I don't know WTF to think now...

[bean]

Tonight on my way home, the check engine light popped on and my car suddenly had the power of a 30 year old go kart with the original Briggs & Stratton 1/2 HP engine. Wouldn't rev past 2500, etc (it was acting like I had a 2500 rpm rev limiter).

Managed to limp it most of the way home, it stalled in front of my apt office. Tried to start it, couldn't keep it running. No worries, I figured I'd just push it if I could get someone passing by to help. 2 more cops pass by me while I'm stuck in the middle of the roundabout with hazards on trying to wave them down.

Some guy walking his dog starts laughing and says "Sucks when they break down huh?", I said "Hey what's up dude, yeah it sucks, shit happens I guess" and he suddenly starts running at me screaming YOU WANT TO TALK SHIT? YOU REMEMBER WHEN YOU RAN MY VEEDUB OFF THE TOLLROAD 6 MONTHS AGO!?!?!?!, runs behind my car, and starts screaming ABC 123 ABC 123 THAT'S THE PLATE THAT CUT ME OFF YOU BITCH, GET YOUR FUCKING ASS OUT OF THE CAR NOW!!!

Keep in mind I just got these plates a few months ago when I renewed my registration. I *never* drive on the tollroad, I can't afford to.

I'm like... WTF?!?!?!? jump in the car and lock it and roll up the windows while he's beating on the windows, and have 911 on the phone. Granted, the guy was tiny and I could have easily taken him, but he had a pissed off dog with him and a girlfriend trying to hold him back, yet still swinging at me. Plus I don't want an assault charge. Told the cops someone was trying to assault me and was currently vandalizing my car. Neighbors start walking out, the guy runs off and hides behind a bush, but shining a flashlight at me the whole time. I start talking to some of the neighbors, they ask if I live in this complex, I say yeah, in the back of the property. I ask if they can tell if that's him in the bushes, they say yes, that's definitely him.

Cops roll up a good 15-20 minutes later, neighbor points him out and one takes off after him, other starts trying to get my story.

Now first off, I'm NOT the only driver of my car, my boyfriend sometimes drives it too - but this guy was screaming that I cut off his "VEEDUB" on the tollway and slammed on my brakes in front of him. I gave the first cop the exact description of the guy that the other cop caught up to.. for whatever reason, second cop lets him go.

Then good cop/bad cop. Tell us what really happened. Sir, I already did. Repeat it. I repeat the exact same story. They ask which entrance I normally use, I mention "well, you can see where my car is broken down at, that's the one I normally use, but I sometimes use the other if I want to stop by the mail box" (2 entrances).

Cops say I'm trespassing unless I can show proof I live here, I already had my (freshly renewed) ID out and handed it to them. They clam up and ask if I can get my car inside the property and close to my building without a tow, I said I'll try, but it's going to take several minutes.

I ask them if they got the other guy's ID.. "He claimed he heard yelling and stepped outside to see what was going on". I tell them again "That WAS the guy that took a swing at me", they said no it wasn't.

They said they want to follow me back to my apartment to make sure I get there safely, that's fine with me. It took almost 10 minutes to get my car to my building since it kept stalling and wouldn't rev very high (and was belching thick clouds of black smoke), and wouldn't idle at all. I had it floored in 1st and could barely do <10 mph with constant backfiring. It finally died for good and I pushed it into my parking space. I told them I wanted to get my groceries out, I thanked them for coming out and they said don't hesitate to call them if he shows up.

I know this asshole is going to show up, I'm pissed as hell that they just let the guy go even after myself and 2 neighbors pointed him out. I've called 2 neighbors that live in my building and let them know what's going on, so we're all keeping an eye on the parking lot tonight.

Also, while I was limping the car home from work (2 miles on a state highway, hazards on, maxed out at about 20 mph when I managed to get it to crawl high enough to shift into 2nd), FIVE cops blew past me over about 10 minutes even though I was trying to wave them down to at least block traffic so I could make it home safely. One almost hit me and blared his horn at me instead.

Have I mentioned how much I absolutely adore the Dallas PD? And how I'm not appreciating the new dents in my car?

I just went through Dallas PD's list of calls for the day, and guess what... there's not even a report of a dispatch to my area.

