I’ve not had a good time with vehicles lately. This time it’s the 2015 Town and Country Mini Van. It was the last year Chrysler made the minivan. Cry. I love(d)my minivan.
A life time warranty is a lie. 100,000 miles is the end of a lifetime warranty. Minivan made it to 103,000 miles before putting me in hell. It’s 90 something degrees is the Midwest. I have a wheelchair spouse in the car, sometimes, I have the spouse and a German Shepard in the car.
When starting the car, it clicked, clicked and wouldn’t start. This is similar to the noise a dying battery makes. About 3 months ago, it gave me the low battery remark. I immediately went to the local NAPA car parts store. My battery was checked and proclaimed fully charged and wonderful. Ok!
Months later I got a click when trying to start the car.
This happen a couple more times. It clicked, I tried again and again and, it started.The second or third time this happened, I took apart the key fob to find the key. I removed the “Press this button while your foot is on the brake” button. I put the key into the place where you start the car. That didn’t work. It doesn’t have a key slot. The fob is the key. The key is to unlock the door. I used the other remote and the car started. Spouse and I went to eat with Emma, the German Shepard. It was much too hot to turn off car with a dog inside. Car was left running. We came home and I pushed the fob spot with my finger not with the button, I couldn’t fit it back in its place to turn off the engine. Nope. The engine did not turn off. I could not turn off the car! My pushing the thing didn’t turn off the engine. Scream!
I immediately drove to the Chrysler dealer. The service guy turned off the car using the key fob. I was still stuck in the 19th century car world to use a key, a real key. The service department decided it must be the electronic ignition problem. I spent the day lounging at the dealer while the mini van got a $800 new electronic ignition. My remote start did not remote start. Now I put the key fob into the ignition and turn it…sort of like the cars of old, but with a key fob. I told my service guy I wanted to buy a new car. While my car was “getting fixed, I was set up with my new boyfriend, the most experienced car salesman. Me and my new boyfriend decided I needed a Pacifica. Sadly, in this pandemic. There are NO NEW CARS anywhere. This dealership has many dealership “cousins” in the area. There are no new cars. I had to order one. I bet young people reading this have never “ordered” a new car. I ordered a new car back in 1967ish as a college graduation gift! I got a 1968 Ford XL Convertible. (That car lasted through three husbands!) I will get the get the new car in October/November. It is currently mid August.
The service technician had me come to my car while he showed me how to start the car. I had no idea of starting the car with the key fob! I vaguely remember a rental car in California being a mystery, but that was 11 more or less years ago.
Oh! The key fob had to be inserted into the place where us old timers would put a key! When he tried start the car, it clicked again, but started the 2nd time he tried. He took the car back into the fix it service department to check the alternator. He decided the car hadn’t been used enough, sitting around and battery was getting low. Internally I scoffed. I drive 6 miles/day. Maybe that is not enough to keep the battery charged. Home I went and it started about 3 more days until the click happened again. Scream! This car is dangerous to old people..dangerous in 90 degree weather with a wheelchair dependent spouse and maybe a dog too. SCREAM!
Off I went to car dealer. I told the service person the clicking happened again and a couple of other things. Now it was afternoon and I was the fourth car in line. The service person told me chances of getting it looked at today was grim. They had no rental cars available. I made an appt for early the next day, for which there were no rental cars. No rental cars on that day, or the next day.
Note: 2021 pandemic Covid. Rental car people will not come and get you. Dealer will not take you to rental car. There is no way to get a rental car! I made an appt for 7:00 am the next day. I usually get out of bed at 11:00 am.this is going to be difficult. Bestie friend Hope was alerted to possibility of picking me up at dealer for our lunch and taking me home. I owe Hope a lot!
I got up at 6:00 f…. early the next morning, went to the town “everyone knows your name” restaurant and ordered Terry a blueberry pancake. He was to eat that for his 9:00 am breakfast. I figured out to leave the key fob in the ignition and it started. Yep, solved the problem.
The service dept people might have got to work at 7:00, but service dept. did not open till 7:30 am.Scream! However I was first in line. I was curled up in dealership lounge trying to sleep when my phone rang. I tried to answer, but the person hung up. It said this was the dealership calling me! Again it called and hung up. What! A young woman came into my area and asked me if I was Susan Engle. Yes! Turns out this is the rental car person! They have a rental car! Oh boy! I made it home before Terry got up! We went out to eat our breakfast lunch. We came home and I was taking a nap when I was called by the dealership. Good news and bad news. What is good news? They found rusty wires that could cause the problem. Bad news is “engine clicking”, which I had ignored, was a $1500 fix. What to do, I was asked. My car could last until I got my new car several long months from now, or it could explode. I exclaimed, “Are there any used cars I could buy? Service guy said he would contact my new sales boyfriend guy.
Hours later my new boyfriend called me. “No problem I have a used Dodge Journey that is big enough for the wheelchair that you can buy. When your new car comes, you can trade me for the new car.”
I know buying two cars will give tremendous profit for the dealership and sales guy. I know this. However, I have a wheelchair spouse. It’s 90 plus degrees out there. Spending at least $1500 to possibly fix car that may or may not strand me again in 90 something horrid heat means Terry and I might die or be stranded at home forever. I am “old” and Terry is 81 years old, tough guy, but numbers should be considered. Why would I want to pay money to fix a 103,000 mileage car, when I’m buying a new car.
I now own a 2019 Dodge Journey with “low mileage”. I think it is a 2019. Low mileage. It has 60,000 miles on it. That is low mileage?! It has racing stripes!
By the way, I had a lifetime warranty on my 2015 minivan. Lifetime warranties expire at 100,ooo miles.
My intention was to pay off the mini van and buy a newer used truck and again be in debt forever. Sadly, my 2001 truck will have to last 7-8 more years or until I give up my blessed horse life.
