(no subject)

[my_window_seat]

Car = Dead.

Got into it after work tonight - nothing. Not even a click.

Called Triple A. They jumped it, it ran for about 60 seconds -

And died again.

Towed to a garage, and like 99.9% of Albufuckingquerque, they're closed on Saturday. But they were happy to tell me that if it's the alternator, I'm "looking at at least $400, easy."

At which point I told them that it would be on its way to a junkyard.

With 260,000+ miles on it, putting that much money into it when I'm still paying off tthe last repairs -

Not going to happen.

I may be totally without a car for good much sooner than I expected.

Either way, I won't know anything at all until Monday.

ANYONE ELSE WANT TO KICK ME IN THE NUTS RIGHT NOW?

No, really. Please, step right up.

Comments

[johnnybrainwash.livejournal.com]

Well, you were looking forward to all that bike-riding anyway.

[my-window-seat.livejournal.com]

I think I shall slap you. Hard, and with feeling.

Seriously, though - I was thinking that I'd at least have a little time to get in decent shape before getting thrown this particular curve. I'm still pushing around 180 lbs., which on a 5'3'' frame means that I'm not exactly going to be giving Lance Armstrong a run for his money any time soon.

[jarmon.livejournal.com]

I'm sorry hon. That really sucks. My batter just died on my truck so I have to take it to the shop tomorrow and probably drop a couple hundred bucks to fix it.

[my-window-seat.livejournal.com]

What, are the car-killing gnomes make the rounds right now? It's the goddamn gnomes. GNOMES, I tell you!

Not that I'm glad you're having trouble too, but comiseration is a powerful thing.

$400??

[hillbillie.livejournal.com]

No no no.
The alternator itself shouldn't run you more than $200, and if you can get ANYone else to put it in for cheap..they're not that complicated..you could get off for under 3.

In my experience.
Alternators have usually run me $140 - $160, so I don't know for sure, but $400 seems awfully high to me.

Re: $400??

[my-window-seat.livejournal.com]

That seems to be an opinion shared by my friend Jim and his associates as well. Of course, stupid me, I forgot that I was supposed to call Pep Boys and get an estimate from them until literally five minutes after they closed.

Meh.

Jim is thinking we might try to go to the garage where my car is tomorrow, and if they didn't move it to a gated lot or something, we might try to hork the battery out and take it to Pep Boys and get it tested, and maybe buy another battery, plop it in, and see what happens. Dunno. Worst case scenario, I learn nothing tomorrow, wait for the estimate on Moday, and if it's in the $4-500 range, just decide that I start my new life as a bike-only person. ... And I just erased a mjor chunk of rantage I added about what that would mean, but I guess I'll wait to worry about that until the worst is confirmed.

Re: Well..if it's only an estimate..

[hillbillie.livejournal.com]

..then if it's not reasonable, you can take the car elsewhere, right?

I would.

Who is Jim?
Could he work on your car himself?

[vividshimmer.livejournal.com]

Yeah an alternator would only cost you between $120 and $140.
And I could put it in for you, if you wanted.
I've had to replace an alternator several times on different cars, so I have a little experience.

And I still have your copy of "The Village". Give it back to you soon much?

[elegantdreams.livejournal.com]

the last time I thought that my alternator was gone, it turned out that my battery cables/stems were in need of a cleaning, which was done with a little battery cleaning thing a ma jig that we bought at walmart, having already replaced the battery and then having the car die again, I was sure it was the alternator, I was wrong, but had I taken it to a shop, I am sure I would have had the damn thing replaced and been none the wiser.