Maybe just sit quietly on the couch for a while with no hot drinks or pointy
objects   :)

On Thu, Mar 13, 2008 at 8:11 PM, John Rodgers <inua@charter.net> wrote:

> About ten days ago my manual tranny locked in reverse right at a
> critical time. I could not get it out of reverse gear. I borrowed a
> Suburban from my brother to have immediate transport. Well, I  got the
> local towing service to bring the 'ol roll-back to pick up the van and
> take it to the my mechanic of choice. He got it up on the rack and found
> the shift arm connector on the side of the tranny had simply broken into
> pieces, and jammed. so I could not get it out of gear. I got a repair
> kit from Kin Wilford, and in a couple of days I was back on the road.
> That rebuild kit was long overdue. Fortunately, there was no problem
> inside the tranny. That would have been very expensive. Total related
> cost to be roadable again - Approx $765!! Note that I said "related"
> costs .... costs revolving around the incident.!
>
> "Now how on earth could that little repair cost so much?" you ask. Well,
> here is how it went down.
>
> Cost me a hundy for the roll-back. Actually $105.
> Parts added up to $200 - rounded up slightly. So that makes $305.
> My mechanic charged me $125, the labor including replacing a hose.
> Wouldn't have done that if it weren't already in the shop.
> So that is $430.
> Then there was the $135 speeding ticket I got in the  Suburban I
> borrowed from my brother since e my van was broken and  I was in a hurry
> because I was gong to miss the deadline for an art show set up and I
> needed the money from the show. There was also a very large plate of
> chagrin that had to be swallowed, because I haven't had a ticket of any
> kind in over 45 years.
> So now it's up to $565.
>
> I drove home from the shop, and the shifting was good and easy. I parked
> the van, and before I could get out , I got a call on my cell phone from
> the mechanic asking how the shifting went on the way home. . I went
> ahead and got out of the van, and as I did so, I flung the van door shut
> ....... at the same time dropping an awkwardly held cell phone right in
> the lower door jamb where it loudly went "crunch!, as the structure of
> phone failed under the impact of the door slamming shut .......$200.
>
> Grand total related costs for a tranny jammed in reverse - $765.
>
> I ain't about to ask what is gonna happen next!!!
>
> John Rodgers
> 88 GL Driver
>

--
Jake
1984 Vanagon GL
1986 Westy Weekender "Dixie"
Crescent Beach, BC
www.crescentbeachguitar.com
http://subyjake.googlepages.com/mydixiedarlin%27