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Issue #1035
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From Russ

The Ontarion

Howdy,

Well now, I had a rather weird thing happen last weekend. We had the granddaughters up for a few day and were taking them up to the gondola each morning. They like to ride in my truck so thats how we were getting there and back. We had gone up as usual, did a nice walk along the Panorama Ridge trail. We all used crampons for traction as the deep packed snow was icy and slippery. It was a new experience for them as they’d never walked using crampons but they had a great time. But thats not the weird thing I want to talk about. The weird thing thing was that after we got down to the base and over to the truck, the truck wouldn’t unlock. I normally just walk up to it and touch a door handle to unlock it. Because the truck is ‘keyless’ and uses those little FOB things, you don’t need to use a key to unlock or start the truck, just touch the door handle to unlock, touch the start button to start and so on. The truck just sat there ignoring us.

The first and most obvious thing to come to mind is that the FOB’s battery is dead. That could be a possibility as the truck is a 2020 year model so who knows how old the FOB battery actually is. Those little 2032 batteries do last quite a while but who knows. There is a little ‘emergency’ key thing in the FOB that slides out for unlocking the doors so I slid it out and opened the driver’s door. Vehicles like this are supposed to still be able to start when the FOB battery is dead by holding the FOB against the start button and pushing the button to get it started. NOTHING! I sort of noticed that the interior lights had not come on so I tried the headlights. I could see our reflection in the windows of the customer service building and could tell those lights didn’t come on. I tried the brake peddle to see if the brake lights would come on. NOTHING! I tried holding down the red button on the FOB that is supposed to make the horn blow. NOTHING!. Meanwhile, everyone else started to climb in and all of a sudden the truck woke up, came back to life, the horn began to blow, and the truck started. We drove home with no problems what so ever.

Once we got home I pulled the owner’s manual out of the glove compartment and took it in to read about replacing the battery in this particular type of FOB (not that I couldn’t figure it out myself). As I read up on the various things that would keep the FOB’s signal from activating the truck functions, I began to realize that when I sort of noticed that the truck itself was dead, I also began to realize that the FOB battery was just fine, the issue was with the truck. So, I went down to the garage and popped the hood to have a look at the truck battery and surrounding wires. I took about 2 seconds to notice that the positive (hot) terminal connection was very loose. I could turn the nut with my fingers and the cable could flop back and forth. Needless to say, I tightened it up properly, like it should be. The truck had been in to the dealer for it’s 24 month service just a month ago and the only thing I can think of is that when the service tech did what ever it is they do, he hadn’t properly tightened down the clamp after doing the battery test. Needless to say, I’m a bit pissed with the dealer service department and will definitely have a little chat with them when the truck goes in next time. Scolding them now would be pointless. With all the sensitive electronics in vehicles these days, who knows what damage could be done by a loose or intermittent battery connection. Hopefully none was done, so far everything seems fine. And I can assure you, it is not a nice feeling to be standing on a parking lot, wife and granddaughters in tow, with a dead vehicle that is only a couple of years old. Like I said, I will be having that little chat with the dealer’s service department the next time the truck goes in.

In all my years of owning vehicles and construction equipment I’ve never had a battery cable come loose. Ever! Battery connections are something that are or should always be checked when doing any servicing, and dirty ones should be removed and cleaned. But I’ve never had one come loose. Until now. And for a cable to be loose on a newish truck that had just been serviced, well, that sure point to sloppy service work to me.

doug

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From Russ

Signs of Spring>

Signs of Spring around Point Clark> The Robbins are bob-bob-bobbing along - the snow comes and goes, and comes again; my Daffodils are showing their tiny green shoots; my sump-pump runs night & day; some 'cottagers' are back, and walking their dogs - most dressed for winter - a few wearing shorts; my neighbor has again parked his snowblower in my garage; many motorists have changed their snow tires - many will be sorry when the next snowstorm blows in off Lake Huron in April, and finally the gravel roads in front and back of my cottage have turned to "gumbo".

Soon we'll be hearing chainsaws, weed-whackers, all-terrain vehicles, trimmers & edgers, riding mowers and fire-crackers. All doing their best to pollute our clean, Point Clark air! Why do some 'city-folk' feel resort towns, and villages are free of 'rules"? I'll admit, biking is more pleasant when spring arrives, but why do those same city-slickers think it's OK to walk 6 or 8 abreast on our narrow roads? I don't have a bell on my bike, so when I approach a 'gang' I'm not able to warn them of my approach - I must plead to be let by.

Most of our roads are paved and people - young & old - use them as playgrounds! With no care, children play 'hop-scotch', tag, and draw house-plans, and graffiti most everywhere! Most own dogs, and they are allowed to run loose - poop & pee on mailboxes along the roadsides. You may not believe this, but most visitors do not pick-up behind their pets - those who do, don't know what to do with their little pooh-bags, so they leave them along the roadside for someone else to pick up. Some have even placed them into my mailbox!! Ah! Beautiful spring in Point Clark.

Just to 'change pace', I'll leave you with a couple riddles:

I'm known Canada-wide as a dam-good builder. I'm black & beautiful, even with my 'buck-teeth' . This year I turn 47. What's my name?

Although traveling to Ukraine is not recommended, I am "banned". Many other Canadians have gone to Ukraine to help fight the Russians - I am not allowed.

Who am I?

Tune in again next week to learn the answers.

Russ.

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THE ONTARION REPORT

Hello everyone!

We’ve finally seen the beginnings of Spring and it’s a welcome site for sure! The last of our snow is finally gone and with little or no flooding in the Region. We started our yard cleanup this week and once things dry up a bit more we’ll finish the job. It’s the same load of work every spring and it seems to take longer each year, the older I get! LOL! I guess things just slow down as you get older!

*

To get onto something that’s a little different but not a surprise, Carole read about some of the changes happening with the dropping of some Covid-19 restrictions and It was a little shocking to say the least when she read the comments from some people on line. For instance, one person complained about the Costco stores reopening their food court. They said that it’s about time since they were annoyed at having to try to push their shopping cart filled with groceries out to their car while carrying their ice cream cone in one hand and pushing the cart with the other since the food court seats had been closed during Covid restrictions. I say “ Gee, you poor babies!” If you don’t have something more than that to complain about you’re in pretty good shape! My comment was that they should take their groceries to the car and then go back in to the food counter and buy a cone! Then they’d only have to carry the cone to their car. However Adam said “yes but then they’d bitch about having to walk back in and out again to get the cone. Maybe they should go to a Dairy Queen drive through and have someone hand them a cone through the window of their car. Lazy assed folks sure do bug me these days. If they lived in Ukraine, they’d have something to complain about wouldn’t they?

Speaking about the war in Ukraine, I think it’s about time the Russians give up and back off into their ridiculous country before they get their asses kicked by the Ukraine forces! Putin has made a big mistake thinking he can just run over a neighbouring country like Ukraine like squashing a bug under his Russian boot! Instead the Ukraine forces are shoving that Russian boot up his “you know what” and it looks good on him! I’m surprised someone hasn’t knocked him off before now! It’s because the coward is staying well away from the action and directing things from his hiding place in the basement of the Kremlin! What a piece of work!

Oh well, thank God we’re not into a world war as of yet! Fingers crossed Russia will finally see the light and force Putin to stop this ridiculous war!

I think I’ve said enough for this week!

Thanks for tuning in and I’ll look forward to talking to you all again next week in The Ontarion Report!

Bye for now… Greg

PS: Something To Think About>

Pray for peace!

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Have A Good One
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