My friend K is having sudden BIG EXPENSE issues. I spent less on my first car than she has spent on her SUV in the last 6 weeks. K is also single. Even the most contented single gets frustrated when car issues come about. If you don’t have family living nearby, you are at the mercy of your friends, the repair shop or you just rent a car.
The good news..there are a whole passel of single girls in our circle, ready to lend a hand, er, car-ride, that is.
I was ‘on call’ today in case K needed a ride to the rental car place. Turns out she didn’t need my transportation assistance.
Smelling salts, defibrilator, nitro pills…. those, she could have used.
I commiserated with her a bit this morning, shocked at the price tags quoted her today. We had that ‘do I buy a new car or I’ve-already-bought-one-part-by-part’ conversation. Truth is, this last project may give the car a whole new life – avoiding monthly car payments for my weary friend.
Fast-forward a few hours. I’m at the mall (big shocker there) and my car won’t start. I can’t even get the key to turn. After calling in AAA services, I call K to inform her of my Pontiac’s sudden sympathy pains. Of course, she now offered to be “on call” for me.
Aren’t friends the GREATEST?!
I call another friend (now you know why the cell phone bill is so, incredibly lofty.) who asks me if I’ve pushed the break pedal to the floor first while turning the key.
It worked!!!!!! yeehaw!
Who knew?!
I pull out of the parking lot, cancelled the AAA call and drove straight to my local repair shop, wondering which limb I was willing to give up, or how much plasma donations would cover a new ‘whatchamacallit.’
Of course the very first time “Ralph” (I have no idea what his name really is, but Ralph just sounds like a car repair guy, doesn’t it?) anyway, the first time he tried the key….it worked beautifully.
Of course, it did.
But he continued and quickly experienced the same grid-lock I had reported.
He fiddled, and fiddled. Then went inside w/ the key in his hands. Then he came back out, tried the key again and it worked beautifully – many times. He had me try it. It worked everytime.
The answer?
WD40 – sprayed on the key. I drove off happy as a clam and not one dime poorer.
Duct tape has now been dethroned as the Southern Fix-All-of-Choice for this Dixie Chick.
WD40, oh how I love thee.
I love WD40! I’ve even used it on my curling iron when the clamp wouldn’t close on it’s own. It works great. Just be sure to wipe away ALL the excess or your hair will be slicker than snot and smell like a repair shop.
I laughed my head off at this post, Christa…you have a gift for writing. You cracked me up. Who knew WD40 could be so valuable?!