Sometimes You Have to Really Love Your Neighbors

In one of my earlier posts, I mentioned my car was running a little funny and would probably need some work. Well that day came sooner, rather than later. Yesterday it decided it did not want to start. It has a fairly new battery, but I tried a jump anyway to see if for some reason the battery was running down. No such luck. To say I was unhappy in an understatement. Being stuck at my house at 8:30 AM, no decent tea or coffee and a non working car made me an unhappy person.

I have this great item that is a portable battery jumper. I got it at Costco for like $50 and it has been great. A friend of mine recommended it to me (no TOLD me I needed to have this item) after letting his battery die one time in the middle of nowhere. It can jump start your car, has an air compressor to inflate a tire, and also has a light so if you are really stuck, you have some light. The only thing this model does not have is a standard plug to plug in a low voltage item. I carry this in my car for all of my away trips and it's already been used about 4 times by other people. I can't tell you the number of people in this world who don't carry jumper cables in their car.

I woke up my neighbor (not realizing she had gone to bed at 4 AM) and she also tried to jump the car with me (in case my gizmo was not working), still no luck, the car would almost start, almost turn over, then would die. My very nice neighbor gave me the keys to her daughters car and said take it! My very nice neighbor also helped me get my car towed to the garage by using her auto club towing service ($50 compared to the $152 I was quoted by the local tow service). My very nice neighbor is letting me use the kids car again today.

The garage I took my car to is a new one to me, it was recommended by a co-worker and I thought I'd give it a try. So far the report has been a good one. Instead of some massive repair bill, they have told me I need new spark plugs, new wires, an oil change (that was on my weekend agenda anyway) and a bit of a tune up. So my visions yesterday of an outrageous repair bill hopefully is gone. The tune up obviously bites into my car fund budget, but when your only source of transportation needs work, you have to make it work.

I'm filling up the borrowed car with gas (something the neighbors daughter will love when she gets home from university tonight) and am planning on getting my neighbors a small gift to thank them for their kindness.