So after a not so restful sleep, Jakey was up at 5:15am. Naturally. There's some law in the world that states, "The less sleep you and your progeny have, the earlier everyone will have to get up in the morning." You know it's true.
The alarm panel was blinking Area 17 FIRE in an ominous way, but the sledgehammer I had readied in the hall didn't need to be called into action yet. Bleary-eyed, I stumbled through the morning routine, got Nate out to his skating practice and realized that we would have to hit Toys R Us afterward to get a present for an afternoon
10:30am: On the highway to get to the big box store asphalt jungle, a message flashes onto my dashboard LCD display: Check Charging System. Which reminds me I haven't activated my new Visa card yet.
10:34am: Notice flashes off.
10:50am: Kids and I reach our destination and walk through the doors. The smell of fresh plastic is everywhere.
Apparently, it's Barbie's 50th birthday and the store is celebrating with icing-laden cupcakes.
11:00 - 11:18am: I contend with increasingly shrill, sugar-fueled, "I wanna bike. I wanna scooter. I want this. I want that. I never get anything. I want a toy. MooooooooMMMMMM!" complaints, while Jakey runs in rabid circles around the aisles.
11:30am: I load two sobbing kids in the car and drive the highway home. Check charging system appears for a while then disappears. Car seems fine. Besides, it was just in for its 73 kajillion dollar "tune up" last month.
noon: We reach home and I have a quick stare-off with the alarm system panel. It blinks once. I stick my tongue out.
1:20pm -- I hit the highway again to get David. This time the charging system warning stays on most of 45 minute drive to the airport.
2:30pm -- Pick up David and point out the intermittently flashing warning again. David mentions that means the alternator is having trouble. At least there's no air raid siren alarm attached to the warning.
4:06pm -- Having dropped David and Jake at home, Nate at his party, I pull into the Ford dealership only to be told that the they closed at 4:00, the technicians are all gone and that yes, indeed, something must be wrong with the alternator. Don't drive the car.
Since it's our only family vehicle, and they're not open Sunday, I leave.
4:15pm -- I pull out of the dealership, ask David to call Canadian Tire. He calls back and says they're closed, bring in the vehicle tomorrow.
Sunday
8:30am -- I drop David and kids off to swim for 2 hours while I go to Canadian Tire to see about an alternator.
9:30am -- They tell me that my alternator is not working, but they need to order the parts. Don't drive the car, leave it there until tomorrow.
Since it's our only family vehicle, I have them charge the battery for an hour, then drive to get the boys and go home.
4:30pm -- Nate splits his top lip open, forcing us to drive to the clinic for stitches. Fortunately, they suggest glue. I spend the entire drive there and back convinced the car will die. The warning is on for good now.
9:00pm -- David leaves for another, week-long business trip.
Monday
8:30am -- I drop off kids at school/daycare, dog at doggy daycare, the car at Canadian Tire and am assured it will be ready by 4pm.
2:30pm -- CT calls to tell me that they've had three different alternators delivered, none of which are right. The correct one costs, get this, $1000. They decided that was too expensive, so they sent the alternator to be rebuilt. (Would've been nice to be consulted on that executive decision.) Problem is, the rebuilt alternator isn't back since the garage they sent it to needs to order another part for the rebuild. My car might not be ready at 4:00pm.
Uh. huh.
4:30pm -- They call. My car won't be ready until tomorrow.
4:35pm -- I frantically call neighbours to pick up my sons, call the doggy daycare owner to drop off my dog (since no taxi will take him with me), and arrange for a cab ride home.
Tuesday
8:30am -- The same neighbours who picked up my kids give me their much-more-expensive-than-my-vehicle car so I can function for the day.
2:30pm -- CT calls to ask me for the alarm code for my car.
Me: What alarm code?
CT: Well, the horn alarm's going off and the immobilizer's been activated and we can't turn the car over.
Me: My car doesn't have an immobilizer.
CT: It must have because the engine won't turn over.
Me: I don't think so. No immobilizer. Have you called Ford?
CT: They said they don't know. But do you have the code?
Me: There is no code. I have no code. There is a keypad on the door, but we've never used it, never set it. No code.
CT: Is it a previously owned car?
Me: No.
CT: Well can you check the manual, because the code might be in there.
Me: No. I'm at work. But I'm pretty sure there's no code.
CT: Okay, we'll figure it out.
2:50pm -- My cell rings again.
CT: So, you really don't know the code, right? The horn's driving us crazy.
Me: NO. CODE.
CT: Okay. Thanks. Bye.
4:00pm -- I call Ford to see if I am going to be able to get my car.
CT: Oh yes, no problem.
Me: Soooooo, you turned the alarm off?
CT: Hmmm? Oh yeah. Turns out we hit the FLIBBEDY GIBBIT and it set off the alarm and immobilized the car.
Me: So, everything's okay?
CT: Sure.
** To Be Continued
7 Heard through the grapevine:
immobilizer? WTF is that? (btw: I have a Ford)
I had a similar problem... my car's alternator warning light came on and stayed on for days. Brought it in. They kept the car for THREE days only to figure out it was a $10 sensor that checked if the alternator was actually working, and not the alternator. They sent me away (without charging me the however many hours of diagnostics because those are free) and said in exchange for no charge for the part or labour, I was never to bring my car there again.
Why do I get the sense this isn't going to end well? Is it the alarm sirens going off in my head?
Also, who actually has their car manual with them or even in their homes? We've always and forever kept vehicle manuals in the actual vehicle!
Also, again, the brake light on my minivan keeps flashing on and dinging when I stop. I fear this won't bode well, but I'm too scared to take it to the dealer to find out what the damage to fix it will be.
SFD -- My Honda Civic (never buy Ford) had an immobilizer chip in the ignition. As far as I knew, it would shut down the engine if someone stole/jimmied the steering column. I'm sure there's a more technical explanation available somewhere on the web.
Our Ford (never buy Ford), doesn't have one though.
FADKOG -- Ah, well, I can't give the ending away, but it is coming.
Normally, I would keep the manual in the car. But, the Ford manual is too large for the glove compartment (never by a Ford). Great usability, eh?
I have a built in immobilizer too and I have no idea how to control it. And my god, the FLIBBEDY GIBBIT! Say it ain't so. I sense something akin to an air raid siren or Mary Hart screaming nonstop is in the follow-up post.
We've been driving around with our airbag light on for 3 years. Something to do with a sensor light that will cost us well over $300 to fix. Airbags still work so we deal with the light!
Can't wait to hear the end!!
I wanted to drop by to say thank you for your support in my Super Heavy Duty Post on Violence Unsilenced. I appreciate it greatly.
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