peter H
LIFE MEMBER
Off to Newark next weekend, so I thought I'd better get the van ready.
I keep in a storage area about 25 miles away.
Went to fetch it this morning, but as I need my car here I walked round the corner to catch a bus to the town, then a train from neath to Bridgend. Finally at Bridgend a taxi to the storage site.
Lovely sunny day, a pleasure to be out. The stroll to the bus, then to the train was great.
Found the van, quick check arounbd the outside and every thing looks fine.
Get inside open the blinds etc, get to the drivers seat, put in the key, turn it and......
Nowt, nothing, zilch. Not a light on the dash board, not a click of a relay, absolutely dead !
Wander back to the reception area as they used to have one of those portable battery booster things. Its broken !
Across the road is a hard wear type shop, they sell them i'm told. Ok i'll go see. Yes they do have them, to get one for my size engine and battery will cost.... you sitting down?
£289
and of course its flat and will need chatging for at least 3 hours.
No mains power on the storage site and dont have my car.
Plan B
Jump leads, but van is parked nose into the fence and after struggling to open the bonnet, very narow gap between van and fench, find the battery is either invisible or somewhere else.
I even had to read the instruction book for the van. Found the battery in a secret compartment in the drivers area under the floor.
Still jump leads would need to be 25ft long, not an option.
Plan C
Take the battery home and charge it.
No car, cant lug a battery on the train etc. so lock up the van, and retrace my steps home for the car.
Phone a taxi, catch a train, catch a bus get home about 3 hours after i had originally left.
Lunch first.
Get in the car, drive back 40 mins. Start disconnecting the battery etc, electrics surprisingly easy, then the hold down bolt !!!!
cant reach it my socket set extension in the van is too short
Back to the DIY shop across the road, find a 200mm extension bar, back to the van.
Battery is out in about 10 minutes. Nearly give myself a hernia lifting it out and putting it in the boot of the car.
Lock up the van and homeward bound.
Find the charger eventually, connect it up, dead as a doornail. Its about 30 years old and I think has finally died.
Off to Halfords to buy a new charger. Got one reduced from £89 to £59 (bargin ?)
Back home, connect it all up after reading the instructions and......
says battery is knackered and wont charge. Swore at it a bit, no help, need a new battery.
Its a Renault, delership in Swansea on the enterprise park. 14 miles away.
Check website open 9am till 6pm on Saturdays great thiniks I.
Oh no says the lady down there, thats car sales only, service and parts shut at 12:00.
Closed tomorrow as well, open at 08:30 monday, then I can ask them if they have a new battery
If they do, i have to charge it, fit it, fetch the van, retrieve the car (bus, train and taxi again), prep and victule the van and eventually leave for Newark all by thursday.
Going to be a busy week next week !
Thanks for reading this, the rant has certainly helped my blood pressure.
Oh so far costs:
Buses £2.80 so far
Trains £8.20
Taxis £11
Battery charger, £59
new battery ( I dread to think)
Milage about 70 so far
ho humm
Peter
I keep in a storage area about 25 miles away.
Went to fetch it this morning, but as I need my car here I walked round the corner to catch a bus to the town, then a train from neath to Bridgend. Finally at Bridgend a taxi to the storage site.
Lovely sunny day, a pleasure to be out. The stroll to the bus, then to the train was great.
Found the van, quick check arounbd the outside and every thing looks fine.
Get inside open the blinds etc, get to the drivers seat, put in the key, turn it and......
Nowt, nothing, zilch. Not a light on the dash board, not a click of a relay, absolutely dead !
Wander back to the reception area as they used to have one of those portable battery booster things. Its broken !
Across the road is a hard wear type shop, they sell them i'm told. Ok i'll go see. Yes they do have them, to get one for my size engine and battery will cost.... you sitting down?
£289
and of course its flat and will need chatging for at least 3 hours.
No mains power on the storage site and dont have my car.
Plan B
Jump leads, but van is parked nose into the fence and after struggling to open the bonnet, very narow gap between van and fench, find the battery is either invisible or somewhere else.
I even had to read the instruction book for the van. Found the battery in a secret compartment in the drivers area under the floor.
Still jump leads would need to be 25ft long, not an option.
Plan C
Take the battery home and charge it.
No car, cant lug a battery on the train etc. so lock up the van, and retrace my steps home for the car.
Phone a taxi, catch a train, catch a bus get home about 3 hours after i had originally left.
Lunch first.
Get in the car, drive back 40 mins. Start disconnecting the battery etc, electrics surprisingly easy, then the hold down bolt !!!!
cant reach it my socket set extension in the van is too short
Back to the DIY shop across the road, find a 200mm extension bar, back to the van.
Battery is out in about 10 minutes. Nearly give myself a hernia lifting it out and putting it in the boot of the car.
Lock up the van and homeward bound.
Find the charger eventually, connect it up, dead as a doornail. Its about 30 years old and I think has finally died.
Off to Halfords to buy a new charger. Got one reduced from £89 to £59 (bargin ?)
Back home, connect it all up after reading the instructions and......
says battery is knackered and wont charge. Swore at it a bit, no help, need a new battery.
Its a Renault, delership in Swansea on the enterprise park. 14 miles away.
Check website open 9am till 6pm on Saturdays great thiniks I.
Oh no says the lady down there, thats car sales only, service and parts shut at 12:00.
Closed tomorrow as well, open at 08:30 monday, then I can ask them if they have a new battery
If they do, i have to charge it, fit it, fetch the van, retrieve the car (bus, train and taxi again), prep and victule the van and eventually leave for Newark all by thursday.
Going to be a busy week next week !
Thanks for reading this, the rant has certainly helped my blood pressure.
Oh so far costs:
Buses £2.80 so far
Trains £8.20
Taxis £11
Battery charger, £59
new battery ( I dread to think)
Milage about 70 so far
ho humm
Peter
oh: