Ode to My Car...More Heather Ramblings for No Good Reason...

I've talked about my car before... It's not brand new, it is only sort of shiny at this point (so badly in need of a bath it isn't funny) and no matter how many times I organize the back seat, it is always a pig sty.  But, I love it.  It's fast-- it's got this wonderful Turbo thing that makes me go nice and fast while allowing all of the gas I just put in to go bye bye..  the seats are comfortable, they hug you and they are heated too..  Nothing better than having warm, hugged buns...  Yes, I do love my car-- High mileage and silly quirks in all.

There is this "saab thing" I have learned about...  and like anything in my life, I made sure to learn about it in the hardest, most inconvenient way possible.

Before I share my life lesson, I need to give a fast back story--

When my Dad and Jeremy changed out my car door (remember Car Yoga?), we did not change out the door lock thingy in the door.  Basically that means that the key that starts my car does not open my door.  Saab also only equips ONE door with a key thingy, so that means you cannot gain entrance via other doors with your key.  The Saab people were also so worried about multiple key door usage issues, that they also did NOT put a key thing on the trunk either.  That day, back in early June I think it was, my father turned and looked at me and told me to A. NEVER run out of batteries on my key fob thing as it will be the only method to allow me to gain access to my car and B. consider NEVER locking my car ever.  ever.

So, that was months ago.  During this time, I locked my car doors.  I did.. alot..  I used my key fob like a wild woman: lock, unlock, and repeat..  

Then one day I turned off the car, took the key out of the ignition and the radio kept playing.  Hmmmm.. I put the key back in, back out, back in, back out and finally it turned off.   I figured it was an isolated incident and went on with life.  

Then it started doing it a bit more frequently and I discovered if I took the key out and then beat on the ignition, this little center circle thing pops up a bit.  Aha.. I am a genius, I have figured it all out!  Why is this happening, I have no clue, but I can make my radio go off, yay me.    I later learned via the Saab Guru's that this is a common issue.. even better, I stand in a group of ignition beating people that have bruised fists and look crazy when parking their cars.  

We got into a routine, my car and I.. Sometimes everything turned off ok, sometimes I had to inflict brut strength, but it worked well and I continued to lock my car.  

Until that day....  

I had a day off from work (was actually scheduled to get repairs done to said car but had to cancel at the last moment) and had decided to go out to the grocery store in the middle of cellular service nowhere.  I parked my car, turned it off successfully and locked the door.  Off I went--  

When I came out of the store, I popped the trunk using my key thing and put in the groceries and CLOSED my trunk as a normal person does.  I went to unlock my door: nothing.  I tried again: nothing..  I tried the trunk again thinking I could climb through: nothing.    At this point, I call my dad who tells me to go to the hardware store (conveniently located right next door in the same little mini mall) and try to get a new battery.   Hardware store doesn't have the right size (??? what???).. go back to Market Basket with my key fob taken apart and start analyzing batteries, candles, tea lights, anything that might take the right size--  No luck.  

Back to calling my dad.  He graciously agrees to drive out to rescue me and once he gets there, we decide to go down to the Walmart and get a battery there.  I buy the battery for about $10 and off we go to my now melting grocery laden locked up car.  Good news!  My other battery was NOT dead.. Bad news!  I now have $10 less, a battery I don't need and my car is still locked.  

My dad, oh so awesome dad, discusses my options: locksmith (left message), breaking the window and replacing it with the spare we have at home (remember the old door?), or trying to use some metal something to get into the car and pull up the lock...  We chose option C.  My dad did have help from some random guy that honestly looks like he might have jimmied a lock or two in his life..  Car is unlocked and I got to show my dad how my ignition beating up skills are put to use.  

A new layer to my car, sometimes the radio will go off, but that little metal circle in the center still doesn't pop up.  Good to know.. better to remember not to lock my car anymore.   I believe my father made himself clear this time.  I guess I should listen because I have a feeling that I might be spending more time waiting for rescue the next time.. 

So...any would be robbers, feel free to steal what you want, that's fine.. but do me a favor and clean up the back seat while you are in there and if you think of it, beat up the ignition for a moment or two just to make sure I'm not killing my battery, ok?