I’m not that into or familiar with cars, but I can do what I consider the basics: replacing lightbulbs/wipers, changing oil, changing tires, jumping/replacing a battery, etc. I moved to a new country with a different language, where very few people do their own auto work.
I’m a woman who doesn’t know any of the vernacular for mechanical issues, and so they just completely ignore me. My husband seems like he might be into cars, but he was astonished when I changed his headlight for him while we were dating. Now we just go together. They only talk to him, but I make the decisions (he used to pay €200 for the headlight replacement, which he considers normal and which I find profoundly overpriced- I won’t do my own brakes, because I don’t want my last thought to be about how I shouldn’t have done my own brakes, but it’s very easy to figure out if you did the light right).
Nah, I have a very low tolerance for a patronizing tone, but a pretty high one for being ignored, and the language barrier makes me seem even less knowledgeable, so it’s a recipe for condescension if I’m the primary communicator. My husband would love it if I let loose on them in English, but that feels like giving up a little.
We just laugh at them together afterwards and if they’re too awful, we find a new place.
As someone who can rebuild pretty much any part of an internal combustion car, there’s no shame in being careful with safety items. Also, brake work is nasty, dirty, and often swear-inducing … so you’re not missing out, lol
Yeah. Even though asbestos has been illegal for ages there’s still loads of black soot … plus the hazards to skin of brake cleaner and brake fluid :-/
TBH the only time I do brake work now is when there’s something special needed, like a rebuild of something that needs to be done with care and attention
I’m not that into or familiar with cars, but I can do what I consider the basics: replacing lightbulbs/wipers, changing oil, changing tires, jumping/replacing a battery, etc. I moved to a new country with a different language, where very few people do their own auto work.
I’m a woman who doesn’t know any of the vernacular for mechanical issues, and so they just completely ignore me. My husband seems like he might be into cars, but he was astonished when I changed his headlight for him while we were dating. Now we just go together. They only talk to him, but I make the decisions (he used to pay €200 for the headlight replacement, which he considers normal and which I find profoundly overpriced- I won’t do my own brakes, because I don’t want my last thought to be about how I shouldn’t have done my own brakes, but it’s very easy to figure out if you did the light right).
What the fuck, if I’d be your husband I’d just tell them to “talk to my wife because she knows more about cars than me”.
Nah, I have a very low tolerance for a patronizing tone, but a pretty high one for being ignored, and the language barrier makes me seem even less knowledgeable, so it’s a recipe for condescension if I’m the primary communicator. My husband would love it if I let loose on them in English, but that feels like giving up a little.
We just laugh at them together afterwards and if they’re too awful, we find a new place.
Good on you for being willing to give it a go :-)
As someone who can rebuild pretty much any part of an internal combustion car, there’s no shame in being careful with safety items. Also, brake work is nasty, dirty, and often swear-inducing … so you’re not missing out, lol
Yeah, I’ve helped others with brake jobs, and it’s no fun. That and my experience with handling asbestos claims are also probably pretty big factors
Yeah. Even though asbestos has been illegal for ages there’s still loads of black soot … plus the hazards to skin of brake cleaner and brake fluid :-/
TBH the only time I do brake work now is when there’s something special needed, like a rebuild of something that needs to be done with care and attention