Notes for the next person who drives my car

  • Sometimes (about 1 in 15 times) the brake lights stay on after turning off the car. This can usually be fixed by stomping on the brake pedal a couple of times. If you don't catch it, the lights will drain the battery. Always carry jumper cables just in case.
  • Sometimes (about 1 in 20 times) the doors will immediately lock themselves every time you try to unlock them. Try unlocking them more slowly.
  • Sometimes (about 1 in 8 times) the car alarm will go off when you unlock the driver side door. The only way I've found to turn the alarm off is to run to the other side of the car and unlock the passenger side door.
  • The fan, the heat, and the AC do not work. On hot days, I've found that the best way to circulate air is diagonally through the driver's window and the rear passenger window. You might be able to control the temperature of the air that kind of leaks through the vents if the temperature control panel comes on (about 1 in 75 times).
  • Sometimes (about 1 in 3 times) after starting the car, the windows will not operate and the dashboard warning lights will come on. This can be fixed by wiggling the key in the ignition until the windows open again. The lights will turn off a few seconds later.
  • Recently, the car started making a clicking sound when you try to start it (about 1 in 3 times). Luckily, it will always start after you try again 2–10 times.
  • The car will always (every time) not start after making three or four short trips. In the summer, the number of potential trips decreases. This requires an advanced technique. To start the car:
    1. Turn the key in the ignition and listen. If the car sounds like it might want to start, proceed. If not, stop and try again. (This is just learned; I can't describe the difference in sounds. To me it sounds like the engine is either sincerely trying or just going through the motions.)
    2. Immediately put your foot on the brake, switch gears (to drive or reverse, depending on your parking situation), and hit the gas. Steps 1 and 2 must be done fluidly and in less than one second in order to start the car successfully. Even executed perfectly, this technique will only sometimes (about 1 in 10 times) work. If the car starts to move at all (it will be a very shaky, halted motion), proceed to step 3. If it doesn't move, put the car in park and start again from step 1.
    3. Keep pressing the gas. The car will stop shaking at around 10mph. Hoorah! If you have to switch directions before you reach 10mph (e.g. to back up, then go forward), you might be able to do so in one attempt. Often, though, the car will die again as you stop to switch gears. For this reason, it is good to be able to predict the next time the car won't start, and park in a spot that you will not have to back out from.
    4. Steps 1–3 are really all one step. Even stopping and and starting over (which you will have to do several times) should happen fluidly and unconsciously.
    5. If you feel that you and the car cannot harmoniously start together, wait about 10–20 mintues, and the car will start for you.