Censoring My Thoughts about Car Sensors

I'm 74 and I grew up in a time when boys loved their cars more than they loved their girlfriends or their sport teams. They fixed their own cars, as well.

I hate today's cars which often have up to 15 sensors per car. 

Today, I felt so awful because I had to turn down a friend who asked for a quick store-run tomorrow. It is an easy run, but another sensor in a long-series of sensors has just awakened on the dash. I can't take the chance that the car will die while I have these folks in my car and then I'd need to find a way to get them home, plus their groceries, plus myself. I hate these modern car sensors and their unpredictable ways.

Last year, in order to pass the smog inspection, we had to cough up over $400 to replace the oxygen sensor. I mentioned it to friends, and they, too, have run into this one. Then things simmered down for a while.

Suddenly a couple of weeks ago, around Christmas, I think, something called the crank-starter sensor went out. It just turned off the starter. Car wouldn't go. Had it towed to mechanic. Nothing at all was wrong with the starter - it was the stupid sensor - and it was again, over $400.

A week or so ago, the service-engine-soon light kept coming on. Turns out nothing was wrong with the engine but the sensor was bad - this repair was costly, too.

Now, over the past 24 hours, the service-engine light itself is coming on - not the "soon" one which we just replaced, but a more demanding one with a little wrench next to it.

So, off to the mechanic again, as soon as we can do it. We have to be sure this sensor can't shut down something that affects the engine itself.

What bothers me about today's cars (trucks, SUVs, etc.) is that many times the sensor alone is bad, not the part it guards. This is costly. It is inconvenient. It is, well, stupid. And it's nothing we can fix ourselves.

Years ago, almost any guy I knew could fiddle with cars and fix stuff on them. Not so today.

I'm beginning to think I should buy stock in car sensor manufacturing companies.

 
Father, silly as it sounds, I need to ask you to bless us with the correct diagnosis on this car problem - whether it is the sensor or the part the sensor guards, lead us to the correct problem and solution with the help of our mechanic. I cannot help those you put in my path if I don't have the way to do it. I entrust this worry to your care.