audi: 1 me: -$854.57

so, my car is mended and home again . . . we (my pappy and i) had determined that the voltage regulator in the alternator had gone kapute, and there for the alternator would be in need of replacing.

i thusly take my car to the mechanic, they take out the alternator and can't find anything wrong with it, just that it's not charging the battery; solution? new alternator.

also, an interesting note on the alternator: there are two main manufacturers of audi alternators: bosch and veleo . . . and what's the alternator found in my car? a bosch/veleo. weird, huh? this stumps the mechanic. as well as the fact that the amprage of the alternator was much higher than it should have been and that the alternator, though marked as a 2001, wasn't put in allroads until 2003. it just had to be my car that had the weird funky phantom part that made no sense what so ever. and keep in mind also that this is the original alternator, not an after-market or modification. crazy german car makers . . .

at this point my car is very much dismantled, so he replaces the serpentine belt as well.

the important thing is, my car is intact and running and i am just that much more in the hole financially . . .

oy

a sad day for my audi . . .

so, there i was yesterday, driving back from a lovely walk around the lake with my charming little bug, and i come to a stop in a left-hand turn lane about a mile from my house and the audi, my dutiful little allroad, dies. ka-plooey.

it just so happens that i'm the first in line, mind you, so when the light turns green, i can't go anywhere, and my hazard lights aren't cooperating with me, and i'm trying to wave the people around from behind me, but all they do is honk at me.

meanwhile, in the backseat, my little bug is having a grand ol' time with our new little adventure . . . she's such a trooper.

any-who, so after many honkings, nasty looks and the turn signal going through it's cycle about 7 times, and calling just about everyone i can for help (no one was home or was in a position to help) a lovely couple comes to my rescue.

this kind, gracious gentlemen hops out of his car (instead of honking at me) and asks whats wrong and could he help, gets someone to help him push my car somewhere safe when the light turns green, and ends up having a tow rope in his truck, tows my car all the way home and him and his wife help push my car into my parking spot.

it was amazing. a very sad day for my audi, but a wonderful day for renewing my faith in humanity. it's just good to know that there are still wonderful compassionate people out there that are willing to take time out of their schedules to help someone stranded.

thank heavens for good samaritans.