So it's winter, right? And in Minnesota, right after snowstorms come frigid frigid temps, ranging to 5 F to -20 F. This evening when I left work it was hovering around 0 F. Really not THAT cold, when you think about it.
It's been a long day and I was looking forward to going home. Alas, it was not to be. My car was D. E. A. D. I turned the key again. Nada. I waited a moment, and tried one more time. It rumbled...and that was it. I was hopeful so waited, tried again. Click. Dead.
So, finally convinced that it really wasn't being ornery, but truly had no interest in moving, I went back inside. So I got a jump start, and indeed, it started.
Now, for those of you unfamiliar with my car issues, just last winter around this time my car did something very strange that nearly stranded me. But I managed to make my way to the next exit and got the car to a repair shop. Then took a cab home because I don't have a cell phone, thus had no numbers to call for assistance. (It's very difficult to be a single woman, especially a single woman without a cell phone.)
So the problem turned out to be a defective plug because there was no other explanation for all the misfire codes (I believe it was cylinder 3). Anyway, I got the diagnosis, paid for a rental car to get me around for a day, and picked up my car.
Then a couple months later, still winter....my car did just what it did today. And on that occasion, they told me it needed a new battery. My car is a 2003 Ion, so it should not need a new battery, not at about 42,000 miles. But if that's what it is, so be it. Fix it. And they did.
So, now brings us to today. My car is up on its service, it has 52,300 miles, and the battery was DEAD. Although some of the lights were still working. But they were last winter, too. And this time, I KNOW the battery shouldn't be dead. And it should't be the alternator, either...not at this mileage. Although I'm going to check the NHTSA Office of Defect Investigation (ODI) reports to see if other people are having electrical quirks with this model, too.
It started with a jump, it ran fine getting home, no problems. I keep it in a garage at night which has never been below 40 or 38 F during the time I've lived here.
And for those who are not familiar with Saturns, the battery is in the trunk, not in the engine compartment. That is supposed to protect it from moisture issues resulting from messy roads in rain and snow. And believe you me, my trunk was dry.
* sigh * I can NOT afford another expensive problem!
I hate cars. And mortgages, association fees, heating bills, the price of gas....etc. Oh, and while I'm on a roll, I hate papers that aren't done yet, too.
God, it's your stuff. I'm going to bed. YOU deal with it.
18 comments:
That's tough..get a good nights sleep!
Love the last line. There is a prayer for the ages. :)
Call Car Talk! seriously! Mention you work for the Church!
IC ~ Which Pope was it that said, "It's your Church...you handle it" ? I can't remember.
Why call Car Talk and mention the Church?
As far as the winter weather goes you could move "north" to my part of Canada where we still have no snow and rarely have any all winter long. Sorry, I can't help you with the rest.
O ::thrive luminousmiseries || onionboy.ca
Adoro: I wonder when Saturn decided to move the battery to the trunk? My prior car was a Saturn but it was a late 90's model and the battery was very much under the hood.
If you need to do another "bleg" let us all know. 'Tis the season and I'm feeling generous.
Car Talk is funny and gives you good answers about what can be wrong with the car. And they seem to have a soft spot for church workers (at least priests and nuns who call in).
You know, the tone of this post--I must say, you're really absorbing the Old Testament feel!
I don't know which Pope said that, BTW.
Pax.
onionboy ~ Where in Canada are you? I thought that all of Canada was as much of or more of a wasteland than MN in the winter! I don't mimd the snow so much...it's awesome for skiing. I just hate driving in it.
Cathy ~ My last one was a '94, this one is an '03, so sometime between your model and my current one, they changed things. :-)
I probabaly will do another "bleg" but it'll revolve around grad school, not the car. Unless I get REALLY desperate.
IC ~ THIS post has an "OT" feel? Really? I read it over and don't see it, but then again, I'm still in the middle of this OT paper, although it's really becoming so clear!(Um...is the OT "feel" of this post a good thing? Or just a theology geek thing?) And really...I don't see it....
