Actually, jumping a car battery over and over can kill it faster. Each time it goes totally dead, it damages the inside a little bit. So your dad's truck battery might have died sooner because of all the jumps, not just from old age. It's not really hanging on past its life, it's being worn down in a different way. That's why sticking to a schedule or checking it before it dies is the better move.

Right? I've had so many lumpy gravy disasters. The cold roux trick was a total game changer for me.

My first deck had permanent drip shadows.

Last year I spent three hours trying to get a door panel off my Civic because the manual didn't mention the extra clip they added halfway through the model year. You're totally right that the guides are just a best guess. I've learned to watch for factory changes like extra goop or a bolt in a weird spot. That moment you finally get past the problem feels better than just following steps anyway.

My first shot was a blurry star too, @burns.fiona.