S/NSS: yay for good luck and being prepared

[Napoleon54]

This little bit of suckage easily could've been a lot more suckage if I wasn't prepared or didn't have some good fortune.

I was heading down to Syracuse this evening to have dinner with a friend, about an hour drive away. Stopped at an auto parts store about half way there to pick up some oil. Got my oil, went back out to the parking lot and my truck wouldn't start. Would barely turn over, labored effort sounds from the starter, I assumed a dieing battery. Another customer graciously gave me a jump but it didn't help. Major "grrr" moment.

Luckily I keep a toolbox and a pair of coveralls in the truck. Lights and all other electric system were working fine, so I assumed the battery and alternator were okay. I suspected the starter had taken a crap, so I hit it and the solenoid with a hammer a few times in case it was just seized but that didn't help. Removed starter and replaced it with new one from the store ($80 for a remanufactured unit including a solenoid... yay for having a common vehicle), and she fired right up. Woohoo!

After an hour of working under my truck in the store parking lot, washed up in their restroom, and I was on my way again. My friend and I no longer had time for dinner, but we did get hang out in a coffee shop for a few hours instead.

So yeah, that sucked. But hooray for being prepared and being fortunate enough for it to die in the parking lot of a parts store of all places. If things were any different I would've had to have it towed to some shop chosen out of the phone book. I'd've had to have someone come pick me up and I'd probably get boned out of a few hundred $ on a simple repair job that wouldn't have gotten done until the next day.

I'm glad life decided to cut me a break today. :)

[Prngr44]

People working on their cars in the parking lots of gas stations and Auto part stores crack me up. :)

But I agree... pretty damn good luck to break down in a place frequented by gearheads!

[DarkFury]

Dayuuum... you keep a pair of emergency coveralls in your truck?

That almost certainly qualifies and certifies you as a "Down South Hick". :D

On a side note, I think the ONLY install I've ever done in an Auto Store parking lot is putting new windshield wiper blades on. :D

[Napoleon54]

Dayuuum... you keep a pair of emergency coveralls in your truck?

That almost certainly qualifies and certifies you as a "Down South Hick". :D

WOO HOOO, thanks for the honorary title! :heh:

I also had a pair of latex gloves in my tool box to keep my paws from getting grimy, but for some stupid reason neglected to wear them. D'oh! :dead:

[DarkFury]

Hee hee...

With latex gloves in the tool box, that gives you part of the requirements to be certified as a "Down South Hick Medical Examiner" :)

You'd have to pass the "farm animals husbandry and delivering babies at home" course in order to get fully certified on that title though. :heh:

[guiseppewv]

Glad to hear that things worked out well for you!!!


Dayuuum... you keep a pair of emergency coveralls in your truck?

That almost certainly qualifies and certifies you as a "Down South Hick". :D

On a side note, I think the ONLY install I've ever done in an Auto Store parking lot is putting new windshield wiper blades on. :D

I keep a pair in my car. :) I like to help people change tires but I don't like to ruin nice clothes. It always pays to be prepared. :) I usually have a pair of gloves in there too. :)

[oblongmelon]

Holy crap! You're lucky you didn't break down in Syracuse! That place is a war zone anymore!...where were you going to go to dinner? If you ever get chance, go to Plainville Farms in Cicero..MAN, it's like Thanksgiving everyday there! Plus you can eat Hydroponic lettuce..woohoo! And my s-i-l is a wiz with engines..thank goodness he is..he's saved my butt a zillion times! (for free!)

[Napoleon54]

Hmm, I didn't know Syracuse was that bad. What makes you say that? I've been to SU, Armory Square, East and North sides recently and it didn't seem any different. We were going to meet at the Spaghetti Warehouse but unfortunately that had to change. Instead we hung out at a coffee shop called the Sugarpearl at the corner of Burnet and Crouse. They serve Gimme! Coffee and it is fantastic stuff. It's a popular lesbian hangout so I feel a little out of place, but not too badly. Not like they want to castrate me at the door or anything like that (as good as the coffee is, it wouldn't be worth THAT). It's a cool place frequented by cool people.

I've been to Plainville in Cicero too and I agree, it is pretty darn good.