This
particular day was a day just like any other. Who the hell am I trying to kid
here? It was nothing like any other day at all. Not even in the slightest. It
was 5:00 am, -19 degrees Celsius with a wind chill factor that made it feel
like -27 degrees, and I’m out, attempting to start my truck in an effort to get
myself to work. For my all “Merikin” friends, that’s cold eh! And yes I did
bring in my brass monkey the night before.
I had
no reason to believe that my truck would not start as it had been faithfully maintained
ever since it fell into my ownership. O.k. that’s not entirely true either. I’m
about a month overdue for an oil change but I have a plan, trust me. My point
here is that it has never let me down before. Also the fact that I’m a total
idiot for completely forgetting one rather important issue in this whole
scenario that I’ll get to that in a minute. Back to the build-up.
Here I
am, bundled up like a papoose, fumbling with my keys, attempting to get into my
vehicle before my fingers freeze solid, all while juggling the needed work
supply type stuff that I carry with me. It’s a small duffle bag. Not important to
you what it is but let’s just say that I need it for my job. Oh yes, and my
lunch bag. I can never forget my lunch bag. I may forget to bring my teeth but
I will never, ever forget my lunch bag. My wife, bless her sole, makes my lunch
for me. I will, and have gummed down my lunch because I didn’t have my teeth. Spoiled?
Me? No way. Loved? Most definitely. No the lunch bag does not fit in the duffle
bag…duh. Tried it already.
So back
to the truck. I shiveringly (just made that word up. Feel free to use it)
insert my key in the ignition and turn it. Everything powers up, phew. A good
sign, until I hear that dreaded “click” of a starter not turning over. The silliness
of it all is that I think (and we all do) if I try turning the key a few more
times in a row, at different pause intervals, it will change the result and
maybe trick it somehow into starting. There are fewer sounds that are more
disheartening in the wee hours of a freezing cold morning. I can’t seem to
think of any right now but I’m sure there are some. This is where the deflation
gasps of air escape in realization that an alternative mode is needed to
transport myself to work. A cab and 30
bucks later.
Now we fast
forward to the next morning. After a 14 hour shift I’m not dealing with a dead
battery, or starter, or relay, or solenoid. So the next morning it is. Not
nearly as cold, nor as early. Still a pain in the ass though.
I
gather a few diagnostic items, and even fabricate a couple of jumper wires to
bypass the ignition switch and the starter relay. Out to the truck I go and
delve whole heartedly into this situation determined to get to the bottom of it
all. I narrow down the issue to what could only be two things. But in order to
prove or disprove either one, I need a battery boost. I now begin the
inevitable scan of the parking lot in an attempt to flag down someone that
would be willing to help me out. After all, I have cables in my truck. Then it
hits me.
Like a slap in the face I
start looking around, as if I was sure I was being filmed, to see if there is
anyone who has noticed just how stupid of an episode this has become. How could
I have forgotten the most important factor in solving this dilemma?
I promptly packed up my
tools, embarrassingly tucked my tail between my legs, went back inside, and
called the service number on the CAA roadside assistance membership that I
forgot that I had all along. Major brain fart. Smack myself in the forehead
kind of realization.
Just to
make a long story a bit longer, the service truck shows up and boosts my truck
to get it running. Then he goes further and performs a complete battery and electrical
diagnostic, which takes about 10 minutes, that determines there is a power
drain on my battery. Further investigation reveals that it seems to be a failed
adapter module for the aftermarket CD / DVD player that I had installed.
Needless to say that it took all of about twenty minutes to reinstall the original
CD player. Problem solved.
Kudos
to the gentleman that showed up to go above and beyond just giving me a boost.
If he hadn’t, the problem would have persisted. Rest assured that your employer
has already been made aware of your job well done.
As for me? The CAA membership just paid for itself
even though I’m an idiot.
