Bogieblog

Remember to Change Your Batteries

No, this isn't some weird timing for changing smoke detector batteries.

Yesterday morning, which was an off-Friday for me, I was planning on moving a ton or two of wood pellets from the yard into the garage.

I guess I should start off by explaining that I had someone over to fill in some of the larger cracks in the garage floor and redo some wall fixes at a more professional level than I managed to do several years ago (not structural issues). So, when I had pellets delivered during the spring sale, those were placed out in the yard so I wouldn't have to move them when it came time for the work to be done. The work was completed last week (and no, it isn't very interesting so no pictures).

Yesterday morning I was reorganizing the permanent contents of the garage and it was finally a cool, and non-tropically humid morning so I figured to move pellets before I did some other running around slated for the day. The best way to move the pellets is to load them in the truck, then back the truck up to the garage and unload them (much easier than pulling a garden cart 6-bags at a time).

So, I grabbed my fob (for a change remembering to do so before getting in the truck) and pushed the start button. Hmmm, the dash tells me there is no key present. Okay, fair enough, it had been a year or so since the last battery replacement, at which time I had put fresh batteries in both fobs. The second fob is never used, so that battery should be good enough to get me thru this, then during my other errands, I could get replacement batteries.

Well, I guess batteries die in tandem. Or at least I was hoping that was the case, otherwise there was a real expensive bill coming to replace the starting module (or whatever). I called the Ford dealer in town to confirm they had batteries, then asked the neighbor across the street if he would give me a ride. He agreed and I soon had fresh batteries and the truck responded well to the fix, so all was good.

The battery issue, although a PITA, occurred under the best circumstances:

• It happened on a day off so I could take care of the issue right away.
• I didn't have to be anywhere I couldn't walk to if the batteries didn't fix the issue (I had to go to the bank, but that is less than 1/2 mile away).
• It happened in my driveway instead of up in Concord at Wally World - which was one of my planned stop
• My neighbor also happens to have their off-Friday the same as my off-Friday so he was available to help me
• I actually now have a close neighbor that drives (which was not the case this time last year)
• Really, if required, I could have walked to/from the Ford dealership. It is 2.5 miles away so was not an attractive option, but doable (one of the reasons I prefer Ford's over the last 10 years or so is because we have a local dealership). I'm unsure if they still have a courtesy service, but if they do, they probably would have helped me out with a ride.

So, it was a bad news, good news event. It just kept me from moving any pellets yesterday, which was inconvenient, but nothing major.

What a Difference

Bought my 2018 Explorer July 29, 2021 with 33,570 miles on it. Friday, I took it in for its first service since then at 37,207 miles. The truck's system started telling me a couple of weeks ago that I needed to get the oil changed soon - I imagine because I do mostly short trips of 2-3 miles. The computers to my vehicles used to let me go 5-7k miles when I was commuting 60-100 miles per day. The main point is that I drove 3,637 miles in 10 months. I used to drive a minimum of 3,600 miles every two months (that is only to/from work).

This WFH thing has really worked out well for me.

From Irritating to Cool

My new-to-me Explorer has a couple of different features that my previous Explorer did not have. Some are irritating, some are cool:

Irritating: The vehicle is started, I get out and close the door. The horn honks twice. Sure, I get that it is to remind someone their car is running, but really it just irritates everyone including the neighbors who here it at 6am because I had to run back into the house to get something. Also, I have to make several different stops at the dump and at every stop people are startled by those honks. Solution found using Forscan and an OBD link.

Irritating: I can't run the fog lights when it is in "auto" light mode. Now I know this is completely possible becuase I did it with my previous Explorer. But nope, I have to turn the lights to manual before I can use fog lights. REally? There is absolutely no reason for this. I have not found a fix for this - mainly because I haven't looked too hard. But upon first look, the above solution has provided me no joy.

Cool: Hey, my vehicle has a collision alert safety feature. I found this out the other day as I was coming home from work (I had to go in to print a bunch of stuff on my off-Friday). I was approaching a car that was turning off the road and this red light started blinking on the windshield. Now, I was on a steep hill and had taken my foot off the accelerator, so I was in no danger of hitting the car, but still, it was cool. Apparently it is part of the Safe and Smart package, an option that the previous owner had special ordered.

Irritation: Part of that same safety package is rain sensing wipers. That does not work very well. It was activated when I picked up the vehicle, and driving in the rain the wipers would randomly go into overdrive even though there were only a few splatters on the windshield. Fortunately that feature was easy to turn off thru the regular system controls so I didn't have to wait until I got the Forscan/OVD Link combo.

Cool: Apparently it has auto high beams. I don't know how it works since I haven't driven at night, so whether it works well or not is still to be determined.

Cool: I got a $211 check from my insurance just for upgrading from the 2014 to the 2018. So even though it is newer and worth far more than my old Explorer, it is less to insure. My guess is that is because of the aforementioned collision alert as well as other safety features.

