Recreating the Error

The mechanics at Firestone were very sorry that my car was working just fine.  They assured me that they saw the problem I described when I brought it in when they pulled it into the garage, so I definitely wasn't crazy.  Nonetheless they couldn't determine the cause of the problem even after the extensive diagnostics because they couldn't get the error to recreate.

The error in question was an occasional hesitation between when I put my foot on the gas and when the car started to move.  The latest lull started when I tried to pull out of the parking lot at work and lasted several seconds leaving me temporarily stranded blocking the entrance to someone's business.  When I got the car to move, I drove it directly to Firestone, my friendly neighborhood mechanic.

I have trust issues when it comes to mechanics.  Although I hate to say it, some mechanics I have patronized in the past have taken advantage of my ignorance of car mechanics  and have performed procedures on my cars that were not necessary.  Hard to believe I know, but not terribly unusual.

However, I cannot say enough nice things about Firestone and its crackerjack team of mechanics, who are the epitome of ethical professionalism.   They do an excellent job  They explain everything to me in detail, and they never do anything that doesn't need to be done without my permission. So I have nothing but appreciation for these fine and trustworthy gentlemen who explained  that there could several causes for such a problem - some simple and inexpensive, others more serious and potentially very expensive - but until and unless they could get the error to recreate, they couldn't determine what needed to be fixed.  

They assured me that they took it on several test drives trying to get it to screw up, but the car just kept working.  Furthermore, the car didn't need anything to pass inspection, but there were a couple of minor things that could be fixed, if we chose.  I chose to have them done, just in case one of these repairs fixed the problem, which these ever-truthful mechanics assured me that they would not.  The car has worked fine since I drove it away that day.

I hate it when the professional you finally consult can't recreate the error that has been causing you so much trouble.   Like when the web site administrator can't recreate the error that has kept you from updating the web page for the past week or when the symptoms that have been plaguing you and stumping your family doctors for six weeks mysteriously disappear the second you are finally being examined by the specialist.

Now, as the car runs smoothly every day, I am on edge just waiting for the car to malfunction again.  It's like the Sword of Damocles hanging over my head.  Well, I have a plan.  Just the minute the error recreates, I'm having AAA tow it right to Firestone without even trying to get it there myself.  

But you and I know that the car won't recreate its error until I'm on the highway in the pouring rain in the middle of night.