My son impressed me-a little long

In June my son moved ten hours away to Chippewa Falls, WI to start his first job as a chemical engineer. We went out and helped him get set up in an apartment, alone with just the basics and his car. Two weeks into his new job he tried to meet a hometown friend a few hours away. Well, his battery light came on and volts started dropping, (2007 Honda CRV, older but very clean). This was right after work on a Friday. He is very smart, a little mechanical, and has helped me work on cars and a little on tractors. He likes the old tractors but isn't really on the same mechanical level as most of us here. He called in a panic. He knows NO ONE in that town. He said He was pretty sure it was his alternator. He called back from a parts store and said he had googled it and he figured he could change it. I had sent him with some VERY basic tools. Pretty much hammer, adj wrench or two, channel locks etc. He did have a VOM, though. The issue was if he kept shopping around town he might run out of battery. If he did make it home and swap it out, he might not get it started. He knows absolutely no one so getting a lift to get a tool or possibly exchange the alternator if it was wrong was the big issue. So...he bought a cheap wrench set, socket set and a charger and few other tools and an alt. He had to go to 3 stores to get one. He went to his apartment and started on it. His goal was to get up and running to meet his friend. He didn't make it. He finished on Saturday morning and cancelled his little trip. He kept in contact through it all. He called us when he finished and said, I guess I learned something helping you all those years. I thought that was the nicest compliment I could get. He wont be the mechanic I was/am, but knowing I helped him on his way in life sure is nice. Are any of you YT-ers located near him?

Cool story, I have tried to prepare our children in a similar manner. And, I must say Ive been quite impressed with some of the things theyve done. I guess they were paying more attention than I thought they were. Needless to say, Im pretty darn proud!

A NICE story!

Sometimes, they learn from us, in spite of themselves!

My (usually non-mechanical) youngest son (22) impressed me recently when his Chevy Malibu needed a headlite bulb, he was able to do it yourself.

The whole front plastic ''nose'' of the car needs to come off to replace the bulb.

He'd watched/helped me so it a couple of times in the past and was able to do it himself without a 3-1/2 trip home or a $$$ bill at a shop!

WONDERFUL when they can help themselves!

Great story.I knew I was in for trouble when my new son-in-law was looking at his car manual to find out how to change the oil. I helped him out a lot in the past, but now the dealer does it all. Stan

Your local taxi will come give you a jump start usually.
I remember the time my alternator died in town.
I looked at the date code on the battery and it had been there awhile.
I called the local parts store, bought a battery, had them deliver it to me, then drove there to the parts store for an alternator.
Then drove home for the tools to change it out.
My kids mechanical skills give mine a run for their money. He also cheats with You-Tube videos and Google.

To the engineer, Is the glass 1/2 full or 1/2 empty?
From the engineer, It's the wrong size container.

Good for him and good for Dad for teaching him! Well done!

Yep learning is a lifetime of successes from now on !

Our kids were raised as Christians in a Christian home. Our son especially was and is very strong in his faith. As he was growing up I would occasionally require his help on a job which would often include skills and knowledge of the trades. When he would sometimes grumble I would point out to him that he would learn things that he would be able to use on the mission field.

I live just outside of Chippewa Falls. If he would like to meet some time I would be willing to maybe even for a meal and just to meet someone in the area.. I know of a few shops that do repairs and have a brother that does repairs in his own garage.

Chippewa Falls? Leinenkugels?? If he ever gets east by Lake Michigan, have him look me up. Bill

Oops, I meant to post this in the Tales forum. Thanks for all the nice replies!!!

My son too, helped me some times fixing things. He sometime reaches out for help, and a few years ago we
replaced his Ford Probe clutch together. He is not all that interested in being a mechanic, but does what he
can. He tinkers with things such as replacing the screen on his smart phone. He recently replaced his intake
manifold gaskets and his heater core, on his Firebird, at his house which he rents which has no driveway-so
he did it on the street. Made me proud. Mark.

I can remember not so many years ago when you could go to the junkyard and pull a GM alternator for 20 bucks. Or rebuild the one you had for about the same money. As far as calling a taxi, good luck. Aren't too many of those left- all Uber or Lyft now.

Nice ! If he is an engineer he is no dummy

It wasn't so much the alternator swap. That was pretty straight forward. It was the removal of a lot of plastic in the front, moving over of PS pump and hoses, and even removing rad fans and moving rad to get it out of car. A lot to go through in a new town , at an apartment with minimal tools.