so today, i get up to go to work. i'm loving this soldering job, and intend on keeping it for a long time.
now things all go sideways from here. ma leaves for work, the garage door won't open. opener isn't even trying. i ignore this omen and open the door manually for her so she can get on her way. 15 minutes later, i go out to start my truck. its 3 deg F out, and i drive a diesel. normally this isn't a problem, the truck runs semi batteries and to get it happy only takes about 5 minutes at 1100 rpm. filled up last night, additives and then put it to bed plugged in by the house.
as i'm walking to the truck i see the first major problem of the day. the led on the cord isn't on. as i start putting the wiring in the house together in my head, i realize that the garage door opener is on the same circuit. as i open the door, the cold wind assures me that this will end in pain. i turn the ignition, wait to start light comes on as normal, but as i turn the key to start it, there is only one lonesome click. i'm currently set to be at work at 7, i planned ahead due to weather last night, and i would rather be early than late or even on time. i try about 5 times and realize that my trusty old dodge is in a bad way. that truck is lucky i wasn't armed.
so i call the temp agency and the company i actually work for, inform them that i will not be able to make it in that day due to vehicular issues, and that hell or high water i'd be in tomorrow. shortly after, call the shop that works on our vehicles and ask for a tow. mechanic shows up with a loaner (had other running in town to do, and i forgot a couple parts at home).
as i get into the loaner, i immediately smell mouse. so a 15 minute drive later, i'm itchy and can't talk. go back home to grab my epipen in case my throat decides it no longer wants to stay open, and head to the shop.
upon arrival at the shop, my truck is on the lift, and the mechanic is swearing at the starter. once we jimmy the starter out, and crack open the solenoid case. one of the contacts has worn from about an 1/8" thick, to the thickness of a dime. that explains why it wouldn't start.
as the mechanic was trying to load it on the tilt bed, he managed to get it to start for long enough to be in a good position. this of course tried to pull fuel that was currently in gelatin form through, and which pulled air through, just like any time you attempt that last ditch effort.
so it was on the lift in a warm shop, on a lift, and needed an oil and fuel filter change anyway. whatever, hell with it, just take care of it now.
amazingly, the company was really cool about it. my "handler" for lack of a better term (watches over the new people but isn't the department head i report to) simply said to be safe and that she'll see me tomorrow.
now things all go sideways from here. ma leaves for work, the garage door won't open. opener isn't even trying. i ignore this omen and open the door manually for her so she can get on her way. 15 minutes later, i go out to start my truck. its 3 deg F out, and i drive a diesel. normally this isn't a problem, the truck runs semi batteries and to get it happy only takes about 5 minutes at 1100 rpm. filled up last night, additives and then put it to bed plugged in by the house.
as i'm walking to the truck i see the first major problem of the day. the led on the cord isn't on. as i start putting the wiring in the house together in my head, i realize that the garage door opener is on the same circuit. as i open the door, the cold wind assures me that this will end in pain. i turn the ignition, wait to start light comes on as normal, but as i turn the key to start it, there is only one lonesome click. i'm currently set to be at work at 7, i planned ahead due to weather last night, and i would rather be early than late or even on time. i try about 5 times and realize that my trusty old dodge is in a bad way. that truck is lucky i wasn't armed.
so i call the temp agency and the company i actually work for, inform them that i will not be able to make it in that day due to vehicular issues, and that hell or high water i'd be in tomorrow. shortly after, call the shop that works on our vehicles and ask for a tow. mechanic shows up with a loaner (had other running in town to do, and i forgot a couple parts at home).
as i get into the loaner, i immediately smell mouse. so a 15 minute drive later, i'm itchy and can't talk. go back home to grab my epipen in case my throat decides it no longer wants to stay open, and head to the shop.
upon arrival at the shop, my truck is on the lift, and the mechanic is swearing at the starter. once we jimmy the starter out, and crack open the solenoid case. one of the contacts has worn from about an 1/8" thick, to the thickness of a dime. that explains why it wouldn't start.
as the mechanic was trying to load it on the tilt bed, he managed to get it to start for long enough to be in a good position. this of course tried to pull fuel that was currently in gelatin form through, and which pulled air through, just like any time you attempt that last ditch effort.
so it was on the lift in a warm shop, on a lift, and needed an oil and fuel filter change anyway. whatever, hell with it, just take care of it now.
amazingly, the company was really cool about it. my "handler" for lack of a better term (watches over the new people but isn't the department head i report to) simply said to be safe and that she'll see me tomorrow.
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