So as I was Saying
The other day I bought a new car. As I drove my 2012 model off the lot, I couldn't help but think back to some of the other (ahem) automobiles I have owned. There was the one that I had to fill the radiator with water about every ten miles. There was a blown out hatchback on another. The battery was so bad on one, that I had to charge it before and after trip. Even if I went to the grocery store across the street, I had to charge it up. How about one that had no heater? Had to drive fast to get to where I was going. I drove one for a while, that my buddy told me, he was afraid it would get cancer, since it smoked so bad.
One about twenty years ago, while living in Detroit (of all places, Motor City), I really had trouble with my vehicles. You have arrived in automotive purgatory, when both of your cars are mentioned on the radio traffic reports. I've been there, and it's something I'll never forget. "On your Friday afternoon commute, stay away from Ford and Greenfield in Dearborn, as there is a stalled car.. Also Southfield road in Taylor has a broken down vehicle and it to blocking traffic." I remember telling the tow truck driver, "You better hurry, those are mine." "Which one?" "Both".
Needless to say both cars were old. Though they ran okay when moving, they both one major flaw. When it rained, they wouldn't start. A mechanic told me they both had a cracked distributor. So anyway, on this particular day, it's a Friday and we are leaving on vacation that afternoon. The plan was to work, then that afternoon pick up our two sons from daycare, meet up with the wife at home, and head on out. What could possibly go wrong?
The weather. That day rained hard. My car however, was parked under an overhang, and didn't get that wet. At five o'clock I go out, start the car and head out towards the day care center. It was at a stoplight about halfway there, when the car stalled. When I went to start it back up, it deader than fried chicken. So I got out of the car, pushed it out of the way, and called the wife to come get me.
That worked, so we went to Plan B. I would drop her off at home so she could finish packing, and I would go get the boys, come back and we would get out of there. A tow truck was picking up my car, and would drop it off at our house. That was another good plan gone awry, as that car broke down, this time in an intersection.
I got it pushed it out of the way, and called the tow truck company again. Finally I got a break as the driver that had hooked my car wasn't too far away. He could pick me up, take me home with the first car, then head out to get the second one.
Now, as this is continuing on, I remembered something that I was told years before. WD-40. Spray all over the distributor cap. That will dry up the moisture, and it should start. By now the rain had stopped, but traffic was snarled all over the western suburbs of Detroit, thanks to two pieces of junk with my name on the registration.
So I sprayed it on, and the car fired up. We paid off the tow guy, and feeling somewhat cocky, we took off to get our second vehicle. The process was repeated, and that also started. She took off for home, I took off for the kids.
The day care center wasn't amused, though we did call them and tell them we were running late. When we got there, the teacher told us that it really didn't matter as traffic was backed up all over town. (Okay, that part is not true). I got the kids picked up (and paid a huge penalty), got them home and we took off on our vacation.
Thankfully those days are long gone. My cars have gotten a whole lot better (The car I traded was relatively new, sportier Acura, which I liked but was tough to drive in the winter. My second vehicle is a BMW, which gets about two miles to the gallon of $3.50 gas) which I am real happy about.
Every time I see someone stranded on the side of the road, my heart goes out to them. Hey, I have been there. Twice in one day in fact.
Back Thursday with another Person of the Week
We will talk soon
Jeff
One about twenty years ago, while living in Detroit (of all places, Motor City), I really had trouble with my vehicles. You have arrived in automotive purgatory, when both of your cars are mentioned on the radio traffic reports. I've been there, and it's something I'll never forget. "On your Friday afternoon commute, stay away from Ford and Greenfield in Dearborn, as there is a stalled car.. Also Southfield road in Taylor has a broken down vehicle and it to blocking traffic." I remember telling the tow truck driver, "You better hurry, those are mine." "Which one?" "Both".
Needless to say both cars were old. Though they ran okay when moving, they both one major flaw. When it rained, they wouldn't start. A mechanic told me they both had a cracked distributor. So anyway, on this particular day, it's a Friday and we are leaving on vacation that afternoon. The plan was to work, then that afternoon pick up our two sons from daycare, meet up with the wife at home, and head on out. What could possibly go wrong?
The weather. That day rained hard. My car however, was parked under an overhang, and didn't get that wet. At five o'clock I go out, start the car and head out towards the day care center. It was at a stoplight about halfway there, when the car stalled. When I went to start it back up, it deader than fried chicken. So I got out of the car, pushed it out of the way, and called the wife to come get me.
That worked, so we went to Plan B. I would drop her off at home so she could finish packing, and I would go get the boys, come back and we would get out of there. A tow truck was picking up my car, and would drop it off at our house. That was another good plan gone awry, as that car broke down, this time in an intersection.
I got it pushed it out of the way, and called the tow truck company again. Finally I got a break as the driver that had hooked my car wasn't too far away. He could pick me up, take me home with the first car, then head out to get the second one.
Now, as this is continuing on, I remembered something that I was told years before. WD-40. Spray all over the distributor cap. That will dry up the moisture, and it should start. By now the rain had stopped, but traffic was snarled all over the western suburbs of Detroit, thanks to two pieces of junk with my name on the registration.
So I sprayed it on, and the car fired up. We paid off the tow guy, and feeling somewhat cocky, we took off to get our second vehicle. The process was repeated, and that also started. She took off for home, I took off for the kids.
The day care center wasn't amused, though we did call them and tell them we were running late. When we got there, the teacher told us that it really didn't matter as traffic was backed up all over town. (Okay, that part is not true). I got the kids picked up (and paid a huge penalty), got them home and we took off on our vacation.
Thankfully those days are long gone. My cars have gotten a whole lot better (The car I traded was relatively new, sportier Acura, which I liked but was tough to drive in the winter. My second vehicle is a BMW, which gets about two miles to the gallon of $3.50 gas) which I am real happy about.
Every time I see someone stranded on the side of the road, my heart goes out to them. Hey, I have been there. Twice in one day in fact.
Back Thursday with another Person of the Week
We will talk soon
Jeff
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