My husband is an accountant, and he's hopeless in the garage. His inability with cars - or anything mechanical for that matter - wasn't a problem when we were younger. But lately it's driving me nuts. We had a flat tire on the road last week and he couldn't fix it. How does a woman change a man like that?
- For Better or Worse
Since you probably wouldn't ask a mechanic to do your taxes, do you really want your husband tinkering with the steering column of the car? How about the brakes or the airbags? It's hard enough to find a good mechanic, let alone an accountant who can hold his own in a garage.
You took him for better or worse. If he's employed full-time, why should your man have the know-how, let alone the time or energy, to do everything? He can pay someone to do what he can't. How many jobs do you think he can handle? No one expects Barack Obama to fix his own car.
For argument's sake, let's assume your husband earns the same hourly rate that a repair shop charges for labour. What a mechanic can accomplish in a couple of hours, however, might take your husband four or more - not to mention the time spent tracking down and ordering parts. When the parts arrive, more often than not the auto supply store is closed when you realize you don't have the right tool for the job.
Be thankful your husband isn't in the "I'm smart, I ought to be able to do this myself" camp of folks who take on "simple" tasks without the required skills or tools. That attitude is responsible for all manner of mishaps. Remember back when your parents were cutting your hair, or when you tried colouring it yourself?
The viability of repairing your own vehicle depends not only on skill, but on the make, model and the year. Tinkering with an early-1970s Camaro is one thing. But working on modern, computerized machinery without the proper knowledge and ability can result in life-threatening consequences.
Self-professed mechanics have committed all kinds of transgressions against automobiles. How many times have a couple of neighbours attempted to install a lift kit on the weekend while having a few beers, only to end up with a pile of parts and a vehicle still on jack stands in the driveway on Monday morning? They better hope they live close to a bus stop.
Since he's a bean counter, your husband probably knows car repairs are not the place for cutting corners. As long as he's not one of those people who try to save money by neglecting their vehicle, I don't see the problem. When the engine or brake warning lights appear on the dash, some drivers choose to ignore or unplug them. Others try to be thrifty by squeezing extra mileage out of the timing belt, long past the manufacturer's recommendation for changing it. There's nothing economical about risking a replacement of the whole engine.
There are no free rides. Have a reputable dealer service your car on a regular basis. Perhaps it's even still under warranty. In any case, instead of trying to change your husband, cultivate a relationship with a good mechanic. Also, include a CAA membership in your annual household budget.
Which brings me to you. How did the care and maintenance of the family vehicle become your husband's domain? You're a modern woman - not a poncy lady from the 19th century. Do you know how and where to add oil, or wiper fluid? Can you operate a jack, and change a tire in an emergency? I'm curious to know what you were doing when your husband was trying to fix the flat - checking your makeup in the rear-view mirror to make sure you looked good for the tow-truck driver?
As for your husband, I'd be more concerned about whether he walks you to and from the car at night rather than his mechanical inclinations. If his lack of skill is really bothering you, start with the woman in the mirror. Enroll yourself in some auto mechanic night courses.
Need some Auto Therapy? E-mail Joanne at GlobeDrive@globeandmail.com