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I am a 37 year old teacher, wife, and mother to three wonderful little kids.  2 months after our youngest was born, just over a year ago, my husband was diagnosed with brain cancer.  After a terrifying 3 months, he was on the road to recovery.  He had brain surgery, chemo, and radiation, as well as the chance to be a part of a clinical trial at NIH. 

We are AMAZINGLY blessed in that he seems to be cancer free and doing wonderfully.  Most people with GBM's do not live much longer than a year. 

Normally, I am the main "bread winner" in the family, but he coaches and brings in a little money here and there on a somewhat regular basis.  However, he was unable to work for quite some time as he underwent treatment and then recovered.  I ended up needing to go through bankruptcy since at the same time, I had run out of paid leave because I had used it up for my maternity leave. 

Now, our oldest is in kindergarten, our middle child starts preschool next week, and we have a Honda Oddyssey sitting and rotting in front of our house- the transmission is shot.  One of the student's in my class last year had a father who is a mechanic- he towed it to his garage 45 minutes away and was able to replace spark plugs free of charge.  He was willing to help with the transmission- no charge for labor!  But we have no way of saving the money even to get a used one.  Plus now two of the tires are flat, it still needs a timing belt, and I have no credit cards or credit to help.  Now that school is back in session, I am getting pay checks again, but no one will/can do a payment plan! 

The truck we currently drive also needs a timing belt and the breaks have been getting worse and worse on it.  Both vehicles are too old and have too much mileage for us to qualify for any help through any programs we have found or that were suggested to us when I contacted our Patient Advocate manager at Livestrong.  I make too much to qualify as "low income" and not enough to actually afford what we need.  Last month, to pay our rent, we needed to take a loan out from the local teacher's credit union.

If someone knows a way for us to finance these big repairs so that we have two running, safe vehicles so that I can take my son to school with me, and my husband can bring our daughter to school in the opposite direction, PLEASE let me know!!  We can make payments during the school year (the summers are very hard for us financially).  Thank you for reading my story. 

64 MECHANIC'S WAYS TO MAKE YOUR CAR LAST LONGER

Every 2 weeks or 3,000 miles:

1. Check engine oil, transmission fluid and coolant.

Once a month or 1,000 miles:

2. Check tire pressure - with tire gauge.

3. Check transmission fluid.

4. Check brake fluid.

5. Wax car (to protect finish).

6. Check belts and hoses.

Every 3 months or 3,000 miles:

7. Change oil and oil filter (every 6 months or 3,000 miles).

8. Lubricate chassis.

9. Check transmission fluid.

10. Check all drive belts (fan belts) frayed or cracked belts.

Every 6 months or 6,000 miles:

11. Change oil and filter (every 6 months or 3,000 miles).

12. Inspect suspension.

13. Rotate tires.

Every 12 months or 12,000 miles:

14. Flush radiator, replace anti-freeze, check air conditioning
system.

15. Replace air filters.

16. Lubricate chassis.

Every 2 years or 24,000 miles.

17. Replace spark plugs (30,000 miles average suggested for
unleaded gas) and PC valve.

18. Change automatic transmission fluid, filter and pan gasket.

19. Inspect brake linings.

Every 3 years or 30,000 miles:

20. Check and test ignition wires (replace if needed).

21. Test cooling system and heating hoses (replace if needed).

22. Check drive belts (replace if needed).

23. Replace fluid in differential and manual transmission.

Every 50,000 miles.

24. Check brake shoes (replace if needed)

25. If you have a major repair to do, it's wise to get at least
3 estimates, if possible, before you decide.

26. Read and follow your car owner's manual - it's your car's
bible for making your car last longer.

27. Whether you are a man, woman, boy or girl, learn to do some
routine maintenance on your car yourself. A multitude of books,
videos, magazines and classes are available at your local
library that will teach you for free if you don't know. Learn
how to check your own oil, transmission fluid, tire pressure and
coolant, etc.

28. If you find a good mechanic who you can trust, stick with him
even if his prices are a bit higher - all things being equal.
You'll always save time, money and aggravation in the long run.

29. Don't race or gun your engine when you start it up.
Accelerate slowly and smoothly when your engine is cold.

30. Avoid burning rubber - it places excessive wear on the
transmission, rear end, not to mention your tires.

31. An international tire company estimated that 33% of all tires
on the road are under-inflated (low air). Under-inflated tires
wear out quicker and have a tendency to blow out easier.

32. A garaged car lasts longer. A car port is next best, and a
car cover is a distant third.

33. Avoid jackrabbit starts and stops. Stop and accelerate
gradually.

34. Avoid tailgating, tire squealing turns, flying over speed
bumps, pot holes and revving your engine.

35. When possible, avoid driving your car during rush hour stop
and go traffic periods.

36. Keep front-end aligned, for longer tire life and better gas
mileage.

37. Make sure you get promised repairs in writing including how
much it will cost.

38. Avoid car dealers except to have highly specialized repairs
done that can't be done properly anywhere else.

39. It's hard to be overcharged when you get three estimates
before you have the work done.

40. Beware: Cheapest is not always the best. Normally, the best
mechanics with the best equipment and training cost more.

41. Often mechanics that charge extremely low prices have
inferior
or out-dated equipment, little to no formal training or are
under-insured.

42. Complex electrical problems are so involved that serious
electrical work should be done in an "Auto Electric" shop. They
have the equipment, tool and training to do the job more
efficiently than the average mechanic.

