From: pgheit01@ulkyvx.louisville.edu
Subject: My VW Horror stories
Date: Tue, 29 Sep 1992 14:16:52 GMT
Organization: University of Louisville

My bus has had its share of fun and hard times.  Background:  My '77 bus was
the first car I ever bought.  Before that, my car knowledge was limited to oil
changes on my mom's '72 Impala (the Army actually rejected this as a design for
the M1 Tank) and '80 Corolla.

My clutch cable broke partially one night after work.  Not thinking of anything
other than major horror, I thought it was the clutch going out.  I conned my
friend into letting me use his garage to do the work.  It was December.  The
problems were that he lives across the river in New Albany, and operates his
business from his home.  After much consternation, I got the motor out (more on
this jewel of a job later).  I bought a new clutch disk since everthing else
looked OK.  They wanted an arm for the pressure plate and a leg for the T.O.
bearing anyway.  I put the engine back in and hooked everything back up.  No
good.  I ran my battery dead trying to get it to fire and run.  I tried to
recharge it, but it had a bum cell and would not take a charge.  New cheesy
battery cost $35.  Still no go.  I found out that I had some of the spark plug
wires backwards.  Still wouldn't run well.  I left it in there for two more
weeks till I could find some time to work on it.  Well, Pete needed his garage
back (his car was broken), So we tried to load it on his trailer and move it. 
It would start, but when I tried to make it go on the trailer it would die. 
What we did was use a tow chain to pull it over into the yard.  

Two months later, I winched it onto the trailer and pulled it home.  It sat in
the driveway not running for about 1 more month.  I brought over a friend to
look at it, and when he said, "Try to start it, we'll see what it sounds like,"
it started right up!  Just like the first day off the boat.  I still don't know
why that happened.  It died later, and I left it in the yard for a coupla' more
months thinking it was the FI, but it just needed the points set.  (Still does,
every month or two.)  

Then one night, the cable finally gave way in the crowded parking lot of a
movie theater.  Now a Muir disciple, I knew I could drive without it.  I babyed
it home (across the city) as best I could.  A couple of times, I had to stop,
so I just turned the starter while I was in gear- thank God for good battery. 
A new clutch cable was no fun to put in.  Second greasiest job in the world
after CV joint repacking.  :-(

=============================================================================
Horror story #2:

My girlfriend was driving her bug to Evansville late one Sunday night.  The
firewall separated and was sucked against the fan.  Melted the pistons. I mean
MELTED :-) Luckily didn't crack the heads.  A rebuild cost $628.42  (yes, I
remember that number, wouldn't you?)  That engine sat on my front porch for two
weeks (and the bug in the front yard) until I could find time to work on it. 
Runs fine now.
=============================================================================
Horror story #3:

I was forced to buy my brother's '73 bug so that I could go on Co-op in
Lexington.  The bus is great, but couldn't handle the highway for very long.  I
was almost home, when the drizzling rain turned into instant monsoon.  You know
the type.  Since I was in the fast lane, I tried to change lanes since some
moron was trying to go even faster than me.  I then proceeded to spin around in
circles until I slamed into the highway barrier.  OUCH!!!!!!  That was in June. 
I did the carpool thing until co-op ended in August.   Last Wednesday, that
city sent an inspector to our house to put stickers on this bug and my project
'66 bus out back.  (not to mention my brother's project '44 Jeep and my mom's
LISENCED car)  Seems that the Beechmont Neighborhood Association is filled with
constipated old women who have nothing better to do than spy on their neighbors
and bitch to city.  Yesterday, I borrowed Pete's truck and trailer and towed
the bug across the county to a lot where it will sit until parts of it become a
dune buggy.  SNIF SNIF SOB! Since I was two hours late for work, I parked the
truck/trailer in front of the house and went to work.  At midnight, I rode home
and drove the trailer back to New Albany.  That put me to bed at 2:30 AM, and I
came in to work today at 8:00 AM.  WHAT A PARTY!!!!!!

Oh, and I spent $250 on tires and parts Saturday in an attempt to get an
extension for my '66 bus.  How many people do you know that have 2 carbs, 3
distributors and a muffler in their bedroom?  I guess I just need horsepower to
get performance in bed :-)

BTW you guys have been great with all the help I've needed for my cars. 
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|pH Fred == pgheit01@ulkyvx.louisville.edu    |         "What we lack         |
|        == ..!psuvax1!ulkyvx.bitnet!pgheit01 |   in enthusiasm, we make up   |
|           University of Louisville          |         for in apathy."       |
|                Louisville, KY               |                               |
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Organization: Sophomore, MCS general, Carnegie Mellon, Pittsburgh, PA