Persnickety Little Thing

 Ok folks ... here we go with the latest battery problem on the Mercedes Sprinter chassis.  Who knew?  First off, this solar charger needs a controller.  It did not come with one, nor did the directions say it needed one.  In other words, these don't work.  The charge is so irregular that it can mess up your battery, resulting in no charge.  Well that sucks!!!

My battery charger that I tried next would peg the needle like it was charging, then "click" and it shut off.  I've no idea why, but maybe because it's so old it's not working right?  I've no idea.  

At 7:30 in the morning I had Mercedes on the phone.  How soon can you get here he asked.  Really?  You can get me in today?  9:00 I said, since after all, it is 45 miles away.  Sadly I forgot to figure in the horrible traffic jams every single day, all day long.  

I got gussied up ... as much as I can at 7:30 in the morning, and called my neighbor ... I love them.  The husband came over and we jumped the battery with my truck.  I was instantly on the road with no lights of any kind on the right hand side.  Turn signals really are a plus when they work.

On the way down, while trying to set the cruise control, I hit something that gave me FOUR errors, not just this one.  Hang in there baby ... we're going to the doctor!

When I arrived, they took her right in while I waited in a magnificent waiting room.  No grease, clean floor .. I was impressed.  Even more so when I had to ask how to get a cup of coffee out of the most complicated fancy machine I've ever seen in my life.  

I began to talk to the two ladies waiting.  I got coffee directions from the one in red tights, 5" high heels and a fur coat.  No kidding!  Over in the corner the lady was crocheting in a flannel shirt.  MY kind of gal, and turns out she was from a town smaller than mine.  We chatted about the van.  They were very interested in what it contained.  

It took awhile, two hours before the service manager came to get me.  Apparently between the two chargers, it not only messed up the battery, but the COMPUTER that runs the entire thing.  In the old days, it was the ENGINE that ran the show, but now, absolutely everything is computerized on these vehicles.  In fact, there is SO much computer stuff that the battery will go dead in about two weeks if you do not drive it and charge it back up.  

They did a complete reset on the computer and VOILA!  Everything is back to normal.  No damage done.  A big sign of relief escaped my lips.  I was headed back home by 11:00.  A new more modern battery charger, along with a voltmeter will be my Christmas present to myself.  

I dropped off the van at home and grabbed my truck for a quick trip to the Lodge.  I had to put in my food order for 100 folks at the Senior Center.  I cook a huge Christmas dinner for them every year.  

Oh look ... the kitchen is still open.  This is a chili chicken burger, smothered in cheese with their special homemade sauce, and ONION RINGS!  YUM!  I don't know how they do it, but these guys made all their own sauces from scratch.  These kids ... they are really good cooks.  It was too much food, so I put the rest in a to-go box.  BIG mistake.

Business done, I grabbed a coke and was headed back home.  I placed my to-go box on the tool box of the truck, with keys in hand, so I could open the front door.  I heard a CRUNCH noise.  NOOOOOOO ... I dropped my keys down the tiny slot beside the tool box into the bed of the truck.  Only I could have done something like this!

I yelled HELP to two men in the parking lot.  They came running over and tried several time to extract them.  No luck.  Then some big tall guy comes along in a BLACK Tesla truck.  I've never seen a black one before.  He had a set of needle nose pliers two feet long.  I wonder what he uses those for??

He got my keys out ... thank goodness ... and I was back on the road.  I didn't get far.  I was sipping my coke and sticking it back in the holder.  They don't make cups like they used to.  Suddenly my lap was soaking wet.  WHAT???  I put the cup back in the holder.

Apparently I had ripped a hole in the side.  It stayed there until I moved the cup, whereupon it soaked me AND the floor.  I grabbed one of those gloves you see lying there and tried to plug the hole.  What a MESS!!!

By the time I got home, the cup was empty and everything was a sticky wet.  Thirty minutes of cleanup and I finally got to sit down and appreciate Mercedes for fixing my van while I waited.  

In fact, I was surprised at the number of employees they had at the dealership.  Here's a company that STILL provides service to their customers.  That's good, because I'm sure this won't be the last time they see me!!!

About the earthquake?  Another one .... I'll post that tomorrow.  Here's hoping Shirley and Ken are good because we have not be in contact with them.

Continued prayers for Kelly and Al.