As many of you know, my van is a little bit past her prime. All the paint has peeled off of the roof - so I guess you could say she’s gone bald. (But would going bald make her a he? I don’t know). Well, last week my van had an interesting problem one morning when I was about to head to class. She/he decided not to start. No, the battery wasn’t dead. No, the starter wasn’t bad.
Fortunately for me, it was on a day that wasn’t critically important for me to get to class. As it turns out, the key part of the ignition switch was broken. $20 later I replaced that, but that only fixed part of my problem. With my new chrome key-hole (and second key to the van… One key to get in, one key to start) I discovered another strange problem. When driving down the road, my blinkers didn’t work. It’s kind of a strange feeling not being able to signal. Eventually I pulled over and adjusted my ignition some more - and then my blinkers worked fine, but not my radio or windows or wipers. So before every trip I had to roll down my windows to where I wanted them to be for the whole trip (did I mention that the A/C doesn’t work?), and hoped it didn’t rain.
$30 later I replaced the ignition switch. I wanted to put in that $20 key tumbler I had bought - but as it turns out the replacement part had somehow adhered itself to my other - broken - ignition switch and it took a lot of “convincing” via an electric drill to get it out of there. After all that work (and a slight drill-hole in my left thumb) I discovered that it doesn’t fit in my new ignition switch.
I have yet to replace the key part.So now, I start my car with my “universal” key - otherwise known as a pair of needle-nose pliers. I just put them in, grab on to the part that the key-plug usually grabs on, and turn it manually. It’s kind of funny when I get to my destination - because then I have to get my pliers out and reverse the process. The whole time I am doing this, I hope that nobody walking by thinks that I stole the car - but then they look at the roof and realize that nobody would steal a balding middle-aged van.
(I would post a few pictures of this process, but my camera is currently on vacation somewhere in my house)
October 17th, 2005 at 11:22 pm
Well the BLM is either in its last stages or has entered a whole new world of driving adventure… hmmm… sorry to hear a bout the car trouble. I feel ya.
October 18th, 2005 at 8:42 am
That is so sad to hear. I thought the BLM would live forever. Do the lights still turn off and on randomly like a disco party inside the car? I just love the BLM.
October 18th, 2005 at 11:35 am
BLM, come join me in car heaven. I’m here waiting for you. If Ryan won’t let you die on your own, just drive into two feet of water like I did. You’ll be dead in no time! It’s quick and painless, I promise . . .
October 18th, 2005 at 1:38 pm
Is Minnie still dead? What are you doing these days? Hitchiking to work?
I don’t think that the van will die anytime soon - I just think little things like this combine to make it very clear that this thing will have $0 resale value and will have to be driven off a cliff when we decide we no longer need it.
October 18th, 2005 at 4:41 pm
I walk to work, luckily. Now that I’m back from Houston I’ve arranged for a sweet ride from a rental place - a bright red chevy cavalier. I’m pretty hot in it. Word is that Minnie is probably going to be totalled, so apparantly that last ride to my apartment with four inches of water swishing around on the floor and the curious glugging sound from the muffler was my last with her. RIP.
October 18th, 2005 at 5:27 pm
Poor Minnie…. I will miss her
October 18th, 2005 at 6:57 pm
On to Minnie II
=-)
October 19th, 2005 at 12:11 am
Sorry to hear about the dead vehicle.
Want to buy the HLM? (Honda Love Machine)
October 19th, 2005 at 8:38 pm
Hmmmm, I’ll have to think about that . . . I’ve always made it my policy to avoid vehicles with the words “love machine” anywhere in their nickname. Look what it got Aubrey