Rant

I’m sat in a car park.

It’s the Haskins car park in Ferndown.

I was nearby today doing some filming. I started filming at 7. To get from my home in Devon I set my alarm for 2:45 am to arrive in time to set up for a 7 call. Awful driving weather in pitch black etc with a car laden down with 300kg kit and about that again in CYOA.

I wrapped at 4 having had a total 15 minutes of break to get a sandwich from m&s and got in the car in front of he client and started the engine. No joy. I tried again and it clung on so I reversed out of my spot but as I reversed the revs dropped and it died. Right in front of my now awkward looking clients. I turn the key and gun it and it pops into a bit of life but I have to keep the accelerator pressed to keep the revs up. I just want to get around the corner. I do that and am onto a road. I keep going but it’s making some weird as fuck shuddering. I come to a roundabout and know that if I stop it’s going to die then and there so I slow and Rev and slow and rev all the way to it and when there’s a gap I gun through.

I’m now driving along a B road with a few cars around. I’m struggling to get beyond 40. I come to a red light. I have to stop so I put it in park and just when I’m about to rev, it seems to rev itself. I join in. Eventually I crawl away, foot down, barely firing, build back up to 40.

I’ve long since realised there’s no way it’s going to get to Devon so I look for somewhere safe that’s not obstructing traffic. I spy Haskins.

AA.

AA arrive.

I’m not on relay you say?

We’ll lets look and see if we can fix it.

Initial diagnosis a throttle board(?) needs cleaning.

Nope.

Computer diagnosis. Fault in crankshaft position sensor. Currently the engine does start. He Resets the sensor and clears the fault. Revealing the sensor itself is fried and the engine doesn’t start.

He tries to see if a Ford Focus CPS would fit. We have a Kia and it does not.

He tries cleaning the sensor with sandpaper and spraying some black stuff on it.

Nada.

He says it’s fucked.

The options are ordering a part in Bournemouth to repair tomorrow. I’m interested but also have 40 grands worth of video gear in the back. Alternatively I upgrade to relay for 285.20 including mileage home.

I accept.

Sensing the tears forming he offers to drop me off at the marks and spencer where I got the same sandwich again.

Now I’m waiting until 9 for a recovery truck.

Oh and I’m supposed to be up here in Ferndown again on Monday to film the second part.