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miriam_eThe day started well enough. It was my Mum's birthday. I organised a computer to replace the one she and Dad already have, and I was going to pick up an ethernet cable to let them share my sister's internet connection. Mum would finally be on the net.
I started off a bit early so as to leave enough time to get to the computer shop and get the bits I needed and yet still have enough time to set up the computer before the secret birthday party at the restaurant.
Halfway up the very steep, winding Obi Obi Road my car died. Oh boy! Worst possible place for that to happen. Luckily a nice couple picked up me and Mali the dog, and took us out of their way to my brother Peter's place. (You meet the best people sometimes!) Peter thought it sounded like the car was out of fuel (I'd let it get pretty low) so he drove me back there, pausing along the way to pick up a drum, funnel, and petrol. I was wondering, however... there were some oddities, like the fact that when the car had conked out I'd tried to start it again and the starter motor had refused to even turn.
When we got to the car we rolled it back a few bends looking for a less steep section so that we could more easily pour the petrol into the car's tank. We were rolling backwards down a very steep, winding road up which people generally drive as fast as they can. And we were doing this in a car with power-assisted brakes and no power -- this is the stuff I have nightmares about. Really. For much of my life I have had nightmares about driving a car where the brakes either partially or totally fail. Anyway, after living the nightmare without incident, we stopped at a part of the road that wasn't as steep as the rest, and did the petrol refilling bit, slopping stinky fuel all over the place. (I hate that stuff!) Then I tried to start the car and all it did was some half-hearted clicking noises. Some guys stopped to offer their expertise, figuring it was the starter motor and tried hitting it a couple of times with a hammer. Nothing.
Peter decided to call up the RACQ (roadside assistance) and got a lift up to his car, which we'd left further up the mountain. I waited in the dead car, thinking. When he drove back down to me we sat and talked for a while. As it was starting to get dark I asked if he had jumper leads in his car so that we could try jump-starting the car. Peter didn't think it would work, but thought it was worth a try so he turned his car to face mine and connected them. The car started easily and instantly. We were both astonished. However when he removed the jumper leads we noticed that the parker lights were going dim... then the car started running roughly... and died. Something is definitely wrong with the electrical system.
Not too much later the RACQ guy arrived and winched the car onto the back of his truck. We went to Peter's place where the RACQ guy unloaded the car. The car's alarm was going -- must have been set off by the ride on the truck. I didn't even know it had an alarm. Anyway, now the alarm has cut all electrical systems so I can't start it even if I find out what part was causing the previous problem. And I don't have a key to reset the alarm.
So I have to make an appointment with an auto electrician on Monday to take what tiny amount of money I have and get the car working again... maybe.
That was yesterday... and today I have a terrible headache.
Oh, by the way, my wonderful Mum had a lovely birthday party. Peter and I were only about an hour late.
I started off a bit early so as to leave enough time to get to the computer shop and get the bits I needed and yet still have enough time to set up the computer before the secret birthday party at the restaurant.
Halfway up the very steep, winding Obi Obi Road my car died. Oh boy! Worst possible place for that to happen. Luckily a nice couple picked up me and Mali the dog, and took us out of their way to my brother Peter's place. (You meet the best people sometimes!) Peter thought it sounded like the car was out of fuel (I'd let it get pretty low) so he drove me back there, pausing along the way to pick up a drum, funnel, and petrol. I was wondering, however... there were some oddities, like the fact that when the car had conked out I'd tried to start it again and the starter motor had refused to even turn.
When we got to the car we rolled it back a few bends looking for a less steep section so that we could more easily pour the petrol into the car's tank. We were rolling backwards down a very steep, winding road up which people generally drive as fast as they can. And we were doing this in a car with power-assisted brakes and no power -- this is the stuff I have nightmares about. Really. For much of my life I have had nightmares about driving a car where the brakes either partially or totally fail. Anyway, after living the nightmare without incident, we stopped at a part of the road that wasn't as steep as the rest, and did the petrol refilling bit, slopping stinky fuel all over the place. (I hate that stuff!) Then I tried to start the car and all it did was some half-hearted clicking noises. Some guys stopped to offer their expertise, figuring it was the starter motor and tried hitting it a couple of times with a hammer. Nothing.
Peter decided to call up the RACQ (roadside assistance) and got a lift up to his car, which we'd left further up the mountain. I waited in the dead car, thinking. When he drove back down to me we sat and talked for a while. As it was starting to get dark I asked if he had jumper leads in his car so that we could try jump-starting the car. Peter didn't think it would work, but thought it was worth a try so he turned his car to face mine and connected them. The car started easily and instantly. We were both astonished. However when he removed the jumper leads we noticed that the parker lights were going dim... then the car started running roughly... and died. Something is definitely wrong with the electrical system.
Not too much later the RACQ guy arrived and winched the car onto the back of his truck. We went to Peter's place where the RACQ guy unloaded the car. The car's alarm was going -- must have been set off by the ride on the truck. I didn't even know it had an alarm. Anyway, now the alarm has cut all electrical systems so I can't start it even if I find out what part was causing the previous problem. And I don't have a key to reset the alarm.
So I have to make an appointment with an auto electrician on Monday to take what tiny amount of money I have and get the car working again... maybe.
That was yesterday... and today I have a terrible headache.
Oh, by the way, my wonderful Mum had a lovely birthday party. Peter and I were only about an hour late.