Had to go to the bank earlier today. OK, there was a bit of a queue but they said "we'll see you within about half an hour" (for a five minute enquiry, but hey). No problem, I had budgeted for that and had paid for an hour's worth of parking. Of course it took "a little" longer so that was a GBP50 parking ticket (50% off if paid within two weeks). Great.
Then I decided that it was time to resurrect the 911 from hibernation. Pulled it out of the garage, drove to the nearest petrol station to fill it up. Only that it wouldn't start and is now sitting there while I'm waiting at home for the breakdown guys to show up. I hope I impressed on them that it's likely to be non-fixable by them (I suspect the DME relay) and they just sent a recovery truck instead of someone who scratches his head, goes "yep, it doesn't fire" and then calls the breakdown truck.
What they don't know yet is that it has to get recovered to my garage, which is at the end of a 50 yard drive with a 90 degree bend in it; and that driveway is too narrow for a breakdown truck, plus there isn't space for it to turn around at the end of the driveway either.
I just hope I've used up my quota of bad luck today.
I think I may have encountered #3.
My breakdown cover only kicks in once the car is further than a mile from home. By having it towed home (so I can check the simple potential problems), I'd now have to pay to get it recovered to my favourite specialist 
. Mind you, I'd probably have to pay anyway given that they only pay for 'local' recovery.
The best place to find a replacement DME relay is in your glovebox. Don't leave home without one.
Let us know how this turns out.
Yeah, I know. I thought I got one with the car but it's not in the box of 911 bits.
Anyway, one will be ordered tonight - if it was the DME relay then I will get a spare and if it wasn't, well, the I have a spare...
DME relay duly fitted today after I finally got the seat off. Second turn of the key[1] and it was running again. Time to order another one, just in case.
[1] First turn didn't do anything as I had forgotten about the battery quick disconnect. Oops.
See what happens when you sell your Lotus? I've seen this before. It's very scary.
Well, the Curse Of Lucas migrated before I sold the Lotus. I think that DME relay was well overdue anyway, it was date stamped 7/7/88...
4eyes
Reader
3/21/10 5:04 p.m.
I just call a racing buddy, if he doesn't have the part in his stash, we flat tow it home. If it's farther we trailer it.
I have had great success smashing the cover off of relays and cleaning the contacts with a pocket knife in a pinch.
I also need to order up a new DME relay for the squashed bug. It's almost time to get it out of hibernation. The last of the salt will be gone by Wed. Whoo Hoo!
