Re(1): Another Message Of Car Trouble Posted on January 4, 2022 at 11:52:00 PM by Another Poor Boy
I have never gone into such detail on a GWCR post before, but your story hits home, for me.
I was sorry to hear about your bad experience, Westport. I know the 31st Street exit from I-70 that you’re talking about. You didn’t mention the time of day/night you were there, but I have driven through that part of the city on sunny afternoons, and I wouldn’t want to have a breakdown there at ANY time of day or night.
I drive a 1999 pickup that is in OK condition, but driving a vehicle that old is ALWAYS a risk. I don’t drive that old thing because I like it; I drive it because I can’t afford anything newer.
On Sunday afternoon, the coldest, snowiest day of the year, I got off my job in a retail store at 4 PM. It was about 8 degrees, with a chill index of minus 11. Of course, my truck wouldn’t start.
I went back into the nice, warm store, and was explaining my dilemma to a co-worker. A customer overheard me, and offered me a battery jump. That didn’t work, either.
Even with my pathetic financial condition, I had found $115 to renew my AAA policy in November. I knew on Sunday, with the cold and snow, that the AAA trucks would be VERY busy, so I called them when my truck first refused to start.
The phone was answered promptly, and the woman answering told me she had assigned me to a service truck that would contact me. I got a text from a service guy right away, telling me I had been assigned to him. About two hours into this adventure, I got a call from the service guy, telling me he’d be at the store in 30 minutes.
The serviceman had equipment in his truck to diag and fix my truck. He told me the battery was OK, but the terminals (cables) were shot. He “rigged” the cables, got my truck to start, and advised me to replace the terminals as soon as I could.
I went to a car repair shop on Monday morning and had them fix my battery cables. The new terminals and labor cost me $65, but the AAA service call on cold, snowy Sunday evening cost me nothing, other than the membership fee I had already paid. Replies: