You Poor, Stupid Woman: Conversations with Auto Service People By Diana Calaway Phone request: I need an appointment for an inspection, oil change, tire rotation—and to get a noise fixed. Reply: What kind of noise?
Me: I don't know. A noise that makes me not able to hear the radio any more. The guy: Is it in the front or the back of the car?
Me: Well.... I'm always in the driver's seat. From there it sounds everywhere. Guy: Is it a whistle? A whine? A bump? A rattle?
Me (scratching my head): More like a roar. It gets louder as I speed up. Guy: Sounds like a wheel bearing.
P. S. It was. Didn't we do a sharp diagnosis? After several hundred dollars worth of repairs, he tells me the problem could have become dangerous if we had let it continue. I am reminded of an earlier experience. As my husband became limited by illness, I began to take over driving for us. We traveled often, and during one trip to the beach we found that the control on the passenger side did not work to raise or lower that window. I had to do 21
