What is something that could break down a car that...

[bedake]

The Tricylclic Input Manifolds blew on your Intrepid Class Starship, Then the Auxiliary backup redundant power distribution warp core reactors (Class VII reactors) failed.

[STDzRus]

Don't tell em you replaced the alternator/starter...too risky.

Just tell them you heard clicking, thought it was the alt/starter and then you simply just thought maybe the battery needed charged. You charged the battery and the problem went away.

Easier to charge the problem, then having them risk looking at it and seeing hmm...this alt/starter has been here a while..he must be lying.

How are they going to tell if it's a charged battery eh?

[SomeGuy]

yeah, i've used the old "alternater went out on me and left me stranded..." a couple times. it'll fit with your story too as the battery will drain if the alt/starter isn't working, eventually shutting down everything and usually without warning, except for the idiot light (which doesn't work an many older vehicles...at least ones i've owned). it takes some time to pull out and replace and if there's a junk yard nearby you can also add the time it takes to pull out the replacement. they run around 2-400 to fix...just had one put into my '85 toyota p/u and it cost 200 even but was done by a friend and was told it would easily be half-again that much if done by a mechanic...so go from there for your story details...

Yeah, I was gonna say the alternator...it charges the battery from the belt and when it dies...your car will too...though sometimes it gives you a while of acting funny for a while before it dies...

[Shelbay]

Your battery died and it wouldn't turn over, your starter failed because it's old and now everything is fine.

P.S. You simply recharged the battry and it started to run.

I would go with that one.

[davidmtml]

Don't tell em you replaced the alternator/starter...too risky.

Just tell them you heard clicking, thought it was the alt/starter and then you simply just thought maybe the battery needed charged. You charged the battery and the problem went away.

Easier to charge the problem, then having them risk looking at it and seeing hmm...this alt/starter has been here a while..he must be lying.

How are they going to tell if it's a charged battery eh?

Would somebody's boss actually go look under the hood of an employee's hood to see if they lied about why they weren't at work?

[STDzRus]

Don't know. Seems like how he's explaining his boss, that he would. I've never worked for a guy like that before, but if he asks him about it and wants to see it further, this is the best excuse IMOO

[scooterjay]

tell boss it was your starter...i doubt that boss will lay on the ground to see if you got a new one. quit laying out of work and lying to cover your ass......be responsible enough to get up and go to work, it pays dividends in the long run.

[pabloescobar209]

Tell them the flux capacitor went out

lol

[bonsaiguy]

Then again, you could just show up on your scheduled days instead of calling in and then you wouldn't have to worry about it. Work ethic and all that.