Damsel In Distress
By Angie
@andriaperry (116936)
Anniston, Alabama
February 11, 2018 9:02am CST
Sometimes things need to be done, especially to the car, like checking the oil or water levels. The ties need air and the windshield wipe blades need to be changed.
So what is a woman to do? Go pay someone to do them for her? Ask a male friend?
Okay I will admit I know many women who do pay for these services and I understand.
BUT......
What if you can just do them yourself?
What if you read the directions and just did it? Could you? Or maybe I should ask, would you?
Yesterday I wanted to be that damsel in distress but I didn`t do it. I started to yell for Tony to come out and change the windshield wiper blade. I taught myself to change these years ago, what I did was actually be that damsel at an auto parts store and I watched how the guy changed it and.... Voila! Now I do my own.
Years ago, so many years ago, my dad taught me to check the oil and water. Putting air in the tire I had to learn myself, once I blew up a tire! Yes that was not fun, a true learning experience.
Do you pay for small auto things to be done?
28 people like this
27 responses
@andriaperry (116936)
• Anniston, Alabama
11 Feb 18
I know! I used to change the spark plugs in the old ones, now they have coil packs.
2 people like this
@rebelann (112878)
• El Paso, Texas
11 Feb 18
That's so kool @andriaperry I tried that on my old gremlin but I just didn't have an eye for it, I kept messing up.
No wonder I get funny looks when I ask about spark plugs on my car, it doesn't have any.
3 people like this
@andriaperry (116936)
• Anniston, Alabama
11 Feb 18
@rebelann The truck to doing it on the old cars is to do one at a time so you put the right wire back in place.
3 people like this
@andriaperry (116936)
• Anniston, Alabama
11 Feb 18
I used to use the oil change there but they went up to much on the price.
1 person likes this
@andriaperry (116936)
• Anniston, Alabama
11 Feb 18
I used to wash mine a lot more than I do now.
2 people like this
@Marilynda1225 (82798)
• United States
11 Feb 18
Yes now I do but when I was younger I did many things myself. Lucky me I have my son in law who usually does all my car stuff
3 people like this
@andriaperry (116936)
• Anniston, Alabama
11 Feb 18
Well of there is man around, ask! I would have asked Tony but he is sick.
@andriaperry (116936)
• Anniston, Alabama
12 Feb 18
@TheHorse I not as lazy as when I was young but I sure am richer now than I was then.
@TheHorse (218846)
• Walnut Creek, California
12 Feb 18
Well, I'm male, so I was expected to do certain things, like change oil, change a tire, charge spark plugs, etc. I generally let others change my oil now, but I did change a flat on my truck a few months ago. I am glad the instructions for the jack were accurate, as I hadn't used it before.
3 people like this
@TheHorse (218846)
• Walnut Creek, California
12 Feb 18
@andriaperry Heh. I was on a major freeway and one person stopped to ask if I needed help. For the record, he was a Mexican-American dude. I was almost done by that time, but I thanked him profusely.
4 people like this
@andriaperry (116936)
• Anniston, Alabama
12 Feb 18
@TheHorse The young guy that stopped for me was in a beat up old pick up truck, that sounded like it was about to break down.
2 people like this
@andriaperry (116936)
• Anniston, Alabama
12 Feb 18
I had to change tires on the boat trailer last year, no fun, one went flat and a mile down the road the other went flat! Only one guy stopped and asked did I need help.
2 people like this
@spiderdust (14761)
• San Jose, California
12 Feb 18
I'm not very good at these sorts of things, but I'd like to learn. I'd probably be the damsel in distress long enough to have someone come teach me how to do them. I do know how to check the oil!
1 person likes this
@andriaperry (116936)
• Anniston, Alabama
12 Feb 18
That is good! oil is what keeps the motor going, its th life as my dad explained it.
1 person likes this
@spiderdust (14761)
• San Jose, California
12 Feb 18
@andriaperry I would like to at least learn how to change the oil and change a tire.
1 person likes this
@snowy22315 (180703)
• United States
12 Feb 18
I do some of it myself and some I get others to do. The air in the tires thing though..I let tire places do that. I have had trouble putting air in bike tires.
1 person likes this
@andriaperry (116936)
• Anniston, Alabama
13 Feb 18
It took me a while to get used to it.
1 person likes this
@mydanods (6513)
• Nigeria
12 Feb 18
@andriaperry The small stuff do know how to make dents in one's pocket. I'll remember to keep an eye on them.
@andriaperry (116936)
• Anniston, Alabama
12 Feb 18
Just keep a check on the small stuff is what I do, nothing big at all.
1 person likes this
@Letranknight2015 (51957)
• Philippines
12 Feb 18
My brother does, good and reasonable mechanic is hard to find these days. Some of them ripped you off.
1 person likes this
@Letranknight2015 (51957)
• Philippines
12 Feb 18
@andriaperry sometimes I wish i could learn to how fix an engine or replace any car parts.
1 person likes this
@DianneN (247186)
• United States
11 Feb 18
@andriaperry My dad told me to check the dashboard. 
1 person likes this
@andriaperry (116936)
• Anniston, Alabama
11 Feb 18
LOL, My dad told me " you drive it, you check the oil!"
2 people like this
@andriaperry (116936)
• Anniston, Alabama
12 Feb 18
some people are and some are not.
1 person likes this
@andriaperry (116936)
• Anniston, Alabama
11 Feb 18
I have big brothers, so me too.
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (160665)
• United States
12 Feb 18
Nope, Bob does most of them now. My first husband was an OTR trucker. I did the oil, water, transmission fluid, coolant checks, aired the tires. I never learned to change wiper blades but at least used to if you bought them at Wal Mart they would change them.
1 person likes this
@andriaperry (116936)
• Anniston, Alabama
12 Feb 18
I bought mine at walmart and changed the passengers side because it was bad, I had the drivers side in the trunk, months later, a couple days ago, it was coming apart so I changed it.
@popciclecold (38721)
• United States
12 Feb 18
Usually, I do but my son has been helping, since back home.
1 person likes this
@shaggin (72131)
• United States
12 Feb 18
I have a fear while I'm putting air in my tires that it will burst so I can imagine when it did happen to you it scared the heck out of you. I recently changed my windshield wiper blade for the first time and it actually was harder then the guy at the auto parts store made it look lol. Other then that I can only add windshield washer fluid, check my oil and pump gas. I did disable the alarm by watching a YouTube video.
1 person likes this
@andriaperry (116936)
• Anniston, Alabama
12 Feb 18
LOL, good old youtube! I was just a kid, maybe 22 when I did the tire, now I have a gauge and I see how much is in them before I pump air, and on the drivers side door it tells you how much air that car tires need.
1 person likes this
@Tampa_girl7 (50250)
• United States
12 Feb 18
My husband does these things. I'd be lost without him.
1 person likes this
@hostessman (11871)
• Tucson, Arizona
11 Feb 18
your dad did the right thing,,i showed both daughters how to do things when i gave them each a car when they were 16. they still take care of there cars unless the problem is a major one, and then i get a phone call ,,,,,DADDY I NEED HELP??????????????????
1 person likes this
@andriaperry (116936)
• Anniston, Alabama
12 Feb 18
Ahh, the old jalopy days.... loved those. When I age a little more I will.
