It never rains

[girlyswot]

Well, I took the advice of the flist who unanimously decided that I should attempt to mend the indicator rather than get it replaced. I decided that I would walk into town this morning and buy some decent transparent waterproof tape. So before I set out, I checked the thing to make sure it was in repairable condition.

Um, that may have been a mistake.

Anyway, it turns out that not only was the glass bit broken, but so was the mirrored panel behind. So when I poked it, everything suddenly disappeared down a black hole leaving just the bulb itself hanging precariously from a wire.

I went to buy the tape anyway, on the basis that it would still be better to have the thing vaguely watertight. I'm a bit nervous about what damage this might do to the paintwork, but there was really nothing else to stick the tape to, so that's what I've done.

I've also been looking for replacements. I can get the whole unit for £15 on eBay. Does that sound like a vaguely sensible thing to do or should I go to a place? Bear in mind that I'd say there's almost no chance that I will be competent to put it in myself (given my inability to so much as change my own windscreen wipers), so I'd have to pay someone to do that anyway.

I wish cars just worked.

Also, because I realise that some people are confused, this is what my car looks like (only dirtier):



The indicator light which is broken is the little bit underneath the headlights where the black strip is, so it is completely self-contained.

Comments

[callmemadam.livejournal.com]

My policy is always, take it to the garage, grit teeth, pay up. I'd like to be the competent type who could DIY cars but I'm not and better safe than sorry.

[girlyswot.livejournal.com]

That is normally what I do too. At the moment I am less convinced because (a) I have no money and (b) I don't really trust my local mechanic. I've been looking around to see if there's somewhere else to take it but I'm not sure that there is. One of the disadvantages of living in such a remote place.

[callmemadam.livejournal.com]

I do see the problem. I'm lucky in having lived in the same place for a long time, with a reliable garage just down the road.

[nundu-art.livejournal.com]

Cute car! What type is it?

I think it would be too much of a DYI for me to tackle, and I'm pretty handy with that sort of thing. This would be one I would hand over to the extremely handy Hubby. Unfortunately, you've not got one of those. No handy acquaintances you could appeal to?

[girlyswot.livejournal.com]

Rover 25. It would be much cuter if it didn't keep demanding huge amounts of money to be spent on it.

[amamama.livejournal.com]

Could you ask around a bit? Maybe there's someone handy at church, for instance? There must be someone around who loves to tinker with cars. Maybe in exchange for a homemade dinner? Or a cake. :-)

[coughingbear]

Worth checking the car manual to see if it tells you how to replace the indicator unit - even if you feel it's a bit beyond you, you might know someone who would help? (If you were in London, I would happily do so!) I recently changed the wing mirrors on my car when one was smashed (and the other was a bit broken anyway), and it turned out to be surprisingly easy. There weren't instructions in my manual, but I found them on the internet by googling my car make + model and 'fit new wing mirror', or something like that. There are certainly instructions for fitting indicators online, but I don't know what make your car is.

[girlyswot.livejournal.com]

I'll have a look in the manual. I'm not very good at following instructions from diagrams, though. I like someone to show me.

I've tried googling but I don't seem to be coming up with anything useful. I'll try again, though. It's a Rover 25.

[coughingbear]

Hmm, there is a forum here, but it may be a bit technical!

[girlyswot.livejournal.com]

Thanks! I searched the forum and couldn't find what I needed so I've signed up and posted a question.

[girlyswot.livejournal.com]

Hooray! Someone's answered my question and assures me that I don't need to do anything complicated and it should just clip right in. So I've bought the replacement from eBay and I shall have a go.

And, if the worst comes to the worst, I'll just have to take it to the garage and get them to put it in after all.

[coughingbear]

Oh brilliant! That's great.

[tdu000.livejournal.com]

Good luck. Having a go and then geting help if you can't manage it sounds like a sensible thing to do.

[girlyswot.livejournal.com]

I hope so. I will feel hugely accomplished if I manage to do this myself. Not to mention thrifty.

[dogstar101.livejournal.com]

Hooray! Isn't the Internet great? Changing a broken indicator light is the *only* thing with cars I've ever done myself. I hope it goes well and not fiddly or frustrating. Good luck - again!

[girlyswot.livejournal.com]

The internet is indeed made of win. It should arrive on Friday and then we'll see if it's really as simple as they all say...

[alkari.livejournal.com]

Hope you soon get your official Hugely Accomplished and Thrifty badge. :)

Best get it done soon - it would be bad luck if you ran foul of a narky police officer who would issue a warning about your "defective vehicle" because of the broken indicator!