Death of a car... and revival

Ok, so this is something that I just got to blog about...

It started (well, probably) about Tueday this week. The weather was kinda crappy, raining now and then, and I ran through a big water puddle on the road. Needless to say, it made a HUGE splash. Anyways, that didn't do much, except the engine heat + water = steam, and I had steam coming out of the engine compartment for about 5 minutes.

Anyways, got to work fine. Work's always a lot of work.

After work, I drove to a petrol station just about 1km away from my home. Added petrol, paid, went back to my car, and tried to start the engine.

It didn't start.

It wouldn't start.

All it did was make a 'click-click-click' noise.

So I sat there contemplating what to do. I had NRMA roadside assistance. I could walk home, but that means leaving the car there. I didn't have much credit left on my mobile, and when I tried to call home, it wouldn't work. What the hell was all that, I wouldn't know. I was getting pissed off at the whole situation.

Thankfully, a few things happened. First, this guy was just adding petrol to his car, he noticed my futile efforts of starting the car, after he paid for his petrol, he came over and tried to help me start, by jumpstarting. Well, he tried, but it did not work, unfortunately. I'm grateful for his help. During that time, my brother called me on my mobile asking if he can have a lift home from a train station some 2km away from where I was at the time. I said to him, sorry dude, my car died. Can he walk home (1km away) and tell them to ring NRMA and tell them where I am? He said ok, and did so. I was then called by NRMA to determine what the problem was, and I should be serviced within 45 mins.

The helpful guy left after he couldn't do much, I think I thanked him over 10 times, and shook hands with him at least 3 times. Then comes the waiting. Waited about 15 mins, and the NRMA guy came. He checked the condition of the battery first, it was flat. Now, the guy didn't check anything else, he just put a set of leads from a battery, and told me to start the engine.

It started. He checked the condition of the battery, and said it was fine for the moment.

Now, he didn't check anything else at this stage either. I assumed that it was the battery being flat, but silly me, not being a car enthusiast, did not realise there's other components at work here. He just says, after you get home, if you cannot start the engine after letting the car sit there for about 5 mins or 10, then call NRMA for a battery. I thanked him, and went home.

I had dinner first, that took about 30 mins. Went outside, and started the engine.

It was fine.

So, I thought nothing of it, and went back in the house.


The next day, yesterday, I didn't know if the battery is going to die or not. So I crossed my fingers and started it. It started! Feeling good, I got to work and thought nothing of it at work. After work, I was approached by 3 colleagues to see if they can grab a lift with me. I thought, ok, no worries...

I was wrong, wrong wrong. The engine half started. Then went click-click-click... *sigh*

So I went into the office and called NRMA for a battery. I then waited outside. It was spitting, not full falling rain, but it was intermittant. Alot of people were going home, and about 80% of them offered me a lift. I said thanks, but I was waiting for the battery guy.

Anyways, the battery guy came. Checked the battery condition, it was flat, replaced it, charged my card, and I was thinking, it's all over! Done and done!

How wrong I was... >:(


Today, was when it all went... to hell.

I started out, it was a great day, great drive, not a care in the world. 10km away from work, my battery light is lit up in the display. My CD player was on the fritz, cutting in and out. I thought it was skipping or something, but no, it was an power issue. Then about 5km away from work, the 'system' light lit up. I was then in the precarious situation of climbing uphill, then stopping at a red light. When the light turned green, I put my feet to the accelerator pedal down. I was hooning along at a massive 20km/h! 20! The people behind me was honking their horns... I was trying hard to go faster, but it wouldn't... I then saw a right hand turn lane, and I turned into it... and the engine crapped out, completely.

The guy who turned in behind me went WTF, and honked, but he had to turn left, then turn right... and my emergency lights don't even work...

So... I called NRMA again, and they'll tow me and get it checked.

I got towed in about an hour's time, then the guy came about 40 mins after that, I told him about the battery, and he immediately knew it was the alternator. Needless to say, he organised to get an alternator guy up ASAP. At that time it was 10am. So I waited and the guy showed up at around 11:15... not bad at all. Anyways, after fitting in the alternator, and charging me, I decided that it was too late to turn up to work. A quick jumpstart, checking the battery was getting the 14 volts required (instead of 6volts with the dead alternator), and I was allowed to drive off in the midday sun.

Got home in half an hour to charge the battery. Now, if it turns out to be bad tomorrow, then I will probably kick the car or something, because seriously, this is worse than I bargained for...

I'm out of pocket $500... damn it...

What a day >:(