Gni

[sessifet]

We've been having car troubles, and occasionally this means the engine will go 'phut'. Nothing too serious.

Because you see, an engine going 'phut' while still in the driveway?
Meh. Annoying. Leads to me going: 'Bugger.'

Engine going 'phut' while pulling out the driveway?
Bit more annoying. Leads to me going: 'Drat. Work properly, you stupid piece of junk.'

Engine going 'phut' while on the road doing 10 miles an hour?
Slightly worrying. Leads to me going: 'Fuck. Work, you total waste of metal and plastic and...stuff!'

Engine going 'phut' while doing 50 miles an hour?
Major bafflement and disbelief. Leads to me going: 'What in holy hell...'

Realising the engine just went 'phut' while you're doing 50 miles an hour, there's a bend up ahead and the car you're driving has steering lock which will kick in when the engine has gone 'phut'?
Not fun. At all. Leads to me going: '...'. Shortly followed by: 'Ohshitohshitohshitohshit! I'm going to die!'

I think we need to call the garage and have our car checked out. Or better yet, it's time to burn this sucker to the ground, and buy a car with an engine that won't go 'phut' while I'm doing 50 miles an hour.

PS: I would like to point out that this did not happen in one day. Only the 50 miles an hour bit did. You know, in case anyone thought I was stupid enough to keep driving a car with an engine that goes 'phut' that many times in one day. :)

Comments

[wombat.livejournal.com]

That's a bit scary indeed. I thought the steering lock could usually only be triggered when the keylock is in the locked position. At least the cars in which I've had similar experiences (engine going 'phut' when doing about 50mph), still let me steer safely.

It gets different when one frantically jiggles the carkey, trying to get the bloody engine going again - as one does - in order to avoid coming to a complete standstill in the middle of a busy road.

[sessifet25.livejournal.com]

This is a car which will sometimes lock its doors automatically when you turn off the radio, and usually when you open the passenger side door.

(And yes, I was frantically jiggling the key, as one does when the engine goes 'phut' at 50 miles an hour, even when it's not on a busy road :) )

It is a piece of junk, and the sooner we're rid of it, the happier I'm going to be.

[wombat.livejournal.com]

This is a car which will sometimes lock its doors automatically when you turn off the radio...

Oh, nice security feature...
Don't you just love modern cars that are completely depending on electronics? Well, as long as they are modern enough and not third-owner and every part introduces additional features - that one can be allegedly live with once you get used to it (tap right door twice to open left window), but requires a manual about 5 times the size of the original? Unfortunately that's exactly the type of car I (and most of my friends) seem to like somehow own.

[stephenpthomas.livejournal.com]

Yikes!

I can remember something similar happening when my Dad was going out for a test-drive in a car he was thinking of getting (not the actual car, but one similar). The car's "security system" would cut the engine out, which would engage the steering lock. Particularly scary when he, my Mum, myself and my little brother were all in the car too ...