A weekend of car troubles

Not exactly the weekend that we had planned so far...  This was the weekend that we were supposed to be at Birmingham Town Hall to see Magnum on the Serpent Rings tour, but COVID-19 put paid to that.

So, we decided to say "sod it" and have a relaxing break.  Ok - Friday morning we dropped my partner's car off to the garage so they could investigate a couple of issues for him, and we still had Monster to use for the various bits and pieces (even though he doesn't like Monster (or my driving!)).

So Friday was successful in a way.  After we'd dropped his car off, we stopped off at Morrisons to pick up some shopping, then it was on to Wing Yip to get some bits and then once home, the first of the car troubles started...

The garage where my partner had left his car called, and said that they couldn't open the bonnet as the lock was inoperative.  Typical Ford problem from what we found out.  So he wasn't happy yesterday.

Today it was my turn.  We'd planned to go to Tesco to do some food shopping, then go into town for a look around.

Well, Monster decided *that* wasn't happening.  I hit the plip for the car, and the mirrors didn't unfold, nor did  the headlights come on.  Ok, strange, but possibly a dead battery in the plip.

So, I unlocked the driver's door (thank God for a physical key!) Then put the key in the ignition, and tried to start the car.  Nothing.  Not a click, and no interior light...

Ok.  Now I was worried.  But, my partner (practical man that he is) said that we should replace the battery in the plip to see if that worked.  So, one replacement battery later, and it was back to see the Monster.

Nope.  Still not having it.  So, I freely admit that I was now seriously worried. What had gone wrong with my little Monster?  But, luckily for me, I have breakdown cover, and decided to call on it.

The recovery agent came out, and he was charming, as well as being very informative.  He said that it was not a good idea to use jump leads, as this could fry the electronics on the car. (Been there with the Audi - don't want to go through that with the Monster thank you!). 

So, once he'd connected the jump starter (and shown me how / where to connect it on Monster), he asked me to turn the car into the first ignition point to see if I had power....

Yes!  So we started the Monster, checked the alternator was working ok and the battery was charging.  But, he couldn't guarantee that the car would start again, so I needed a new battery.

Great.  Now as the car is a smart ass stop start system, it costs a hell of a lot more than a normal battery.  And to add insult to injury, there are two different versions of the battery for the Monster.

Luckily for me, the local independent car spares had one of each in stock... And said if it wasn't the right one (as in it didn't fit) I could swap it for the other one.

Ok - then it came to getting it fitted...  Now I appreciated the honesty of the car spares staff - they'd never replaced a battery on a car as new as Monster, and were unwilling to risk damaging the car's ECU -  but they knew somewhere that could near by...

So, off we went.  Only this other store didn't have a battery in stock.  Damn.  But, if we supplied the battery, they would fit it.  

So, back to the car spares store for the new battery, and it was duly fitted by a really helpful and charming gentleman who didn't treat me like a dumb female when I asked questions about the battery as this is the first car I've had with this system on.

Monster is now sorted, but I still have to get the engine management light reset, so I'll call Arbury on Monday morning and see if I can drop the Monster in for their engineers to reset the system.

So, after a day like today, all we have wanted to do is chill out.  And I had planned to make some mango chutney as well as season the two carbon steel woks that we bought from Wing Yip.

That's now being done tomorrow as the weather doesn't look too good, and neither of us is really interested in shopping - especially not this close to Christmas....

Time to call it quits - I am starting to fall asleep, and don't really want to fall asleep on the setee...

Back tomorrow with photos of the chutney making...

Karen

The Moonking is waiting again

And maybe he'll welcome you in

To ride on a warm solar wind

Back where your dreams can begin

The Moonking is calling again

But never a sound to be heard

So up through a bright silver sky

Waiting but never deterred