Friday night I was on my way to get some coffee when I thought the street lights must've been out. The road was darker than normal. It quickly dawned on me that my low beams weren't working! Maybe they had just burned out, but it was unusual that both would go out at the same time. My dad posited the idea I could have a bad fuse or switch. Mom asked if my running lights were on -- damned if they weren't out, too, and, I had just replaced those a few months ago! Unfortunately I didn't get around to getting this stuff fixed on Saturday because I figured the dealeship was open Sunday, which it turned out not to be.

Along the way dad asked if the break lights were working. This morning I checked my rear windshield for the reflected glow of the break light that's in the back seat. Nothing! And I know for sure it hasn't been any time since I put those in because that installment was, unfortunately, the only sweat-drenched half hour the back seat of my car has seen.

So I went into the dealership to see what kind of enormous bill I was about to get whacked with for this immense electrical short. They said they would try putting in bulbs first. Already I knew I was talking to hacks because all the bulbs wouldn't go out at once! It was a short! My car would have to be totally rewired for $1,200! So four hours later they hand me my bill: $50 for parts, no labor charge. Bulbs. Everything works.

All I can say is the Sylvania bulbs you get at Wal-Mart must be a much lower grade than what you get at Auto Zone, NAPA or the dealership. My aunt said the Wal-Mart car batteries she had gotten had to be replaced on an annual basis, and my parents had a similar experience.

Get your auto parts somewhere besides Wal-Mart.