Old Car and Bike rambling

Right around the time we were close to paying off the loan on our used Elantra the front passenger side window switch stopped working. I ignored it because the driver side control still worked. Unfortunately, over the winter the driver side switch stopped working that window and now the passenger side rear started acting up. I could lower the passenger rear from the front switch but I had to raise it from the back. Since the switches seemed to be degrading, I was a bit concerned that I would not be able to open any windows or not be able to close a window after it is opened.   Checking around on the Internet, I found the window switches cost around $30 each and the driver side front closer to $100.  An expensive repair if I want to buy all new switches.  I decided to remove the passenger rear door panel and take the switch apart to see if there was anything serviceable inside. Worse case scenario: I end up buying a new switch. after removing the door panel...

My wife's father could no longer drive his car and it sat in his driveway for a few years before we offered to take it off the family's hands as a gift to his grand daughter. The 2000 Subaru Impreza is very quickly disappearing from the streets as people junk them after the cars give up the ghost. Sometimes the devil you know could be much better than the devil you don't know. This car has been in a terrible broadside collision (once as the receiver and once as the giver) and didn't see very much routine maintenance except for regular oil changes. The Kelly blue book average retail price goes up to $4,000 in my area(for a pristine example which this car is clearly not) and that would likely be for a car that still needs work. I figured I have room for repairs and maintenance work. Before we could drive the car across half of the united States I had my brother take the car to his trusted mechanic to replace both of the rear wheel bearings, change the front an...