Annoyed and Disturbed

[ShadedWings]

So, my bf and I go to grab some late-night/early morning food at a place that might still be open... only to be annoyed and convinced that SOMETHING is preventing us from leaving.

On the way out the door, while locking it, the lock refused to let go of the key unless it was unlocked and I was inside. Took three or four attempts to actually get it to let go while I was outside.

Then, get to my car, which was recently brought all nicely up-to-date on everything, and the battery's entirely dead. Alarm's not working, electric lock mechanism won't work.. manually unlock it and try to turn it on, NOTHING works. Not a single light or anything.

The only reason I can think of that it won't run suddenly, is that either a) the insane amounts of rain shorted something (which doesn't half make sense to me since I didn't drive it anywhere while it rained) or b) it decided after not being moved for a week again that it was happy sitting there doing nothing.

It annoys me to no end, since I JUST got the thing running legally and nicely... and now I have to get a new battery too. It baffles me, because it ran fine after sitting there for about 7 months doing nothing, but a week causes it to go "nope! not gonna go!"?

And to top it all off, went to come back inside, resigned to not going anywhere for now since we can't see the car clearly enough to do anything with it, and roomie's out at work so we can't really get a jump... the front door lets us in with no problem. Didn't even try to keep the key. :wtf::headscratch:

Now I'm disturbed, thinking something might have prevented something horrible happening while out tonight, and stuck at home with nothing that I want to eat. *sigh*

[draftermatt]

Did it click at all when you turned the key?

It probably is the battery, but it could be the alternator. Before you spend the money I'd suggest pulling the battery out and taking it to an Auto Parts store so they can test it. If it's not that then it's probably the alternator.

[ShadedWings]

Nope, nothing. Dead silent, no lights, as if I didn't even do anything.

[edible_hat]

it decided after not being moved for a week again that it was happy sitting there doing nothing.

There could be something to this theory - my aunt once left a car parked overnight with the door a tiny tiny bit open. i.e. closed enough to look closed but open enough to make the "door is open" light stay on all night. In the morning there was enough juice to turn the lights on but not start the car, so something like that going on for a week could definitely completely drain a battery.

[ShadedWings]

There could be something to this theory - my aunt once left a car parked overnight with the door a tiny tiny bit open. i.e. closed enough to look closed but open enough to make the "door is open" light stay on all night. In the morning there was enough juice to turn the lights on but not start the car, so something like that going on for a week could definitely completely drain a battery.

Maybe.. dunno. The alarm was set and the doors were locked when I left it, and even though the alarm wasn't active anymore, the doors were definitely locked still. :( I'm thinking that using it a week ago just used up what little was left in the old battery. Hmph. I'm just hoping that I can get a battery for it that isn't too expensive.

[Becks]

I'm going to go with some sort of spirit.

:D

[AdminAssistant]

Maybe the battery cables are loose? I've had that problem with my car before. Turn on the lights and (carefully) twist on the cables and see if they come on.

And whenever you do get the battery, make sure you get one with a warranty. AutoZone is really good about replacing them, tightening cables, etc. It really is worth the extra money.

[Primer]

Electro-magnetic pulse in the middle of the night?

[AnqeiicDemise]

Did you disconnect the battery cables from the battery while it sat there for 7 months with no use?

I just had to recently purchase a battery for a 2006 scion xb because it sat in storage for about six months. I pulled it out of storage and moved here about a year ago but it still acted out, battery kept dying, I couldn't disengage the alarm.. eventually I had to jump start it every time I needed to move. Drove me NUTS.

Mechanic kept saying it could be the alternator because it could not possibly be the battery. Its too new!

I wouldn't pay the diagnostic fee because I knew it was the battery, so I took it off and got it checked at Schuck's. sure enough, DEAD. I talked to the mechanic who tested my battery and he told me that if you're not going to be driving your car for 2 weeks or more you need to disconnect the cables from the battery to keep it from discharging.

Also, batteries shouldn't be THAT expensive. The cheapest battery for my vehicle is $65. I paid $110 because I am notoriously leaving the lights on/door open/keys in the car/what have you. I needed to get more juice power just in case.

As far as you being locked in your apartment for god knows what reason ... it possibly was a spirit of some sort wanting to keep you safe. Who knows? Maybe there is something worse off with your car that wasn't caught and your leaving in the middle of the night might have caused you to be in an unfortunate accident. Your inability to lock the door from the outside, quite possibly, may have saved your life.

Or someone else's life.

And that, hun, isn't too bad. It just means your guardian spirit is definitely keeping an eye out on ya. ^.- Just let it go and consider yourself safe. There's no point fretting over what could have been had if it was negative.