my most recent misadventure (long)

[roccit_53 at hotmail.com (C Boyko)]

>From: "Michael Abatzis" <abatzis2@hotmail.com>
>To: scirocco-l@scirocco.org
>Subject: my most recent misadventure (long)
>Date: Fri, 21 May 2004 22:59:33 +0000
>
>so i needed to make the 500 mile, 6 1/2-7 hour trip to atlanta and back 
>this week.  the first thing i found out is that the tt header is really, 
>REALLY loud on the highway. got emissions tested without incident except 
>needing a new gas cap, and was doing some stuff around the house. as i pull 
>into the hardware store, the car hiccups violently and dies. won't restart. 
>this makes me very nervous. i check timing belt first before i commence to 
>cranking (gee, i wonder why i would think that was the cause?). it's 
>intact, no starting. so, i eventually figure out the fuel pump isn't 
>working, with the spare of course in new orleans.  happily, it's only the 
>fuse, although of course this is foreshadowing. the next day, as i get 
>ready to drive back, i pick the girlfriend up, and we're just about to get 
>back on the highway. i'm sitting at a light, and i smell something smoking. 
>"hmm, do you smell that? i hope that's not my car," as i glance at the 
>gauges. sure enough, the next second i see smoke coming out the hood. shit. 
>shut down, take a quick look, don't see anything obvious, as thoughts of 
>jeff's car dance through my brain. light turns green, i restart (no 
>problem) and pull over. notice a puddle of oil beneath car (i had JUST put 
>a new quart of synthetic in too). notice there's no longer a drain plug. 
>notice another puddle at the light i was just at. shit. follow the trail of 
>oil back about 1/4 mi and see my drain plug lying in the middle of the 
>road, with the washer no where to be found.  i broke down in front of a 
>home depot and costco, conveniently enough. search through the depot 
>looking for a suitable replacement washer. i settle on 1/2" steel and a 
>neoprene washer together. walk into costco, and 10qt case of oil later, i 
>try starting it up. ok, no smoking, no funny noises. no leaks from the 
>improvised gasket.  drives ok. i make it back to the big easy without 
>further incident. major engine damage seems to have been averted, though i 
>don't know what the hell was smoking. hopefully just the little bit of oil 
>that was left. luckily, i don't think i ran the car for more than 20 secs 
>after the oil was lost. although, yes, i know that's plenty of time. i kept 
>thinking of those old syntec commercials with the engines running empty, 
>hoping those sob's weren't lying. by the way, my girlfriend finally admits 
>to me that, yes, she hates my car. hates it. doesn't want to drive it, ride 
>in it, etc.  ouch. and no, instead of a new girlfriend i'm thinking about 
>retiring the rocc from dd duty next year and getting something a LITTLE 
>more "practical" (like a z roadster? rx-8? older m3 roadster? :)
>
>
>-Michael Abatzis
>New Orleans!
>1988 Scirocco 2L 16v RIP
>1987 Scirocco 2L 16v...
>

You sure our cars don't have consecutive VINs? Evil thing.
Cathy

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