Stranded!

Earlier this week, I told Jason that I have only 12 car payments left until my car is paid off. And I was marveling at what a good car it's been, because I've owned it for four years and haven't had to bring it in for a single maintenance issue (I drive a 2003 Mitsubishi Galant, in case you're wondering).

I should've known I would jinx myself. Last night I was heading home, about a mile from my office, when I heard a loud POP! that sounded like a rubber ball had hit my car. About a mile later my oil light came on, and my engine started fluttering really loudly. It sounded like a big-rig was idling next to me.

I pulled off the highway into a gas station and could see that it was leaking, and decided to call a tow truck to bring me straight to the Mitsubishi dealership near our suburb. When my car was being hoisted onto the tow truck, the remaining oil in my engine just gushed out in a large puddle.

The good news is, the plug that prevents my oil from leaking had somehow popped out and it was an easy fix. They replaced the plug, ran the engine for two hours, gave me a lube/oil/filter change, and road-tested it. The better news - the guy admitted that they probably didn't screw the plug in tight enough last time they changed my oil, so they did all of this minor maintenance for free.

Here's to good car karma for the next year and counting....