Well this day has finally come. The day in which I do not have a working car, nor do I have a legal license. Let me explain.
Sunday morning, after filling up my tank in my car, I drove to church. Twice on the way to church the engine in my car died on me - while I was driving. I assumed it was the batter since the batter light came on each time. Each time, I would turn the key off and then back on again, and within a minute or two, my car would be running again.
Sunday afternoon, as I came out from church, I found that my car was dead. Thankfully a nice gentleman helped me jump start it. It took a few minutes for it to start this way, even when the battery sounded strong. But after those few minutes, It started up and seemed fine. I drove home then. Praise God for His timing, for as soon as my car turned into my driveway, the engine died again, and I just barely had enough momentum to make it to where I needed to park, just barely. I tried starting it back up again, but it didn't start. Thankfully, Renee and Steve had asked if I would take their van that night to the Church class I was going to, so I could fill it up in town.
Monday morning, I went out, thrilled to find snow on my car, and the ground, and started my car. It started without a problem. Steve had offered that I could use his truck if my car didn't start. So I drove to work. Well, at least that what I was planning on doing. I never actually made it to work at all that day. Half way to work, I heard a series of two loud clunks, each came with a sharp jerk of the car. Then the oil warning light came on, and the screen flashed a big red (all caps), "STOP!". I know that this screen has given me this warning falsely before, but with all the strange dieing it's had in the last 24 hours, I figured it was wise to stop. I pulled off to the side of the road and sat there for a bit. The engine didn't die. If the warning sign was correct, it may mean that I didn't have any oil (odd because I just got an oil change in January), which would explain the clucking and shaking of the engine. Thankfully I happened have a quart of oil in my back seat. I took it and after a few minutes, added it to my engine's oil compartment. I then let my engine cool, with the hood up, for 15 minutes, and then 20 minutes so it could cool and settle, thus being able to give me an accurate oil level. I checked the oil several times and each time, it said I had plenty of oil. So I texted my work and told them I may be a bit late due to car troubles. Then I texted my dad. He suggested that I contact Ben Koch - a diesel mechanic who has done lots of work on this car in the past (I bought it from his dad two years ago). Ben thought through some things and asked a handful of questions and looked up a few things online. Then he said he was going to hang up, do some research and call me back in about 15 minutes. I then texted my work and told them I may not make it in at all. They called back and said that is okay and understandable. They also offered that if I needed a ride, they would find on for me. By this point, my phone was at about 4 percent battery - I hadn't charged it in my car on the way to work like I usually do, since I was worried it would drain the batter (assuming that my battery was weak).
A cop pulled up behind me, and asked if I was alright. I explained what was going on and he headed back to his car. However he didn't leave. A few minutes later he got out again and came up and asked me to get out and to get my driver's license out. So I did, not thinking anything was wrong. He then asked me, "when does your license expire?" When he pointed out the date on my card it shocked me. My driver's license expired yesterday. It's a good thing that he noticed this, I would have never thought to look - it didn't occur to me that it expired. Thank you God! See, good things do come out of some of the frustrating and hard trials. He, praise God, didn't ticket me for it, but rather told me to take care of it. (this morning I carpooled with Bethany, and tomorrow I am hoping to head to the DMV before work and get it renewed).
Ben then texted and said that he was needing to come to Bloomington today anyways, so he was going to come stop by and take a look at my car. (He lives about a half an hour away).
I was grateful when Bethany happened to drive by on her way home from school, and she stopped for a bit. I was able to charge my phone in her car for about ten minutes.
When Ben came, he dug around under my hood for a while and we tried various things. His thought was that it's either a fuel-not-getting-to-or-thru-the-engine kind of problem or a transmission kind of problem. However, during the half an hour or so he was under my hood (on the side of the road), he couldn't find anything worthwhile. He offered to tow it back to his place and spend some time digging into it deeper and such. I accepted his offer.
Renee was willing to take some of her time, to come and pick me up and bring me back home, and Ben went to Bloomington to buy the part needed to tow my car with his truck.
It's likely that he will have my car for a few weeks - he did mention that he doesn't know how soon he will get deep into it. But I didn't have much other choice. I had just made a coin investment (via eBay) this weekend, and it brought my bank account down to less than $50. I will have to resell those coins once they come in, and I am currently working to sell some of my other coins. I am looking into other cars on craigslist, as I do not know if my car will be worth fixing. It is possible that it will be totaled and I will have to junk it or sell it for parts. I am praying about what direction to take, where to get the finances for it, and what to do in the meantime. Any prayer would be greatly appreciated.
Sunday morning, after filling up my tank in my car, I drove to church. Twice on the way to church the engine in my car died on me - while I was driving. I assumed it was the batter since the batter light came on each time. Each time, I would turn the key off and then back on again, and within a minute or two, my car would be running again.
