Google is your Friend - Page 1

I have to rant about my car trouble today.

My caddy just upped and conked out, shut itself off ten yards from the stop light intersection on a slight hill. I had no choice but to put it in park and hit the hazard lights. I looked on in disbelief as my car told me No FOB Detected followed by, Seek Service Soon, and then... nothing.

I forced myself to inhale and think. I said a small prayer, like, "Dear God, please let it start." And then it did. I held my breath and touched the gas pedal, it inched up the hill, and the lights started to blink and repeat the same dire warnings as above. I had enough momentum to make the right hand turn which was thankfully downhill, and I was able to coast into the immediate right hand turn, into a parking lot. It was rough going with no power brakes or steering, I purposely stayed away from the brick walls of the building.
 
My neighbor was home when I called her to rescue me, so that part went well, too. The DH never answers his phone during the day so I knew I wasn't going to get help from that direction. I called the dealer, they recommended their tow guy, let's call him Mr. Soprano. He's about a half hour away. I say okay, just call me when you get close to the car and I would meet him, driving the DH's Miata. (The truck he took to work today, for some reason.)

Now, I pretty much avoid driving this, his toy car. It just seems like a lot of work to me, when I can drive my caddy. 

After waiting three hours for Mr. Soprano to call, I begin to notice the storm clouds rolling in. My caddy rear window happened to be stuck in the down position. I call him back, just to check and make sure they haven't lost my number. They won't tell me when to expect them until I remind them my window is open and it is about to pour outside!

So, finally, I get in the Miata to drive to meet him at the dead caddy, but first I have to put the top up. Thankfully the kid is home and he knows how to do that. It has been a long time since I attempted that action. Good enough then, until I begin adjusting all the mirrors and check the gages. That's when I notice there is no gas. Great I think. I can't believe it. You guys have no idea how many times DH gets in MY car and complains I have no gas. I know when I have no gas, so it isn't a problem for me. And here he has his car sitting in the garage with no gas. Hmmfph. 

I drive straight to the gas station to fill it up. Except I can't find the release for the gas tank! I search the side, the floor, the steering wheel, the key chain, I ask an old man, any one I can grab? Where do you think it is? I call my son at home... he says, I know Dad reaches in and does something but that's about it. All I can say now, is ARGhhhhhhh.

Then an inspiration hits me! I suddenly remembered when once, I think it was Leonard... who hasn't posted here in a great while, said, "Google is your friend". And so I googled, where is the gas tank release in the Miata MX5, and lo and behold, I found it! And it wasn't just me having to google this exact thing! They have put that thing in the most un-obvious, obnoxious place that makes no damn sense. 

Mr. Soprano finally showed up. Turns out he's young, cute and nice. I get back home just in time for the skies to open up and send down a deluge.  At least I was broke down by the soup store, and that's what we are having dinner for tonight.

I can't wait to hear what is wrong with the car.... I have a bad feeling about this... it isn't a new caddy, ya' know? LOL

I wish I had one of those Watermelon-Jalapeno Marguerita's right about now! That too! What a day.
 

LOL...priceless!

Thanks you two. Don't know anything about the cause. Seems my urgency doesn't equal the Service Dept's. They haven't even looked at it! Said tomorrow, they will call.  

LOL, I am still waiting for the IRS to return my call, too! 

I think Mr.Soprano died.
Maybe google is your friend.

And don't think that didn't freak me out, just a tiny bit!  Until my son reminded me, I wasn't so powerful as to be able to just think about a man, and then he drops dead! 

I still don't have my car. They started the "hey lady" number on me, too. Tried to tell me they charged the battery and it was OKAY. This is why I hate garages. I know when to get a jump or a tow. Idiots. Had to get the DH on to the service manager so he could tell them it was a newer, expensive battery; that they had to keep looking. 

 

It's prolly the alternator or fuel pump. LOL

BeeTree you need cowboys to call in situations like this !!! They fix alongside the road and bring lawn chairs an coolers !!! LOL

Back on the road in no time. 

 
 

BabyEagle, how much do you think a replacement alternator costs for a 2005 caddy? And the guy on the phone called it a "generator". I have never heard anyone call a car alternator: a generator. I think he was just trying to be a jerk.

Please PM me any of your "cowboy" phone numbers. Only the ones at least a couple decades younger than the guy in your avartar will do it for me, though. For the next time? Hmm?

Coolers and lawn chairs? Really? Full of Budweiser, I am sure.

Generators came before alternators, the guy must really be old.

It's not the alternator that will get you, it's the labor....lol