Venting...please indulge me.
12-11-2010, 05:32 PM
#1
Race Director
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Location: Detroit MI
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Venting...please indulge me.
We're supposed to get 6-10" of snow tonight, so I had the day blocked off to clear out the garage, get the summer cars washed, and put them to bed for the cold Michigan winter.
Car covers? Check
Gift certificates to the car wash? Check
Corvette won't start, although it was running perfectly the last time I drove it (Halloween week). Hours of troubleshooting and finally notice the rubber duct between the air cleaner and throttle body is ripped, which I'm assuming is letting unmetered air in and causing it not to start (it'll turn over, but won't catch...occasionally will diesel a few times after cranking). Check local stores and online, the part isn't available anywhere.
Sent a message to vette2vette, hoping they can deliver. Washed the cars by hand in my driveway, slipping and sliding as the water froze on the ground.
Go to put my brand new $200 car cover on the Vette and notice it's ripped (thanks, kids, for tossing it in the corner and riding bikes across it). Use my crappy, generic dust cover for the time being, and place an order for a new car cover.
So what have I accomplished today? My driveway is a skating rink, the Corvette is disabled (and I HATE putting anything away that's not working), my back is killing me (washing a C4 and a Miata involve a lot of leaning and bending), the cars are pretty much where they're going to be until Spring (unless we get a thaw), and I'm at least $200 poorer, right before Christmas.
I feel like Charlie Brown, but I do feel better after getting that off my chest, thanks.
Car covers? Check
Gift certificates to the car wash? Check
Corvette won't start, although it was running perfectly the last time I drove it (Halloween week). Hours of troubleshooting and finally notice the rubber duct between the air cleaner and throttle body is ripped, which I'm assuming is letting unmetered air in and causing it not to start (it'll turn over, but won't catch...occasionally will diesel a few times after cranking). Check local stores and online, the part isn't available anywhere.
Sent a message to vette2vette, hoping they can deliver. Washed the cars by hand in my driveway, slipping and sliding as the water froze on the ground.
Go to put my brand new $200 car cover on the Vette and notice it's ripped (thanks, kids, for tossing it in the corner and riding bikes across it). Use my crappy, generic dust cover for the time being, and place an order for a new car cover.
So what have I accomplished today? My driveway is a skating rink, the Corvette is disabled (and I HATE putting anything away that's not working), my back is killing me (washing a C4 and a Miata involve a lot of leaning and bending), the cars are pretty much where they're going to be until Spring (unless we get a thaw), and I'm at least $200 poorer, right before Christmas.
I feel like Charlie Brown, but I do feel better after getting that off my chest, thanks.
12-11-2010, 05:42 PM
#2
Drifting
Member Since: May 2010
Location: Gaithersburg MD A member since 2007 but then the computer crashed and then the car crash loss of memory X 2
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I sure would NOT want to be on the wrong side of a traffic stop tonight.
Hey, If a little girl by the name of LUCY tells you she'll hold the football so you can kick it, walk away, just walk away.
I'll send up some 50 degree weather next weekend so you can get the cars finished.
Happy and SAFE holidays to all LEO's out there and thanks for protecting my sorry ***.
Hey, If a little girl by the name of LUCY tells you she'll hold the football so you can kick it, walk away, just walk away.
I'll send up some 50 degree weather next weekend so you can get the cars finished.
Happy and SAFE holidays to all LEO's out there and thanks for protecting my sorry ***.
12-11-2010, 05:46 PM
#3
Drifting
Member Since: Dec 2007
Location: Sumter South Carolina
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I know fuel injection isn't affected as much, butttttttttt...
In my life I've had 4 instances where bad gas has given me a headache. My dirt bike after only 1 month of sitting, had to pull the carb and drain gas, my V-star jet was clogged after sitting for winter and being started every 2 weeks but the gas still went bad after 3 months, bought a Ford Tempo and ran like crap, my 79 CJ5 after only 2 weeks after putting in cheap gas would not start, changed out gas and ta-da.
Point is, gas is so crappy now, 2 months is possible to have bad gas in addition to the bad mixture. I say duct tape for temp fix, if it still won't start right up, drain the tank, keep the old stuff and put 2 gallons of 93 in and see what happens.
