You know it's going to be a bad day when...

[dragonydreams]

I should have known the day was going to suck when I got woken up by a charlie horse 20 minutes before my alarm went off. Then my roommate was in the shower when it did. (I get up at the same time every day - she knows this.) I still was ready to go on time, by skipping my morning OJ.

I go to start the car and it makes clickity noises, but doesn't start. CRAP!!! My car's never not started before, so my heart starts to race and I mildly panic. I try again - the cd player spits out the cd, but that's it. I go back in the apartment and after pacing, I call AAA. Okay, first I called my dad (who's in Wisconsin, but still, my car's never not started before), but he didn't answer - it's an hour earlier where he is.

AAA sends someone to jump my car. I call my dad again and this time he answers and calms me down until the AAA guy arrives. He (AAA guy) says that I still have the factory battery and it needs to be replaced. (The car is a '99 and I bought it used 2 years ago.) He tells me to let it run for 45 minutes and sends me on my way.

I need gas. I knew I was down to a quarter of a tank, but the cheaper places on my way home were busy and I figured I had enough to get me through work the next day. I plan on stopping at a gas station a little past work that has a service, station, just in case. I get there about 40 minutes after the AAA guy got the car going.

The car didn't start. As I said, I purposely chose a place that has a service center, near work in case this happened. I had to leave my car there and they said it should be ready by 3pm. I called work and one of my co-workers came and picked me up.

I'd not done yet though. As some of you know, I eat breakfast at work. They have free coffee and free milk in the fridge, so I keep a bowl and box of cereal in my drawer. I got my coffee, which was fresh - the first good thing of the day. Then I go back to my desk to prepare my cereal, and bump the bowl as I'm getting up, spilling dry cereal all over my desk and keyboard.

I just knew that I didn't want to get up this morning. Keep your fingers crossed that it doesn't take the service guys long to fix my car, and that it doesn't cost me too much.

Comments

[heathervamped.livejournal.com]

When the starter on one of my previous vehicles bit the dust, there was no sound at all when I turned the key. So, I'm agreeing with your guy from work. Don't let the guy at the garage replace your starter! Batteries are much cheaper!
Good luck!

heather

[dragonydreams.livejournal.com]

I just hope he calls me before just doing it. They have both my work and cell numbers. Ack, now I have all this anxiety. This si not how I wanted to start my holiday weekend.

[rileysaplank.livejournal.com]

Don't quote me on this, but if there's a clicking sound coming from the car, I'd say the starter's trying to get the engine turned over, so it sounds as though it's the battery and not the starter, but don't quote me on that.

Andy

[rileysaplank.livejournal.com]

But on re-reading your post, I'd say it's more likely to be your alternator, as in 40 minutes the battery should have enough charge to turn the engine over to get it started. So it sounds like the alternator not charging the battery.

Andy

[dragonydreams.livejournal.com]

Ack, another thing to worry about being wrong! Whatever it is, I just hope this place can fix it, and not have it cost me too much. It's times like this I miss living near the T (subway).

Elisabeth