43. If your car has "Cruise Control" use it. Using cruise
control
will save you 5% to 10% of a gallon of gas on long trips.

44. Avoid constantly pressing and releasing the accelerator when
driving. This practise not only wastes fuel, but it puts
excessive wear on the drive train of your car.

45. Don't ride your brake pedal, this wears out your brake
linings
pre-maturely, and wastes fuel.

46. Driving with your windows all the way down at higher speeds,
will waste 10% more gallons of gasoline than driving with them
closed.

47. Research by a major car manufacturer has revealed that
neglect
of proper routine maintenance is the number one reason for the
enormous increase in car repairs being required.

48. Tires purchased at department stores such as Sears,
Montgomery
Wards, K-Mart etc., can be an excellent value because many are
made by leading tire manufacturers. For a list of what
manufacturer makes which tires for what department store, write
to: Tire Information Center, P.O. Box 677, Syosset, NY 11791

49. When purchasing or changing tires, make sure you have them
spin balanced.

50. Avoid cleaning your windshield with a dry rag or towel.
Always
dampen with water or some other cleaning liquid. Dry towels
grind and scratch your windshield hindering your visibility.

51. Avoid turning on the car air-conditioning while running at
highway speeds as this tends to put an immediate heavy load on
your compressor and clutch. This could cause excessive wear and
tear on these components. Instead turn your air conditioner on
at car speeds below 25 to 30 m.p.h. This helps to preserve your
expensive compressor.

52. Try to avoid running your car with the tank low on gas.
Keeping
a low tank of gas increases the chance of dirt, water/moisture
and rust forming in your fuel system. Keeping a full tank
decreases the chance of dirt and other foreign matter forming in
your fuel system.

53. Tires driven at 70 m.p.h. wear out almost twice as fast as
cars
that go 50 m.p.h.

54. A government study has confirmed, the top three causes of car
breakdowns while on the road are: (a) running out of gas (b)
tire troubles (c) cooling system problems (overheating)

55. The best as well as the easiest ways to find a good car
repair
shop is by recommendation or referrals from satisfied customers.

56. To work on a late model computer-controlled engines, make
sure
the shop you choose has the equipment to handlecomputer-electric
service/repair. Sophisticated diagnostic equipment is a must.

57. To choose the right repair shop for you, it's wise to have a
small or minor maintenance or repair job done first to see how
the repair shop and mechanic treat you and your car.

58. Give detailed description of your car's problem when you take
it in for repairs. The more you can describe what your car is
doing or not doing (thumping, squealing, clacking sound, etc.)
the faster and less it will cost for your mechanic to fix it.

59. When in doubt about the cost of a repair or a mechanic's
honesty get a second opinion. This is one of the best ways to
protect yourself from being ripped-off until you can find a
permanent repair shop.

60. Regular oil changes are the most important thing you can do
to protect your engine and make it last longer.

61. If you have a manual transmission, downshift to slow your car
down instead of using your brakes. This will save wear and tear
on your braking system.

62. Each time you have your engine oil checked, have your
transmission fluid checked also.

63. Protect your car's interior and make it last longer - park
your car in the shade or place a windshield guard or cover in
the windshield.

64. If you spill something inside your car, clean it up
immediately before it dries. Delaying even 30 minutes can
sometimes leave a permanent stain or spot. NOTE: To better
protect your car seats have them treated with scotchguard.

NOTE: According to current auto insurance statistics, the
average U.S. car's useful life is 10 years or 100,000 miles. By
following proper preventative maintenance you can often double
your car's useful life, and spend less time visiting your local
mechanic.

I am a Christian, single mother of 1.  Four years ago I filed for divorce, and my life has been a living hell, with one financial challenge after another.  I have spent the last 4 years of my life desperately trying to pay for one thing or another.  I was evicted from a place I was living and found a smaller cheaper place.  I am grateful that I have a job.  Right now I am facing transmission repairs.  One month ago, I took my car to a repair shop for an oil change.  The car did not start after the change, and they mechanic told me I needed an engine.  After 3 weeks, I went to pick up the car -- they called to tell me it was finally ready.  However, upon arrival, I was told that I now need a transmission.  I had the car towed to my home, and now I need to (1) find another mechanic and (2) pay for a new transmission.  I have no more money, but I have a job and I can pay the money back.  Can someone assist me with this?  I live in the Chicago area.

Hello. We are a family of five two adults and three children. Our car broke down approximately a week ago and it is at AAMCO Transmission. We need $2,423.66 to get a new transmission built for our car. My husband served in Operation Enduring Freedom and suffers back pain and Post-Traumatic Sleep Disorder and has been unable to find employment. I have applied for Social Security Disability and have heard no answer. I suffer from emotional issues as well as a herniated disk in my back. There is not enough money coming into the house right now and the car breaking down is a big blow. If there is anyone who would donate $1.00 or more to our family, we would really appreciate it. We are honest people just need some help at the moment. We have donated money before to various causes. I do believe that when you do something good, it will come back to you. I have three children with special needs and they have to go to the doctor frequently. Without a running vehicle, I can't get them to their appointments. Please help our family if you can even if it is a prayer. Thanks for reading our story. God bless you. You can send donations via Paypal below:

helpthekleibers@yahoo.com

I have the documentation to prove that this is a true story if you need it. God bless.