Sucking Suckitude II, the Suckening
Mar. 16th, 2009 05:13 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
drpaisleyThis morning (after ~5 hours of sleep, see previous post) I went down to the Hyatt to pick up the leftover soda and consuite supplies that Naka-Kon was gracious enough to donate to ConQuesT (thanks again, guys!). Suckitude Part Uno of the day came when I shoved the first oversized case of Mountain Dew into the back of the van, and managed to jam my right little finger against the piece that covers the underside of the back seat when it is folded down. It hurt at the time, and it continues to do so, along with some swelling and bruising that might be signs of a small fracture, probably in the knuckle area.
Having crammed the van full enough that the tires were starting to deform, I got ready to head home and unload. I turned the key, and got a series of fast clicking noises. I redistributed items to make sure the hatch was fully shut, and tried several more times, with the same result. I called Rohanna*, who had not yet left to take the grandchildren home from their weekend adventure at the con (and staying with us), and she drove down and gave it a whirl, with the same result.
She went to alert the head of the valet parking service of the situation, and he asked if we'd like to try a jump start. He went into the garage, and came back with a huge Frankensteinian charging device which we hooked up, and with a scream of "Give my vehicle life!"** I turned the key. Vroom! went the van, and I took it home. We all went to breakfast, and Rohanna dropped me back at the ranch to unload the treasure. Before she left, I turned the key again, ad it started right up. Many cases of soda, chips, crackers, Capri Sun and a metric shitload or chocolate and Valentine's candy later, I was done. Before I went inside, I tried to start it again, with a reversion to the earlier "clicky" result.
After Ro got back and took a nap to begin the post-visit recuperation process, we rolled the van out of the drive and onto the street, and tried jumping it again. It took several tries, but it did start. She and I drove around for a half hour, which should be enough time to build up some charge. When we got home, she turned it off, then started it again, and it came right up. We're going to try it again before we go to dinner, and again in the morning. We're hoping it's the battery, we can probably do that ourselves.
*My car skills are along the lines of the comic who described being able to open the hood and say, "Yep, that's an engine in there."
**No actual screaming occured
Having crammed the van full enough that the tires were starting to deform, I got ready to head home and unload. I turned the key, and got a series of fast clicking noises. I redistributed items to make sure the hatch was fully shut, and tried several more times, with the same result. I called Rohanna*, who had not yet left to take the grandchildren home from their weekend adventure at the con (and staying with us), and she drove down and gave it a whirl, with the same result.
She went to alert the head of the valet parking service of the situation, and he asked if we'd like to try a jump start. He went into the garage, and came back with a huge Frankensteinian charging device which we hooked up, and with a scream of "Give my vehicle life!"** I turned the key. Vroom! went the van, and I took it home. We all went to breakfast, and Rohanna dropped me back at the ranch to unload the treasure. Before she left, I turned the key again, ad it started right up. Many cases of soda, chips, crackers, Capri Sun and a metric shitload or chocolate and Valentine's candy later, I was done. Before I went inside, I tried to start it again, with a reversion to the earlier "clicky" result.
After Ro got back and took a nap to begin the post-visit recuperation process, we rolled the van out of the drive and onto the street, and tried jumping it again. It took several tries, but it did start. She and I drove around for a half hour, which should be enough time to build up some charge. When we got home, she turned it off, then started it again, and it came right up. We're going to try it again before we go to dinner, and again in the morning. We're hoping it's the battery, we can probably do that ourselves.
*My car skills are along the lines of the comic who described being able to open the hood and say, "Yep, that's an engine in there."
**No actual screaming occured
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(no subject)
Date: 2009-03-16 11:14 pm (UTC)Sorry about the car. Last time mine did that I jumped into a borrowed vehicle, went to Rainbow & the Boulevard & bought a battery, then went home and knocked on the door of the place that always has guys milling around cars with hoods up. The first one to answer the door was drafted to install my battery. I figure that is how you find folks who can do things like that.
Though the other day I jump started a car for a neighbor's daughter, teaching her how in the process. She was pretty young.
(no subject)
Date: 2009-03-17 12:25 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2009-03-17 02:33 am (UTC)Sounds like battery, all right.
(no subject)
Date: 2009-03-17 02:44 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2009-03-17 02:45 am (UTC)(Would have been one comment, but brain hasn't restarted yet).