Car technology meets Senior Citizenhood

/ Personal experience / By
Don’t think and hurt your brain

An original stupid personal experience story by John Gardner

Yes,

  • Many newer cars (including Joan’s) have key fobs with protection against locking key in car
  • My car does not (2012 Camry)
  • We usually travel in my car and are rarely together in hers
  • When I am taking her car for something, I know to put the key fob in my pocket. 
  • I’m not dumb, right?

 

But, for this last trip, where we were spending a week in her Dad’s area, we drove together in her car. We both had our key fobs on our persons. When I open the driver door, the seat adjusts to me. Cool. Push the start button, car starts. Perfect.

 

So this story happens as we are checking out of a hotel and getting in the car to take her dad to a surgery follow-up appointment. Without thinking, I had the key fob in a pocket that I loaded in the trunk as we were getting ready to go. 

 

As I close the trunk, CAR BEEPS … The reason didn’t register. Joan had already unlocked the car, helped her dad in … and when she gets in the passenger front, the beeping stops. The only weird thing was that the driver seat went to her setting. The reason didn’t register. I just pushed the seat button, adjusts. No problem. I get in… push the start button. Car starts. No problem, right?

 

We get to the hospital, I drop Joan and her dad off at the main door. She gets out of the car. CAR BEEPS…. The reason didn’t register. As she walks away, the beeping stops. 

 

I drive to a parking spot where I intend to wait for them. I push the button. Car shuts off, but beeps a couple times. I decide I want to turn the power on to keep charging my phone. Push the button. CAR BEEPS and power does NOT come on. I push the button to start the car. BEEPS. DEAD. Does NOT start. 

 

I call the car dealer service, describe a beep and no start and they tell me my battery is dead. Great. I’m out of state and know no auto businesses in the area. 

 

I search for a road service company that can at least come jump start me so I can get somewhere to get a new battery. Three people told me they couldn’t help me but Sandy’s Towing could. Call. Quoted $75 for a jump. Go. Driver will call when close.

 

THEN…. 

 

I realized my key fob was in the trunk. Ding. Car was trying to tell me not to lock it in the trunk. It was too far away to start the car. I get the fob, put it in my pocket, get back in the car, push the button…..engine starts. Wave off the jump-start driver and all is well. 

 

Duh….. 

 

Next car I get (mine is a 2012 and I’m approaching 80K miles….. Yeah. Anyway, my next car is going to have to give me warnings IN ENGLISH. Think I’ll find one?