Always an adventure

L378 · Posted: Sun Jan 01, 2012 1:43 pm Post subject: Always an adventure

The goal for the 2011 driving season was to get the odometer to hit 59,000 on the old 36 (a little over 900 miles for the season). It was sitting at 58,991. Nice day, so I had to go for a New Year's day drive. Went to Lowe's & then decided to hit the Wal-Mart. Pulling into Wal-Mart I noticed some dark nasties had come up. I'd been out less than 30 minutes and spent less than 5 in Wal-Mart. Coming out half way across the lot the drops began to fall.

I've owned my oval for almost a decade and I've been caught in 2 rain bursts previously and the last one was probably 2 or 3 years ago, so I know it'll take a bit for the wipers to get going & it's not like they're modern, but holy cow they took forever. Nothing like driving 2 miles @ 35 mph with no wipers in a nice steady rain. By the time the wipers were working the rain had stopped. It felt like forever & thought for sure they weren't going to work at all. Pulled into the garage with the odometer sitting at 59,001. Driving goal met with a little drama thrown in. Happy new year everybody & hope 2012 makes for good driving for all.

Keith · Posted: Mon Jan 02, 2012 3:15 pm Post subject:

I'd fix those wipers because thats just not normal.
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Schwing · Posted: Mon Jan 02, 2012 3:55 pm Post subject:

That's kinda funny. I'm just going to put Rain-x on my windshield.
Good stuff about the mileage goal met.

I bet your wiper switch has corrosion build up?
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drscope · Posted: Mon Jan 02, 2012 5:01 pm Post subject:

Where are you located? I'm in Catonsville.

Because it was such a nice day we rolled the 55 out to go for a drive yesterday as well.

As soon as I had all the tires aired up and the oil checked, the rain started.

We headed off anyway in the direction of the sun hoping it would only spit for a while.

After a few hours, it had dried off and the sun was starting to go down. It was just starting to get a little chilly in the car so we headed towards home. (new heater cable is not yet installed, so we couldn't turn the stinker - I mean heater on)

Just a few miles from home and I said to the wife I was happy we were going to be able to put the car away dry after being out in the wet.

That didn't last and it went back in the box wet. But it was nice to have it out.

Our wipers aren't working either! But I do have a bottle of rainex in the door pocket!
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Schwing · Posted: Mon Jan 02, 2012 6:39 pm Post subject:

We need a fair weather Maryland cruise.
I'm in once I wrap up a few things.
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drscope · Posted: Mon Jan 02, 2012 10:31 pm Post subject:

Cliff@BrownBags · Posted: Mon Jan 30, 2012 10:03 pm Post subject:

i just started a group on facebook for maryland people. that way we can all get together and cruise and meet up ect
please add it and share it.

http://www.facebook.com/#!/groups/285343811526790/
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Schwing · Posted: Tue Jan 31, 2012 6:10 am Post subject:

Cliff this is great I just requested to join the group.
Looking forward to any cruises to local shows or just putting on some miles. Cool

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L378 · Posted: Sat Mar 03, 2012 7:56 pm Post subject:

I totally forgot about this post & only stumbled on it looking for another. I'm up in Frederick. Schwing has mentioned a cruise. We should look into it when Schwing has his ride on the road. As for the wipers, probably corrosion, but I've only used 3 or 4 times in 10 years. I guess I should get some rain X. Mileage into the 2012 season which officially started on Thursday = 7!

Schwing · Posted: Mon Mar 05, 2012 7:10 am Post subject:

L378 · Posted: Mon Mar 05, 2012 12:57 pm Post subject:

For sure, driving over the bay bridge with iffy breaks? That would be an adventure. Driving goal for this year - have the odometer hit 60,000. Thursday is supposed to hit 68 F in Frederick, I think I may kill some time and check out my wipers - after a jaunt.

Kjell Roar · Posted: Mon Mar 05, 2012 1:14 pm Post subject:

On my oval I just had to use electro-clean on the fuse/fusebox, because of corrotion. Worked then like a dream ...

A quite slow one.

Smile

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L378 · Posted: Mon Mar 05, 2012 1:57 pm Post subject:

Kjell,

I'll have to look through things a bit. It's just the wipers are used so infrequently that I never really think about them. It's kind of like my head lamps (which do work), I think I've used them about 3 or 4 times in 10 years. I did use them late in December and I know I had to have gotten some very strange looks from people as I drove through town with my dim 6 volt system. Given all of the illumination from street lights, I don't know if my lights provided any additional benefit. Ah, 6 volts gotta love it. Have a friend who more than once said that if it were his car, the first thing he'd do is switch to 12 volt.

L378 · Posted: Mon Mar 12, 2012 3:45 pm Post subject:

Decided to look at the wipers. First wash, clean the mats, and vacuum. Finish up a few minutes before 4PM & decide to go for a quick spin and then look at the wipers. I head through town and at the bottom of a small hill at the end of my block I realize I have no power. Luckily no other traffic and I have the light so I coast around the corner & there's space for me when I hear a modest bang, almost a poof. So I'm freaking out. Stop the car, pull the e-brake and I'm thinking did the engine decide to let go? I smell a wiff of something burning. I pop the decklid, no fire, no smoke. I get in the car and now I realize it's electrical smoke/burning I smell. I did clean around the wiring up front so pop the hood release and look - no smoke, no smell, so back around to the back of the car. All this with early drive time traffic blasting by me. I'm standing behind the bug and now something is trickling from under the car, I touch it, not oil, smell it not gas, so I look under the car and there's water pouring from the middle of the car. Lift the rear seat and sure enough the top of the battery is gone. Fortunately, at the other end of the block is a battery warehouse, so run to the house, grab my toolbox and $79 later have a new battery. All I can think of is I moved the lug wrench when vacuuming and must have nudged the battery in the process and hitting a rough spot of road was enough. What an afternoon.

Basketcase · Posted: Mon Mar 12, 2012 4:43 pm Post subject:


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