So the wifey and kids and I were on our way through Puerto Plata towards Sosua in our '92 Montero bumper car, we we hear a 'pop'. At first, we thought someone hit us, but looking around didn't see anyone. The car seemed to drive on just fine. A few seconds later, a Dominican in a very nice SUV pulled up besides us and(my wife and I habla poco espanol) said "something, something, goma" I looked for a flat, nope, so we pulled over and so did he. He said he saw something under the car, and reached under and pulled out the steering arm. He showed it to me, and the threads were indeed missing. He offered to drive me to the parts store, so of course, I jumped in a strangers car and left my family on the side of the road. On the way there, he said 'yo so mechanico' and I started thinking hmmmm... We went to the parts store, his parts store, he went in and got the new part, and handed me a bill for RD$4500. We returned to the car, and his long skinny friend was there with a couple wrenches. The put the new part in within two minutes.
And then!, the car wouldn't start. Not even a click, which has been happening to us every couple days. I have been assuming their was a ground wire off, but haven't been able to find the problem. We have an appointment with our mechanic in two days. Usually, I can wiggle some wires, hit the distributor with a wrench and get it started. Not this time... Convieniently, my new mechanico amigo knows and electrician who is only four houses down from where we are. He gets him, and after finding the problem, replacing a few wires, the car starts up and we are on our way. I shelled out a whopping $RD6500. I know I payed the gringo tax when I bought the part, and handed him another RD$2k because I had no smaller bills, so he could pay the electrician, and for his troubles.
So, I am left with two theories. His skinny friend crawled under the car while I was at a stop light and sabotaged the car (I get that from reading too much DR1), or I was just lucky and Dominicans are just really nice helpful people.
Even with the Gringo tax, a new problem and and old problem were fixed on the side of the road in less then an hour for less money than I would pay in the US for the tow truck back to the shop.
Gracias mechanico dominicano!
And then!, the car wouldn't start. Not even a click, which has been happening to us every couple days. I have been assuming their was a ground wire off, but haven't been able to find the problem. We have an appointment with our mechanic in two days. Usually, I can wiggle some wires, hit the distributor with a wrench and get it started. Not this time... Convieniently, my new mechanico amigo knows and electrician who is only four houses down from where we are. He gets him, and after finding the problem, replacing a few wires, the car starts up and we are on our way. I shelled out a whopping $RD6500. I know I payed the gringo tax when I bought the part, and handed him another RD$2k because I had no smaller bills, so he could pay the electrician, and for his troubles.
So, I am left with two theories. His skinny friend crawled under the car while I was at a stop light and sabotaged the car (I get that from reading too much DR1), or I was just lucky and Dominicans are just really nice helpful people.
Even with the Gringo tax, a new problem and and old problem were fixed on the side of the road in less then an hour for less money than I would pay in the US for the tow truck back to the shop.
Gracias mechanico dominicano!