It's A Loooong Story

Remember the blog about the trip to Arkansas? 

The one where we got a pontoon?

The one where the truck broke down?

We now move on to the next installment of the story.

We wanted to make sure the boat was in good running order before we set out on a lake voyage. It's a good idea to check the "logs" for air leaks if you'd rather not sink at an inopportune time. Our friend Tad has the ability to weld aluminum, and he volunteered to take the boat to his home in Kansas City for any repairs. At the same time he'd change the spark plugs etc. etc. He and Noelle, his wife, took off pulling the pontoon on Monday May 15th.

 Seven miles from their home the new Chevy dually they were driving suddenly slowed and shuddered violently. When Tad pulled over to investigate, a young man who'd been following stopped and said "You don't know what happened, do you?" It seems a deer had tried to jump between the truck and boat trailer. At 60MPH it turned out to be a bad decision; fatal in fact. The boat was covered in assorted deer parts, had one major dent, a dislodged brace and a missing front gate in the fence.

Tad felt so guilty. We both tried to assure him it wasn't his fault; that we were just glad he and Noelle were all right and his new truck wasn't damaged. He couldn't be convinced of his innocence.

Early on Tuesday May 16th we took off for Tad's home. No matter what the pontoon looked like we would tell him it was no big deal. It was a used boat before and it's a used boat now.

We had driven 20 miles when my car began to stutter.
Yes - my car began to show signs of trouble.

We limped back to Hermitage.

Sawyer Tire (the only auto shop we'd had dealings with here) said their mechanic was on vacation but a shop nearby would probably help us.

We went to Rick's in Carson's Corner.
(Not to be confused with Rick at Ace Automotive - We hear he's good)

Please stick with me now:

Problem  1
Rick diagnoses bad coil on #1 piston
Had to order coil
Takes 2 days for part to arrive and be installed.

Problem  2
After coil is replaced Rick decides computer is bad.
We tell him to replace computer.
We are told computer must be ordered from "East coast" and will take several days.

Problem  3
When we call 4 days later we are told the wrong part was ordered.
Rick read the part number incorrectly.
 The Ford dealer in Urbana MO will order the part. It will take several days.

Problem  4
The computer obtained through the Ford dealer in Urbana is..........
TAH DAH
the wrong part!!!!!!

Problem  5
The computer arrives and is installed by Rick.
Rick, however, cannot program the computer.
The car goes to Urbana for programming.

Problem  6
The Ford dealer in Urbana, after 2 days, admits they don't know how to program the computer. The car is driven to Bolivar where a Ford dealer finally programs the computer.

Problem  7
Today on "Day 18 - Edge held hostage" - we go get the car.
We pay them $773.73
It runs no better than the day we dropped it off.

I have to admit we took the car when they said they weren't done with it.
WE said they were done.

Rick has just called.
He wants us to bring the car back.
He's sure he knows whats wrong with the car.
He would like to try to fix it.
My husband graciously refuses.
Rick says the ignition key we drove the car home with is his.
Rick wants it back.
Our key will no longer work, he says, because the new computer will not recognize it.
We try our key.

Rick is right about something for once.
My key will not start the car.
Rick is wrong if he thinks he's getting the key that works.

Monday we will limp the car to the Ford dealer in Bolivar, MO.
where they have actual mechanics, not parts changers.

If I write another blog on this subject, bail money will be a major part of the story.