Maybe this should be somewhere else but I am so proud I actually fixed something today.

I find it an interesting story. Maybe someone else will too.

I have actually been told by my mechanics "just bring it to me, I will fix it" because I usually make things worse when I try to fix something.

My 3 cars are all the same vintage, which is handy when it comes to some parts.

75 88 Royale, 76 Toronado and 76 Custom Cruiser.

3 years ago, on the way to the OCA Nationals from Miami to Bowling Green, KY I was sitting at a Wendy's drive through in the longest line at 2 in the afternoon in Gainsville, FL in July. It had to be close to 100 outside, and I was just sitting and idling, patiently waiting for my turn at the window.

The A/C was on high, and suddenly stopped blowing.

I was shocked, dismayed, livid, depressed, awash with emotion.

I got my single with ketchup and onions only, fries and Coke, and pulled into a parking space and called my mechanic in Ft Lauderdale (5 hours south) to "discuss it".

He suggested a high blower relay (I had fan speeds 1 2 and 3)

I happened upon a Napa store in bum-somewhere TN who actually had one, and actually installed it for me, and still no high speed blower.

Crestfallen, I soldiered on to Bowling Green with the air on 3. Ok, not so bad.

While standing in line at registration, I started chatting with someone who pointed out that there was a fuse under the hood at the firewall near the high blower relay, and that he would be happy to help me.

He had a 66 Cutlass, very cool, and we were parked close. He poked around under my hood, went to his car, and pulled out his toolbox with an assortment of fuses, more than I had ever seen in one place.

All to no avail.

The one I needed was "a shorty" but 20 or 30 amps. Hmmm I thought, that sounds familiar.

I looked in my glovebox, and there was a box of them (thanks Joe Coyle).

That did it.

Fast forward 2 years.

Last week, the 88 convertible had no speeds 3 or 4. The same fuse that blew on the Toronado under the hood had been replaced on the 88 by an automatic breaker by the previous owner. I knew this because a couple of years ago, in a parade, it blew, and reset itself.

But up until last week, I had no speed 3 or 4.

2 different problems. The breaker went bad, and speed 3 wire had a pinch somewhere. All that got fixed Saturday.

Today, I am driving at lunch, A/C on high, in the wagon. On the highway, zooming along, high blower quits (fine on 1 2 and 3). I knew the wagon had the fuse replaced as well, so I just waitied for it to reset itself.

Never happened.

Stopped by my mechanics after work, and the inline fuse had been replaced but with a new style blade fuse, which was not blown!

He checked everything and said it was the high blower relay, and remembered the Wendy's drama 2 years ago (and remembered I did not use it) and said "You have one of these".

I came home, found it (in the trunk of the 88) and replaced it and now the wagon has all 4 speeds.

I just thought it was funny that all 3 cars were involved with this same quirk to some extent.

But what impressed me the most was not that I fixed it, but that I found it in the trunk of the 88.