2002 Story Set
| April 5, 2002 My old Toyota van had been recently towed (and not really needing it) because it had the radiator light on. A radiator light on means there is a coolant problem and therefore, you could very well blow your engine if you drive with it on. The book says, "Pull over and call for service". So I had done that. And had it towed. Which had upset the AAA who had promptly informed me that I could not be "serviced" again until after I had renewed my membership - around the end of May. You only get four calls a year. So I had better be good. I would have to send a bill to State Farm next time. Messy. The service manager had, of course, laughed at me and said that it was just low coolant in the overflow bottle, but, since I was there, we serviced the car anyway. This service involved draining out and replacing the coolant. Which should have corrected the problem. Ever since then, however, the radiator light has blinked when I took a curve and has unnerved me in doing so. Do I stop or do I drive? I drive. It has also taken to being on when I leave the area for the hospital (the van goes to the hospital, not the new truck) and winking out after I drive a bit. Well, this is not too cool. I made a note - drive it to Toyota as soon as may be and discuss this. Last night, driving to a Team in Training function, the light stayed on from Fremont to halfway over the Dunbarton Bridge on the way to Palo Alto. After the function, the light was on nearly all the way home. By the time I was nearly halfway over the bridge I was watching the temperature gauge and a nervous wreck. Being broken down on the Dunbarton Bridge means you pull over - right into the Bay. Made me edgy. I have had enough of that! It finally went out, just before I got home. My son is concerned. I get stressed out too easily. So this morning, after the light stayed on all the way to the hospital, I decided enough was enough. After his chemo, we went to Toyota. Of course, the pesky light was now out. Toyota is remodeling its service area. So now you enter at the building that used to be the parts department. I knew that this was coming so I smoothly pulled into the new driveway. I did not pull all the way in, having spotted the service manager I wanted inside and knowing where the front door was. Now, there was no one ahead of me, no one behind me, and two, count them two, driving lanes. So when a fresh-faced young man came sailing out to tag my car I said no. I said I had already been serviced and I wanted to talk to someone about it. I had the keys in my hand and was hurrying in. Well, junior male chauvinist that he is, he could not deal with that! I "needed to pull my car forward or give him the keys." He declared that I was "blocking the driveway". Several times. Note that my son was sitting in said car. And that there were still no cars in front, behind or beside my van. Blocking what? No, I did not need to comply. I kept walking. He was really disturbed at this. How dare I, a mere woman, not do what he tells me? Because you don't get the keys, junior! In fact, after that temper tantrum, you will NEVER get the keys! I found my service manager, who just shook his head at the commotion. Junior was ranting and raving all the way back behind the counter. (His size may have impressed him into thinking himself all powerful, but if my younger son had stepped out of the van----- enough said.) My car was where I had left it. My service manager managed to get the engine hood up - which happens to be the driver's seat in the 1987 van if you've never seen this. I popped the tilt lever on the steering wheel, we slid back the driver's bucket seat and he tilted the seat up. We propped it up with my car club, since the strap broke some time ago, and we checked the coolant. Takes two men and a boy to haul the seat up. I used to be able to do it by myself. Not any more. The coolant in the overflow was a little low and the sensor is in the overflow bottle. I had coolant. Of course I know it expands and contracts - but the level needs to be high enough that the sensor stays out even when it is cold. Because the van has worked that way since I bought it in 1987. He poured some coolant in. We got the van reassembled. My club is squashed and our hands are dirty. But the seat is back down and the van can go home now. I left him my home phone so I could get the estimate for the new transmission that the van needs, and in the next 4-6 weeks it will get a transmission and have the airconditioner repaired (Freon needs recharging and no cold air in the front). Because my younger son is now cleared to learn to drive (again) and get his driver's license. And the transmission is sticky since it is evidently missing teeth from the gear. Another reason for a stranger not to try to drive it. You see, when it won't shift into 1st gear, I know how to roll it out of 2nd, 3rd and lately, 4th gear. (The new truck gets totally confused when I do this to it. It stalls immediately.) There are two air conditioners in the van. I know because my kids liked to play with the knobs. They could control the back seat environment while I blew lots of highly chilled air in my own face. Women of a certain age like air conditioning. Needless to say, trips in the van were interesting. Especially since I have a parental override in the front. Anyway, the service manager will call me. I told him to go slap junior around (figuratively speaking of course) and teach him some better manners when dealing with customers. Especially customers with websites. Women today do not tolerate male chauvinist service counter jocks with any patience. I tolerate them less and less as time moves on. He said he had two new people in there. I do not envy him. I will also keep that in mind when I bring the new 2002 silver Tacoma truck in for a lube and oil next week. Certain people will not drive that truck. Ever. The Tacoma, by the way, is now several months old and remains ding-free. It had better remain that way. I drove home a much more happy camper, because the van radiator light is now out. And I expect it to remain that way too. |
For information about this file or to report problems in its use email dew@Donnamaie.com