12/09/2024
Today has turned out to be quite the adventure! Sarah left to distribute the Selm Selma Sun Newspapers to the boxes around town. Normally she would use her truck. But because of the rain, and a problem with her windshield wiper motor, Donnie drove her truck to work, she took Sunshine, Donnie’s Mini Cooper. Halfway through her route, something broke and the Sunshine went down… it will not move.
So I come to save the day In Harrison, my ‘69 Falcon. We get to Rountree on Citizen’s Parkway, I turn off the engine while she and Anthony put the new papers in the box. They get back in Harrison, and I turn the key. One small growl as the starter tries to turn. 😡 I try again and nothing but a clicking of the starter solenoid (old Ford type, under the hood on the fender), a tel tail sign your battery is bad. I try one more time, I guess I thought it would suddenly recharge! Sarah Trimble Prater and I pour her Dr. Pepper on the terminals to clean the acid. Chet at Rountree gave a a piece of sandpaper so we clean the batteries posts and connectors. Hoping against hope the dirty terminals was the problem. As I tightened the positive connector, it snapped into 2 pieces 🤬!
I had to call Donnie. Thanks to his boss at B & S Auto Salvage for letting him come rescue his mommer annem! (Me!) Donnie brought a new positive terminal connector. He gets it on and we realize we have NO JUMPER CABLES!! Sarah goes back in to ask Chet or Mike if the have cables we can borrow. A super nice guy who happened to be in the store said he has a jump box we can use!! All is lookin good! The man came over to us and apologized. Apparently his son had taken the jump box out of his truck toolbox where it is supposed to stay.
At this point, we’re all soaked, frustrated but laughing!
Here is yet another reason I prefer these old cars over today’s nee all computer controlled cars.
Donnie took the battery out of Sarah’s truck and put it in Harrison. I cranked Harrison. While he was running, Donnie took the goid battery out, put the old dead battery back in and then put the good battery back in the truck. Today’s new computers on wheels can not run without a battery!
We finished Sarah’s route. I just kept the engine running until we got home!!
Now we get to buy a new battery and then tow Sunshine home…AGAIN!
Thanks Chet Chappelle at Rountree and Danny Jones at B & S Auto Salvage for help and understanding! And big thanks to my son of whom I am so proud Donnie Prater!!
