Lease Signed, Car Woes

Ely, Iowa

Hello,

We signed the lease this morning. It is good to have a decision reached. Because it is just for six months we could move. But I suspect, knowing Leroy and I, we will just stay put for the term unless something terrible were to happen that would force a move. Can you imagine if we moved every six months what our life would be like? At least junk mail would not find us.

The car that we had sitting at Leroy’s sister’s house would not start. Leroy tried to “jump it with the other car”. Luckily he knew that the battery was in the trunk in that other car having looked for it previously. But he could not get the cables off. He then talked with Rex (brother-in-law) who was in the hospital. He did have a battery jumper that plugged in. Leroy looked for that and could not find it. I went out and helped him look. Unfortunately it did not do the job even when found. Leroy struggled some more with the cables on the working car and finally succeeded in getting it ready to do the work. Nothing happened. Next he took out the old battery and had it tested. The prognosis was it had died; probably death was a gradual fading away. A new battery was purchased.

This battery was slightly larger than the old one making it difficult to put in. The cables did not reach. I thought Leroy should turn the battery around and then they would reach. The cables were not labeled with their polarization, but Leroy thought it was the way he had put it in. He then proceeded to “adjust” position of wires to make it work. When the cable touched one side sparks flew. One of the cables did not fit very well, but Leroy tried to start the car anyway, nothing. One of Rex’s neighbor’s came over in the morning and told Leroy, “The cables are wrong. You have blown a fuse and maybe burned some wires.”

Next step, turn the battery around and get a fuse. At least the fuse was cheap, getting it in was not. It was tucked in an inaccessible spot. Leroy’s nephew, Robert, helped Leroy. They had to remove some things, dropped a blot, removed more things, managed to retrieve the bolt, worked cautiously to get it back on the proper spot, and turned the car on to hear just a faint hum. There was an hour and more spent fruitlessly.

 We had the car towed to our favorite repair person who learned that the problem was the alternator. Monday Leroy does not have to work so we will pick up the car that day. Who is in control here, humans or machines?

Paula

Leroy did tell me that I could relate this story to you. He would like to think he can fix cars, but I am not quite sure why since he has had no particular training or much experience in that area.

Also Rex is still fighting pneumonia and is now in a nursing home for a short additional recuperation.