AviationBanter - View Single Post

**Jim Logajan** · June 19th 08, 11:38 PM posted to rec.aviation.piloting,rec.aviation.student

wrote:
In fact, in about 45 years of driving, I can't think of a mechanical
failure other than a flat tire that kept the car from limping to
somewhere to get it fixed.

I've had 3 electronic failures that required a tow truck in the past
4 years.

Ah, anecdotes!

Well then, as to mechanical failures:

* I've had a steering tie rod break on one car (fortunately it failed when
I was traveling at low speed),
* the transmission give up the ghost on another (an '88 Acura Integra that
was at around 200k miles - lots of mountain driving too),
* a radiator thermostat fail on a third,
* a head cracked on a Chevy Vega.

* No flat tires - so far - on any of the cars I've ever owned.

As to electrical failures:

* The '88 Acura Integra had a electrical ignition gizmo fail while I was on
the freeway one day - engine just plain stopped working. Fortunately I was
able to pull over to the side without incident (light traffic, thankfully).
A cop showed up and helped - cool. Turns out the part that failed was part
of a recall that I hadn't been informed of.

* On my second ('99) Integra (hey, I liked the first one) the electrical
system eventually exhibited a short in one of the interior circuits due to
improperly run wires having their insulation rubbed away due to vibrations.
The outfit that fixed it had to remove the entire dash to get at the runs.

* Dead batteries a couple times though.

I'm still driving the '99 Integra.

I think you've been fortunate to not have any mechanical failures - in fact
I'm going to say that your anecdotes appear opposite of typical
expectations.