Alachua Together

This past Labor Day I was looking forward to getting out of the house after getting my chores done. I hopped in my van, turned the key, and listened to it spin. It just would not turn over. It was so depressing. I had waited to get out for just an afternoon, and now I am stuck dealing with a breakdown on Labor Day! The prospect of finding an open garage and towing my work van to it on a holiday was just too depressing.

Then I remembered that there were a couple of mobile repair guys in town, and that I had used one of them before. I called the first one, and although he answered the phone, he was not open for business. I called the second, asked if he was open, and he said, “Kinda, sorta. What’s the problem?” After I told him, he decided to come out. Mine was the only vehicle he saw that day.

After testing the fuel filter and fuel pump, he finally narrowed it down to the distributor cap and rotor, replaced them, and was done in 2 hours from start to finish. I own a 1999 GMC Safari van, so it was pretty hard to get at the engine. Parts, labor and the flat rate service call made it under $300, which it would have cost after towing it somewhere.

I really appreciate that Dave Bochette, the owner, and his son came out to work on this during their holiday. I know he came out because I just short of begged him to, and I call that compassion.

They don’t seem to have a website or email, but you can reach them at 352-378-7500. Back in the early 90s I had called him when my timing belt broke at an intersection downtown. They came, got it, and fixed it that day.  Keep this number for times of trouble!