469 Miles To Go

Today I was out running around in the zx2, it's been slow to start when fired up for the first time in morning. I suspected a weakening battery for about a month now.

Knowing that this old faithful would have to be replaced soon and having just 469 miles to go for a quarter million I have been nursing this little Ford for well over a year.

It's also very comforting knowing that the cash for a new car is sitting in the bank just waiting for the Ford to just quit running.

So today while at Rural King I got back in and the old girl gave it her best and made the awful I'm not going to turn over noise, then just click, click......nothing.

So, I went back into Rural King and bought a battery. Then I went back in and bought a crescent wrench to disconnect the terminal clamps. After I got the old one out, I lifted the new one into place only to find it didn't fit. So back into the store I went with the new and old battery.

After finding the right one, I was back in the parking lot, got the new one in and turned the key.

Nothing.
I called Stacy to come and bring the jumper cables just in case, so she leaves having lunch with a dear friend of hers to rescue me.

So I got back under the hood and started looking. I grabbed the negative cable and it came off the terminal and was now in my hand. So now I have to go back in and buy a new terminal clamp.

I get back to the car only to find that the nut holding the negative clamp to the wires is frozen solid and corroded. Back in I go to buy a pair of visegrips to use with my new crescent wrench, then back to take the old clamp apart.
Meanwhile somewhere on Riverside drive is Stacy fighting traffic because of the Kraft St road work.

I finally got the nut to free up and got the wires back on the clamp and the clamp back on the negative terminal. I get in, say a quick prayer, and she starts right up and is purring like a kitten.

I called Stacy to turn her around, only to find out she is just about to turn into the parking lot. Happy that I got the car started and not having to spend the time car shopping 4 days before Mandy's wedding, she said she would follow me home.

We got home OK, and I thanked her for coming to my rescue. She said it was the least she could do.

So, the countdown to a quarter of million continues.