Good to know I have a purpose.

[kaigou]

Today I was reminded that I exist for some reason other than merely to serve as a bad example. That is to say, today was my sister's semi-monthly phone call about what's wrong with her car this time. Note that she caught me after three hours of working on test plans, and I hate test plans with a passion I usually reserve for mowing lawns and doing laundry. Hate, hate, hate. At it's easier to be patiently repetive when your brain's on flatline from task-hatred overload.

Khlo: So I went to the storage place this morning [insert packrat rationalizations here], and when I went back to the car, it wouldn't start. It'd just go rrrRRRUUUNHrrrrrUUUNNhhh.
Me: It's the starter. Your starter's dying.
Khlo: But I was only there for like seven minutes.
Me: I know it took you more than seven minutes. You said you talked to Mom, loaded four boxes out of the car and into the storage area, locked up behind you, figured out the car wasn't starting, walked up to the office, asked for help, went back to the car, jumped it. I'd think maybe 45 minutes. Which meant your engine had cooled down some.
Khlo: It's ninety-five degrees outside. It can't be cool. It won't be cool again until October.
Me: The engine normally runs a lot hotter than ninety-five.
Khlo: Maybe.
Me: Anyway. Point is, it's your starter.
Khlo: But it jump-started just fine.

Me: Because the engine had a chance to cool. All the symptoms you describe, it's clearly your starter.
Khlo: The guy thought it might be the battery.
Me: Your lights work? The radio came on?
Khlo: Yeah.
Me: It's not the battery.
Khlo: Come to think of it, know how when you jumpstart a car, they always say you should let it run, juice things up?
Me: No need to do that. Your battery's fine. It's your starter that's dying.
Khlo: So he hooks up my car to his, and I didn't wait, I tried right then, and it started immediately!
Me: That's because it's not the battery. It's the starter.
Khlo: *thoughtful* Actually, the guy did say it might be the starter.
Me: ...

*sigh*

Khlo: So should I bother going to the vet appt?
Me: What do you mean?
Khlo: Wait, does this mean I could be running the AC right now?
Me: Of course. Starter just starts the car. Once the engine turns over, the starter disengages.
Khlo: Oh. Awesome! So can I go to the vet after all? Wilson has an appt this afternoon...
Me: Sure. Can you leave your car running while you pick up the cat?
Khlo: Do what?
Me: Or do you have about two hours between getting home and leaving again?
Khlo: For what?
Me: To let the engine cool down.
Khlo: Why would I do that?
Me: You can't jumpstart it until the engine's cooled down.
Khlo: Why?
Me: *draws complete blank* Uh.
Khlo: ...
Me: Doesn't matter. Just believe me on this one. The engine must be cool. You might be able to start the car on its own, or you might need a jumpstart anyway, but neither will work if the engine's at running temperature.
Khlo: So no vet appointment?
Me: Doesn't sound likely. Reschedule.
Khlo: How much do starters cost?
Me: Maybe $100, $120 with labor? Depends on the car, and the cost of the parts. Starters are pretty easy-access, and hooking them up is about 15 minutes of work.
Khlo: So I shouldn't go to that fancy-pants expensive place Dad likes in Bethesda?
Me: *has no clue* Why would you go all the way to Bethesda to fix a starter? Go to Midas.
Khlo: I just passed a Midas.
Me: Turn around and head back, then.
Khlo: You can go to Midas? Have you ever been to a Midas?
Me: Where do you think I get my mufflers?
Khlo: That's a muffler.
Me: Yes, they do starters. They replaced the starter on my Veedub in '01. They're mechanics. They can do that stuff.
Khlo: But it might be the battery.
Me: IT'S THE STARTER.
Khlo: Hunh. That's just what that guy said...
Me: *headdesk*

And you people wonder why I talk all the time. I grew up in a family where NO ONE LISTENS TO ME.

Comments

[moffit.livejournal.com]

*dead* Oh, that would kill me. I'd never let them hear the end of it. The worst my sister did was to fall for some of the pranks I pulled on her: getting her to scratch & sniff the tv, and believing after her toenail fell off after she smashed it on a door frame that her toe would curl up and she'd need special shoes (elf shoes). I'd like to think I had a hand in making my sister a bit less gullible than my mom.