I'm sure there are other things, but I've only driven about 250 miles and during the day, so will have plenty of time to discover them.

What a Whirlwind

Last weekend I posted that I had to many vehicles for my new permanent work from home status (What to Do).

The A/C in the Explorer had gone out and I was waiting results from taking it into the shop before I made a decision. Monday afternoon I got the call that the compressor's clutch had gone out. Now, the correct way to fix this is tor replace the compressor and the lines (to ensure there is no debris in there that would cause issues in short order). This would cost $2,700! To just replace the clutch would be $900. And by the way, both compressors and clutches are on back order, with a 3-4 week lead time. Yes, there were aftermarket parts available, but that would not save any money. I declined to order parts yet, figuring I needed time to do some research.

I started researching trade in values for the truck, and selling values of the car and I liked the numbers - if I could actually get them. Then I started looking online at different dealers to see if the vehicle I wanted was to be found. See, my Explorer had been a special order for the original owner and I really liked the packages and features that had been included; Class III tow package, heated seats, Nav, back up sensor (separate from back u camera it gives a audible cue if there is an approaching obstacle/person), moonroof (although not something that would be a necessity for me) etc. I also wanted to add in heated steering wheel (I got spoiled by the car).

I found a Platinum model at the place I had bought my 2014 Explorer at. Platinum has everything that is offered. But that vehicle was a 2017 that had 63k miles. At the same time it was about 4k under my ideal price range. I inquired, but it had been placed under contract. In the end, that worked out for me. Tuesday evening, a new offering popped up at a Honda dealership that seemed perfect - a special order 2018 Explorer with everything I wanted, at 33,570 miles, and just a couple of hundred dollars over what my ideal price would be. Bonus is that I know someone that works at that dealership chain (they do most of the major brands) - she used to work for my favorite Harley Dealership before it was sold.

I got a hold of Christy thru FB Messenger (we are friends) and asked her who I should talk to at the Honda dealership and she said that she could work out of any of them - Fantastic! I told her which vehicle I was looking at. She pulled the keys first thing Wednesday morning so that no one else could claim it before I got a chance to look at it. I test drove Wednesday evening while they were looking at my vehicle to give a trade in value (BTW, I spent a couple of hours Tuesday evening Washing, vacuuming and cleaning it up so it didn't look like a brush hauler - it cleaned up really well). The number they came back with was extremely close to what KBB said, and I was happy with the numbers all the way around. I left the dealership planning on picking it up Thursday evening.

I had also done research on off-loading the car. My best bet was to go thru Car Max. I input all the information online, and they came back with an offer that was a couple hundred $ over what I paid for it to begin with. I made an appointment to take the car in Friday afternoon, and arranged a ride back.

So that is important because I took the money I anticipated from the sale of the car and applied it as an additional down payment for the 2018 Explorer. I picked up the truck Thursday evening (in the rain, which is funny because I had driven home the 2014 Explorer in the rain). I have a very minimal payment which is made even sweeter factoring in the nearly $3k that replacing the compressor (correctly). Here are the old (gray) and new (beige - Platinum Dune is the official color) side by side

Yesterday I got all excited that the Weather Tech protective floor mats and cargo mat that I had gotten for the 2014 fit the 2018 perfectly. Probably a sign of old age that I got such pleasure from that :) . I did go ahead and order the window rain guards for the 2018 and they should be here in 7-10 days.

Friday I took the car in and after 1.5 hours (I don't know why it was so slow, it should have been 30 minutes), I walked out with a check. I basically got to use the car for 21k miles for just the cost of gas and maintenance. Last picture of the car

I can't believe how everything fell together, although the scheduling was tough - especially the ride from Manchester. I am so thankful that my first ride choice was not available as the 1.5 hour wait would have been extremely difficult for her. My second choice couldn't, but she volunteered her significant other (which I also know thru the HOG chapter I used to belong to). Since he is retired, and had no plans, it turned out for the best. So, the stars happened to align correctly all the way around.

EDIT: While I was syncing my phone before leaving the dealership, Christy and I got a chuckle over one of the three phones we deleted from the system:

What to Do

I got the almost official word on Thursday that I will be a permanent work from home employee. That word came from my boss who said she got approval. Of course nothing is official until I receive the paperwork and it is signed.

So, now I'm thinking that I have too many vehicles. I have to make sure both the car and truck are driven weekly for at least 30 minutes to keep the batteries in good shape. Although I love the car, that is the one that would need to go if I decide to sell.

It is a great time to sell. Looking at values I should be able to come darn close to getting what I paid for it. That amazing fact is because there is a shortage of cars since there is a chip shortage. Of course that is also dependent on me selling privately and dealing with all the hassles that come with that.

