You Remove an Automatic Engine—How Do You Install a Manual One?

Adeladius Makwega-MBAGALA

“We are at a motor vehicle garage. In front of us is a broken bus; its engine is completely worn out. All of us here at the garage are mechanics. You, standing before us—the driver—you obtained your license by bribing the Regional Traffic Officer.

You know only a little about vehicle mechanics. Our bus is automatic—how do you install a manual engine in it? This is absurd: an engine from a 1940 Bedford bus that you want to install in a Yutong! Eboo!

All of us mechanics have refused. This act is dangerous—for the passengers, for you the driver yourself, and even for us mechanics when we try to test this bus on the road.

Then you suddenly stand up arrogantly, meddling with where to install the engine, poking here and there inside the bus. We mechanics do not want to be witnesses. You continue anyway, using security guards from this garage.

A stubborn person gains nothing until the day of Eid. You are installing a manual engine inside an automatic bus? Still stubborn—and truly, the ear destined for death does not hear medicine.

Then Labeeka responded. Mr. Yakubu, the Chief Guard, and the Assistant Guard, son of Mangoso, stepped forward.
Without being called, they added their strength, lifting the Bedford manual engine. Likewise, the young man Suleimani bin Nabii, the garage guard, added his strength. The engine was mounted onto the vehicle so that it might start its journey.

But the journey does not go. The vehicle does not start. The three guards are dripping with sweat—how far will they push it? Where will they get the breath?

If the driver had listened to his fellow mechanics, we would not have reached this point. Listen, son of Mangoso—and you too, Suleimani, son of Nabii, and you as well, brother Yakubu, son of a maize farmer.”

What is Mwanakwetu saying today?

“In a manual car, there is a direct connection: you engage gears directly using the clutch. In an automatic car, you only give commands to the computer to change gears. This creates a feeling of death or loss of direct connection between the driver and the engine–gear system. Therefore, the use of an automatic system is important because the work becomes easier. So when you remove an automatic engine, you must install another automatic engine. It is not correct to remove an automatic and install a manual one—the gears will not engage and the car will not move. How long will you remain stuck before you arrive?”

Mwanakwetu, are you there? Remember: