It was time for an oil change. I had a coupon from place #1, which was a mistake. Nakia's Rule's of Life #94 -- Never Get Auto Repair From A Place That Uses Coupons. I dropped my car off this morning, went to the gym, then went back. It wasn't done. No big deal. I went home and showered, then they called me. "We haven't changed your oil yet, but you need new breaks and your check engine light is on" (My check engine light has been on for two years. They're a scam.). Of course something else is wrong, otherwise you couldn't get hundreds of dollars from me! So I tell them "no thanks, just change the oil" and hang up. Ten minutes later I get another call saying they won't change the oil because the previous shop who changed the oil did something to my oil plug and they should fix it. Now I'm pissed, because I'm not getting my oil changed, I have to take my car somewhere else, and that place messed up my car in the first place. So I take the car to place #2.

Place #2 is nonplussed by my probelm, but will look at it right away. I have to get to the office and Sarah has to get to her book group, so I drop the car off, drop Sarah off, and go to work. By noon, I've not heard anything and I have to pick Sarah up. I call them back and they tell me it's ready; if it's ready, why didn't they call? They also say the plug is not broken, but they changed my oil for free.

I pick up the car and get a better explanation; my plug apparently needs a plastic washer or something, and when screwed in it looks like there is no washer at all. Place #1 told me that Place #2 had used a flat washer, so the washer went up into the pan and that was bad. Place #2 assured me they had done the right thing and changed my oil for free.

So, I have no idea who was right. I'm not even sure my oil got changed, to be honest. I should probably check to make sure it has oil in it at all. I'm not going back to either place again, since one or the other is either lying or incompetent.

I wish I could just take the subway. Then I'd have nothing to worry about except muggers.