Missed connection
Predictable, really. The fuel filter was delayed a day, and didn’t arrive until this afternoon. Guess whose car refused to start with any cajoling this morning? Guess who missed work?
Since the part was in, there was no point in waiting around. I unboxed the filter, got out my Chilton manual and my DIY pictorial from the Internet, and went to town. Getting the rear seat out was the hardest part; it took me a while to figure out that the front edge is held in with sliding tabs, and there was nothing to unbolt there – just pull hard. I had intentionally run the gas tank kinda low, and armed with warnings from the DIY, spilled almost no gasoline. The pump came apart easily, and the filter was about 20 minutes work to replace. I insist than anyone who’s ever taken something apart and put it together again can do this.
That’s when I noticed something. The electrical harness connection to the fuel pump showed signs of serious arcing. The wiring itself was good, nowhere corroded through, but the scorch marks on the plastic showed that something had clearly been loose. I bent a couple connectors to tighter positions, and replaced the harness and pump.
The car started right up, smoother than it has in months. I shut it off, and started it again – it started right up. I’ll do so again in 20 minutes as a further test.
Could the problem have never been the fuel filter or the pump itself, but simply a loose connection? Did the dealer even look? Were they about to charge me $550 for a bad connector in a wiring harness?
I’m not sorry I changed out the filter, that can’t hurt and may improve performance. But if that was the problem all along? Then I’m a little mad.
EDIT: Oh, yeah, speaking of pumps, our fridge died last night also. By an unusual coincidence, we have a backup fridge… but we now have to walk to the garage every time we want a soda.
Rain delay
Yes, it’s raining this dark morning, and I commend your decision to drive several miles under the speed limit. Your caution and knowledge of your limitations as a driver are an example more people could stand to follow.
Now get out of the bloody passing lane!
Brief updates
- 10:14 Ok, fandom: if you say, “Oh, I want to be *just like* Rorschach”, or indeed any Watchmen char, I suspect you’ve utterly missed the point. #
- 10:33 Huh. The WoW Armory seems to be busted, I can’t look anyone up. #
- 11:08 @UrsulaV Fools on the Internet are like the legendary Hydra – cut one down, and two more spring forth to replace it. #
- 13:21 Meiran’s going to want to see this: tinyurl.com/aum42e 1978 “Lost Ark” story conference, Lucas and Spielberg (125pg. PDF) #
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Brief updates
- 08:26 @tangowildheart Vilya was the elven Ring of Air, on the hand of Elrond in LotR. #
- 11:20 I can’t remember the zip code of the last place I worked, but I can give you the names of the three elven rings in no time. *eyeroll* #
- 12:40 @meiran Be strong. We may knock one down, but the Internet has a nigh-infinite-supply of idiots. #
- 18:13 Rumor going around that Daft Punk will score the “Tron 2” movie. tinyurl.com/b7ru6h Probably BS, but my nerd heart is soaring. #
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Brief updates
- 07:49 @starstryder That’s right! you need Katamari Damacy instead: tinyurl.com/iPrince #
- 07:51 Wow. Absolutely exhausted yesterday, nearly wrecked on the way home. Think I’m feeling better this morning. #
- 13:33 @queenofpith If a Richmond Dave & Busters installs the VWE MechWarrior simulation pods, I am so there! #
- 14:56 Job perk: had lengthy hallway discussion with boss this morning about Dollhouse, Dr. Who, and BSG. Local PBS may be showing 4th Doctor eps! #
- 17:30 Just watched Blizzard’s Uldar preview video. Holy smoke! For the first time ever, I’m really sorry that I’ve never done endgame raiding. #
- 18:42 OMG, this History Channel program on the secrets of the art on the dollar bill is complete bunk. #
- 19:42 Microsoft will ban you for XBox Live for being out as gay. Not that my money matters, but they won’t get a gaming dime from me now. #
- 20:55 This History Channel program on Atlantis is also bunk, but at least I expected that going in. #
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Brief updates
- 07:20 I wish *I* drove an SUV so *I* could drive 85 in a 55 MPH zone without fear of repercussion. #
- 08:20 @tangowildheart Fun superpower: summon waiting police cruiser exactly one mile ahead of the car that just blew by. #
- 11:12 @snidegrrl I knew I’d never see ELO perform, but that’s further emphasis of the situation. Sad thing. #
- 11:36 @Aeire In “I <3 MY DP” license plates, DP stands for Digital Poodle. #
- 14:42 I am seriously considering teaching myself the basics of working a sewing machine this weekend. #
- 19:34 The sewing machine I’ll have access to this weekend is a four-figure price professional model. Uh… *gulp* #
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I’ll Smile If I Want To
Thinking about something twistdfateangel posted:
There are a lot of people out there who can’t have a good time unless someone else is having a bad one. In online gaming, we call them “griefers”.
Unfortunately, the costuming field in fandom has a fair proportion of them. They used to make me angry… now I just pity them. (And mock them a bit.) I’ll wear what I damn well want to wear to the con, and if it’s not quite period, or if the fabric color’s a little off, or if I’ve taken parts of the outfit from entirely different fictions: screw it. I’m having fun. Too bad, so sad that they’re not.
