Yesterday afternoon when we all left work, a co-worker who was parked in front of me (front bumper to front bumper), his car was dead. The guys decided that he needed a jumpstart but I (the female) was the only one with jumper cables in my trunk. Now understand that I am the only female working with 17 men.
I offered my car and jumper cables to get my co-worker running. I proceed to my trunk, get the cables and the manly-man in the group who is true redneck, grabs the cables and hooks them up to Gregs car. I then get in my car to start it up to give Gregs car a charge before he tries to start his.
I get totally hollered at and screamed at by my boss, supervisor and the boy that hooked the cables up to NOT start my car.
So....I know that I am a girl and all but....I am 42 yrs old and have jumped many, many, many cars in my years and certainly know how it all works.
These 3 men told me that it would ruin my car and tear up my alternator so.. here is my car not running and Gregs car not running but both hooked up to jumper cables.
Of course, Greg's car did not start. We were forbidden to start our cars.
MY QUESTION TO YOU......
START MY CAR TO CHARGE THE DEAD CAR OR NOT TO START MY CAR??
I have been doing google searches today to just verify that I have been doing it correctly for the last 27 years and everything I have read is START THE GOOD CAR - CHARGE THE BATTERY FOR A MINUTE - TRY TO START THE DEAD CAR.
YES THIS WOMAN IS CORRECT !!!!!!!!!
I AM SICK OF MEN THINKING THAT WOMEN ARE TOTALLY STUPID WHEN IT COMES TO CARS AND MEN STUFF.
Oh and last week.....I went to Auto Zone and bought a bulb for my tail light that burnt out and the guy told me I should take it to a shop to have it replaced. I (the woman) did it in the parking lot of Auto Zone !!! all by my little female self.
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Comments: 39
Then when they wouldn't let me start my car....I was shocked.
Of course you should have known you were screwed either way when you realised that you were the only one with jumper cables... out of all those guys... That should have been your HINT!
Good rant :) totally agree with you.
My wife learned a fair amount about cars from her brother when they were in high school. My mom learned by asking people. Neither is a mechanic but neither am I.
2) hook up red to positive and black to metal/chassis of DEAD battery
3) hook up red to positive and black to negative on GOOD battery (your car)
4) wait to allow battery to charge some.
5) attempt to start dead car.
I also helped my daddy and my brother when they fixed their cars. My brother had drag cars and funny cars so auto stuff has always been part of my life. My oldest son went to auto tech school for 2 years and rebuilt a car too.
2) should read
hook up red to positive and black to metal/chassis of DEAD car
I commend you on your competence... And the fact that you managed to NOT kill any of those guys who 'knew what they were doing'...
I have every intention of making sure that my daughters know the basics before they are allowed to drive (even with their learner permit). They will know how to jump start a car as well as change a tire. Keep in mind I said know how. The way some tires are air wrenched on these days, actually doing by hand can be an issue.
Plus, on my little car, I have yet to see the guys at the garage rotate my tires without having to use either a 4x4 or a sledge hammer to get the wheels off my car.
I've jump my car without the help of any man and I've changed my own car battery all by my little ol' self, too. I'm proud to say that I've moved heavy furniture by using my BRAIN because I lack the brawn.
Tracey- I'd print up that page and post it in the office.;)
I can jump a car change a starter, an alternator, and all the belts. Can't do anything with the fuel lines though, hate the smell and i'm afraid to start a fire. But hubby is a mechanic so no worries. lol.
Ok I go thru this all the time. I do a lot with cars .. and it seems like I am always ending up with ones that need work. So I will go in and buy parts and such. It is always funny when the guys at the store act like I am lost ... sometimes I play the demsel in distress roll and let them install the part in the parking lot .. LOL .. hey they never asked if I knew how and if they are going to do it for free ... rock on!
I have seen elderly individuals on the side of the road before with a flat tire or broke down. (you know they are older and have physical dificulties working on the car) I will stop and help .. change the tire or whatever. I have helped other women too when men are standing around scratching their heads and looking stupid.
Its amazing to me though how many people do not know anything about cars. I as a single mother and a single female took it upon myself to learn as much as possible about them ... I never want to HAVE to rely on a man or take it to a shop for something I could learn to do myself.