Suzette's Parenting and Breastfeeding Blog | My car broke down at the most ‘convenient’ time

It chose the right moment and right place to break down, in front of my mom’s house blocking the access/exit this morning. I just couldn’t start the engine, and I knew very well what was the problem –> battery!

It was my fault. Yesterday it gave me signs of failure, TWICE. And I still ignored it. Well, actually I wanted to attend to it, but was hoping it could last till the weekend, like last time (not with the same battery, of course). But this time it didn’t want to wait.

The battery is only 7 months old! Still under warranty.

I have to admit that I am a typical woman who gets panic when my car breaks down. I frantically called DH, hoping that he hasn’t left the house and could come to rescue. Unfortunately he was on his way for an important business meeting.

He briefed me what to do, leaving me with good instructions. But I was still very scared to do it myself. Actually scared to death!

My mom called a mechanic nearby to come. I instantaneously distrusted this guy. Why? Without doing anything he dismissed my initial speculation on battery. I told him my previous two experiences were attributed to the battery. He boldly said, “Not this time”.

How could he be certain of it? Later, after he tried to start the engine and a few other things, he then confirmed the battery was dead. He insisted that adding battery water wouldn’t help and I must pay RM170 to change that battery. My mom took down his number and he left.

So I was on my own. Following DH’s instruction, I walked to the nearby Mobil station to get a bottle of battery water.

Though I knew theoretically how to open the bonet, I haven’t done that before. I pulled the triggle under the dashboard, went over to the front, took some time to figure out the latch, before I could open it! Ya, that’s because I was too scared of the dust and worried of ’something’ hiding inside. I didn’t put my fingers deep enough to feel the latch! LOL!!

Then, took sometime to figure out where to place the rod that stops bonet from dropping. My previous car was Satria, and there is a hole to insert the rod. Took me a while to figure out Honda’s version.

I then tried to unscrew the caps of the battery nodes with my trembling hands and a 50 cents coin (later switched to 20 cents).

Ya, my hands were trembling, because I was scared to touch any parts of the car. Anything under that bonet is scary to me. Laugh at me lah, guys! :p

After unscrewing them, I couldn’t see the water level. They are just patch of blackness to me, even with torchlight. Since I had no choice, I blindly added the water, trying hard not to over-fill them. I could only fill 4 out of the 5 nodes because the center one was blocked by the metal holding the battery.

My, my, my! The battery must be extremely thirsty. It ‘drank’ half of the bottle, and that was only 4 nodes out of 5.

Then, I tried to re-start the engine again. Yay! It works now! I hope it can last, at least till the weekend, as DH promised to get it changed.

Well, after all, it is not that difficult as I imagined. If it happens again tomorrow, I have confidence I can do it with ease already.

Couldn’t believe it - I did that with my high heels, office suits, short tight skit, bending over the bonet… and ended with dirty black & dusty hands plus sweaty armpit. LOL!!! I DO hope this doesn’t happen again. :p

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