Apologies for longcat, but this is actually a condensed version.
Wife ran out of gas on the way to take the kids to daycare. Less than 2 blocks away. She also drives an older Prius. I was on a work call already so didn't see her text, so she marches the kids home, grabs my keys, and drives the kids over. By this time I'm off the call, so instead of her taking an Uber into the office downtown I offer to drive her. She pulls in the driveway and was super confused when I walked to the driver's side, gas can in hand.
Wife: "What are you doing?"
Me: "Driving you to the office. Changing drivers is a pain in the ass downtown. Where am I headed towards?"
Wife: "Oh, head towards Mopac."
Me (thinking): "No shit, from southwest Austin to get to downtown I should go up Mopac..."
Me: "What cross streets is the office on?"
Wife: "Take the 5th street exit."
Me: "Well, at least you didn't get very far and could walk home. Sorry I didn't see your text. How'd you run out of gas?"
Wife: "Oh, the gas gauge hasn't been working for a while, it never reads more than 2 out of 8 bars. So normally I get 360 miles to the tank, but I was only at 320 today before the screen flashed *PROBLEM* and the check engine light came on, and the engine stopped. Also, the low tire light is still on. I've never run out of gas before."
Me (thinking): "Sweet. That would have been good to know prior to this happening. Hope the battery didn't get run down to the point of being toast. Don't tell her she probably could have driven home. Battery will get toasted next time."
Me: "Ok, I'll get some gas in it and get it home, I don't have any more calls this morning. I just filled up the tires last weekend so I'll make sure there isn't a leak."
Wife: "Oh, turn here, turn here!"
Me: "I thought you said take 5th?"
Wife: "No, the other one....to the right."
Me: "Cesar Chavez?"
Wife: "Yes, that one. Sorry, that's why I wanted to you to get over one lane."
Me: "What cross streets is your office at, again?"
Wife: "8th and Congress. No, don't turn here!!!" (as I make a left on Lavaca).
Me: "Oh, I thought I'd skip that traffic at the Congress light and head up to 7th. Shouldn't be any line to turn left on Congress up there. What corner is your office on?"
Wife: "I never go this way."
Me: "What corner is your office on?"
Wife: "Northeast."
Me: "What time is your last call? Did you want me to try and pick you up before I get the kids, or are you going to Uber home?"
*At this point I pulled over at the northeast corner of 8th and Congress*
Wife: "It's not over til 4:30, so I'll Uber. (She looks up from her phone) This isn't my office, it's over there (points at southwest corner of 9th). Oh well, I can walk I guess."
I had a very relaxing drive home listening to a podcast. I then was able to put 10 gallons of gas into what is normally an 8 gallon fill-up. Cleared the check engine light, took the car for a test drive, battery looked like it was at about 80% prior to the test drive so should be OK there. Checked the tires, all were right where I filled the to the other weekend. Tried resetting the monitoring system, problem light still flashes on key on for 1 min prior to light staying on. Google it, says it needs further diagnosis by a tech, usually a sensor.
via text:
Me: "Hey, car is fine. I got it fueled up and home. Tire pressure was ok. There is probably a bad sensor, that happens sometimes when tires get rotated or the sensor battery gets old."
Wife: "Told you I need a new car."
Me: "You need a new car because a $3 sensor went bad?"
Amazingly I didn't hear any further response.