$150 Later...
Jun. 26th, 2025 02:02 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
canyonwalkerWe brought our Nissan Xterra to a mechanic earlier this week. The "service engine soon" light had come on after the car occasionally stalled out at idle and had recently started having trouble catching ignition. Although we brought it this time to a trusted local mechanic, Mr. Le, I dreaded getting a repair bill like we'd gotten from the Nissan dealer the last few times we went there for repairs. The dealer always seemed to find $1,400 of things wrong with the car and their explanation always was, "You got it muddy."
We followed up with Mr. Le yesterday to check the status. Good news/bad news: It was so simple he'd already fixed it. Without giving us an estimate first. But it was just $150.
"Problem simple," he said. "It your drain sensor."
I'm familiar with at least the names of parts that could explain the problems we'd experienced, and drain sensor isn't one of them. Plus, there isn't even such a thing as a drain sensor, AFAIK. I asked him to tell me again what part was broken.
"Grain sensor," he said louder, emphasizing the Grr- sound of the word.
Knowing our Nissan is not a farm tractor I was pretty sure it doesn't have grain sensor. I asked again.
"Brain sensor! Brrrrrrrrrain sensor!"
Yes, he trilled the R good and long like a first year Spanish language teacher teaching kids the difference between "r" and "rr".
I silently asked myself what all the sensors are that rhyme with drain, grain, and brain. I couldn't think of any. I decided the conversation wasn't getting anywhere I would stop asking Mr. Le for clarification and just go pay the bill. At least then I could see the description of the part printed on the bill. 🤣
It turns out it's the crankshaft position sensor (CPS). I guess the guy was trying to say "crank sensor", though I've never heard any other mechanic call it that. Others have always called it "CPS" or used its full name.
At least Mr. Le fixed it for $150 instead of $1400 and blaming the problem on mud.
We followed up with Mr. Le yesterday to check the status. Good news/bad news: It was so simple he'd already fixed it. Without giving us an estimate first. But it was just $150.
"Problem simple," he said. "It your drain sensor."
I'm familiar with at least the names of parts that could explain the problems we'd experienced, and drain sensor isn't one of them. Plus, there isn't even such a thing as a drain sensor, AFAIK. I asked him to tell me again what part was broken.
"Grain sensor," he said louder, emphasizing the Grr- sound of the word.
Knowing our Nissan is not a farm tractor I was pretty sure it doesn't have grain sensor. I asked again.
"Brain sensor! Brrrrrrrrrain sensor!"
Yes, he trilled the R good and long like a first year Spanish language teacher teaching kids the difference between "r" and "rr".
I silently asked myself what all the sensors are that rhyme with drain, grain, and brain. I couldn't think of any. I decided the conversation wasn't getting anywhere I would stop asking Mr. Le for clarification and just go pay the bill. At least then I could see the description of the part printed on the bill. 🤣
It turns out it's the crankshaft position sensor (CPS). I guess the guy was trying to say "crank sensor", though I've never heard any other mechanic call it that. Others have always called it "CPS" or used its full name.
At least Mr. Le fixed it for $150 instead of $1400 and blaming the problem on mud.
no subject
Date: 2025-06-27 06:23 am (UTC)