I could also look into trading both vehicles in for a newer used truck/SUV (the Explorer is 7 years old and has 120k miles). Trucks/SUV's haven't skyrocketed in price the way cars have (so far). Although that would leave payments (which I am okay with), it looks like I could get a 3 year old vehicle comparable to the Explorer, with about 35k miles for what would be in my price range.

Decisions, decisions.

One and Done - Almost

No, this isn't  another vaccine thread - LOL

Last Sunday was a nice day and the ground on the north side of the house had thawed enough to get the last landscape timber in

The worst part was un-spooling and re-spooling 100' of extension cord to run the drill for the 3 holes to pound in the rebar. Will need to wait for a while before the complete finish work of staining the timbers to match the tiers.

Was going to go to the big city yesterday and pick up pea gravel that should match existing stuff. But, on the way to the dump the truck threw a check engine light. I was only about a mile from the local dealership where I get all my work done, so dropped it off and told them to work it in whenever since I have the car. On Saturdays they just have a big enough crew to get the day's appointments done, and don't have a shuttle driver, but they managed to get me home anyway.

While I was Concord (not picking up gravel :), I got a call from them. They had a cancellation so had gotten the truck in. Diagnosis was an O2 sensor and they had one in stock so I told them to go ahead. Later that afternoon they came to get me and the truck is all better.

The only thing that could have gone better is if the truck had thrown the code when I took it in for state inspection, recall work and to swap out the snows for summer tires two Fridays ago - but definitely not complaining.

Looking Into the Future

Sometime in April or May, there will be some doings at the Bogie household.

I've been looking at replacements for the tent garage that collapsed and I compiled a list of  items to take into consideration:

• No roof raking during the winter
• At the same time, replace the 20+ year old metal shed that was an HD buy and had been moved frm my previous house (and it was beat then. That thing is so rusty, the roof has barely any screws left in the top, the base is rotting out, and it would be nice to have a door that is over 5' tall.
• Just needs to keep snow/frost off the truck - not necessarily fully enclosed for that portion.
• A concrete pad
• Termites are a concern living next to a swamp with lots of dead wood
• A good value for what I need versus what would be nice to have
• If I had my druthers, I would like to have the ability to also put the car in that structure if needed for some reason.

With those needs in mind, I was pretty darn sure I would end up with a metal carport/combo building somewhat like what I developed on a build site. No, that roll up door was not big enough to fit the car, but I wasn't going to fiddle with the site since I just wanted a basic mock up. Also, with this configuration, I was thinking 24W and 20'D. The width might be a challenge in the site because of the tree that the existing metal shed is right next to.

Then Kevin, the guy who had done the work to free the truck and sent an estimate for a replacement tent garage to the insurance company (which they went with), sent me an estimate on a 20'W x 24'D basic garage. I had only told him that I wanted to upgrade to a more permanent structure, that also replaced the shed, with a metal roof.

The garage he presented had shingles, but also a 6/12 pitch. It had two 8'W x 7'T tall doors plus side door, two lights inside, a flood light in front and a light at the side door (per code), vinyl siding and garage door openers. The sitework and a 6"Thick pad was included in the price.

After explaining my concerns about roof raking, termites and sending him the above picture, the response was that it would save 5k on the price. However, that building would not be rated for snow loads or wind (wind comes howling down the street and is funneled right to the site the building would be), and not have electricity. He also explained, that building to code, with a 6/12 pitch, I would not need to worry about roof raking, and that with today's materials, termite damage is not really a concern.

Let me explain that the cost of the building Kevin was proposing was fair and I had no quibbles with it that way, I was just looking at options. So, I went back to the original proposal. I didn't like the garage doors; although technically the truck would fit, it would be super tight getting thru the overhead doors. And, 8'W x 7'T would not allow for options in the future, especially if I ever decide to get a real truck instead of an SUV. So, I asked about a single overhead door that is 16'W x 8'T. He agreed that would be better in addressing my concerns and be more flexible in the way it was used. I also asked that the spot light on the front be removed as I have a street light across the street from my house, so would never need it.

When all was said and done, he was able to shave a couple hundred $$ off the price and I was happy with the proposal. By no means is this a "finished" garage as it doesn't have sheet rock, minimal lighting and no electrical outlets, but it is all I need. I'm actually going to feel pampered with a garage door opener since I don't have an opener for my under-house garage.

And may I say, to this point the BBB A+ rated company has been a pleasure to work with. They have been very responsive to the myriad of questions, concerns and suggestions I have had thru this process. I have expressed my appreciation for their patience several times (on the phone and in emails). This is a whole different experience than most companies I have dealt with for different issues on the house - even the A+ rated ones.

Good as New

The dealership picked me up Thursday afternoon so I could grab my truck.

