I’m working from home today. The reason? I burnt out the clutch on the air compressor in my car and it’s in the shop.
I have a Ford Taurus which makes everything ridiculously difficult to get to under the hood. Add to that that the proper way to fix this kind of issue is to essentially replace the belts, compressor clutch, compressor, etc. The estimate comes to $1031.67.
Now taking donations. My paypal is aaron.brazell@emmense.com
Yesterday, in the mid-atlantic’s 100+ degree day, I thought it would be a wise thing to pick up my son from daycare instead of letting him get picked up in the car with no A/C. By the time I pulled up to the daycare, I smelled something rubbery burning. Fearing a fire, I turned the engine off and looked under the hood. There was smoke coming off of one of the pulleys. Not knowing crap about cars, I had no idea what this pulley was hooked to.
So I nursed the car home, stopping ever 5 miles or so to let the belts cool, etc. I called my boss and let her know I wouldn’t be in and have been working from home. But this morning, I took the car to the shop and found out the bad news. The clutch on the compressor was locking up and causing the belt (which was still trying to spin) to burn. If that belt burned through or came off, I’d lose alternator, idler pulley and tension pully and my FORD would truly be Found on Road Dead.
So there’s not much choice in the matter. Have to do it.
Argh.
