Randomness

Illinoisguy1 · 29 Jun 09 :: 21:17

Ok, when you were driving back was any of the idiot lights on, especially the battery indicator light?

If the battery doesn't hold a charge there are usually two possibilities. The battery or the alternator. A battery can really range in price nowadays. Depending on the size and the cranking amps. Some can cost close to $100.

If you get a new battery and you have the same problem then it could be the alternator. Which if you can get a rebuilt one that will cost you close to another $100 as well. If you know a mechanically inclined friend than you can save a whole bunch on labor costs. If not, you may have to take it in which could cost you lots more.

TheCentralScrutinizer · 29 Jun 09 :: 21:28

No dummy lights. The car's still under warranty, so if it's something in the electrical system, that should be covered. A battery, however, is obviously not covered. The battery is going to cost close to $90. Ninety dollars I do not have. The worst part is that Honda makes a lot of their parts proprietary. It has to be an exact match or it won't work. For instance, I can't go to Jiffy lube for an oli change, I can only go to Honda if I want an air filter as part of the service. Some places (Sears for instance) don't even carry a compatible battery. I don't have a mechanical friend. I don't even have a friend who drives in my area who can help me with this shit. I am utterly screwed.

Illinoisguy1 · 29 Jun 09 :: 21:40

That sucks.

When you had the car running was there any sort of noise coming from the alternator?

Did the car almost die out at all after the jump start?

Is this something that just came up all of a sudden or was there any sort of warning signs. Perhaps dim lights?

I was going to suggest using a voltage tester, but I doubt you have one of those.

TheCentralScrutinizer · 29 Jun 09 :: 21:42

No warning at all. I went to lunch, ate, got in my car to go back to the office and it was just dead. After it was jumped off, it ran fine. No weird noises, nothing. But once you turn it off, it won't crank back up again. It's bizarre.

Illinoisguy1 · 29 Jun 09 :: 21:52

It sounds like either it's a bad battery or the alternator is bad.

The only way to check is to have both tested.

Hopefully you can drive the car in to have it checked.

How old is the battery?

TheCentralScrutinizer · 29 Jun 09 :: 22:00

Came with the car, the car is a 2006. I think I have something worked out. Everyone wants about $90 for a battery, and they all want extra $$$ to install it and they all want to do a diagnostic. I called Honda and they will do everything for $125 flat. My boss is going to let me use one of the company credit cards and pay her back. Joe is going to jump me off again and I'll just hope it makes it to the dealership. But there's a $125 dent in my car insurance money that I don't know how I'm gonna make up. I don't even have anything I can sell. I've basically got 2 weeks to come up with $200, and no way to do it.

Illinoisguy1 · 29 Jun 09 :: 22:10

Hopefully it's just the battery.

That can be installed in just a few minutes.

I have never owned a foreign car, so I don't even know how well they stock parts. Hopefully you wouldn't have to wait long for an alternator if that's what it is.

But at least you have something worked out for now, that's the first thing. One step at a time.

Illinoisguy1 · 29 Jun 09 :: 22:14

Oh yeah.

If you can you should really have the alternator checked. You can install a new battery and everything is fine for a while and the same thing happens again. If the alternator isn't working and isn't charging the battery then the battery will just drain and drain of its energy.

I'm sure that you wouldn't want that to happen again.

So I suggest get the alternator checked.

Some parts stores such as Auto Zone will do this for free.

Illinoisguy1 · 29 Jun 09 :: 22:20

I just checked the autozone site and they do have locations in the Atlanta Georgia area.

Here is a copy of what they can test. And its free and they can do it while still on the car.

Don't buy a part you don't need. AutoZone will test your car's parts for free. We can test your car's battery, alternator, starter and voltage regulator while they're still on your car. We can also give your car a complete starting and charging systems test.

TheCentralScrutinizer · 30 Jun 09 :: 00:10

Just got home from the dealership. They did a diagnostic and it was the battery. They said it suffered a massive failure, but they had no idea why. The good news is that --- shockingly --- the battery was still under warranty (for 2 1/2 more months). So I got it replaced for free. Whew! That was close.

Illinoisguy1 · 30 Jun 09 :: 00:46

Lucky indeed that it was still under warranty.

Usually things break down right after the warranty expires and it's at your expense to replace/fix it.

Glad everything worked out with the car.

BiggestChrisMarquetteFan · 30 Jun 09 :: 06:58

TheCentralScrutinizer wrote:

Just got home from the dealership. They did a diagnostic and it was the battery. They said it suffered a massive failure, but they had no idea why. The good news is that --- shockingly --- the battery was still under warranty (for 2 1/2 more months). So I got it replaced for free. Whew! That was close.

I'm so glad everything worked out for you, Deb.

TheCentralScrutinizer · 30 Jun 09 :: 15:21

Yeah, me too. I hate living so close to the edge like this. I'm making $2000 less this year than I have in previous years and that's a huge bite.

TheCentralScrutinizer · 30 Jun 09 :: 16:37

Wow, what a crazy story...

http://www.wired.com/threatlevel/2009/06/blind_hacker/

domesticelefant · 30 Jun 09 :: 23:54

Woohoo! I got home from a perfectly amazing day in Mannheim an hour ago ... I went up there too meet this girl I met on MySpace because I put up my pics with Mike Welch from October on my account and she wrote me a message about them. We "celebrated" our first real meeting in this really good American Diner and we had some "Welch's Sparkling Soda" in honor of Mike (because he's responsible for this LOL) and Twilight (because it said "sparkling" LOL). We had so much fun!
And when I got home I found some goodies in my mailbox! A package from Tina (thank you sooooooooo much!!!) and my ticket for RingCon in October! Woohoo!!!

TheCentralScrutinizer · 30 Jun 09 :: 23:57

Awesome, Anne. :-)

TeeJay · 01 Jul 09 :: 00:16

Anne, please don't read my e-mail from tonight before tomorrow or so, it's gonna ruin your good mood.

-TeeJay

TheCentralScrutinizer · 01 Jul 09 :: 01:34

...Or my reply.

Warbee · 01 Jul 09 :: 02:35

I agree Deb, If it wasnt illegal what he was doing i would be so proud to be his mother or whatever. I am just in awe what he managed to get away with

BiggestChrisMarquetteFan · 01 Jul 09 :: 07:38

What does everyone think of my new avatar? I figured out how to make a slideshow for avatars. = )

TheCentralScrutinizer · 01 Jul 09 :: 15:24

Oh, that's very cool. And naughty.

TheCentralScrutinizer · 01 Jul 09 :: 16:07

Cool photo and article about visual phenomenon associated with breaking the sound barrier...

http://news.yahoo.com/s/livescience/200 … clookslike

TheCentralScrutinizer · 01 Jul 09 :: 16:38

More stuff about weird clouds. NYC skies turn orange. This looks apocalyptic, guys...

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/06/3 … 23513.html

Illinoisguy1 · 01 Jul 09 :: 18:42

So, went out to lunch today and on the way back I picked up something in one of my tires. Was making a loud thumping noise.

So I went to a tire place and had to spend $16 to remove the sheet-metal screw and patch the tire.

I don't know what it is, but my car just loves to pick these things up. This has happened at least 3 other times.

magicalturkey · 02 Jul 09 :: 05:42

Today I was working a cash register at work and a little girl told her grandma that I was a kid working at Kohl's. I told her I wasn't a kid but she didn't believe me so when I asked her how old she thought I was she said 11. And the grandma said I look about 14. They were surprised when I said I was turning 21 next month.

Chris Marquette Message Board

#3101 29 Jun 09 :: 21:17

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