Handy Andy

I had to drop the Aztek off at the stealership yesterday to put the code into the new Body Control Module I installed over the weekend. The BCM is one of about three different computers that all talk to one another, the BCM handles all the instrument panel signals as well as the keyless entry. The old one was flaky, it would intermittently stop unlocking the doors with the key fob and occasionally it would activate the alarm when I would unlock remotely. It also had failed to engage the A/C clutch a couple of times and the rear window defogger failed to operate more often than not. I could reset the BCM by going under the hood and pulling a fuse out for a few seconds but it was only a temporary fix. Fortunately the car would still crank and drive with the new, unrecognized BCM installed but my instrument panel looked like Christmas at Graceland with all the warning lights it caused and it locked the radio. 4 hours, $90 (plus a mysterious $13.58 “green fee” for recycling, on a shop charge that was purely labor?) later and everything seems to be functioning well again.

I replaced the BCM on Saturday morning and since it was throwing codes and had a mute stereo after the installation I used the other car to drive an hour or so north to watch the Carolina Clash series of dirt late models race at Lancaster Speedway. Fantastic racing, I had never seen a field of super late models on dirt before and they started 21 cars in the main event. The field was so strong that one of the cars that started deep in the field (18th or so, if I recall) came through the traffic and when the race ended after 40 laps he was running 3rd and was faster than the winner. Of course after the race I felt like Pigpen from the Peanuts comic strip, with a cloud of dirt surrounding me everywhere I went. I drove home with an old bedsheet spread over the seat and I jumped into the shower as soon as I got home.