[jyl]

Okay, since we have been talking about the frustrations of elderly parents, here is my rant - just a small matter, but . . .

78 y/o dad and stepmom drive from San Jose to Portland on Friday to attend a Saturday funeral. On the way, their car's AC dies. On Saturday, they leave my house in Portland and drive to the funeral an hour away. On the way to the funeral, the Check Engine light comes on and the Temp light starts interimitently lighting. On the way back, the Check Engine light is still on and the Temp light is intermittently lit. They keep driving, because he thinks maybe it will "get better", and arrive back at my house. Upon their arrival, I see a belt hanging from the car. It is the serpentine belt that drives the water pump and AC compressor. The car is low on coolant although not crazy low (about a quart low in the radiator, plus overflow tank empty).

On Sunday I find a serpentine belt at the local NAPA and replace it, also refill coolant. Car runs normally with no warning lights. Although there is a bit of mechanical noise. No smoke from exhaust. Oil level normal. I should mention the car is a 2011 Prius w/ 200K miles. I think the only reason the engine is still running is that my dad drives 55 mph on the freeway, and at that speed the engine only runs intermittently, so it had a chance to cool down.

On Monday (today) we take the car to the Toyota dealer. Diagnosis is seized AC compressor, AC compressor clutch friction material all burned off, most likely that caused the belt to break. They think the mechanical noise may be the AC compressor or clutch. No new AC compressor available until Friday, four days from now, and they cost $700. Dad and stepmom are supposed to drive home to San Jose tomorrow.

Interestingly, the magnetic clutch relay for the AC compressor has been removed and jumpered, so the AC compressor clutch was engaged constantly and the compressor running constantly, instead of cycling on and off. When asked, my dad says they had a problem with the AC not turning on so his local mechanic bypassed the relay so that the AC would run constantly. I don't know if that was my dad's idea or the mechanic's idea.

I call around and find a $100 used AC compressor with 64K miles at a dismantler, that can be had by 4 pm today. The dealer says they will install the used compressor and recharge the AC, it can be done by Tuesday (tomorrow) am.

My dad declines. He instructs the dealer to disable the relay so that the AC compressor clutch will not engage, and he and stepmom will drive the car 11 hours home with no AC.

I'm irritated.

Yes, I think he does have a 90% chance of getting home without a breakdown. The AC compressor pulley turned freely when I changed the belt, and the clutch is burned out anyway. The dealer is warning that the AC compressor pulley could itself seize, but I think that is unlikely. Still, I wonder why not get the repair done and drive home in comfort? Car parts aren't cheaper in San Jose than in Portland, there is no sales tax in Oregon, the dealer's labor charge might only be $100-200 more than what my dad's local mechanic will charge, and I question that local mechanic's competence (maybe that is unfair).

Well, it is his decision, and if he is wrong the consequences aren't life or death. I told him to pick up an extra belt when he retrieves his car, and I'll loan him the tools necessary to install that belt if need be (it is a 15 minute job, all done from overhead). He has a cellphone and a roadside service membership. Highway 5 isn't completely deserted.

I should add my dad is knowledgeable about cars, he taught me to repair them.

This is what I'm seeing as he ages. He is stubborn, wilful, unwilling to make decisions, wants to think everything though for days or weeks before acting. Being Chinese, he is also very cheap, although he has plenty of money to pay for this repair.

He's been wanting to replace this car for years, but keeps waiting for a hybrid minivan from Toyota or Honda. I keep telling him there is no sign that either company plans to release one in the US in his lifetime. Doesn't matter. He insists he wants a minivan so that he can "go camping". I keep telling him that he doesn't camp and hasn't camped in 30 years. Doesn't matter. He says he needs a minivan so that he can carry big things. I keep telling him he can't lift big things in/out of a minivan. Doesn't matter.

Arrgh?

P.S. New belt breaks as he is driving the 1 mile home from the dealer. So my wife is at the dismantler and she and my dad will try to get the car back to the dealer before 6 pm closing time. Sigh.