Wednesday, January 18, 2017

I Feel Rich

I was so busy telling you about my exciting, home-renovation-filled Monday that I neglected to regale you with the tale of our car crisis the day before. You see, on Sunday, Rachel and I were heading out to Costco to get her new glasses (this actually took 2 tries, because apparently it is customary to bring one's eyeglass prescription along when attempting this task - who knew?); but when we got to my minivan....

Remember? The 8-year-old minivan I chose to keep, so Larry could get the new car, just a few short weeks ago...

...my key fob wasn't opening the electric sliding doors. And neither were the buttons inside the car. We had to push the doors open slo-o-owly. By hand. I know, first-world problem, but still.

Random yarn picture, because prettier than cars
"Was this happening yesterday?" I asked Rachel. Larry had used the van Saturday to transport a bunch of Civil Air Patrol cadets to a weekend workshop.

"Oh, yeah, we were opening them this way the whole time!" she said.

Nice of them to let me know...

So I spent the ENTIRE DAY worrying about the minivan and Googling repair costs and kicking myself for not handing Larry the old minivan and getting myself a new one while I had the chance (hey, Larry doesn't have to load and unload kids a zillion times a week. He'd probably NEVER use the sliding doors). I was reading quotes as high as $2000 a door, because apparently the cable eventually frays and somehow that wears out the motor, and I don't even know what I am talking about here, but hey, $4000.

And now I can buy more yarn...

Still, odd that both doors went at once, right? Right.

Somewhere along evening, I read that, if the electric isn't working, it's easier to manually open the doors if you set the master power door button to Off. So I went outside to fix this master power door button that I didn't even know existed - you know, the one down below and to the left of the steering wheel? Where maybe Larry's knee could inadvertently hit it?

Yup, it was already off. And that's how I saved $4000 on Sunday.











7 comments:

  1. Well that was a great fix haha

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  2. Don't you love when you find the fix - for free?!

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  3. How much of the minivan is dedicated to yarn storage? And is it a "hot-sauce-accessible" vehicle (placard-available)?

    Not to admit anything (#FirstWorldProblems), BUT in the NEW car, the on/off switch for the steering wheel heater is in an obscure location on the steering column, but not likely to be hit by a knee. BUT why do "automotive engineers" think there should be an "important feature" that is unlabelled and difficult to find? I am thankful that those engineers are not in charge of something important. Except for their obligations to the democratic state in which we live.

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    1. Steering wheel heater? I admit, I read that and thought, "Now THAT's ridiculous!" And then I went out to drive my son to the train and thought, "You know, this steering wheel really is cold this morning..."

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  4. Until you told us of finding that master power button, I was feeling smug about my people-powered doors. Huh. Who would have known? I'm giving you credit for brilliance here.
    Also? That is some beautiful yarn.

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  5. Two fists up in the air cheer! I loooove problems that get resolved without major financial investments.

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  6. Who said women don't 'get' cars. That was brilliant (but you really should have got the new car).

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