max_ine: (blue collar work)
([personal profile] max_ine posting in [community profile] pleasantdale Dec. 21st, 2012 02:35 pm)
Who: Maxine, open to all
Where: Marchese's Texaco
What: Maxine gets her car fixed

Maxine considered herself quite self-reliant, but there were times she had to admit that a professional was needed. She could change her own oil, but when the car started making knocks and pings it was time to bring it in for service.

The car hadn't been new when her and Joe bought it, but it was gently used. And they'd tried to keep it in good condition. After Joe died, Maxine had kept the ol' girl going on her own. She'd considered upgrading a time or two, but she couldn't bear to let go the car where her and Joe had gone for drives together and made plans for a future that would never come to pass.

She pulled into the lot of Marchese's Texaco ,the knocks and pings continuing a moment even after she turned off the key. "That can't be good," she said to herself as she got out of the car. She patted the car affectionately. "Don't worry, they'll get you fixed up ol' girl. They always do."

Maxine headed in to the service area, hoping that they weren't too busy to fix things today.
lancaster_industries: (Default)

From: [personal profile] lancaster_industries


From the sounds coming from the service area, there was definitely at least one person on duty - Eric was currently engaged in what sounded like a serious conversation with an engine block that he had just removed from its framework while wiping his hands down with a towel. "Now listen here, you. I don't know if you've noticed, but your bloody mates here in America have a reputation to live up to as prime motorcars, and you shan't be messing up the works by giving them all a bad name -- your replacement is already on the way, and I daresay your owner will be much happier with the replacement."
lancaster_industries: (Default)

From: [personal profile] lancaster_industries


"Always busy, Max, but we'll take a look -- what's the old girl saying to you?" Eric inquired. "Don't mind the lobotomy patient here, he won't mind if we talk."
lancaster_industries: (Default)

From: [personal profile] lancaster_industries


Eric tsked. "Well, pardon my French, but cela ressemble à une panne majeure. Anyhow, that is a Ford Y-block engine -- last year's model, with all the foibles thereof. And as you noticed, it's missing its rocker shafts - because the Y-block has a fundamental flaw in how it distributes oil. If the engine is poorly maintained, and the oil in it doesn't get changed -- as in this case -- the rocker shafts don't get lubricated properly, and essentially just plain cook. There's aftermarket kits to solve this problem, but the fellow that owns this isn't the sort that gets his gloves dirty, if you catch my meaning."
lancaster_industries: (Default)

From: [personal profile] lancaster_industries


"No rush for him - and even if there was, I can't fix it until I get a replacement rocker shaft, and as far as he's concerned, it'll be fixed on Friday, anyhow," Eric said with a chuckle. "So let's have a look -- start her up and let's have a listen, I want to make sure what I hear when I test her is what you're referring to."
lancaster_industries: (Default)

From: [personal profile] lancaster_industries


"Hrmmm... yeah, I can definitely hear it." Eric patted the hood, and then took a few steps back. "Like she's got a bit of a cold there. Well, I've got my suspicions as to what it is -- go ahead and drive it on into the left bay, and I'll listen to how it sounds as you're pulling it in there."
lancaster_industries: (Default)

From: [personal profile] lancaster_industries


Eric shook his head. "I hear what you mean, Max - let's lift her hood and have a look at what's going on in there, shall we? Good news is, a reliable old girl like this is easy enough to fix. I know you keep up on oil and standard maintenance, and besides, that noise is definitely a matter of bad engine timing. Probably a piston's wearing out or something, nothing that can't be replaced." He cracked his knuckles and smiled.
lancaster_industries: (Default)

From: [personal profile] lancaster_industries


"Well, now, I won't swear on any religious texts - one, because Mama didn't raise me to swear, and two, because it might be something else - but if it's just as simple as popping out one thing and popping something else in, that shouldn't be a trouble at all," Eric reassured. He popped open the hood to start inspecting. "'Course, you may want to call them anyhow and tell them to give you a lift all the same - 'if you want presents, give me a lift because my car's in the shop and I don't want to be bothered' - even if you've really got it parked in the back and all."
lancaster_industries: (Default)

From: [personal profile] lancaster_industries


"Well, that depends highly on what's going on at the time," Eric said without looking up from his inspection. "Usually, mind you, what's going on for a holiday is nothing, and I'm either spending it alone, watching folk's decorations and the programs on telly, or perhaps visiting the Marcheses if they're amenable. Unfortunately, machines don't appreciate a good song and drink." He rose and headed over to his toolbox. "Well, you've got some hoses that could use tightening; I don't think that's the problem, but it's no good leaving them squiffy and assuming it isn't before I start cracking open major components."
lancaster_industries: (Default)

From: [personal profile] lancaster_industries


"You can see here -- where there's smudging -- where there's been some leakage," Eric continued, looking a little distant. "Easy enough to fix, though." He carefully adjusted the hoses, cleaned off the cooked oil with a towel, and then rose from his work. "Give her a jump, see how she sounds now."