At least you will eliminate 2 easy fixes
In my life I've had 4 instances where bad gas has given me a headache. My dirt bike after only 1 month of sitting, had to pull the carb and drain gas, my V-star jet was clogged after sitting for winter and being started every 2 weeks but the gas still went bad after 3 months, bought a Ford Tempo and ran like crap, my 79 CJ5 after only 2 weeks after putting in cheap gas would not start, changed out gas and ta-da.
Point is, gas is so crappy now, 2 months is possible to have bad gas in addition to the bad mixture. I say duct tape for temp fix, if it still won't start right up, drain the tank, keep the old stuff and put 2 gallons of 93 in and see what happens.
At least you will eliminate 2 easy fixes
12-11-2010, 06:07 PM
#4
Safety Car
This is why my Corvette goes away in Nov. when the weather is semi-ok, like 40-50 ish and not crazy out. Less headaches...
I feel your pain, my life is like that too...thus I try to plan ahead an anticipate trouble so you can avoid it.
I feel your pain, my life is like that too...thus I try to plan ahead an anticipate trouble so you can avoid it.
12-11-2010, 07:52 PM
#9
Team Owner
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Location: Riverside County Southern California
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12-11-2010, 08:45 PM
#11
Le Mans Master
Yeah, but our cars have way more mileage on them.
we have 8 months of summer, 2 days of fall, and the rest is spring.
78 today and not a hint of a cloud in the sky.
oh yea, it rains about 5 days a year.
we have 8 months of summer, 2 days of fall, and the rest is spring.
78 today and not a hint of a cloud in the sky.
oh yea, it rains about 5 days a year.
Last edited by coupeguy2001; 12-11-2010 at 08:49 PM.
12-12-2010, 09:40 AM
#13
Team Owner
12-12-2010, 09:48 AM
#14
Burning Brakes
12-12-2010, 10:27 AM
#15
Burning Brakes
Hours of troubleshooting and finally notice the rubber duct between the air cleaner and throttle body is ripped, which I'm assuming is letting unmetered air in and causing it not to start (it'll turn over, but won't catch...occasionally will diesel a few times after cranking). Check local stores and online, the part isn't available anywhere.
12-12-2010, 10:36 AM
#16
Race Director
I know fuel injection isn't affected as much, butttttttttt...
In my life I've had 4 instances where bad gas has given me a headache. My dirt bike after only 1 month of sitting, had to pull the carb and drain gas, my V-star jet was clogged after sitting for winter and being started every 2 weeks but the gas still went bad after 3 months, bought a Ford Tempo and ran like crap, my 79 CJ5 after only 2 weeks after putting in cheap gas would not start, changed out gas and ta-da.
Point is, gas is so crappy now, 2 months is possible to have bad gas in addition to the bad mixture. I say duct tape for temp fix, if it still won't start right up, drain the tank, keep the old stuff and put 2 gallons of 93 in and see what happens.
At least you will eliminate 2 easy fixes
In my life I've had 4 instances where bad gas has given me a headache. My dirt bike after only 1 month of sitting, had to pull the carb and drain gas, my V-star jet was clogged after sitting for winter and being started every 2 weeks but the gas still went bad after 3 months, bought a Ford Tempo and ran like crap, my 79 CJ5 after only 2 weeks after putting in cheap gas would not start, changed out gas and ta-da.
Point is, gas is so crappy now, 2 months is possible to have bad gas in addition to the bad mixture. I say duct tape for temp fix, if it still won't start right up, drain the tank, keep the old stuff and put 2 gallons of 93 in and see what happens.
At least you will eliminate 2 easy fixes
Sta bul is your friend ! $hitty gas is ruining our older cars ! Ethanol is a magnet for water and the gas gels quickly .
12-12-2010, 10:47 AM
#17
Drifting
Not just older cars, anything that sits for more than a month or so. The ethanol separates and gunks up the fuel system. I use StaBil or equivalent in my cars from time to time, and every time I buy gas in a can for the mower, snowblower, chain saw, outboard motor, etc. I always put StaBil in the can.