Always an adventure

"Just Jeepin'" (macintux)
12/03/2018 at 12:30 • Filed to: None

I’ve written !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! of my obsessive need to tell people about faulty tail lights. This morning was interesting.

I noticed a car turning left had both main brake lights out. The CHMSL still worked, but still any time I see someone in that bad of shape I’ll do my best to alert them.

I followed the car deep into a residential neighborhood. A pretty sketchy area, but good fortune followed me: not only was I able to let him know when he stopped, but on the way out I spotted this sweet Comanche.

Furthermore, because I stopped to take a photo, I was in the right place at the right time to notice a woman backing out of her driveway with no functional reverse lights, so I let her know about that as well.

Gotta accumulate that karma now: going to need it when I’m old and decrepit.

DISCUSSION (15)

Chariotoflove > Just Jeepin'
12/03/2018 at 12:34

You’re like Johnny Appleseed for automotive repairs. Maybe they’ll tell stories about you too someday.

Just Jeepin' > Chariotoflove
12/03/2018 at 12:35

I saw a local fire truck engine driver do a double take at my Jeep this weekend, and while I have no idea why, I like to think that he told his fellow firemen “Hey, there’s that yellow Jeep everyone talks about. Mr. Brakel ight Man.”

Everyone should have a superhero name, and I suppose that’s as good as I’m likely to get.

Future Heap Owner > Just Jeepin'
12/03/2018 at 12:38

You’re accumulating karma in other ways too: after reading your posts I thought “that’s a nice thing to do,” so a few weeks ago when I noticed a car in front of me had only one working brake light, I pulled up alongside them at the next intersection with a left turn lane to let them know.

Just Jeepin' > Future Heap Owner
12/03/2018 at 12:40

Awesome, thanks. As best as I can recall, it was a motorcyclist who started this obsession by doing the same for me one day.

SPAMBot - Horse Doctor > Just Jeepin'
12/03/2018 at 12:58

I was behind a beat up Tundra on the 405 yesterday with no functioning CHMSL and only one working brake light. To make matters worse, he had his tail lights completely blacked out. It looked liked he used black spray paint instead of tint. I should have told him about his non-op tail lights, but the conversation would not have been polite. Something something say something nice or not at all.

Just Jeepin' > SPAMBot - Horse Doctor
12/03/2018 at 13:04

I wouldn’t want to endorse vandalism, but were you to, say, break the light covers and leave a note...I wouldn’t tell anyone.

SPAMBot - Horse Doctor > Just Jeepin'
12/03/2018 at 13:08

I’m a pretty mild mannered person but the same thought seriously crossed my mind. It did not help we were in accordion traffic for like 15 minutes and we needed the same lane.

Tristan > Just Jeepin'
12/03/2018 at 13:50

Confession: my XJ’s reverse lights have been inop for years. I've never gotten around to hooking them up after doing the manual swap. It would probably take 20 whole minutes, but so far I can't be bothered.

Tristan > SPAMBot - Horse Doctor
12/03/2018 at 13:53

My ‘93 lightning had blacked out tails when I bought it. I made one trip with it like that before swapping then out- home from buying it. In that short drive, someone rolled down their window to yell at me for my stupid tail lights.

Just Jeepin' > Tristan
12/03/2018 at 13:55

Mind if I suggest fixing them? It is genuinely risky for people to not know you’re backing up. I’ve seen miscommunications between drivers as a consequence .

MattHurting > Just Jeepin'
12/03/2018 at 14:41

What are your thoughts on tinted tail light covers? I saw some over the weekend on a Mazda 6, and could hardly tell when the brakes were applied. I actually thought to myself “If I was a cop, I would impound that car on the spot.”

Tristan > Just Jeepin'
12/03/2018 at 14:56

I don't drive it often to locations where they're necessary, and I'm always cognizant of their inoperability and I reverse accordingly in situations where people are around. I know I should fix them, though.

Just Jeepin' > MattHurting
12/03/2018 at 15:22

Trust me, my feelings on the matter are not fit for polite company.

SPAMBot - Horse Doctor > Tristan
12/03/2018 at 16:51

That’s awesome. Good on that person for calling you out and much kudos for fixing it right away!

MiniGTI - now with XJ6 > Tristan
12/03/2018 at 18:51

Only lights that don’t work on my Jag are the reverse lights. Haven’t had time to look into it but am always mindful of it. Counterpoint: I can actually see out the back of it. The GTI I’m not sure why they bothered putting glass in.