You'll always be too shiny to me

Sad news - charlotte (my car) died. It was rather inconveniently too. It happen while I was on the freeway in Connecticut. The air conditioner suddenly wasn't so cold, a winding/grinding noise started while I was in fourth gear, went away for a few seconds after I shifted to fifth, then the car was no longer on. I pulled over and she wouldn't start again. I had always wondered what happened when your car broke down on the side of the road.

I had no clue what to do so I did what most girls would do and I called my dad. This was a special treat for me because I usually don't get to call my dad in situations like this because that he doesn't live in the country. He didn't really know what to do either. We did both know that I needed to call a tow truck, but the problem was I didn't know where I was. He suggested I call 911, but I really didn't want to do that. While it was unpleasant and inconvenient - it was not an emergency and I really hate when people use emergency services in non-emergent situations. After speaking to my friend that was more familiar with the route and trying to figure out where I was by having dad look up the exit I was by, I realized I had the solution to my problem in my hand. My phone has a "locate me" function on it. I was able to "locate me" and then google towing companies nearby. It made me really heart my data plan. So I got towed to a local mechanic the tow truck guy knew of.

After describing the events and sounds that led up to the deadness, the car guys asked me if I thought it was the transmission or the engine. I shot them a "seriously?!?!" look. I mean, c'mon. While I do know a little more about cars than some, and normally I would have a google diagnosis (I'm sure mechanics love when people self-diagnose their car problems just as much as doctors/nurses/midwives). However, I was kind of having a little crisis and my internet searching was somewhat impeded by my 2 inch screen. I told them that my dad thought it was the engine, but added the disclaimer that it is difficult to diagnose a car over the phone, especially when your on the phone with your crying daughter.

Anyways, dad was right. It was the engine. A used engine was going to cost $3000 and a new engine would have been $6000. She was also going to need a new clutch, brakes and exhaust in the near future so we decided to call it. Towing her home was going to be a lot of money, so I left her. I feel bad I had to abandon her in Connecticut.

It was very sad, but I have to give her credit for upholding her end of the bargain. When I went back to school three years ago charlotte and I had a conversation about her holding in there until I finished. I should have been more specific about waiting until I finished school and found a job, but that's on me. It was a good 7 years/100,000 miles and she got 39 mpg on the highway all the way until the end.