All I Wanted was Some Air in my Tires

March 26, 2013

Today began as a wonderful day off for me. We slept in a little, had a wonderful breakfast, met with our Financial Planner Jordan Anderson and figured out some life and health insurance for Matt and I as well as what to do with my small 401 K I began when I was working at Diamond Ranch Academy. Then this afternoon I helped Abby out by watching her adorable boys for a couple hours this afternoon while she went to a hearing for one of her clients. 

On my way home from Abby's, I decided to stop at Jiffy Lube and get the air in my tires checked as well as my fluids topped off. The boys were very nice and got started right away but before I knew it they were showing me something that had broke while they were trying to take the steel cap off the aluminum stem that was connected to the sensor inside. Well... they filled my tire up as much as possible and sent me to find a place that had the right equipment to fix the problem. I drove to Walmart (that's where i get all my tire stuff done) and just my luck they didn't have the part i needed. As the minutes went on it came to my knowledge that the tire that broke was worn down to the threading inside the tire and i didn't even know it! So... guess who had to buy a whole new tire... sigh... all I wanted was some air in there!!!! 

Nate, the guy at Walmart explained to me why the part had broke off. He said that the steel cap had rusted and corroded to the aluminum stem that was attached to the sensor. He said the steel caps were the stupidest thing they have invented for cars because of this very thing happening. He says to just stick with the plastic ones even though they don't look as sheek. He was very nice and very helpful all around though. He gave me the best deals he could and said once I went to O'Reilly's and bought the new sensor they would install it for free for me. That made things a little better but this whole situation today cost me a whopping $216.04 for the tire and the new sensor. Thank goodness for our savings account! 

I am trying to think positively about the whole thing, and i must point out that we had just made a long trip to Minnesota and back with no problems, and that my friends, is a miracle! I wish i would have taken a picture of the tire to give you an idea of just how bad it was. In fact i realized after getting the new tire that the old one was on the car when i bought it over 3 years ago... i'd say it was nothing short of a miracle that we didn't blow that thing somewhere between MN and NE. God sure loves and protects his children!