Just found out I need a new stove.

Crap. I hate unexpected expenses. 750 bucks.

Guess that's what I get for buying a cheap piece of shit the last time.

I miss the good old Monarch ranges Dad used to sell.

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you're the 2nd person i heard who needs a new stove. freaky. anyway, maybe you can get a good deal this time of year. good luck! 🙂

But fires are more fun...

Ouch. I know what you mean, man. Wife's alternator went out on her car (which is a Kia, so what normally would be a $150 repair is now $400), I need brakes, front bearings and either a new fuel pump/filter or new plugs on my car. Not to mention new tires for both cars.

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Some of that you should be able to do yourself, like the alternator job and save yourself the labor costs.

Not knowing the mileage of your vehicle, it sounds like your car is losing power? Fuel pumps usually make it to 90,000 miles unless you typically run your tank near empty, then you have to replace it earlier. I like to do spark plugs, points, and wires around 50,000 miles, but I'm anal that way. Sounds like a long list there Formo - have you been putting things off or are you unlucky?

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...or is it just time for a new (used) car?

I thought your old man was a plumber. He sold stoves too?

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My wife's car is a Kia. The alternator is down underneath the engine on the passenger side. Looks like a bitch to do, and probably needs to be done from underneath if you don't have move the engine to do it. Not something I'd even want to try. If it were my car ('98 Cavalier), I would do it myself.

As far as my car, I've been mostly putting things off. I'm guessing if it's the injection system, it'll be the fuel pump. Sputters a lot, especially in the lower RPMs (manual tranny). Plugs and wires will run me at a shop about $300. I'm planning on just replacing the plugs myself and hope my wires are fine.. Because the wires go back behind my engine (another move the block to get done job). Brakes are a piece of cake, just need to bring it up to my parents (they have the garage and jacks, I don't). I'm guessing the bit of noise/vibration is from the bearings. But will have a mechanic look at them for me. Kinda bums me out if that's the case because just 2 summers ago we replaced my driver's side bearings/hub assembly, and the sound is coming from that side again. At least I know exactly what I need to fix it if that's the case again, though. And that leaves the tires. My car needs them a bit more so than my wife's, so I'm not too terribly worried about them yet.

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stoves, maytag washers/dryers/dishwashers...did heating contracting as well as plumbing contract, was a wiz with sheet metal. And a full hardware store.

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Yeah those small Foreign cars might be great at the gas pump, but when it comes to repairs, your really will get bent over. Most people wouldn't even attempt the alternator job on your Cav, so good luck with the Kia. As for the tires, I always look at it this way, if you are driving in states with snow and ice, tires are pretty cheap when you consider paying deductibles because you slid through an intersection.

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