Today on the way to work my engine overheated. Well not my engine but the engine my car. As I saw the temp indicator go higher than normal I started watching it like a hawk. When it hit the last white line below the red lines I knew I had a problem.
I started making plans to get off the road and I paid more attention to the gauge then the road itself. Suddenly the needle hit the red zone and the driver info center turned red and displayed a hot coolant message. I pulled the car to the right half on the shoulder half on grass and turned the engine off. I then turned it back to accessory and high heat to try to bleed off heat but nothing but cold air blew.
At the point I knew I was in deep trouble because I was going to attract the attention of the police and I did not have my license on me. I had forgotten it in my other coat. One cop passed me going the other way and mistook my wave for everything is fine and he continued on. About 15 minutes later a cop passed me standing in the freezing cold, turned around then pulled next to my car on the grass side.
I walked over to him and said am I glad to see you. Explained about the over heating problem and told him I called for someone to bring me some coolant hoping that was the issue. At this point the temp gauge showed the engine was cold so I felt ok to risk driving the car for about 200 feet. He stopped traffic from behind and I pulled it into the parking lot on the other side of the street. He then advised me to get permission from the business to leave my car and he went on his way. Thankfully he did not ask for my DL at any point.
So my father comes and when he tried to open my coolant overflow tank to see if there was any there (I wanted to check the coolant at the radiator itself) he ends up breaking a plug off. So now I know even with coolant it’s not safe to drive so I call AAA to tow to my mechanic’s place.
After all this I had a Doctor’s appointment. My leg has been bothering me since Sunday by my ankle and it feels warm. The doctor’s diagnoses is cellulitis and wants me to stay off my feet today and tomorrow. He has prohibited me from going to work until Thursday. Hopefully my car will be fixed by then.