Among Friends

[Imaoldhippie]

Yesterday got in my car to make a trip to town.  Put the key in the ignition and NOTHING, oh no a dead battery.  I could not get the key out of the ignition, it would not release the key.  Hubby was home so I got his keys to take 2nd car to run the errand.

Hubby put the battery charger on so we could get my keys out of the ignition.  Something to think about if your house keys are on the same ring and you have locked the house.  Got keys out.

This morning hubby is getting the new battery.  The battery compartment is under the front passengers seat and in order to slide the seat forward to get to the dead battery the seat will not move because its battery powered.  Had to recharge the car again, move the seat and get the battery out.

Now I dont know but what the heck kind of design is that?  GMC paid a design engineer to come up with this great idea!  Shaking my head???

Our vehicle is a 2010 GMC Acadia.

I dont know if other car manufacterers have a nutty thing like this but its something you might want to check out in your car or consider if you are buying a car.

Thank goodness hubby was a mechanic when he was younger and knows about car mechanic's.  And thank goodness this happened at home.  The instructions say battery need changed by a professional.  On top of that the battery weigh's 45 lbs.

[lgfan]

I learned many years ago about not keeping your house keys on the same key chain as your car keys. When you take your car to a mechanic and give him your keys to your car he can easily make copies of your house keys to break into your house. I keep my house keys and car keys on separate key chains.

[justashopper]

Hi @Imaoldhippie 

I am sorry this happened.  What a mess with the seat and all.  Yikes.  Glad you were safe at home though.

I live in an area that experiences both extreme high temps and low temps throughout the year.  So a new battery every 3 years is key.  I never wait for it to die.  Sure changing the battery before it dies might seem like an expense, but it saves a lot of time and agrevation.  

[Teddixat]

@justashopper   I just had a new battery installed yesterday.  My battery was over 5 years almost 6 abd I knew it had to be a matter of time.   I just didn't want to get in the car one day and have it not start abd to have to call AAA to come to start the car.

I agree with the OP that the location of the battery does not seem very convenient.   It's a good thing she was home when it happened.  

[paixmcdao]

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@lgfan wrote:
I learned many years ago about not keeping your house keys on the same key chain as your car keys. When you take your car to a mechanic and give him your keys to your car he can easily make copies of your house keys to break into your house. I keep my house keys and car keys on separate key chains.

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My mechanic only receives the ignition key.

[Sage04]

I don't think anyone would turn over their entire set of keys. Most people would separate the keys before getting to the shop or just give the mechanic the spare set if there is one.

[Biftu]

I had a similar problem removing the key from the ignition on my Subaru just this week.  I was out running errands and went to remove the key and it wouldn't release.  No matter what I did it wouldn't come out.  Drove to the Subaru dealer and he immediately knew what I was talking about and said it has been a Subaru problem.  He told me to turn the key part way with my foot on the brake and quickly move from park to drive a few times and it should release.  The next day I was leaving on a trip for a couple of days and just hoped it wouldn't happen again.  It didn't, but I now knew the trick if it did.  Brought it in when I returned and it was fixed at no charge. Sure took me by surprise.

[Kachina624]

@Imaoldhippie.  Look at the bright side of your poster child of automotive engineering....your battery would be impossible to steal.

[Love my grandkids]

@Imaoldhippie I have car and house keys on the same ring BUT years ago I put one of each in the middle zip pocket of my wallet -- just in case. Never needed them but glad to know they are there.

[Kachina624]

I've always used nothing but these separating Keychain.  Car keys on one ring, house keys on the other.   When you turn your car keys over to someone else, just press the little button to separate and retain your house keys.