I learned a couple things about my car today. Snow cleared, so I headed into the office. It started hard, just barely turning over before the engine came to life. Weird, was not that cold in Minnesota today and I replaced the battery in November. Let the engine warm up a bit before scraping off the ice and 10' of snow and climbing in.
Noticed I was on bingo fuel as soon as I pulled out. I knew I was cutting it close, but just had not had the time to fuel up with the holidays and storm. A bad sign when the computer won't give an estimated range a mile or two down the road. Discretion was the better part of valor, so I pulled into the nearest gas station to fuel up rather than going another couple miles to Costco. Also noticed my clock was reset, which only happens when the battery gets very low on the drive over.
So I pull into the station and walk around to the gas cap. The back wing was up. Very odd, as the drive was definitely under 75mph.. Grateful to be at the gas station, I push the panel to open the fuel inlet. Nothing. Ah crap, must be full of snow and ice. Fiddle with it clearing out the cruft, but no joy. Not sure I had enough fuel to drive home and take a hair dryer to it, I return to the car anyhow.
*Click* *Click*
Dead battery. WTF? There was no reason for the battery to be dead, unless... Ah crap... the alternator. That would correlate to the unusually low voltages (12-13v) the gages registered since the battery was replaced.
Well, as long as I was sitting at the pump, I figured I would fuel up as my Bride drove to my rescue with a pair of jumper cables. I was really low. Cap lock release must be electrical. Makes sense. Pulled out the documentation and look for a manual release as the snow is starting to melt while I waited. Breeze past the dire warnings about not disconnecting the battery with the tank less than 1/3 full on the C4, find a picture of the manual release inside the passenger door. Woot! At least I can give it to them with a full tank of gas. Pull the grenade like pin, only to have it come off in my hand.
WFT?!?
The bastard who owned the car before me broke the manual release, and put the broken loop back in the door. Son of a...
Fortunately I had just enough range left in my car to make it to my mechanic. Dropped off the car and they called to confirm my alternator suspicions. Looks like they were able to open the gas cap with a pair of long needle nose pliers. Argh. Happy new year to me and looks like I get to do some cabling work when Spring shows up.
Nuts.