There Goes The Car

[calliopes_pen]

This icon might sum up Mom's feelings more than mine, but any chance to finally use it.

This morning, I went to the doctor (not the regular one--the one for my stomach, from the whole mess with the ulcer; I go once a year, they ask how I'm doing, I go). Everything went fine, cutting the dosage in half. And then came time to leave.

First, know this. When you try to start the car, it tries. It really, really tries to start. It won’t turn over, Mom's said a couple times--this started a week ago, I think. It grunts. And then, after we left the doctor’s, it decided to just commit suicide. It did three grunts, followed by a slightly knocking sound once. Mom tried to start again, and it did a slight pop sound once, and there was nothing.

The mechanic first said that the radio was probably draining the battery. This was before this last time, mind you. We don’t use the radio at all--it’s not that. So he unplugged the radio at that time—we didn’t have a clock. It didn't make a difference.

So this time, he seems to think that it’s the starter. Mom’s friend, who works on cars, thought it was out of time, but the mechanic wouldn’t check for that at that point. It’s a 2001 Ford Taurus, and was perfect until this. Anyone know anything about cars? Before Mom figures out a way to take everyone down with her? She told me to add that last bit--I think she’s joking.

If you wonder if we were stranded at the doctor’s? In below freezing temperatures? The answer is yes--but we had a cell phone and called Dad. Despite the medical pavilion being easily spotted from our house half a mile away, Dad didn’t know where it was located. We had to explain that if he could find it, look for the red car—we were beside it. We didn't say that that morning apparently had a sea of red and white cars in the parking lot. We did say that it was next to the front door, and easy to find.

He drove by us twice, while we honked and waved, before he eventually noticed, and picked us up.

Comments

[veracity]

I can't help you, unfortunately, but my mom has a 2002 Taurus that I drive. Honestly, try a dealership or Google to see if it's a known issue (or a recall). If it, the dealer will fix it. My 1989 Taurus would die all the time. It wouldn't turn over, nothing. I had to get rid of it because a single girl, I was afraid of where I'd get stranded. We replaced the battery three times in as many months.

[frenchroast.livejournal.com]

If you haven't had any problems up to now, and it's just that it doesn't want to start, then I'd say it sounds like the alternator needs replacing. And if that's what it is, then you need to get a new mechanic, because that's like the first thing you should check when starting is the only problem.

[viciouswishes.livejournal.com]

I agree about the alternator. It will drain your battery.

Also any mechanic who says the radio drained the battery doesn't know what they're doing.

[evilawyer.livejournal.com]

Starters can go wonky all of a sudden. It seems more prevalent in cold weather.