I need someone to jump me!

Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share
1

Alex, I’ll take “Things not to say to a cubicle full of engineers” for $600, please.

My workday was done. I headed out to my Aerostar. It was time to go to the Y for my afternoon workout, then home to defrost dinner. Typical Tuesday, till I turned the key in the ignition.

Nothing. Try again. Nothing. Cycle the gear shift lever. [sub]well, I had to try something[/sub] Try again. Nothing. Open the hood. Look at the engine. Yep, it’s an engine. Nothing’s smoking or leaking or glowing or making eerie noises. Close hood. Try again. Nothing.

So, back to the office to call spouse. Dunno why, since there was nothing he could do. Even if his work day was done and even if he hadn’t taken his motorcycle, he still wouldn’t have been able to get on base and help me. But I had to share anyway. That’s what marriage is about – sharing. So we decided I needed to try to get a jump, then take the car to the garage across from Wal Mart. Failing that, I’d have to figure out if AAA could get on base to help me.

The guys in my cubicle had already left. I went to ask Jeff if he had cables. Nope. We went to Phil’s cube, and that’s when I uttered the title words. We all shared a laugh, then I was informed by 2 more of them that they didn’t have cables. Phil did offer some suggestions (they didn’t help, but it was nice of him) and I found out that one of our interns had cables.

He got me started, but I was afraid to turn on the air or the radio (all my presets were gone anyway) – I opened the windows and headed for the Ford repair place. On the way, it occurred to me that my van is 5 ½ years old and I’ve never replaced the battery. It also occurred to me that I needed to remember to close the windows before turning the engine off.

The woman at the trouble desk took my key, then came back and informed me that I was, in fact, dead. She wasn’t able to get my odometer reading either – very dead. I’d intended to take the car in on Saturday anyway, so I gave her the list of other things that needed to be done, then gathered my gym bag and lunch cooler, and headed to the Y. What the heck – it was only a mile away, home was about 3 miles – and hubby was coming to pick me up there after he left the office. Might as well get my workout in.

It’s been humid as all get-out the last 2 days, but lucky for me, Tuesday wasn’t as hot as Monday, and there was a little breeze. Still, I was dripping wet when I arrived at the air conditioned bliss that is the Clay County YMCA. About 40 minutes later, spouse and child showed up with my swimsuit, and I was soon cool and pruny.

We got the call about the van that night – battery is not holding a charge. Transmission fluid smells funky and should be changed (allegedly, it was changed in October – Pep Boys will be getting a nasty letter from me soon) and the cooling system needs to be flushed (another thing PB was supposed to have done.) I’m also having the fluid in the differential changed – that shoulda been done 8K miles ago. Other than that, the guy said my van is in pretty good shape. So for less than the cost of one car payment, I’ll be ready to rock again!

And, coincidentally, on Monday, we were all informed that everyone at the Depot is getting a $375 bonus because we won the SECNAV Ashore Safety Award for an unprecedented third year in a row. Just as coincidentally, the repairs will cost just a bit over $300. Heck, I didn’t want new glasses anyway!

So, the moral of the story is… ummmm… there is no moral. It’s a pretty dull story, too. But I had to share.

2

FTR, and IANACM, a car battery should easily last 5 years.

3

And indeed it did - plus some. So I guess I was due. Luckily, it didn’t die the other night when my kid had to take my car to work. She doesn’t need car trouble at 11 PM…

4

I sell auto parts, and a GOOD battery should last 5 years. Remember that FCM is in sunny, hot Fla. Heat kills batterys. Good that you are getting the work done. Prevenitive maintaince saves money. Why didn’t you have your own set of cables? Yes, a good set are not cheep, but you will be able to help yourself.

5

I do have a set of cables. They are safe and sound in their case in the garage… We’ve been hauling a lot of stuff in the van lately, and the cables were in the way.

Yeah, lesson learned - they’ll be back in the van after I reclaim it tonight.

6

Hey, you’re not that old… oh wait… the Y… air conditioning… bathing suit…
Never mind.

And the moral of the story is: Breakfast is one of the three most important meals of the day.
-Rue.

7

Um… need I be the first here to offer to jump FCM??

Maybe I just have a dirty mind…:wink:

8

Astroboy, dahlink, you do have a dirty mind, and for that I am grateful. I was beginning to wonder why I was so unjumpable!!

