Stupid Van

On our trip we drive 2 large Sprinter Vans. One is a passanger van- 11 seats and a cargo area. One is a cargo only van- chock full of our set and props. They are both desiel which can sometimes cause issues when we are looking for gas stations but.. on the whole hasn't been a problem.

There are several issues with the vans. The passanger van turns it's windshield whipers on and off at random. The cargo van has a left turn signal that is out. And yesterday the coolant warning came on.

Damn it.

So. we pull over. I consult the manual and Ryan and the PM for Theatreworks and then the manual again. I call my dad (who is in Amsterdam, by the way.. I found out) I hyperventailate (just a little) I purchase some coolant and pour it into the empty space marked coolant. I wait. The light is still on. I wait. The light is still on.

During this exchange my cast is sitting in the gas station eating Subway because it is our lunch hour. I run in, order, eat and go back to the vans.

The light is still on.

I move both vans to the pumps and fill them up. When the cargo van driver goes to turn the van back on the dash flashes red and says "remove key."

Well that's not good. I call Ryan, I consult the manual, I call the PM at Theatreworks. (I don't call my dad this time- time difference) Then I call the 1800 number for Dodge and get sent to a menu at a Dodge Dealer in West Palm Beach.

He treats me like a complete idiot. At one point he actually asked me what color the liquid I poured into the coolant jug was. Its green. Blue liquid is for windshield whipers and the rest of it is usually oil. Finally I send the rest of the cast onward to the hotel and one staff member and I sit in the car. For an hour. Then I turn it back on and drive (slowly, although I am not sure why) to the hotel.

We get to the hotel without another incident but now the staff is hesitant to ride in the cargo van and I have to take it into a dealer when I go to Ft Lauderdale later on today.

I hate cars.