Thread: A new car!
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Unread 11-01-2011, 08:04 PM   #16
GlenL
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I was driving the 928 with my kids following in the rental car. A right, a left and a left and we should be approaching the town. Doesn't look familiar, though. I stop and ask my son. "This is the way" he assures me. We do it again and then find ourselves in a road work backup. No I'm worried.

Ken had drained the gas tank. That was welcome news to me. We had added some gas in the garage. Maybe a half gallon. Ken had, graciously, offered to fill it more and I had, mistakenly, refused. It's quick to town and I might have wanted to swap the pump so no need for more. Right?. Now we're driving uphill...and it should be down...when the car sputters and comes to a halt. Looks like trouble.

First option is more gas so we head back down the wrong-way road and find the town where it should have been. The nice, small-town clerk loaned me a gas can (no deposit) and offers to drive me back. Nope. I'm good. Back at the car I put in a few gallons of high-test fuel and it fires right up. At least I didn't get too much further towrds the Pacific.

After being escorted to the station I sent the kids off to explore Washington. I had plans to work on the car a bit and get fluids changed. They could have some fun.

Made it fine to Centralia and the horrible road manners were becoming clear. On the gas it'll go right and on the brakes it'll dart left. Worse, if it hits a hole of joint at speed it'll lurch left. Yikes. Gets less jumpy on the highway after not using the brakes for a while. In town it's tough.

I hit a parts store to get some supplies. New wiper blades, a long ground strap and an assortment of fasteners. The blades go on quick and work fine. No delay mode but it'll clear the windscreen.

Next up is Earnies Oil Change. Nice guys. I get a fill of 5w40 synthetic in front and 80w90 synth in back. He finds the oil drain nearly loose and the threads shot. It's the original style plug (23mm?) and he says a plug from a Dodge Durango will just work. It drips a bit still, but not much coming off the stick.

It's tough for the tech to get the tranny drain plugs out. I encourage him to get them out and he does but one's wrecked. He's surprised I've got one.

By now the kids are back from visiting the ocean. We link up and I proceed to screw down the door panel while they find an WiFi spot to look for hotel rooms. We're running a bit behind and will stay in Seattle instead of heading for Wyoming (Or Idaho) (Or Spokane) that night.

Meanwhile, I get the door panel tamed. At least it doesn't flop and the handle stays attached when closing. Reattached that panel below the pod, too.

The ground strap goes in so the door on the battery will close. With the short battery the stock strap won't let it down and we need all the space for our luggage.

The only place with WiFi on a Wednesday night is the library. I get a room (Hotwire is the best) near the Space Needle. Off to Seattle we go.

I had reserved the rental car for 23.5 hours on the idea that we'd be back 6 hours earlier. Nope. Needed it all. Didn't help that the car had no lights so I couldn't read the map. Oh, well. I wanted to circle the airport. The disfunctional suspension was keeping me pretty busy as well.

About 9 we cruised into the Holiday Inn. Wandered about for a restaurant and had the best salmon I think I've ever enjoyed.

And Day 2 was done.
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1980 928S Euro x2
1987 944 N/A

Last edited by GlenL; 11-02-2011 at 10:47 AM.
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