Rue, that’s an interesting and totally unrelated moral. You’d have been better off offering to jump me. :smiley:

9

Did you tell her:

  1. “I’m not dead, I’m getting better.”
  2. “Rumors of my death have been greatly exaggerated.”
  3. “I’m pining for the fjords.”
  4. “I’m only mostly dead.”
10

Boy, and here I thought this was a thread about Leapfrog, or maybe Checkers, or just possibly offers of sex (astroboy beat me to it).
My first car’s battery was dying, but nobody seemed to recognize the symptoms. They all thought the loss of charge was due to a current leak somewhere. “Is there a light on all the time?” they asked, as if my car was a refrigerator in which the light didn’t go out when the door closed. It all turned out to be an old battery. I always look at the battery if there’s any unexplained electrical problem.

11

Sigh.
I must be getting old; the first thing I thought when I saw the thread title was that FCM’s vehicle had a dead battery.
Offering to jump her didn’t even occur to me until I opened the thread and saw the first line of the OP.

12

Well, I have reclaimed my vehicle. The repairs set me back less than a month’s car payment - not bad considering we paid it off last year. Unfortunately, within 20 miles, the Check Engine light came on. I had this happen before - it’s related to the emission controls, I think. It’s got to be coincidental.

I’ve been assured that it won’t hurt to drive it the next two days, and I have an appointment to take it back in on Saturday. Of course, if our plans to go to Baltimore for this weekend materialize, I’m not sure what we’ll do. I’ll worry about that tomorrow.

And as for all you guys who missed the wonderful opportunity to make a suggestive comment, I’m ashamed and embarrassed for you. Criminy, I give you a perfectly good straight line and this is what I get - leapfrog and checkers!!!

And RTF - you’re warped! I like that about you!

:smiley:

13

When I saw this thread title, the first thing I thought of was also sex… however, snice we’re both straight women, I don’t think FCM would have liked THAT offer very much. :slight_smile: Maybe I just have a dirty mind, influenced by too much flirting with certain online friends of mine… :wink:

But it’s a good thing you got the car fixed. :slight_smile:

F_X

14

You actually had the presence of mind to roll up the windows before you stopped the engine!? I’m in awe. If we were both single, I’d be offering to… well, you know.

15

Just wanted to say that I loved your description of sharing with your husband, FCM. I do the same thing, and think afterwards, “Well, what the heck did I call him for? To tell me yup, the battery is dead and I should call AMA? Duh - think I knew that.” I guess it is just the sharing thing.

16

featherlou, in some ways, I was kicking myself for feeling I had to call him. I knew full well there was nothing he could do for me at that moment. Still, I guess I was hoping he’d say something magical to make it all better. GAH!! I’m such a girl sometimes!!

heresiarch, my mind works in weird ways - who knows why I thought about closing the windows… But I’ll bask in your awe anyway - thanks! :slight_smile:

F_X - you don’t have a dirty mind - you’re just, um, open to possibilities?? How’s that? [sub]hehehehe[/sub]

Cal, I did look at the battery - I opened the hood and stood there and looked at it. Yep, a battery, all right, with a little corrosion on the positive terminal. Yep. :smiley:

17

I’m glad I finally opened this one.

I usually look at all the automotive threads and I’ve passed over this thread 483563 times thinking it was something about sex. :eek: :smiley:

5 years is a good time for a battery. I’ve seen the spectrum…supposedly 6 year batteries lasting 2 years, and those old-time 36-month warranty Sears batteries (they don’t make those anymore, AFAIK) lasting 7 years.

18

The replacement battery has a 96-month warranty - full replacement for the first 36 months. I don’t expect to have this van for 96 more months, so this may be the last battery I have to buy for this vehicle.

And, LolaBaby, you need to realize that I’m all wholesome and squeeky-clean and all that crap - I wouldn’t have a smutty thread… No really, I wouldn’t!!

19

Not you, ya perv. :wink:

And I about you. Which is why I post to your threads every chance I get. :slight_smile:

20

My wife does the same thing; she’ll call me at work to let me know that our friend who was supposed to take her shopping hasn’t shown up yet.

We came back from a weekend trip once and when the friend who had driven us (in our van) tried to start her car nothing happened. She popped the hood and her battery was missing!