Batteries and computers, a salutary tale.
'tis a sunny Monday morning many years ago when our hero arrives at Manchester Airport long-stay car park, ready to leave his vehicle and catch his usual weekly flight to Copenhagen.
"Sorry mate, long stay is closed for resurfacing, use short-stay and here's a leaflet telling you what to do when you come back."
Short stay it is then and, parking up, flick the interior light on to read said leaflet.
Read, get bag, lock up and catch flight.
Fast forward to Friday evening and, following said instructions, pay for the weeks parking at the machine, at normal long-stay rates. It's about 4pm and, given the distance to my house, I am anticipating an icy cold one in my local by 5.
Arrive at car. Have to open it with the key, as battery is as flat as a witch's wossnames. Who didn't switch the interior light off, then? 5pm is slipping away.
Get jump leads, open bonnet (the "plan" here is to stand looking pathetic until someone takes pity). Key is now in ignition when the drivers door swings closed and, in a last dying act, the doors all lock again. This is called a Design Feature.
Ring the ex to put my spare keys in a taxi and send them to me. Eventually, taxi arrives, I know the driver as a fellow darts team player. Open door, hook up jump leads to taxi.
"Engine Immobilised, insert EKA." This is called a Security Feature.
The Emergency Key Access code, which, when entered via the ignition key in the door lock, turns off the immobiliser. And where do I get this from? Oh, that'll be a main dealer. At 7pm on a Friday night? Maybe not. This is called a Right Pain in the Thingy.
"Let's grab my bag and go and have a beer," I suggest to my taxi driving friend. He agrees. Beer is at eight. ???
Following morning, I arrive back at the airport, replete with new battery, call the LR specialist I bought the Range Rover from, they contact the dealer and call me back with the key code. New battery in place, EKA entered and the mighty 4.0L roars into life. :)
Now I have to pay the lost ticket charge for short-stay, about a million GBP. This is called Daylight Robbery.
So yeah, batteries and computers.
To give credit where it's due, I wrote to the airport car park service, admitting my stupidity, setting out my plight and asking if they could see their way clear to taking pity on me for the lost ticket charge, perhaps the difference between short and long-stay costs? On my return to the UK the following Friday, I'd received a lovely reply, apologising for the inconvenience, and a cheque for the full amount! :)
And yes, I do have the EKC for my current one!
Then there's the one abut the Series 2A and the detached horse trailer...
