I really don't quite know where to start with this. I suppose it all started this morning when I thought that the black plastic bag that I drove over on the motorway this morning might have got stuck to the car.
I did check the undercarriage of the car as soon as I got to work but it didn't appear to be there. This, of course, is a perfect red herring but it makes sense if you bear with me.
The day at work was fine - even had lunch down the pub with colleagues to celebrate someone's 40th birthday and no it wasn't mine, goodness me I am not 40 for years and years yet!
Anyway...on the way home I suddenly noticed that the engine temperature gauge was shooting waaaaay over into the red and in the four years that I have the car is has never gone over half way. Uh-Oh is my immediate thought and I am on the motorway. My first thought is that it's that plastic bag. I slow down to 50 mph but it still hovers right over in the red.
By now I am panicking of course. So you can imagine my relief when I spot the flashing lights of an AA van ahead - already dealing with another car. So, rather than continue driving the few miles home and potentially ruining the engine I pull in behind the AA van and ask very politely if the man would look at my car.
He agrees and, after a bit of manoeuvring to make the car safer, he pops the bonnet and would you believe it...no plastic bag. Instead the problem was far more serious. The cap of the engine coolant tank was off. Yes, you read that right. The STUPID garage that I had the car serviced and MOT'ed about two weeks ago had forgotten to replace the cap properly. Which meant that every time the engine heated the coolant escaped the tank leaving me with a little bit less every day. I cannot believe how angry I am - it's a very simple thing that needn't have happened and yet, I could have ruined my engine completely. You can be sure that I will be writing a letter to the garage.
Fortunately the AA man replaced the coolant and put the cap back on. The remainder of the drive home was completely ordinary with no other problems. Grrrrr.
But. What you don't know is that as I got out of the car and went to hop over the barrier I didn't spot the shallow gully and my ankle turned (in my high heeled boots no less) and so I am now on the sofa with a fat ankle wrapped in a support and elevated. Arrrgh! So you see...I didn't know where to start!!!
How has YOUR day been?
9 comments:
Oh Sam!!! I can't believe they didn't put the cap back on!!
Hope the ankle heals soon for you! :)
Trace
oh bugger. I remember a rad hose going on a busy street, with everyone staring at 20 year old me. . .
Oh no! I hope your ankle feels better soon. I can't believe they were so incompetent with your car! How frustrating. Rest that ankle and feel better SOON!
I have days like that hun, but at least it wasn't any worse than that and you and your car are ok, (no thanks to the garage!) Take it easy. hugs Clare x
Oh my gosh... how could they! I hope your ankle will get beetter soon. Take care!
blimey that's awful. hope your ankle gets better!
We are having major car problems ourselves. Not fun! Yesterday was my very bad day but it is a long boring story. I'm just hoping today is better.
I got my oil changed once at an oil change only establishment and they forgot to put the oil cap back on. I had oil from one end of my car to the other. They had to replace the cap, of course, but also get the engine steam cleaned and have the car super duper washed to get all the grime off. It was a disaster.
You are SO fortunate that you stopped to talk to the AA person. I'm so sorry to hear about the ankle. Don't hurry the healing on that ankle. Be good to it & take this time to watch some really great movies!
Car bonnet is a new one to me. I learned how to find the bathroom in London and if I smoke, how to get a cigarette, but I never needed to pop the hood, er bonnet. :-)
Once, the mechanic forgot to tighten my lugnuts and my wheel almost fell off.
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