Just as I finished writing this I heard THUNK THUNK THUNK outside... and uh, well, I'm making an expensive claim tomorrow. Both front doors, both front fenders, the hood, and one headlight are severely damaged. Thanks PD, thanks so much. Called it in 10 minutes ago and still nothing.

edit: Police have been here and gone, got a report number, but the guy never told me his name (which my insurance company asked for). I've filed a claim with my insurance company and they'll be in touch monday. For now, I'm actually not sure if the car is really driveable - I can't get the drivers door open very far, same with the passenger door, and the fenders are rubbing the tires. I'll attach photos shortly.

[bean]

Just went back out.. someone was nice enough to carve FAGGOT into the hood and break both mirrors. Power mirrors too, they ripped them off the doors and cut the wires.



Photos here, prior to carving and mirror breakage.

http://s16.photobucket.com/albums/b2...fbean/asshole/

[Chromatix]

Concerning the engine: that could be any number of specific faults, but the effect is probably a bad fuel mixture. The computer probably put the rev limiter on when it detected the fault (it's a common "limp home mode" which lets you know something's wrong and limits damage without stranding you). Get the garage to look at it when you have the bodywork fixed.

Concerning the PD: yeah, some police forces are *useless*. I don't know why.

[Mytical]

Dang, I am sorry to hear that. Some people are just horrible. I hope everything turns out ok for you, and that whoever did this gets their Karma in big doses. *hugs*. You be careful.

[bean]

Actually, I fixed the engine issues within 20 minutes of the cops following me to my parking space. Took my wanna-be tactical flashlight (i.e. SUPER GODDAMN BRIGHT flashlight that uses 2 3 volt camera lithium batteries and burns through them in 30 minutes flat) and noticed the throttle position sensor was missing most of the plug. The tab that held it on was there, the rest of the plug wasn't, just had to move all of the air filter housing tubes to locate it. Plugged it in, and while it's not totally happy, it now drives fine, just idles very low. Since it's OBD-II, if that's all it was, the check engine light should go back off in a few days once it re-learns how to run. So mechanically, it's running fine again. I gave it an "italian tuneup" (run it to redline, floored, on every shift possible) on the nearest highway and it runs perfect again.

OBD-II is picky as hell, but at the same time, pretty verbose when it tells you what's wrong. A check engine light on an older car could mean "uhhhh you didn't get enough donuts". If it's OBD-II and SERIOUS, you get limp home mode, which is limited to only a few sensors (and Honda, on this engine, kept things dead simple, there's only 3 sensors that will throw it into limp mode, and only 1 that will make it backfire like crazy).

It's a ~10 year old car that's spent its entire life in a hot climate, the wiring and connectors have gotten pretty brittle (but the body will have 0.01% rust when it has 500k miles).

Just got back off the phone with the PD... got bounced between non-emergency, 911, the local precinct, and back several times over about 15 minutes before someone finally said they felt for me, but I need to call during the day to add on to the report. The guy was very polite at least.

Also frantically trying to get ahold of work to inform them that I probably won't make it today... it's going to be nearly impossible for me to find a ride to my dr's appointment this morning, and if I do it'll be via bus. Did I ever mention that while I live 1.8 miles from work, it's a 2.5 hour bus ride each way? My store is in Plano, I live in Dallas, but both are in Collin County. I have to take a bus deep into Dallas and Dallas County, catch a bus headed toward downtown Dallas from there, then finally catch one to Plano. I can walk faster. And my dr's office isn't on the bus line in any way, shape, or form, even though he's also in Plano.

Even if this shit didn't happen, there is absolutely NO way in hell I can work after this shit, especially since I've been up 25 hours now and won't be able to sleep. I tried to call the store, and apparently they never activated "night ring" last night (which rings all the office phones) - several office staff are in by now, but I just get a recording saying "That extension, two zero zero, is not answering. To begin recording, pleasefsad;hsjadfvkjXZChlkjfsd*gibberish* . that mailbox is full, goodbye *click*" (why the HELL do we have voicemail on the incoming store phone again????). The night ring feature gives a recording stating the store is closed but lets you dial specific extensions to leave voicemails.

