I Don't Think I Should Tell This Here, Not on BS

[pdub]

Shouldn't tell it here. But I can't stand it. I do do like to make fun of me whenever I can.

After having Red for some weeks, I noticed a repeatable thing. Going over bumps at slow speed, there was always a resounding THUMP coming from the right rear corner. Such that I was wondering if maybe that shock was loose or something. I mean a loud healthy thump, something's just not right back there.

What IS that? I crawled under the car as best as I could one day and pulled and tugged on stuff, but I don't know what's under there and I sure don't know what I'm looking at (or for) anyhow. Remember, for the 197th time, I don't know jack about a car, except how to steer one.

So Matt and I were yakking on the phone the other day and I asked him what his take on it was. He suggested I take it to his old friend Mike in Ringgold and have him check it out, at his really nice shop, rebuilt after the April tornadoes down there.

So I did. Mike's a real nice guy, good experience. But he couldn't find a thing wrong with Red's right rear corner. He called me yesterday to say so. After Mike's call confirming the diagnosis of "nothng," Unit asked me, "Have you ever looked in the trunk?"

No, hell I sure haven't. Went and picked up the car this morning and on the way home, that damned THUMP is still going on. Of course it is, because Mike didn't see or find or "do" anything. Mike charged me $20 to inspect the car and even let Red sleep in one of his garage bays last night so nobody could mess with him. How cool is that? Very.

So it's still got the THUMP and when we got home today, I took the trunk apart. The spare tire is totally unsecured, but it's wedged down inside a deep hole. But right there on the right rear corner laid the lug wrench, under the carpet.

Dang. There it is. That was it. Sure as the world. I mean, how stupid is THAT?

Answer: Very.

[tedly]

It's so easy to overlook the simple stuff.

[dieselgeek]

that's not stupid, that's simply a lucky fix!! even worth the twenty bux IMO.

[pdub]

that's not stupid, that's simply a lucky fix!! even worth the twenty bux IMO.

Yeah, I got Red looked at, that's worth a lot more than 20 to me.

When Mike told me bill was 20, I said, "Mike, that's not enough!" He said that'll do, and that what it was. He looked underneath the car and all was well. I told him when I showed up, I'm not even sure anything is "wrong" with the car, but I don't like that noise.

No, there was nothing wrong with car, just the idiot operator inside it! HEY - LOOK IN THE TRUNK peewee! I haven't called Mike to tell him, .....maybe Matt can do that for me. I'm too embarrassed.

[Barry Donovan]

It's so easy to overlook the simple stuff.

yes it is.

I found the sunroof was leaking a wind..no signs in the past of rain..used the gutter.
assuming something was broken, a seal, latch or whatever..

I just happened to push on the glass while opened, saw one hinge was kept loose (no excuse)..the glass fit right in the frame and sealed shut. As it turns out, it isnot a good idea to have two tight hinges. let one lead, the other loose enough to follow. hillbilly instructions would have been nice..but did figure it out the same.

we lived with that for several hundred miles before I found it unintentionally.

[Pumpkin]

Mike's good people, as are all of his employees. I'm not at all surprised by the amount charged, and I can pretty much guarantee you that Bill, one of the mechanics there drove it and had it up on a lift looking for a problem. Just the way they operate and one of the reasons they're still in business.

[pdub]

Mike's good people, as are all of his employees. I'm not at all surprised by the amount charged, and I can pretty much guarantee you that Bill, one of the mechanics there drove it and had it up on a lift looking for a problem. Just the way they operate and one of the reasons they're still in business.

I'll go there again for sure. Since I don't know how to wrench. Thanks again for the reference Matt!

You know I said I wouldn't tell that story here, but that's all so much of a reflection upon, well, that was a good experience all the way around because I'm basically .... well, Unit actually fixed the car with a question.

You want I should call Mike, or would you like to? I mean, Mike already probably thinks or knows I'm crazy for bringing it in at all. I'd like him to know the outcome.

[Pumpkin]

You were most likely deemed a little "off" by association . You call him 'cause my phone takes way to long to get the message there from WI.

[pdub]

You were most likely deemed a little "off" by association . You call him 'cause my phone takes way to long to get the message there from WI.

Will do a.m. manana Matt. Thanks again for for the great hookup.

pdub

[IOWA552SLOW]

i have seen way dumber stuff in my young years. one word of advice when it comes to repairs that have come in handy more than once in my life is K.I.S.S. (Keep It Simple Stupid) not implying anything peewee, this has come to bite me more than once. it is real easy to look for the worse thing, yet real hard to wrap your head around the simple things. also $20 to have the rear suspension checked is awesome. now you know that nothing is weak, worn, or broke in the rear. way cool. glad to hear that you are enjoying your new toy.

[pdub]

i have seen way dumber stuff in my young years. one word of advice when it comes to repairs that have come in handy more than once in my life is K.I.S.S. (Keep It Simple Stupid) not implying anything peewee, this has come to bite me more than once. it is real easy to look for the worse thing, yet real hard to wrap your head around the simple things. also $20 to have the rear suspension checked is awesome. now you know that nothing is weak, worn, or broke in the rear. way cool. glad to hear that you are enjoying your new toy.

Thanks IOWA! Yeah, it's a good deal all the way around.

But did you look in the trunk? How out of the box is that? I love my wife. Yep, that's where the problem was. In the trunk. I'm much smaller now. Even more smaller than in person. Dang, what a basic thing. DAY-oh....

The guys in Georgia looked at the rear suspension, all I asked. No. no problem there, and that in fact is a great thing to know if I'm going to run Red in Ohio and make Turk mad....well, let's see how close I can get....

Well, dang, I blew my ploy again......

[TheSilverBuick]

I second Iowa's post. Good deal, and it's easy to over look the simplest things, even for the experienced.

[daved931]

I replaced a fuel pump once and only when I went to install the upgraded harness with the kit did I find the bad ground wire that caused the problem.

That was more than $20 to learn the hard way.

[oletrux4evr]

I replaced a fuel pump once and only when I went to install the upgraded harness with the kit did I find the bad ground wire that caused the problem.

That was more than $20 to learn the hard way.

But when that happens you end up with good 'spare' parts......not always a bad thing. But sometimes.............

[Brian Lohnes]

Peewee, the good news is that the clunk was not a dead hooker in your trunk. That's not a, "Hey, I found your problem!" moment you want to have.....trust me.