Nice new windshield, can't tell the roof ever had any damage, and they did an excellent job of cleaning up all the glass inside. I'm sure glass slivers will be working its way loose for a while, but that is just the nature of the beast. I could tell they checked the moon roof for damage/gasket leakage because the slide cover inside was open. I weirded out while I was driving home when I realized light was coming thru the roof (it was a heavily overcast day, so I didn't realize it right away). Took me a minute to remember how to close the slide since I never use it.

That picture makes it look like I already got the tent garage replaced (I only realized that because of a comment on the FWC forum). I assure you that is not the case. Picture I took yesterday.

The only reason that back side isn't all the way down is because it is resting on a ton of pellets.

How the front is staying up

Wednesday there was a traffic jam on my way to work - I was almost late :D

Truck is Free

Yesterday morning Kevin showed up ready to work to get my truck free.

After he had worked almost 2 hours, he used a couple of PT 2x4's that I had in there to prop up the frame enough to allow me to remove the truck. He also helped me relocate the summer tires and the soil/rocks into the metal shed. So the only thing holding it up is the two pieces of lumber and the ton of pellets in the back left corner (Kevin said he would help move that too, but I got no place to put it, and it's no big deal as they will be fine). The snow piled at the outside may be keeping the tarp taught enough to help "stabilize" the structure too.  Eventually this thing will come down on its own.

Besides the windshield, there are several dents in the roof - this is the best picture I got. Blancing on the door frame edbe with snow covered boots was not conducive of getting great pictures LOL

The hole in the windshield is directly in front of the driver's seat so I will probably need to get this towed - just have to wait for my insurance to okay that.

After Kevin left, I got the truck turned around for easier towing, stuffed a wad of plastic grocery bags into the hole, taped them down with packaging tape, then covered with the old Ice Screen that I used for the red truck before I got the tent garage. I thought I had thrown it away, but turns out is was in the milk crate of stuff I keep in the back of the truck - YAY me for being a hoarder :D

Blue Birds and Things That Could Have Gone Better

Wednesday, before the upcoming Nor'Easter, the birdfeeders were the site of a feeding frenzy. Just before 3pm, I looked and was excited to see I had bluebirds on the suet feeder. I don't remember ever having bluebirds at either house in NH, so of course I grabbed my phone and snapped some pictures.

Wednesday night thru Thursday afternoon my area got hit by 20-22" of snow. It was a light, fluffy snow which was much better than the sloppy and heavy stuff we got two weekends ago. BTW, as late as Wednesday evening, they were calling for my area to get 6-12+" (after starting the day before at 2-4" - if the storm didn't stay south of us). By 3AM Thursday they upped it to 10-18"

At 4 AM Thursday, the road plow went by after the first 8" of snow had fallen so at 5AM I went to clean up the driveway for the first time. The berm was over the top of the snowblower intake, which means it was over 2' high.

The plow went by a second time about 11, so I took an hour lunch to do another cleanup of the driveway. After I logged off from work, I went out and started clearing paths around the house, to the compost barrel and started on the "driveway" to the tent garage, but didn't get the whole thing done. Neither did I clear off the front porch steps. I figured I would do them Friday morning since I was taking a PTO day anyway and the temp would stay low. Snow totals a bit to the NW of me had some areas getting over 40" of snow within the 15 hours that the storm lasted

And then there was the record set in Concord for total over a 12 hour period

Friday morning I went out o clean up what the roof had dumped on the driveway and the path to the fron door, as well as shovel the front porch/steps. Then I finished up the second "driveway" and brushed the snow off the back window of the truck. Everything seemed to be fine at that time.

I took a break and went to go rake the snow off the shed and tent garage about 9:15 am, when I saw this

At the bottom of that last picture you can see little glass shards on the dash. Well, nothing to do but call both insurance companies. Of course I don't know the full extent of damage to the truck since the structure will have to be removed first. As you can see, the roof of the structure had already dumped part of the snow load (the snow along the side of the structure is all from the roof), so I'm unsure why it didn't hold up, but apparently it got tired of standing upright.

The house insurance adjuster called me back later that day and had me send pictures. He also provided a couple of names of companies that might be able to help with the clean up. Since they were 20-30 miles away, and he used them for water/fire/smoke damage clean up, he wasn't sure if they could help or would be willing to come out to my area. I got ahold of the first name on the list and he will be out this morning to take a look.

Once again it is a good thing I have a second vehicle for going to the dump and getting groceries since the truck will be out of commission for goodness knows how long. And I am fortunate to be working from home, so I don't have to worry about commuting in slick conditions. So far the ton of pellets in there are untouched and hopefully the structure can be removed without damaging them (they are covered in plastic, so I'm not worried about snow getting on them).

The worst part will be that thru the rest of the winter, I'll have to scrape and remove frost/ice/snow from the truck, which I have really enjoyed not having to do. But, in the scheme of things, this is a minor blip.