So Long Tax Refund

My beloved Camry ails.

Last Thursday I noticed a distinct shimmy in the steering wheel when traveling in excess of 60 miles per hour. It had never done that before. I called the mechanic on Friday afternoon for a Monday appointment.

Friday night when I got home from work I noticed a really awful smell emanating from the engine compartment. You know that sort-of-hot-something’s-burning smell cars sometimes get? I checked all the fluids but everything was fine. The engine seemed to be running OK but I was taking no chances. I decided to leave the Camry in the garage all weekend.

Yesterday morning when I backed out the Camry to get at the lawnmower and again this morning when leaving for the shop I noticed a very loud banging sound when I started the car that hadn’t been there before. It quickly went away but, boy, was it loud. I’m thinking, “Uh oh…”

The mechanic just called: stuck front left brake caliper, burned rotor and pad, bad brake hose, carbon on the valves probably causing the banging I heard.

$900

Ouch.
K-