Well, it's like this...
Feb. 27th, 2011 05:17 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
fitzwI originally wanted to take the van to practice tonight, but it won't start -- battery seems to be too low. I attempted to put a charger on it yesterday, but either there was a problem with the extension cord (my nephew's theory), or we couldn't get a good connection to the terminals.
So I parked the Honda Civic next to the van, and attempted to use the jumper cables to start the van. I'm pretty sure that I got a good connection, because when I turned on the ignition, I could hear the engine of the Honda take up the load. But the van still wouldn't start, probably because the battery for the Honda isn't strong enough. So, I left it connected, with the Honda running, to see if the alternator on the Honda _might_ have enough juice to charge the battery.
I then spent some time plowing the driveway with the tractor, plowing around the Honda and the van which were parked side by side next to the field. (Note: The tractor tires had trouble getting traction when I was backing up the ramp to the barn to plow that section.)
When I got back to the two vehicles, the van still wouldn't start. So, I disconnected the cables, closed the hoods, and prepared to use the Honda for tonight's drive.
Then, I found out that the space next to the van apparently has about 3" of ice under the 4" of snow, as I wasn't able to move the Honda from where I had parked it. The snow was deep enough also to build up behind the under-faring, meaning that attempts to back up would cause the front end to rise up slightly, lifting the front wheels up. Since it's a front wheel drive, this further decreases traction.
Long and short: I just spent about 45 minutes attempting to get the Honda free in the driveway, where it is stuck _on level ground_, and failing. It is still stuck.
So, Elwynne and I cannot make choir practice tonight, as we have two vehicles that are not moving under their own power.
So I parked the Honda Civic next to the van, and attempted to use the jumper cables to start the van. I'm pretty sure that I got a good connection, because when I turned on the ignition, I could hear the engine of the Honda take up the load. But the van still wouldn't start, probably because the battery for the Honda isn't strong enough. So, I left it connected, with the Honda running, to see if the alternator on the Honda _might_ have enough juice to charge the battery.
I then spent some time plowing the driveway with the tractor, plowing around the Honda and the van which were parked side by side next to the field. (Note: The tractor tires had trouble getting traction when I was backing up the ramp to the barn to plow that section.)
When I got back to the two vehicles, the van still wouldn't start. So, I disconnected the cables, closed the hoods, and prepared to use the Honda for tonight's drive.
Then, I found out that the space next to the van apparently has about 3" of ice under the 4" of snow, as I wasn't able to move the Honda from where I had parked it. The snow was deep enough also to build up behind the under-faring, meaning that attempts to back up would cause the front end to rise up slightly, lifting the front wheels up. Since it's a front wheel drive, this further decreases traction.
Long and short: I just spent about 45 minutes attempting to get the Honda free in the driveway, where it is stuck _on level ground_, and failing. It is still stuck.
So, Elwynne and I cannot make choir practice tonight, as we have two vehicles that are not moving under their own power.
