So it's been one of those lazy days, doing a bit here and there. Started off with a breakfast in Arundel and gave the Smart a run. Nope, despite having it on trickle charge for a few days, not enough in the battery to start it. So after having disconnected and stowed the starter/charger back in the garage and put the foot well back together (which is where the battery sits in a Smart) I had to undo it all and get the charger connected.
Cleared the drive of the Cruiser and Space Star and went for breakfast. Left the cruiser on the road until this afternoon when I went out about 3 to deliver the last Christmas card before settling down for the evening with a few other bits and bobs.
Went up to the truck as usual and pressed the button on my alarm remote…nothing! Tried again, this time closer…still nothing!! Tried it in all the locations I could think of, still nothing!!! Tested the battery, that was fine and it still made the light flash on the remote fob which TBH had decided over the last few years to only work within a foot of the car.
Ah, now, when the guy fitted it, he told me if all else fails, push the two contacts on the fob onto the connector on the dash. So I went to use the key to open the door which it did with a little stiffness as I never use the locks. Pushed it on the terminals and…nothing!!!! Still, the alarm managed to go off and keep resetting and going off and flashing the indicators too. Great!! [emoji35]
So I then thought, I have the guts of the second remote that I have been meaning to replace for the last 5 or 6 years. So I locked it back up with the key and went inside to look for the fob. Well it looks like that went in the bin a long time ago so I decided to have another go after cleaning the contacts on the remote. Nice n shiny!!
So, popped the key in the driver's door and… nothing!!!!! Wouldn't turn left or right. Wiggled it, back and forth, sprayed it with WD40 and……nothing!!!!!![emoji35][emoji35] tried the passenger side…nope, wouldn't have it. [emoji35][emoji35][emoji35] so tried the tailgate. With thoughts of Basil Fawlty and his birch twig I was starting to get sense of humour failure by this point. My one last remaining hope was the tailgate lock and…yes! At last!! I was in!! Alarm ringing, I managed to clamber over my tools and get the back door unlocked. Removed myself from the prostrate position I had adopted to get to the door and got back in to open the driver's door. Still with the alarm going, I tried the fob again but still it wouldn't work. So, in the best tradition of raving screaming idiots I decided to remove the alarm with a blunt instrument. That'll do it. No. Didn't let me start the truck and didn't have enough wires to be the brains so the hunt was on, legs sticking out the driver's door into the road (thankfully wide and not busy).
2 hours standing on my head or lying on my back in the driver's footwell in the failing light with a torch and I've managed to find the right wires to bridge out the immobiliser and bingo…I can now start the truck!!! [emoji3]
But the piggin' key still won't work anything but the tailgate lock. [emoji30][emoji30][emoji30]
I can honestly say I have not had a Christmas Eve like it. And I certainly don't want one like it again!!
More expense, new alarm immobiliser needed, plus new key as the old one must be worn.
Bloody thing!!! (The alarm, not the cruiser!)
Cleared the drive of the Cruiser and Space Star and went for breakfast. Left the cruiser on the road until this afternoon when I went out about 3 to deliver the last Christmas card before settling down for the evening with a few other bits and bobs.
Went up to the truck as usual and pressed the button on my alarm remote…nothing! Tried again, this time closer…still nothing!! Tried it in all the locations I could think of, still nothing!!! Tested the battery, that was fine and it still made the light flash on the remote fob which TBH had decided over the last few years to only work within a foot of the car.
Ah, now, when the guy fitted it, he told me if all else fails, push the two contacts on the fob onto the connector on the dash. So I went to use the key to open the door which it did with a little stiffness as I never use the locks. Pushed it on the terminals and…nothing!!!! Still, the alarm managed to go off and keep resetting and going off and flashing the indicators too. Great!! [emoji35]
So I then thought, I have the guts of the second remote that I have been meaning to replace for the last 5 or 6 years. So I locked it back up with the key and went inside to look for the fob. Well it looks like that went in the bin a long time ago so I decided to have another go after cleaning the contacts on the remote. Nice n shiny!!
So, popped the key in the driver's door and… nothing!!!!! Wouldn't turn left or right. Wiggled it, back and forth, sprayed it with WD40 and……nothing!!!!!![emoji35][emoji35] tried the passenger side…nope, wouldn't have it. [emoji35][emoji35][emoji35] so tried the tailgate. With thoughts of Basil Fawlty and his birch twig I was starting to get sense of humour failure by this point. My one last remaining hope was the tailgate lock and…yes! At last!! I was in!! Alarm ringing, I managed to clamber over my tools and get the back door unlocked. Removed myself from the prostrate position I had adopted to get to the door and got back in to open the driver's door. Still with the alarm going, I tried the fob again but still it wouldn't work. So, in the best tradition of raving screaming idiots I decided to remove the alarm with a blunt instrument. That'll do it. No. Didn't let me start the truck and didn't have enough wires to be the brains so the hunt was on, legs sticking out the driver's door into the road (thankfully wide and not busy).
2 hours standing on my head or lying on my back in the driver's footwell in the failing light with a torch and I've managed to find the right wires to bridge out the immobiliser and bingo…I can now start the truck!!! [emoji3]
But the piggin' key still won't work anything but the tailgate lock. [emoji30][emoji30][emoji30]
I can honestly say I have not had a Christmas Eve like it. And I certainly don't want one like it again!!
More expense, new alarm immobiliser needed, plus new key as the old one must be worn.
Bloody thing!!! (The alarm, not the cruiser!)
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