Learn the lesson that, if you are to do the work of a prophet, what you need is not a scepter but a hoe.
-- BERNARD OF CLAIRVAUX (taken from Richard Foster's Celebration of Discipline)
Monday, May 2, 2011
Sunday, May 1, 2011
Thanks Range Rover
We were robbed at our last apartment. Our neighborhood was arguably nice, but it still had its elements of danger - clearly.
But our new neighborhood, it would be hard to describe it as anything but nice - unless of course you enter into a whole new vocabulary: snooty, stuck-up, wipes-with-dollar-bills. Most of our neighbors sport BMW's, Mercedes Benz's, and yes, of course, Range Rovers.
Why do I single out these $60,000+ monsters? Because these are the only vehicles on the block tall enough to do this to Hannah's Highlander:
Hit the new kids' on the block car, then don't leave your insurance or contact info?
I hope you sleep well at night rich guy.
At least in our last neighborhood they just broke your car's window and stole old iPods.
But our new neighborhood, it would be hard to describe it as anything but nice - unless of course you enter into a whole new vocabulary: snooty, stuck-up, wipes-with-dollar-bills. Most of our neighbors sport BMW's, Mercedes Benz's, and yes, of course, Range Rovers.
Why do I single out these $60,000+ monsters? Because these are the only vehicles on the block tall enough to do this to Hannah's Highlander:
Hit the new kids' on the block car, then don't leave your insurance or contact info?
I hope you sleep well at night rich guy.
At least in our last neighborhood they just broke your car's window and stole old iPods.
Fuel Filter Follies
Couldn't sleep very well last night because I couldn't stop thinking about the fundraiser we're doing for the El Transito Library and all the things I needed to do for it today. So I got out of bed pretty early and sent some emails.
Then, since I was up and didn't want to make any noise as to not disturb my beautiful, sleeping wife, I went outside to do my chore list:
Oil filter on the Toyota HIghlander replacement -> easy. Latch on the Jetta replacement -> no problem. Fuel filter on the Jetta -> simple, until I tried to start it up.
It started just fine, then promptly died. I knew instantaneously what I did wrong. I didn't fill the brand new filter up with diesel before I reattached the hoses. So I drive Hannah's car (which had been hit overnight - see next post) to the gas station. Buy a Vitamin Water. Pour out the nasty sugar water. Fill empty Vitamin Water bottle with diesel. Drive home and fill empty fuel filter.
Still won't start.
I knew the problem was that I had a dry hose from the filter to the fuel pump, but I didn't know how to get the fuel through. After some hand ringing, a few phone calls to people who know cars better than I, and a few "words" with my engine, I went inside to consult the TDI Club Forums.
I found a post from a guy who had run out of gas and couldn't get his car to start, which I figured would be a similar problem (dry hose). One of the replied advised the guy to disconnect the return hose from the fuel filter and suck on it until it produced diesel. Then disconnect the battery while the lights were on to reset the ECU code.
It was a long shot, but it worked like a charm on the second crank!
I went inside to impress my wife (who was awake by now) with the victory and to get a kiss, only to be refused because my breath smelled like diesel.
You can't win 'em all.
Then, since I was up and didn't want to make any noise as to not disturb my beautiful, sleeping wife, I went outside to do my chore list:
- Change my fuel filter (necessary because I use biodiesel in the warmer months)
- Change Hannah's oil filter (changed the oil last week, but couldn't find my oil filter wrench)
- Fix the latch on my trunk again (I have denounced my MacGyver title)
Oil filter on the Toyota HIghlander replacement -> easy. Latch on the Jetta replacement -> no problem. Fuel filter on the Jetta -> simple, until I tried to start it up.
It started just fine, then promptly died. I knew instantaneously what I did wrong. I didn't fill the brand new filter up with diesel before I reattached the hoses. So I drive Hannah's car (which had been hit overnight - see next post) to the gas station. Buy a Vitamin Water. Pour out the nasty sugar water. Fill empty Vitamin Water bottle with diesel. Drive home and fill empty fuel filter.
Still won't start.
I knew the problem was that I had a dry hose from the filter to the fuel pump, but I didn't know how to get the fuel through. After some hand ringing, a few phone calls to people who know cars better than I, and a few "words" with my engine, I went inside to consult the TDI Club Forums.
I found a post from a guy who had run out of gas and couldn't get his car to start, which I figured would be a similar problem (dry hose). One of the replied advised the guy to disconnect the return hose from the fuel filter and suck on it until it produced diesel. Then disconnect the battery while the lights were on to reset the ECU code.
It was a long shot, but it worked like a charm on the second crank!
I went inside to impress my wife (who was awake by now) with the victory and to get a kiss, only to be refused because my breath smelled like diesel.
You can't win 'em all.
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