Girl in a Mechanics World

Monday when I walked in I don’t know why I asked the manager, Scott, about a coolant flush (big mistake) but of course he told me to YouTube coolant flush so I did but all I got from the video was green liquid bubbling. Of course that wasn’t good enough for him so come Tuesday afternoon I had a 10 question test about cooling systems. He must have told the mechanics not to help because not one would help. Scott’s famous quote, “Google is your friend,” I felt like I was in high school again, but I know why he does it.

So, I Googled and I thought I was finished but nope not at all he wanted full blown details. It’s only taken me 2 days to finish it but I did it. So if a customer asks me the basics of a coolant system and why they should get it done I can tell them with confidence “flushing your coolant system prevents your vehicle from over heating in the summer and freezing in the winter also prevents long term damage and keeps rust, scale and build up from building. You should also get it done every 36 thousand miles or ever 3 years which ever one comes first. Only Scott would turn a question into a week long test!

So, for the past couple of weeks I have been car shopping, not new car shopping but a decent used one that won’t break down on me a month from now. But the hardest thing is finding something I like and the guys at Steve‘s Auto to approve of. I think I had looked just about everywhere when I came across this funky dealership on craigslist. They actually have one across the street from Steve’s. When I brought the car over I already knew off the bat Gabe(brother-in-law/manager)was ready to make a list of things. Once the price got to $1800 it just wasn’t worth it, especially when the salesman wouldn’t budge on the price or wasn’t willing to do the work for me. So that was that I didn’t go any further with the sale. Gabe (brother-in-law/manager) with his positive thinking told me to keep looking. So I did I went to Honda they had the small SUV I was looking for Hyundai SantaFe I fell in love. Yes it has some minor problems but at least the dealership is willing to fix and work on the price. I’m so excited that Layla (my daughter) and I hopefully will not be driving around in that beat up ford Taurus we have now.

Guys are such pranksters; it can get real annoying real fast! At the time I thought I was going crazy, I would hear crickets the door opening and even this little whisper that would say “ can you hear me?” seemed like I was the only one that heard these sounds. Until one day Gabe just busted out laughing to the point that he almost had tears coming out of his eyes. That’s when he showed me a little recorder no bigger than a quarter that was stuck on the side of my desk. He said he’s done it to just about every guy that works here.

So me trying to be one of the guys grabbed it and stuck in the mechanics restroom behind the toilet. But within 10 minutes they came into the office and handed to me. (FAIL) When Wayne (mechanic) started Gabe and I put it on top of the tool box but completely forgot about it. Until yesterday when Fred (mechanic) said he been hearing crickets but can’t find them. I knew it had to be the recorder. But where it’s hidden no one knows until it chirps again!

A few weeks ago walking back from the shell gas station I walked into Aamco not knowing that it was closed off in the middle and Steve’s was on the other side. I looked around and didn’t recognize anyone until one of the guys came up to me and told me that Steve’s was on the other side of the shop. I could feel my face get hot and sweaty.

All I could really do was giggle and say “ha, okay thanks!” I turned around and started to speed walk. I felt such a relief once I hit the corner because I could feel them just staring as I walked away, Shouldn’t be such a big deal since apparently I’m not the only one that has made that mistake. Since I worked here we had a couple of customers leave their keys in Aamcos night box and call us the next day asking for a status. But even that can’t stop me from walking with my head held high walking pass them. No matter what I’m going to be that girl from Steve’s auto repair that walked into the wrong shop! It’s not like they can confuse me for someone else because I am the only girl in this small little plaza.