Who Says You Can't Go Home Again?

You just may never be able to leave again.

I've been stranded in Michigan since New Year's Eve. Car Trouble. My family is telling me, "You're so smart. You know physics." Like that would help me fix my car. If only I owned a Quantum -- I'm pretty good at quantum mechanics!

It got me thinking, though, about the similarities and differences between physics and auto mechanics. In physics, we tend to pare things down to essentials, so we can study one aspect of a problem at a time -- often to the point of being "ridiculous, but useful." In auto mechanics, you have the whole car, in all it's complexity, so it is very difficult to isolate one phenomenon.

On the other hand, I observed my cousin and son diagnosing the car, and it seemed the process of problem-solving was very similar.

First you gather all the data or information you have: what noise does it make, when does it make noise, did something happen to start the problem?

Then you look for patterns that you recognize: the noise sounds like it's coming from the serpentine belt, the noise gets worse when we put more stress on the alternator by turning on the lights.

Next you make guess: the alternator is bad.

Then you attempt that solution: replace the alternator. Then you go back to the store because they gave you the wrong alternator.

Then you check your answer: the noise is still there - drat!

So you gather more information, and start the process over. When your new diagnosis requires tools you do not have (mechanical or mathematical or whatever), you seek help. Let's hope the Ford dealership knows what they are doing.

On the bright side, we get to be in Grand Rapids for Gerald Ford's funeral.