I put this in the Lounge since I'm sure people also experience this on other cars too.

How do you stay calm or rational when your car starts breaking down or malfunctioning and/or you thought you fixed the problem but it didn't work.

I can't (I have three problems they may be related for all I know: spewing gas, crappy mpgs, and CELs all the time)

The second time the car spewed gas, I got mad and kicked the car and I put a small dent in the quarter panel. Other times I've gotten mad, I slam the doors on the car pretty hard...

i'd probably just fix it.

edit* seriously, just walk away. that is always best.

have a couple of drinks

i trade my cars in for imports

I'm about to do what toasty did

But yeah, I'm in the same boat you are. I basically get online and rant at Pinky

Elevate your car to the standard you would a person (I can hear the WTF'*?! now, but bear with me).

Your spouse, child, friend, whatever may disappoint you, it may break down on many different levels, it may not live up to your expectations.

But you shouldn't react in anger when these things happen, because it only causes more damage. If you react in extreme anger to a child screwing something up, all it does is upset the child even more.

The same holds true for a car, when your car screws up, don't take it out on the car, all you end up doing is causing other problems, now every time you're giving your car the once-over youll see that dent that you put in it, and I know how much you love your car, so it will **** you off that you dented it not too mention lowering the value of the car, etc.

Or when your door panel starts squeaking, youll know it could be because you slammed the door 2,453 times.

Or do what some folks do to the people in their lives that disappoint them, trade it off for something else, something "better", when in reality all cars have problems, no matter what they are, at least at some point, and when it rains it pours usually.
If you don't like your car, just call it up and say "hey, I dont think we should hang out anymore, Ive changed, and so have you, we just dont mesh like we used too"

Glad you're not my dad

To answer the OP...I look at all car problems like a puzzle; it might take many tries and many different approaches, but be confident you'll solve it with persistence.

I didnt say it was the right approach to dealing with people, I just said a lot of people do it

Why do you think the divorce rate is so high?

But yeah, you have resources here that most people wouldnt dream of for fixing your car, so dont let it get to you.

i just walk away for a while, go do something else less stressful. than when you are calmed down, start thinking about it and try and figure out what needs to be done.