It's Always Something
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I have a 2015 Toyota Camry that I bought used in 2018. It only had 32,000 miles on it, one owner... car is in great shape. I bought my son's car at a Toyota dealership and I noticed yesterday people were looking at my car in the dealership parking lot. It was tagged and with a car seat in the back, so surely they didn't think it was for sale. Anyhow, my car has just under 45,000 miles on it. Being retired I only drive it about 4,000 miles a year. It's had 4 oil changes in the last 4 years and has not given me any problems whatsoever.... until today.
I needed to go to the grocery store this morning so I got in my car which was parked in the garage. Put the key in the ignition and the engine wouldn't turn over. It just made this loud, ratchety noise which makes me think the alternator is shot. The steering wheel locked and the "check charging system" light came on. We have jumper cables, but decided not to try and jump it because the source of the problem could be the alternator or something else and all I need is to make the problem worse or get where I'm going and then I can't get home because it happens again in some store parking lot. So, I'm dead in the water. But, there's good news:
1) I bought the Toyota Certified Platinum extended warranty (7 years or 84,000 mi) when I bought my car and it's still in effect so I'll call the dealership tomorrow to find out how I'm gonna get the car to them. I also have AAA Plus and they will tow up to 100 miles if needed. The dealership is only 10 miles from me so hopefully I can get it there by Tuesday so we can get this taken care of.
2. Frank has a car so I won't be totally house bound till my car is fixed. Plus my daughter and son-in-law have cars and they are only 5 minutes away.
3) My car waited to die on me after our theft and new car purchase ordeal . It didn't die on me when we were at the city towing yard yesterday which is 27 miles from home and in a sketchy part of the city. That would have been a mess. It didn't die on me at the dealership. It made it through all that without even a hint of a problem. It's parked in my garage and will be safe and secure there till I can get it to the dealership service department.
Just when I think I can catch my breath, something else comes along. Like Roseann Rosannadanna used to say, "It's always something".
I needed to go to the grocery store this morning so I got in my car which was parked in the garage. Put the key in the ignition and the engine wouldn't turn over. It just made this loud, ratchety noise which makes me think the alternator is shot. The steering wheel locked and the "check charging system" light came on. We have jumper cables, but decided not to try and jump it because the source of the problem could be the alternator or something else and all I need is to make the problem worse or get where I'm going and then I can't get home because it happens again in some store parking lot. So, I'm dead in the water. But, there's good news:
1) I bought the Toyota Certified Platinum extended warranty (7 years or 84,000 mi) when I bought my car and it's still in effect so I'll call the dealership tomorrow to find out how I'm gonna get the car to them. I also have AAA Plus and they will tow up to 100 miles if needed. The dealership is only 10 miles from me so hopefully I can get it there by Tuesday so we can get this taken care of.
2. Frank has a car so I won't be totally house bound till my car is fixed. Plus my daughter and son-in-law have cars and they are only 5 minutes away.
3) My car waited to die on me after our theft and new car purchase ordeal . It didn't die on me when we were at the city towing yard yesterday which is 27 miles from home and in a sketchy part of the city. That would have been a mess. It didn't die on me at the dealership. It made it through all that without even a hint of a problem. It's parked in my garage and will be safe and secure there till I can get it to the dealership service department.
Just when I think I can catch my breath, something else comes along. Like Roseann Rosannadanna used to say, "It's always something".
