Why I don't fix stuff for other people

I hate it when I fix stuff that doesn't need fixing. By the way, it happens. If I was doing this for a living I would have to rip people off to stay alive (or in business, anyway).

I never wanted to know what a f'ing solenoid is, you know. Who the fuck cares what a solenoid is?

A couple of years ago I replaced the solenoid in the golf cart. I was following the advice of a golf cart forum on the web. By the time I had made my way into a central electrical junction of the cart, I discovered that the solenoid was probably just fine. It was the wire that went from the solenoid to the key that was bad... oh well, we had a new solenoid anyway - yahoo.

Well, apparently I carry a solenoid curse. Fast forward to today.

After Thing 2 had her accident on the desert (broken arm, etc.) back in March, I discovered that one of the ATV's wouldn't start. It came home from the desert o.k., but it wouldn't start for me to move it. I turned the key and NOTHING. So I decided it was the solenoid. That is what was wrong with the golf cart when it acted the same way, (here's the flaw in my thinking), so I figured that it must be the solenoid again.

I left it sit for six months. I had called a mechanic a few months back from Craig's list to help, but he never showed up. Ugh.

On Monday I decided to go out in the morning (before it was beastly hot) and pull out the solenoid myself. I researched on the web, found diagrams, found a source for a reasonably priced new one, and it arrived in a couple of days.

Today I put it in. It was a pain in the ass. It is hot outside, the part was almost to spec... making it difficult to put in. Difficult, but not impossible.

I charged the battery, installed the battery, and .... NOTHING. Fucking, NOTHING.

Then I realized... as I stood over the machine I realized there was a red switch on the left handlebar. It said "engine" and on the left it said "off" and on the right it said "off", but in the middle it said ... I don't remember... maybe "on".

Yeah, that's right. There's a red switch that turns the fucking engine off, and on if you want.

Are you laughing at me? Seriously. Are you laughing????

Yep, I moved the switch to the middle point, tried the ignition, and yes, it started.

WTF???

The solenoid was fine. It was a switch that no one has ever touched. Apparently when Thing 2's friend brought home the ATV he turned off the switch. Good guy. He was trying to do everything right.

I fixed something that didn't need to be fixed. This is why I don't feel confident fixing things for other people. I'm afraid my ignorance will cost us all time and money.

Ugh. I NEVER EVER wanted to know what a f'ing solenoid was. Actually, I still don't - but I know that wires go in to a solenoid and a lot of wires go out - but basically, I don't give a rat's ass.

Stupid solenoids. Stupid me. I gotta get a job, and find someone that shows up when I need something fixed.