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TAMPA - The clunking sound in your car's transmission? It's back.
That old leak in the corner of your living room ceiling? It's dripping.
The ache in your knee that went away last year? It's throbbing.
Oh, yeah.
And the Bucs offense isn't doing well, either.
Sometimes old misery sneaks up on you again. It hides for a while, just until you feel comfortable. Then, whammo, it's back.
All of which brings us to the recurring pain of the Tampa Bay offense, which seems intent on spending another preseason somewhere on the wrong side of the end zone and resurrecting all those insecurities about an offense that, really, never has measured up.
Sheesh. Wasn't this problem supposed to be fixed by now? After years of complaining to customer service, after all the wasted afternoons waiting for the right repairman, after all the replaced parts, isn't it time this team stopped blowing gaskets? Jon Gruden's, for instance.
This, after all, was the season of raised expectations. After the Bucs' playoff push it was easy to believe that offense would finally settle in at One Buc Place.
Yet here we are, most of the way through the world's longest training camp - think of it as a 100-year scrimmage - and the Bucs, once again, are having trouble keeping the scoreboard guy awake.
In four games the starting offense has had the ball for eight drives. It has scored one touchdown. Add two field goals, two interceptions, one fumble, four penalties and one annoyed coach.
"I wouldn't say it bothers me," Gruden said, "I'd say it totally infuriates me.
"We had such a higher expection than the performance we had out there tonight. We were undisciplined at times. We missed some assignments, and that cost us. It could have cost us a game."
On the Bucs' first possession against the Jaguars, Brad Johnson threw an interception. On their second possession Johnson threw an interception. On their third they tried mightily to fumble only to be thwarted by the officials.
At this point a skeptic might point out the Bucs are in midseason form. Except, of course, that it would be mean.
It's hard to blame those who follow the Bucs for looking for a few early returns. The Bucs have never been decent on offense. Even last season, when the Bucs won the Super Bowl, the offense ranked 24th, which was the 10th straight season it was 20th or lower in the NFL. It was the 18th straight season the Bucs were in the bottom half of the league.
By now that was supposed to be over. Gruden, the explosives expert, was supposed to have forged one of those offenses that leaves linebackers confused and safeties gasping for air. The offensive struggles were supposed to be one more bad memory, stored in a warehouse with Bucco Bruce, orange uniforms and Clyde Christensen.
For months now it has been easy to believe the offense has been cured. Remember the way it finished last season, averaging 35.3 points and 334 yards throughout the playoffs?
After that, most of us expected to see the same level of efficiency from the time the Bucs pulled on their jerseys. This season the Bucs would finish in the top half of the NFL in offense, right? Who knows? Maybe the top 10?
After all, that's what happened with Gruden's teams in Oakland. In his first season the Raiders were 18th on offense. In his next three seasons Gruden's teams were never worse than seventh.
So far it hasn't happened with the Bucs. Oh, the starters have gained gobs of yardage - in the second and third drives against the Jags, the Bucs gained 156 yards. Translation: The Bucs are leaving a lot of men on base.
No, none of this is reason to run willy-nilly through the streets trying to find a new map to the end zone. It is preseason. The Bucs are champions. It is hard to build continuity a couple of series at a time.
Perhaps, however, it demonstrates that improvement can't be taken for granted. If the Bucs are going to be better, they'll have to cut out the mistakes.
The question remains unanswered. How good should this offense be? The system is clearer. The line is better. The quarterback is unchallenged. And while there isn't great speed among the wideouts, the good news is that the receiving corps didn't have a step to lose.
"I think we can be better than we were in the playoffs," receiver Joe Jurevicius said. "Why not aim high?"
So go on. Be optimistic. Shouldn't a championship buy that much?
Me? I say they finish 12th, which should be good enough to make a little noise in the playoffs.
And who knows? Maybe your transmission can be fixed with a little fluid. Maybe the roof can be patched without major expense. Maybe aspirin will help your knee.
As for the Bucs offense? Think of it like this.
Opposing scouts don't have a thing to work with.