Date: Fri, 24 Jun 2011 14:06:36 -0400
Reply-To: ed donnen <spliced.surprise@GMAIL.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: ed donnen <spliced.surprise@GMAIL.COM>
Subject: FORD
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Yep- Found on the Road Dead. Last night, driving around the 495
beltway in DC Happy as Larry with cars and trucks whizzing all about
me my engine loses power and dies. There is no shoulder in this
construction area, only concrete barricades right up against the right
lane. Then thank the Gawds that protect all VWs an entrance to the
construction site is ahead and I managed to coast into the entrance.
Using the starter I then bumped the truck forward until I as well in
out of the way. I have been fighting a loss of power, no throttle
response, and dying on the road for a wee bit now, and VW hasn’t been
any help at all. The last time I was there the mechanic showed me the
ground and wires he wiggled to get it going, and then in a
conspiratorial whisper told me they can’t help me, don’t go back to
VW, and even more amazingly, said there was no charge. So I stick my
hand into the engine compartment, wiggle the ground wires, and the
truck starts!
I’m sitting in my comfy chair at home. (Did you notice that cinematic
affect, right there, in the writing? It was like a double fade,
re-zoom, or something. I think it actually works better in video than
in writing.) So I reason thusly.
1. It is insanity not to change the operating parameters of a machine
and expect it to function differently.
2. If Hercule Poirot can solve a mystery sitting at home, so can I.
3. Something else goes here.
So I think if I start my engine and then play with the wires at that
ground one at a time, I should be able to kill my engine. If not,
then what does the mechanic hit with his hand that fixes the problem
without his knowledge. So into the engine I go, the grounded wires
are not at fault, by as I clumsily flounder around in my best
imitation of a junior VW mechanic I hit the coil wire and it breaks
free at the connection. Nae Problemo. Like the old guys we see
around, you know, the ones wearing both a belt and suspenders, I get
a crimp connection and solder the wire in as well.
ed- the Hercule Poirot of FORD
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