My Jeep is in the shop while I’m at work. It’s been making a terrible squealing noise when I start it for the past four weeks.

“We hope to have it done by the time you’re done with work,” the guy said.

“I hope so, too.”

Otherwise I’ll be camping in the auto shop.

For a while, my method of solving the problem was to duck my head low while the squealing went on, so that the people who were looking around to find out what person was driving such a wreck would not see me. I had a ten-second wait after the squealing stopped, figuring the coast would be clear.

Avoidance of shame is a huge motivator for me.

Dad, of course, couldn’t hear the squealing.

It sounded like a pig being killed.

I also tried turning my radio up louder.

Just a couple of tips for fixing your car when it makes a bad noise, tips that require no tools or understanding of motors, as well as no actual fixing. You may want a cell phone for when your car stops along the road.