I was told that when you look for a new car, you must be able to afford replacing all 4 tyres at once. If you can’t – the car is not in your budget. So, I took it in, but never thought that it would actually happen. So of course, a year and a half after I bought my car – I had to replace all 4 wheels. Simultaneously.

All new cars have something called a tyre pressure monitoring system. Now, I want to preface that I know nothing about cars. My criteria for cars are that they must be able to pass a truck with fair ease; to not struggle with my wheels; to be modest on petrol (I drive a lot) and for it to not be white. The tyre monitoring system is a bonus. Fancy. And in my case – very useful. When I had to replace all 4 tyres in April 2022, and one wheel-sensor was damaged in the process. It took a bit of back and forth, but the wheel placed ultimately replaced the sensor, due to damages they caused. And I was back on the road.

Last year September, on my way to Marloth Park, I realised that I was not particularly comfortable with the tyre line level depth. The fact that I don’t even know what it’s called is indicative of how little I know about cars. So, I made a quick stop at Tzaneen at their tyre place and quickly replaced all 4 wheels again. I was in a good mood, the lady at the front desk was friendly and the young curly-haired guy also eagerly assisted me. I warned him about the sensor and what happened the previous time. They replaced all 4 tyres and I was happily on my way to meet up with my family. Over 7 hours away from where I lived.

And low and behold – my ‘check your tyre monitoring sensor’ alarm came on after about an hour. And I just knew. Sigh… So, I drove through to Marloth, send a message to the tyre place about my issue and arranged to stop there again on my way back. Which was exactly what I did. I remember the honest face of the curly-head youngster approaching me and sincerely apologised for their mistake. He showed me the damaged sensor from the front left wheel and said they will order a new one; and we can arrange for it to be fixed. I was happy. They knew I didn’t live in Tzaneen, so I left feeling that we will get this sorted out.

Until I got home and had to replace the damaged valve from where the sensor was removed and created a major air leak.

Three weeks after that, I contacted them again to follow up. Surely, they have ordered the sensor and all is well? Nope – they needed the serial number of the sensor, so they requested that I come through for them to get that detail. Which – I happily did. I like Tzaneen. I like Haenertsburg. It’s pretty, there’s a lot to do. I didn’t mind one bit to go to the wheel place in Tzaneen and make a weekend out of it. So, I did. They removed the left back wheel sensor as reference and I was on my way. My communication now was with the owner himself.

It was a nice and interesting weekend and I drove home rested and inspired. Of course, I also had to replace the back-wheel valve. Apparently you can’t remove a sensor without damaging the valve and create air-leaks. Frustrating, but I kept the receipts.

Friends, if I tell you the amounts of excuses from the owner and the delays that followed since then – it will just make anyone angry. So, I will spare you the details (there’s a lot) and run straight to where we are at right now.

I do not have sensors in both my left wheels. The last communication I had with the owner, after I sent an extensive email (WhatsApp’s attached – no response), was when a close male friend phoned him on behalf of me. (Sometimes you just have to accept that men take other men slightly more seriously.) On this phone conversation the owner again had a lot of excuses (6 months later at that stage). And he also said (and this one got me) – they never said it’s their fault, they are just trying to help me. Help me? I did not need someone from 2 and ½ hours away to ‘help’ me. I can get ‘help’ closer to home. What I needed was for them to fix their own boo-boo.

And then it finally dawned on me that I will have to carry the cost myself now. Because it still needs to be fixed. Inconveniently a day’s leave to drive an hour away and witlessly walk around in a mall. Which I really don’t like – in case it seems like a fun outing. But not Tzaneen.

I am sure you ask yourselves – Ansonia – it’s over 7 months. Why did you entertain this for so long and why did you not accept the situation earlier if the normal time frame should be 2 weeks?

I will gladly tell you. Simply, because it was inconvenient and I was ignorant. It was inconvenient for me to sort out the sensor issue myself, when someone else damaged it. And I was holding onto the hope that what they said – they actually meant. Because when I say things – I truly mean it. I realised at some point that this was dodgy, that is why I kept up communication. But they also created an inconvenience for me, and I wanted to hold them accountable and fix it. And in case it’s still not clear – it really was inconvenient.

I had to replace another wheel a couple of weeks ago, simply because I didn’t realise in time that my tyre was flat. And I learned another lesson:

If someone does not want to be hold accountable – nothing you can do will change it. Sometimes people will break things that they can’t or won’t fix. Sometimes people will say things that they don’t mean. And the responsibility of fixing it will unfairly fall on your shoulders. Because the longer it stays unresolved – the more dangerous it becomes for you. But lingering on it, avoiding it or ignoring it will not change it. You take a deep breath, bite the bullet and trust that the other side of a crappy situation will have a good outcome. Even if it’s a silly tyre sensor.

I do not have a high opinion of Mr. Tzaneen Tyre-place. In fact – he’s an ass – despite what he tells himself. But I also pity him. I would really hate it if people took what I said with a pinch of salt and saw my actions as irresponsible and careless. And with that I am officially letting it go. Staying in a perpetual state of oblivion and risk will not get these sensors fixed.  Even though it’s inconvenient – it must still be addressed. And once the inconvenience is over and done with – life will be a little lighter for a while and you will no longer resent orange lights.😊

Have a lovely week friends!