bcart1991
12-20-2004, 03:30 PM
So, I'm out in GA running errands in my BMW, and I happen upon a forlorn-looking soul standing next to a mid-80's 6er.
(Edit: I was at Peachtree Pkwy @ Spalding Drive (http://www.mapquest.com/maps/map.adp?searchtype=address&country=US&addtohistory=&searchtab=home&address=spalding+drive+at+peachtree+parkway&city=norcross&state=ga&zipcode=), to maintain my "Man wif de Maps" reputation)
"Problems?" I ask. "Yeah, she won't turn over and I just had her worked on last week," was the half-distraught reply. "It's not the battery, because a jump-start didn't work. Got any ideas?" he asked, almost whimpering at the thought of paying for a tow truck and the potentially large ensuing repair bill.
"Hmm, try to start her and I'll see if anything rings a bell," I said, trying to turn my mind to my still-limited knowledge of bimmerwise problems, especially in older cars.
He turns the key, and nothing. No whirring of the starter, no clicking of some internal part not engaging, nothing except...
Except all the other electrical systems seemed to be working. Windshield wipers? Check. Idiot lights? Fully ablaze. Radio? You know it.
"Let me give my mechanic a call, they've always been a great help to me in the past," I suggest, no glaringly-obvious solutions coming to mind. "That would be great, I'm clueless," the wayward commuter groaned.
So, I dial (770) 745-0501 to see if David Lack and Chuck Waits at INTERNATIONAL AUTO in AUSTELL could be of assistance.
After a couple questions about the make/year of the maligned 6er, David made the diagnosis over the phone (!!!) and got the crestfallen driver back into higher spirits!!!
It turns out that, when he was having his power steering pump worked on last week, something happened to the neutral safety switch (the car was an automatic, but don't kick a man when he's down...) and it wasn't recognizing the car was in park. A quick shift into neutral, and she started right up.
Weird.
Anyway, I'll probably drop a six-pack off at the shop this week, yet another tragedy averted by the great guys at INTERNATIONAL AUTO in AUSTELL
So, I'm thinking maybe I shortened my stay in Hell by a couple years...
Nah, no chance. :evil2
Merry Christmas everyone!
Carter
(Edit: I was at Peachtree Pkwy @ Spalding Drive (http://www.mapquest.com/maps/map.adp?searchtype=address&country=US&addtohistory=&searchtab=home&address=spalding+drive+at+peachtree+parkway&city=norcross&state=ga&zipcode=), to maintain my "Man wif de Maps" reputation)
"Problems?" I ask. "Yeah, she won't turn over and I just had her worked on last week," was the half-distraught reply. "It's not the battery, because a jump-start didn't work. Got any ideas?" he asked, almost whimpering at the thought of paying for a tow truck and the potentially large ensuing repair bill.
"Hmm, try to start her and I'll see if anything rings a bell," I said, trying to turn my mind to my still-limited knowledge of bimmerwise problems, especially in older cars.
He turns the key, and nothing. No whirring of the starter, no clicking of some internal part not engaging, nothing except...
Except all the other electrical systems seemed to be working. Windshield wipers? Check. Idiot lights? Fully ablaze. Radio? You know it.
"Let me give my mechanic a call, they've always been a great help to me in the past," I suggest, no glaringly-obvious solutions coming to mind. "That would be great, I'm clueless," the wayward commuter groaned.
So, I dial (770) 745-0501 to see if David Lack and Chuck Waits at INTERNATIONAL AUTO in AUSTELL could be of assistance.
After a couple questions about the make/year of the maligned 6er, David made the diagnosis over the phone (!!!) and got the crestfallen driver back into higher spirits!!!
It turns out that, when he was having his power steering pump worked on last week, something happened to the neutral safety switch (the car was an automatic, but don't kick a man when he's down...) and it wasn't recognizing the car was in park. A quick shift into neutral, and she started right up.
Weird.
Anyway, I'll probably drop a six-pack off at the shop this week, yet another tragedy averted by the great guys at INTERNATIONAL AUTO in AUSTELL
So, I'm thinking maybe I shortened my stay in Hell by a couple years...
Nah, no chance. :evil2
Merry Christmas everyone!
Carter