© irene waters 2014
© irene waters 2014
© irene waters 2014
© irene waters 2014
(4 photos) When my husband bought a new second hand car recently, we soon discovered that the indicator did not stay in position as the car turned and had to be held. I indicated my displeasure of this fact but quickly regretted that I had as Roger immediately made plans to fix it.
After perusing the internet he had found numerous indicator stalks for sale but realised that he needed the part number as some stalks were 4 pin and others 5. To find this out he had to remove the steering wheel which meant disconnecting the battery so the air bag would not explode in his face as he performed the operation required to remove it from the middle of the steering wheel.
With the air bag sitting safely on the rear seat my assistance was required to take photos so that he would know how to put it back together. Do you wonder that I have little faith (and I have had a steering wheel come off in my hands which doesn’t help). The above detailed photos were taken and an attempt made to remove the wheel. Impossible. I am a man short when it comes to brute strength. My role was to hold the steering wheel still to prevent it from damaging the lock position whilst Roger removed the central bolt. Firstly we didn’t have the correct tool. One was ordered from Hong Kong but we couldn’t wait that long so a very expensive one was purchased from Bunnings. It didn’t help. I still couldn’t hold the wheel still to give him purchase and he couldn’t budge the retaining bolt. Eventually we called on the assistance of a neighbour, who, being a young builder was strong and willing. It moved and the steering wheel was removed, the part number obtained and it was put back together minus four screws which held the air bag in.
Naturally we got a computer coded message telling us that we had an airbag error. Now we are waiting on the indicator stalk from England and a gadget from Sydney that will remove computer error messages. We will go through the whole process again and then probably find we will have to take it to the service centre any way.
The photos were not looked at once in the process but as Cee’s Fun Foto prompt was vehicle detail they have not been wasted.
Reflections and Nightmares- Irene A Waters (writer and memoirist) 
dang, drive very carefully for the next while! lack of airbag sounds scary :O
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Luckily I take my car but I’ll pass your message on. Thanks Andy.
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yea of little faith… though Linda would be the same. I imagine the difference is I know I’m incompetent.
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I think my lack of faith is unwarranted but I hate all the drama we go through in the process.
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I’m surprised that you are into cars – I have an aversion to anything mechanical. Biological workings are fascinating though..
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I am not into cars at all. I just get roped in to be the help. I would much prefer to pay a mechanic that already has all the right tools to do the job.
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I am not mechanical at all. Great post Irene.
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No I’m not either. Thanks Cee.
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Great story and photos. 😀
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Thanks Raewyn. XD
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Oh the joys of car mechanics…but handy that you had these photos for Cee’s challenge 🙂 This reminds me of all the times we’ve done ust the same and ended up having to take it to the shop for repair. In the early years of my marriage to The Ex, he seemed to spend every weekend beneath the hood of our old banger trying to fix leaks, stray wires, dodgy spark plugs, you name it. The swear words that emanated from our drive way of a Saturday morning didn’t do us any favours when it came to making friends with our pious neighbours. I hope you get it sorted out soon Irene 🙂
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It’ll be fine in the long run. Roger hates working on cars but hates spending money more when it is something he can do or thinks he can. Me, I’d prefer to pay someone from the outset.
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I’m with you Irene 🙂
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Ugh. Sorry, but I’m still laughing about the steering wheel coming off in your hands.
Hope you can fix this one.
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One way or the other it’ll be sorted. I love a good laugh so joining in.
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Remember when the airbag was your mother’s arm flung across the children? 🙂 Good luck getting it all in order! No winding roads in the meantime…
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Yes. Things are much safer now. I think it is probably all operational as we have now discovered the error messages come whenever the battery is disconnected. First gadget arrived yesterday. It didn’t work. Awaiting another. If it doesn’t clear the message Roger has located another super duper one he will buy. This is all to save money……. 🙂
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Great idea taking photos! I wish I’d thought of that a few times when I’ve need to put something back together!
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It took us awhile to twig to the technique and use it often now. It beats all the pieces of paper with red wire to brown connection etc…. which promptly gets lost anyway. 🙂
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