Close to Nowhere - Linda Jones


Thursday, May 31, 2012
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Close to Nowhere
By Linda Jones

No AC in car is no fun

I brag a lot about my car. And I do so justly. It’s a really good car. I have over 230,000 miles on my 2003 Toyota Matrix. And it runs like a top.

So far, all the car has ever needed has been a starter, an oil seal and a new blower motor for the air conditioning.

Until Paducah this year... Heading home after the quilt show, the air conditioner in the car froze. It’s never done that before. Ever.

For the next few weeks, I thought it was freezing over again sometimes. And, then, it quit completely.

First thought in our house when the car’s air conditioning goes out is “compressor.” It’s always the most expensive, so that’s usually what it is.

I took my car out to my new mechanic last week. (Pop’s health is bad and he can’t work on anything anymore.)

My new mechanic hmmmed and looked and hmmmed some more before breaking the news — it’s the clutch and coil in the air conditioning that turns the compressor on and off. Something with the magnet isn’t letting them jump together to turn the cold on. (I know I’m really technical here and it’s even possible that I’m way over most heads, but it’s OK. I don’t know what I’m talking about either.)

My new mechanic called a couple places and then said he was going to call Toyota. Sometimes, it seems, you can buy just the clutch and coil from the dealer, instead of the entire air compressor from the after market folks. So instead of a nearly $600 compressor, Toyota is going to let me have the clutch and coil for less than $200.

I am now a really happy camper. Ummmm, let me rephrase that. As soon as my new part arrives and my new mechanic fixes my old car (which I hope was Wednesday), I will be a happy camper.

With an expired license plate over the holiday weekend, we couldn’t take daughter Dana’s car to church Sunday.

So....we all piled in my car with no AC and drove to Olive Branch. Wasn’t too bad on the way there.

On the way home, it was another story. Windows were down and hair was whipping everywhere, except for Trey, who has a buzz cut. He put on his shades and napped with the wind blowing in his face. He was happy. No one else was.

For some reason, driving through construction, even on Sunday when no one was working, is hotter than Hades.

Until my AC is fixed — my little car (that I still love) and I will be staying home, except of course, going to work. I have to pay for the new part, after all.

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