Sunday afternoon, as I came out from church, I found that my car was dead. Thankfully a nice gentleman helped me jump start it. It took a few minutes for it to start this way, even when the battery sounded strong. But after those few minutes, It started up and seemed fine. I drove home then. Praise God for His timing, for as soon as my car turned into my driveway, the engine died again, and I just barely had enough momentum to make it to where I needed to park, just barely. I tried starting it back up again, but it didn't start. Thankfully, Renee and Steve had asked if I would take their van that night to the Church class I was going to, so I could fill it up in town.
Monday morning, I went out, thrilled to find snow on my car, and the ground, and started my car. It started without a problem. Steve had offered that I could use his truck if my car didn't start. So I drove to work. Well, at least that what I was planning on doing. I never actually made it to work at all that day. Half way to work, I heard a series of two loud clunks, each came with a sharp jerk of the car. Then the oil warning light came on, and the screen flashed a big red (all caps), "STOP!". I know that this screen has given me this warning falsely before, but with all the strange dieing it's had in the last 24 hours, I figured it was wise to stop. I pulled off to the side of the road and sat there for a bit. The engine didn't die. If the warning sign was correct, it may mean that I didn't have any oil (odd because I just got an oil change in January), which would explain the clucking and shaking of the engine. Thankfully I happened have a quart of oil in my back seat. I took it and after a few minutes, added it to my engine's oil compartment. I then let my engine cool, with the hood up, for 15 minutes, and then 20 minutes so it could cool and settle, thus being able to give me an accurate oil level. I checked the oil several times and each time, it said I had plenty of oil. So I texted my work and told them I may be a bit late due to car troubles. Then I texted my dad. He suggested that I contact Ben Koch - a diesel mechanic who has done lots of work on this car in the past (I bought it from his dad two years ago). Ben thought through some things and asked a handful of questions and looked up a few things online. Then he said he was going to hang up, do some research and call me back in about 15 minutes. I then texted my work and told them I may not make it in at all. They called back and said that is okay and understandable. They also offered that if I needed a ride, they would find on for me. By this point, my phone was at about 4 percent battery - I hadn't charged it in my car on the way to work like I usually do, since I was worried it would drain the batter (assuming that my battery was weak).
A cop pulled up behind me, and asked if I was alright. I explained what was going on and he headed back to his car. However he didn't leave. A few minutes later he got out again and came up and asked me to get out and to get my driver's license out. So I did, not thinking anything was wrong. He then asked me, "when does your license expire?" When he pointed out the date on my card it shocked me. My driver's license expired yesterday. It's a good thing that he noticed this, I would have never thought to look - it didn't occur to me that it expired. Thank you God! See, good things do come out of some of the frustrating and hard trials. He, praise God, didn't ticket me for it, but rather told me to take care of it. (this morning I carpooled with Bethany, and tomorrow I am hoping to head to the DMV before work and get it renewed).
Ben then texted and said that he was needing to come to Bloomington today anyways, so he was going to come stop by and take a look at my car. (He lives about a half an hour away).
I was grateful when Bethany happened to drive by on her way home from school, and she stopped for a bit. I was able to charge my phone in her car for about ten minutes.
When Ben came, he dug around under my hood for a while and we tried various things. His thought was that it's either a fuel-not-getting-to-or-thru-the-engine kind of problem or a transmission kind of problem. However, during the half an hour or so he was under my hood (on the side of the road), he couldn't find anything worthwhile. He offered to tow it back to his place and spend some time digging into it deeper and such. I accepted his offer.
Renee was willing to take some of her time, to come and pick me up and bring me back home, and Ben went to Bloomington to buy the part needed to tow my car with his truck.
It's likely that he will have my car for a few weeks - he did mention that he doesn't know how soon he will get deep into it. But I didn't have much other choice. I had just made a coin investment (via eBay) this weekend, and it brought my bank account down to less than $50. I will have to resell those coins once they come in, and I am currently working to sell some of my other coins. I am looking into other cars on craigslist, as I do not know if my car will be worth fixing. It is possible that it will be totaled and I will have to junk it or sell it for parts. I am praying about what direction to take, where to get the finances for it, and what to do in the meantime. Any prayer would be greatly appreciated.
Sorry to hear this Joshua. Will pray for God’s peace,provision, and protection for you.
ReplyDeleteThank you! A guy in Tremont has offered that I can use his car for the next week or so until I find a new car or fix my old one. He has also offered to sell it to me (it's a 2005 Impalla with only 135k miles on it). He is willing to offer it to me for only $2,500 which, for it's condition it's a good deal! The problem is, I will need to take a loan, which I don't like doing. But on the other hand, I know God will provide! :) He always has in His own timing.
DeleteSo sorry Joshua!! Do wish I had a car to give you!!!! Prayers for you and God's leading and peace in your decisions!!!! God bless you my dear!!
ReplyDeleteLove and prayers
gma