. The Universe does that for me."

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                      • #12
                        The standardization between the states is even more fun for truckers. Some states the "open" and "closed" signs at the scales are outlines of the letters in high-power LEDs. Some states make it convenient to tell at a quick glance by using red for one and green for the other - but for some, red is "Stop for inspection" and green is "Go on past", while for others red is "Go away" and green is "Come on in". Other states use flashing amber lights to let you know the scale is open - but Louisiana uses flashing amber lights to let you know it's closed.
                        Any fool can piss on the floor. It takes a talented SC to shit on the ceiling.

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                        • #13
                          Quoth notalwaysright View Post
                          I've never seen a temp plate anywhere other than in the rear window.
                          Years ago, Pennsylvania had cardboard temp plates...which would get mounted where the "real" one went. That seems to have changed in the last few years. When I bought my current ride back in September, it had a temporary plate on it. I couldn't get the old plate off my wrecked car, and it was easier to simply get a new registration. Anyway, the dealer fitted the metal plate to the trunk, and the temporary registration was taped inside the rear window. Then the paperwork became official, the registration sticker came (last year for those here!) and I was able to remove the paper tag.

                          As for the the $1700 brake job, that's insane Brakes aren't something you want to fuck around with, but $1700? That sounds like the price for rebuilding the entire system--calipers, pads, rotors, drums, master cylinder, lines...along with a shitload of labor. Part of the problem, is that brake fluid absorbs water. You get water in there, and it rots out the inside of steel brake lines.
                          Aerodynamics are for people who can't build engines. --Enzo Ferrari

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                          • #14
                            Another reason for not putting cardboard/paper plates in the 'official' location is the cardboard and paper tags are easy for thieves to 'repurpose'.

                            Let's say you're someone who has his license suspended for DUI or something and can't get plates.... cruise the parking lot of a mall or grocery store until you find a temp tag with some time left on it. A quick yank and off you go with your new 'valid' temp tag. Don't have to mess with screws or anything. Elapsed time: mere seconds. Risk: virtually none.

                            Yes, it's really a thing.

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                            • #15
                              I work at a car dealership in Indiana. Here they are supposed to be right where the license plate goes. We laminate them and then put a plate surround advertising our dealership. Not all of the dealerships laminate their temp plates - I have seen them waving on the back of cars and wondered what they would do if it rained.
                              "I guess they see another cash cow just waiting to be dry humped." - Irving Patrick Freleigh

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