He'd definitely heard the invitation, but it took him a few minutes to answer, "And, well, of course I wouldn't mind an opportunity at a free meal for the evening."
lancaster_industries: (Default)

From: [personal profile] lancaster_industries


"Well, the idling noise is gone -- but back out of the bay and let's see if that knocking is gone as well." Eric hrmed, eyeing the car, and looked unsurprised when it indeed continued with the dreaded knocking noise upon backing out. "Okay, bring it back in... right, that's the way... well, that's part of the problem solved, at least. Unfortunately, the other part involves dismantling the engine and takes more than a couple of minutes."
lancaster_industries: (Default)

From: [personal profile] lancaster_industries


Eric nodded. "Studebakers are a reliable sort, so this shouldn't be too much of a problem - replace a faulty part, get her feeling right as rain again, get her humming along again. So. Since I've an open invitation, and that and politeness means I'm offering you a ride, you may want to tell me more of the details so I don't just show up randomly on your doorstep to cart you off to random locations under the presumption that one of them serves you Christmas turkey."
lancaster_industries: (Default)

From: [personal profile] lancaster_industries


"Sounds delightful."

Eric smiled.

"So do you have time to stick around and chat, or do you have places to be? I don't mind chatting while I work, but I know sometimes it's possible to overdo the sociable thing around here."
lancaster_industries: (Default)

From: [personal profile] lancaster_industries


Eric settled in to start working on the engine, apparently satisfied by that. "Good then. So how's life been treating you lately, aside from this old girl needing a bit of work, eh? Things running more smoothly, less smoothly?"
lancaster_industries: (Sidelong Glance)

From: [personal profile] lancaster_industries


"Bah." Eric glanced up briefly from the engine at that. "What is he, five? He's in a factory, not in a bloody schoolyard. 'I don't WANNA do my job if there's a woman in charge' doesn't fly well in a serious working environment. If he wants to be a bloody crybaby and not do his job, there's plenty of blokes and dames out there who can get the job done without being whiners about it."
lancaster_industries: (Straight Shooter)

From: [personal profile] lancaster_industries


"Ah, so just the dodgy sort of fellow you'd rather not leave the important things to unless someone from on high is about, then," Eric commiserated. "Seen my share of those in the War -- the sort of fellow you'd wish would go prove his bravery and skill hunting for landmines instead of getting in your way."
lancaster_industries: (Sidelong Glance)

From: [personal profile] lancaster_industries


"That's nice of you," Eric commented, "giving the cat a stocking and all. Some folk don't even give their pets anything but what they can catch or beg from the table."
lancaster_industries: (Straight Shooter)

From: [personal profile] lancaster_industries


"Webley's getting a new bed -- the old one's getting, well, a bit rank," Eric admitted. "Aside from that, tell the truth, I take good care of him most the year round, so nothing special more than I normally do for him."
lancaster_industries: (Default)

From: [personal profile] lancaster_industries


Eric worked in silence for a while, before finally making a self-satisfied noise. "Ah-hah... your third piston's approaching the failure point, and the timing of pistons three and four looks to be out of whack. Chances are the old girl would've driven a while longer... can't say how long... but sooner or later, you'd get a hole blown through the piston, possibly through the cylinder head, and your oil system would probably get metal shards in it and need one hell of a thorough cleaning."

He looked up. "The good news is, as longwinded as that sounds, catching it early means it's much easier to take care of. If you'd had to bring her in via tow after she'd already blown, well, that'd be a different story."
lancaster_industries: (Straight Shooter)

From: [personal profile] lancaster_industries


"Bah - when you work with a machine every day, you need to take care of her, no?" Eric said. "She is in good hands, no worries." He tipped an imaginary service cap before moving to mop off his hands.
lancaster_industries: (Straight Shooter)

From: [personal profile] lancaster_industries


Eric nodded. "Always pays to give good service, no matter the task they're put to." If he noted the double meaning of the statement, he didn't mention it. "You'll probably hear from Dominica soon to verify costs and expected time in shop - mostly dependent on whether we can cadge up a quality low-cost part from local sources or have to get it fresh and expensive from the manufacturer. Straight sixes aren't so uncommon, so if you'd like, I can make sure she gives options on both if they're both available."
.

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