I've Got Something to Say   
 Ride Stats
Time: 01:41:10 Distance: 29.50 miles Max Speed: 23.10 mph
Avg Speed: 17.40 mph Altitude Gain: 0 ft Route: Monday Night Ride in St Charles
Weight: 238 Category: training: general - solo Terrain: Road: Flat
Bike: Fuji Roubaix RC Road Club: Club Rouge Croix
Weather Conditions: 79 degrees (feels like 79) Wind: W14 Humidity: 38% Partly cloudy Sunset: 7:56 PM
Navigate by: blog entry | ride entry | any entry
<< Prev Ride  Monday, May 3, 2010  Next Ride >>
 Dead battery
Rode w/Glen, his brother Don, and their friend Scott. I met Glen on stlbiking.com as he was asking for a travel case for a trip he & his wife are taking next week to San Fran.

Had a good time, and the pace line really helped.

I get back to my truck after the ride, pull my key out of my pocket and hit the 'unlock' button on the remote and nothing happens. I hit it again, and again, and again - still locked. I do a quick double check that I am at the correct blue Ford Ranger - yea, it's my truck (no others around in sight). The button doesn't even feel like it is 'depressing', so I stick the key into the keyhole in the passenger door and it won't turn - clockwise or counter-clockwise. Hmmmm. I walk around to the driver's side. I try the remote again, and still nothing, so I use the key to unlock and open the door. OK. Then I spy that the light switch is still on. Ugh - dead batter. No problem, I have jumper cables, and theres a few folks around so I'll ask someone to give me a jump.

One guy responds that he'll help - he drives a little red sports car. He pulls around the front of my truck and opens the trunk - that's where his battery is, and he explains is a sports car thing (something about weight distribution & balance). So, I attach my end of the cables to my battery and he hooks his end of the cables to his and gets a few sparks. A few seconds later I try to start the truck - nothing, not even a click. The dome light still hasn't come on, so I go to check the cables on my battery and it is HOT. I ask the guy, "You do have the red on the positive side, right?" He responds, "I think so." He gets a flash light out and reverses his cables, and I reattach the one I pulled off mine.

I get back into the truck and turn the key - click, click, click. OK, now we're getting somewhere. The dome light comes on. Sit there for a few seconds, then turn the key again. The motor turns over but fails to start before the battery is drained again. Sit for a few more seconds this time, turn the key and it starts up. Whoot.

Then I go to turn on the radio - it powers off when the batter is disconnected (I know this from disconnecting the batter Saturday to open the dash and replace a burned out bulb behind my speedometer) and the radio won't power on. Maybe I've blown a fuse. I check the headlights, turn signals and other electrical stuff, and they all seem to work, so I should be able to make it home safely. And, I'm not going to shut off the engine and play around w/fuses now - not sure that the battery is charged enough to start the engine up again, yet. So I end up riding home in silence - not able to listen to the Cardinals game. (note: I checked this fuse on Tues morning before leaving for work and yes it was blown, and a replacement was available on the fuse panel cover - all is good).


0 member views | 7304 total views          report problem |
 
 My Blog Calendar
<<<May 2010>>>
MTWTFSS
          1 2
3 4 5 6 7 8 9
10 11 12 13 14 15 16
17 18 19 20 21 22 23
24 25 26 27 28 29 30
31            
 My Recent Blogs
1/2 - 30 miles to start 2023
6/9 - You passed driving lesson..
2/27 - Time for some new sandals..
1/28 - (untitled)
12/30 - (untitled)
 My Profile
  dwaynet click to learn more about premier membership

click to enlarge
view my journal
Lifetime: 83,630 mi
Member No. 4174
Member since: Jan 2005
Home: Hazelwood, MO 
custom built HC Carbon Disc
Road bike
Commuter Cycling Century
 My Favorite Blogs  (find more bloggers)
HardHead: HardHead's BikeJou..
Robert_C2C: Riding to Remember....
rschlump: Secondary Roads
velosaurusrex:

The views expressed here are those of this author only and do not necessarily represent the views of, and should not be attributed to, bikejournal.com's owners. All blogs must follow the terms set forth in the blog agreement. Report any problems to the web administrator.
Copyright © 2001-2024 bikejournal.com  |  All rights reserved