[bean]

Officially, store mgr is in by 5:30.

I'm still getting main mailbox full, even when I bypass the menu and dial his extension directly. And his cellphone is going direct to voicemail.

I've emailed every goddamn manager in the store trying to tell them "Hey dipshits, I'd love to call you, but YOU WONT ANSWER THE PHONE, here's why I won't be in" (much nicer of course). And several bounced with "Out of office until next week"

*slams head into wall repeatedly*

[Mytical]

Ok, you have angered the Karmic gods in some past life or something..because this is some messed up luck. I know I figure with all my bad Karma, I had to have been somebody in a past life that made Attila the Hun look like a girl scout, but ouch. *offers cookies* hope things get better soon.

[bean]

I can't win.... more damage.

http://s16.photobucket.com/albums/b2...fbean/asshole/ is the entire album.

As of now, it's missing the entire back window, the windshield is barely holding together, the roof is caved in, hate speech is carved into the hood, etc etc etc etc.

I started to drive out to get breakfast and someone threw.. something, large enough to shatter my back window but yet bounce off. My hands are covered in tiny cuts from glass. And the cops couldn't give 2 fucking shits.

Fuck Dallas, fuck Texas, fuck these redneck fucks surrounding me.

[bean]

FINALLY got ahold of someone in management. Told him what happened, his exact answer, word for word, was "WHAT THE FUCK?". I sent him photos of the carnage already, he told me to just take care of myself and he'll deal with the fallout for me.

[ditchdj]

You might wanna forget the Dallas PD and contact the state police and tell them Dallas PD wont do shit. You also might wanna try contacting the local news stations. Local PD's don't like bad publicity.

[Shalom]

Might also consider reporting it as a hate crime, given the reference to your sexual orientation carved into the hood. I don't know if that'll get them off their collective ass any faster, but it's worth a try.

(edit to add: I'd just hit Send and a moment later it occurred to me, that depending on how many members of the local LEO are homophobic rednecks themselves, this may be counterproductive, so use your own judgment on that. Sleep on it first maybe.)

[Talon]

Holy suck-on-a-spunk-flavoured-lollypop that's awful.

I suppose if you had defended yourself against the veedub psycho, the entire police force, plus riot squad would have shown up in 30 seconds to arrest you.

[bean]

Might also consider reporting it as a hate crime

Already done.. my apartment complex trades free rent to 2 Dallas PD officers for them answering resident calls.

The first thing the off duty guy said was "Wow... I don't mean to offend, but are you gay?". I said yes I am. He said "Welp, that's automatically a hate crime then!" and mentioned if they catch the guy, he's in super deep shit instead of extra deep shit. Actually seemed like an incredibly nice guy, we even bullshitted about his boss going to lesbian clubs.

Just got off the phone with my insurance company. They're picking up my car tomorrow to take it to my preferred body shop, then to my regular mechanic for any mechanical issues, and I get a (lowish end) rental car for a full month. They did say given the extent of damage (especially interior) and the age of the car, my car is most likely a write off, which is a shame, just put new tires on it and a new wheel bearing.

My rental coverage is $25/day, and he strongly suggested I don't sign up for the "extra" coverages since I have balls to the wall insurance already. So that'll probably get me a compact car, Honda Fit, maybe a crappy Chevy Aveo if they're in a bad mood. As long as I get my power windows and a CD player I'm pretty happy. Did I say I have the rental for a FULL MONTH even if they total it?!

Downside is... since there were 4 police reports filed, they WANT to file it as 4 claims, but my agent said he's going to lean really hard on his boss to make it 1 claim since it's obvious they're all related. And my old agent fucked me... I wanted a $250 deductible and they said it's $500, and btw, my agent got fired. Grrr...

[Whiskey]

contact the local news stations. Local PD's don't like bad publicity.

contact the local news stations. Local PD's don't like bad publicity.

contact the local news stations. Local PD's don't like bad publicity.

News stations LIVE for stories like this.

[Kogarashi]

You also might wanna try contacting the local news stations. Local PD's don't like bad publicity.

News stations LIVE for stories like this.

Thirded. Though at least the off-duty guy sounded nice.