Sometimes Life IS a Monty Python Sketch

I think we'd all be lying if we didn't agree that our lives, at times, are a comedy of errors.  As with all comedies, it is always easier to laugh when the joke is not on you. Such were the events of the past few days, although if I had to be honest, I did laugh a little, if for no other reason than to keep from going "wonky". You're thinking, "Quit rambling and get on with it"! So,on with the show!

I had begun to notice a faint squeaking sound coming from under the hood of my SUV about 2 months ago and had assumed it was the belt.  I took it to my dad, who promptly "soaped" it, and the squeaking stopped...for a while.  It soon started back again but with more vigilance and it brought a friend in the form of a grinding/rattling sound. It was a very unsettling sound, kind of like putting a bunch of marbles into the washer on the spin cycle; and, it got louder.  It had become like a small child trying to get attention. Blatant!
I had my dad look at it again and he decided that it was, in fact, the air conditioner compressor going out.  Which it did, soon after.  However, he had surmised that even though the compressor was not working the belt should "free-wheel"; meaning, that it would rattle as it ran through the dead compressor, but it would run.
All seemed well with the vehicle and because it was cooler now, just having the windows down seemed to cool everyone enough.  Mark and I had decided to begin saving money for a new compressor in the Spring and that was supposed to be the end of it. 

On last Friday, I set out for my Dr. appointment in Slidell.  It was a particularly beautiful day to be sure.  It was sunny and cool with a wonderful breeze and I was zipping down the road.  I stopped to get my lab-work done and then went on to the Dr.'s Office.  I had a good visit with the Doctor and then got back into the vehicle and turned the key.  It made this vain attempt to start...kind of like the little engine that could...only IT couldn't.  I soon realized after several subsequent attempts, I had a problem.  I had it narrowed down to two possible culprits, the battery or the alternator. Then, I did what any self respecting girl would do....I called Dad!!  He answered and I explained my dilemma to which he said he was leaving Purvis, MS and would be there ASAP.  I will skip the time frame here so as not to get him into trouble with mom:) but he arrived and I gave him directions to the office.  He pulled up, popped the hood and prepared to jump me off.....unsuccessfully!  He was puzzled by that but more disturbed by the fact that the battery had "juice" when he hooked his meter up to it.  This indicated that the battery was not the problem.  He checked the alternator...also fine.  He then decided that it must be the starter that had gone out, although he had never seen one go out suddenly and without warning.  We asked the office if I could leave it there for a day or two and they said that was fine.  I hopped into the truck with dad; we called a mechanic to go look at it for us and tell us what was wrong; and, we headed home.

The mechanic called us back within two hours and told us that the belt surrounding the compressor had "seized" and that was why it wouldn't start. So much for "free-wheeling".  We would either have to replace the compressor or bypass it with another belt.  After discussing the options($$$$) with Mark, we decided upon bypassing the compressor for now and just get a smaller belt to fit, so we could get it running.  On Saturday, dad and Mark headed back to Slidell to get a belt, fix the problem and get the SUV back here. 

That WAS the plan!  Upon getting down there and taking a good look under the hood, they found that the belt diagram on the front panel under the hood didn't actually match the engine that was in the SUV.  Upon further inspection, of several hours and many attempts, they were unable to get the new belt(s) to fit because the compressor was wedged too close to the pulley and they couldn't squeeze the belt in-between. Failure (or at least surrender) was declared and they had reconciled themselves to going back down on Sunday to tow the SUV back.  It was NOT pretty!

This is where my friend from Canada comes into our little story.  Her name is Danielle and she is pretty good around anything electronic or mechanical and has a background in those areas. I have been keeping in touch with her and told her of our "little problem" to which she explained that she knew those motors well and there WAS a way to bypass the compressor and to give her a little time to find the schematics on line so she could send them to us.  She did!  We got the plans via email and Mark and Dad looked at them.  It was basically getting a smaller pulley to replace a larger one and getting the right sized belt (both of which she had sent part numbers for)  We thanked her profusely and, on Sunday, Mark and dad headed back down again armed with knowledge!  They popped into the parts store, bought the parts, and got them on the SUV.  Within TEN minutes, the engine was humming. They even made it back in time for church!  I called my friend and told her we had succeeded and thanked her for being a total genius...which she is!  This now allows us the time we need to save money for a compressor and get it put on before Summer comes. So it all worked out to a good end.

In the future, however, I'd thank Monty to just throw a coke bottle and be done with it!