Faulty Interlock Switch

EinsteinsMommy · 02-20-2009, 08:57 PM

For those of you who haven't heard, I had a wonderful morning...

I was on my way to an appointment and had only gotten about 1/2 mile from my house when my ABS light came on along with my little hazard triangle lighting up. I pulled off on the shoulder of the road and shut my car off, waited a few minutes, and started it again, hoping that would reset it. It showed no lights until I tried to shift then both lights came back on and my shifter wouldn't budge.

I called smart USA roadside assistance and they said it needed to be towed to smart center Lincolnwood, in Chicago. I waited 2hrs for the towtruck, but he was very professional and appologized for taking so long. He read my owners manual to see exactly how he was supposed to tow it and was very gentle with my baby.

Once at smart center Lincolnwood they checked my baby out and determined that I had a faulty interlock switch and fortunately they had the part in stock. Unfortunately I'm 117 miles away and can't find anyone insane enough to go up to Chicago with me either tomorrow or Monday.

Any suggestions would be highly appreciated!!

I did check to see how much towing it home would be...$750...OUCH! So if anyone has a free day and wants to go, let me know...I'll pay for gas, food, and tolls!!

chieftmc · 02-21-2009, 07:08 AM

Well Madame Sinner

I'm glad Einstein is fixed and it was an easy repair. Hope you get your transportation sorted out very soon. I know you and Einstein must be missing each other

garnetobsidian · 02-21-2009, 07:22 AM

Hey Macy,
Wildman's wife here...I know I am quite a ways away from you (by at least twice the distance for you to Chicago) but I should be getting my Mini out of the shop on Monday...and would welcome the chance to go on a road trip. I have Tuesday off, so if you can wait until then, I'd be glad to take you. All I need to know is how to get to your house and then how to get to the dealership and I should be good. I think it would be fun!

Let me know if that's good with you. I'll try to remember to check my posting for your reply or you can PM me.

Big Panda · 02-21-2009, 07:55 AM

Well there ya go Macy....an excellent example of the 'SIN Network' at work!

Hope you and Wildmans wifey have a wonderful and safe roadtrip.

But curious....didn't smart USA roadside assistance give you the option of taking Einstein to SCI? Is it THAT much further? Maybe next time (hopefully there won't BE a 'next time') you should tell them that it's only "X" number of miles more BUT so much easier and less costly to go to Indy. I'm sure you would rather have to come HERE than go to Chicago, even though the people at Lincolnwood are great too, from what I've heard.

Just a thought.....

EinsteinsMommy · 02-21-2009, 10:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by garnetobsidian

Hey Macy,
Wildman's wife here...I know I am quite a ways away from you (by at least twice the distance for you to Chicago) but I should be getting my Mini out of the shop on Monday...and would welcome the chance to go on a road trip. I have Tuesday off, so if you can wait until then, I'd be glad to take you. All I need to know is how to get to your house and then how to get to the dealership and I should be good. I think it would be fun!

Let me know if that's good with you. I'll try to remember to check my posting for your reply or you can PM me.

Thank you so much for the offer! magilly00 and his wife are on their way to get me if the weather holds out. If not then I'll definately take you up on that offer!!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Big Panda

Well there ya go Macy....an excellent example of the 'SIN Network' at work!

Hope you and Wildmans wifey have a wonderful and safe roadtrip.

But curious....didn't smart USA roadside assistance give you the option of taking Einstein to SCI? Is it THAT much further? Maybe next time (hopefully there won't BE a 'next time') you should tell them that it's only "X" number of miles more BUT so much easier and less costly to go to Indy. I'm sure you would rather have to come HERE than go to Chicago, even though the people at Lincolnwood are great too, from what I've heard.

Just a thought.....

It was about 4 miles longer to get to scI and since I'm in Lincolnwood territory, that's where they had to take him

I would definately have preferred to go to Indy, then I wouldn't have a problem finding a ride. Hopefully the snow dies down and I'm able to go get my baby. I miss him so bad!

The tow truck driver looked at me yesterday and said "Oh Geez, you aren't crying are you?" I was, so there was his answer!

garnetobsidian · 02-21-2009, 11:18 AM

Just let me know...I know about the missing your baby part though. My Mini has been in the shop since Friday getting it's thermostat housing fixed/changed and I miss it too. It's like not having your right arm or something.

Big Panda · 02-21-2009, 02:10 PM

I still think that if that happens to you again, you need to tell smart USA roadside assistance that it's ONLY 4 MILES LONGER to transport it to SCI and that you would REALLY PREFER Einstein be taken there. Just keep that in mind, 'if' there ever is a 'next time'. Like I said, hopefully NOT!

Snefferdoodle · 02-21-2009, 02:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Big Panda

I still think that if that happens to you again, you need to tell smart USA roadside assistance that it's ONLY 4 MILES LONGER to transport it to SCI and that you would REALLY PREFER Einstein be taken there. Just keep that in mind, 'if' there ever is a 'next time'. Like I said, hopefully NOT!

And it would be nothing to pay the difference to be able to go those 4 miles.

I go to the Ikea in Cincinnati, which is farther, simply because it is easier to get to than the one in Chicago.

driven2succeed · 02-21-2009, 07:04 PM

Bummer, Macy! I'm so sorry to hear about Einstein's troubles. At least it sounds like you won't have a bill from the pediatrician. Hang in there and let us know when you and the baby are reunited.

shadowchameleon · 02-21-2009, 07:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EinsteinsMommy

Thank you so much for the offer! magilly00 and his wife are on their way to get me if the weather holds out. If not then I'll definately take you up on that offer!!

Dude that is awesome!!! I totally told my GF "I wonder if magilly00 would go pick her up..." Smarties helping Smarties that is the reason for all this... SCOA, SIN, Smart USA Insider, etc.

PS I was kinda hesitant about the whole driving to South Bend or whether or not I would do it again. And prolly being on time for breakfast would have helped, but going to Honkers Family Restaurant with a few Smarties helped me decide I want to be in this community. We barely talked about the cars during lunch, mostly when we were standing next to them.