If it weren't for bad luck, I'd have no luck at all

Gloom, despair, and agony on me
Deep, dark depression, excessive misery
If it weren't for bad luck, I'd have no luck at all
Gloom, despair, and agony on me

Remember that old song from Hee Haw?  Well, it fits my car problems on my trip to Texas/Arkansas the past 2 weeks.

I've been gone for 2 weeks.  I've had more car problems on this trip than I've ever had (and I travel back and forth to Texas frequently).

I was 80 miles from my mother's house in San Angelo, Texas, when the transmission went out AGAIN on my Chevy Trailblazer.  The transmission went out the first time, when I was almost home from the Michigan TOGA in July.  This time, it was exactly 2 months from when I got it back from Aurora Transmission.  Thank goodness I could limp into town this time (last time it only went 3 miles an hour).

I had stopped in Abilene, TX to look at vehicles, only 10 miles before the transmission went out.  I'd already had my Trailblazer checked out for trade in value.  My trade in value went to ZERO.

Well, the transmission company reluctantly decided that I should take the Trailblazer in to a transmission place, to see if it was really the transmission (he was trying to say that it wasn't the transmission).  Well, after 1 1/2 days, they discovered that one of the parts that was replaced in my transmission had exploded, and caused even more damage.  Aurora Transmission refused to do anything for me, other than send me the replacement part.  They wouldn't cover any of the costs AT ALL!  I went to talk with the owner this morning, and, he said he didn't care that I had been stuck in Texas, and, that he'd bought the part, so, it wasn't his fault.  He REFUSED to do ANYTHING to help me out, unless I brought him the busted part, and then, only to see if the maker would give me any refund on the part only.  When the transmission company in Texas tried to get him to help me, he said I should just figure out how to get it to the car dealer, and dump it on them, and not tell them.  So much for standing behind your service.

Well. 6 days after my transmission went out (and several days of rental car costs), I finally got back to Abilene to pick up my new 2009 Toyota Highlander Sport.

my new ride

My friend at the dealer, had it inspected, to make sure it was in good shape, and that the tires would last until I got back to Illinois.  Well..........  another person who didn't do their job (the inspector this time).  I picked up the Highlander on Monday.  I left my mother's house, to travel south of Dallas on Wednesday morning.  40 miles later, total sidewall tire failure on one of the tires that the inspector said was good for several thousand miles.

several splits, all around the sidewall of the tire

Did I mention that I was 1 mile from a small town in west Texas?  Roadside assistance couldn't find anyone to help me with the tire.  I hadn't changed a tire in almoat 20 years, and didn't have a clue in this new car.  Oh yea, I'd downsized from a full sized Trailblazer (slightly smaller than a Suburban) to a car based SUV, and I had 4 machines, 2 sewing machine card tables (one for a Featherweight, and one for a 301), along with TONS of stuff for a sewing machine event, and traveling for 2 weeks in the back of my new SUV. 

4 different trucks stopped to help me out (thanks Herbert, owner of Harrell Truck and Tractor in Ballinger).  I'll be sending him a Thank You note very soon! (I'm not on Facebook, so, I can't post anything on his page).  By the time Herbert started changing the tire, my mother drove up.  We loaded everything from the back of my car into her van.  As soon as Herbert was done, Roadside Assistance FINALLY called back. 

While all of this was going on, my friend, the car salesman, had found out that I have a more rare tire size, and there weren't any in Ballinger, so, Mom and I drove to Abilene.  David (my friend, the car salesman) was waiting for me with an invoice for a brand new tire and a loaner car.  David was very upset about what had happened, and wanted to do all he could to take care of me (thank goodness for old friends).  I finally got to my uncles house, 6.5 hours late. 

I drove (no problems, thank goodness) to Arkansas for a TOGA (post on that coming soon), then home yesterday afternoon.  I like my new SUV (now that it has new tires).  The transmission place in Texas is going to buy my old Trailblazer as soon as I get the title to them.  I trust them, since my daddy and my brother have done business with them in the past.  Thank goodness for great people in TEXAS who have helped me along the way.  Poor hubby was at home, and couldn't do much to help me, other than listen. 

Sorry there isn't any stitching in this post, but, I didn't have any spare time to stitch.  Other than the car problems, I did have a great trip, and got to see lots of family and old friends, across several states.