"onionboy ~ Where in Canada are you? I thought that all of Canada was as much of or more of a wasteland than MN in the winter! I don't mimd the snow so much...it's awesome for skiing. I just hate driving in it."
Ah, you need to look at a map. Notice the area of the Great Lakes and how much further south portions of Canada are as compared to well over half a dozen of your states. My city is Canada's most southern city and is on a parallel with Rome, yes, *that* Rome.
"onionboy ~ Where in Canada are you? I thought that all of Canada was as much of or more of a wasteland than MN in the winter! I don't mimd the snow so much...it's awesome for skiing. I just hate driving in it."
Ah, you need to look at a map. Notice the area of the Great Lakes and how much further south portions of Canada are as compared to well over half a dozen of your states. My city is Canada's most southern city and is on a parallel with Rome, yes, *that* Rome.
Yeah, I used to live just as far south (even further, I think) and we still got plenty o' snow in the winter. Although not as bad as MN and Canada! Thus, that area of Canada would still fit into my idea of "winter wasteland" along with that area of the US on the same line.
I so love winter -
I so hate having car problems.
Everytime you get ready to go someplace the same terrible feeling in the gut - will all be Okay. But I like me car - but hate how it runs - but I like my car - but I hate how it runs . . .
You're telling me, we have spent 800+ in the last month getting my car in winter safe driving shape, first it was a valve or something that was going out, shuddered fiercly, and scared me to drive, then it was really crunchy brakes that turned out to be one stuck always braking and the other side not braking at all.
how scary is that!@
Where I live in Canada is closer to your neck of the woods (I'm in Winnipeg) so yeah, it is wasteland.
I don't have a car so I don't have car troubles, but I've come to learn some truths about the transit system - when the weather gets bad, my route always gets messed up worse than most, without fail.
Letting it loose with God is how I define the OT, and I think its a good thing.
P.s. if you need a diversion, you've been tagged.
Newbie visiting from the Ironic Catholic.
Cars have always been the bane of my life, you have my every sympathy.
BEst wishes
This is my calling card or link"Whittereronautism"until blogger comments get themselves sorted out.
"Yeah, I used to live just as far south (even further, I think) and we still got plenty o' snow in the winter. Although not as bad as MN and Canada! Thus, that area of Canada would still fit into my idea of "winter wasteland" along with that area of the US on the same line."
If you once lived further south than the US city of Detroit then yes, you lived further south in the US than I do in Canada.
Our essentially snowless winters have to do with the fact that we are situated on the river between two great lakes in a flat, low lying basin. Bitter, damp, and wet describe our winters which makes it a wasteland but without the blessing of snow. Most Americans, yourself obviously not included, seem to think all of Canada is north of them but here in the southern most parts of southern Ontario we resemble the Great White North far less than all or portions of at 17 US states.
O | onionboy.ca (art & faith) | luminousmiseries.ca {faith & art}
LOL! I resolved long ago never to be one of those geographically-challenged Americans that are the laughingstock of the world.
However, I do forget how far south Canada comes and that I actually live further north than some of you. My problem is that I'm midwest-centric. My worldview revolves around the fact that I'm in the midwest and there is no life outside of this area. Mostly because I can't afford to go anywhere else. :-) So it's easier to pretend that it's not really there.
OK, seriously, climate is a different matter...bitter and wet are not pleasant things. So I'll make it a note not to visit that area of the world during the winter. How's your spring summer and fall? There must be SOMETHING redeeming about that piece of land!
Redeeming? Yikes. Southern Ontario's msot redeeming feature is that, ummm... it's close to northern Ontario?
"There must be SOMETHING redeeming about that piece of land!"
It's Canada. And that's enough, eh.
O onionboy.ca {arts & fath} luminousmiseries.ca {faith & art}
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