Took a weekend breather from the Green Truck to help Girl 3 with an automotive reality on her first car—a 1995 Honda Accord with a wheezy radiator. Took her to Napa to get a replacement (which they had in stock) on Friday afternoon and we talked through the basics.
It blew a hurricane Friday night and was still howling on Saturday morning, so we pulled Sadie (every car needs a proper name) into the garage and I set to work teaching her the differences and uses of combination wrenches and sockets. I did not teach her any words used to emphasize automotive frustration.
As you can see, the Green Truck’s front end is positively roomy compared with the labyrinthine clutter of a modern transverse-engine compartment. There was barely enough room to work.
Yes, I helped, but Girl 3 did most of the work. It took almost all day because she was inexperienced and because we learned that modern vehicles have a transmission cooling line that runs through the radiator. The flare nut on the intake line was not tightened sufficiently, but we didn’t find out until there was plenty of fluid under the front end as we were running it. One of the two fans had to be removed so the nut could be tightened, but that took only half an hour’s work and thankfully we did not have to drain the radiator again.
By the end of the day Girl 3 got a car that will now pass inspection and can be licensed. She also got a tutorial and some hands-on experience in some basic tools and automotive issues. I got a hug from my once-little girl.
I think dad got the better part of the deal.
The Green Truck 