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It's been an interesting couple of days.
Wednesday evening after Kathy and I got out of work, I decided before we go shopping I would take advantage of the big half-emtpy parking lot to begin teaching Kathy how to drive. She drove around the lot a couple times in first gear. Then I tried to teach her how to come to a complete stop. I had already explained it a little ahead of time. I explained it again but she didn't get on the clutch enough and it stalled out. No problem, right? Well, the vehicle wouldn't start again. It would turn over but wouldn't catch. Odd. Never heard of this happening before.
I called around and got the same reaction from a few friends: it was odd that stalling out like that might cause the car to not want to start. Figuring that maybe it was flooded, we went in to the grocery store to get a small dinner. Poor Kathy was in tears because she thought she killed the car.
Inside we ran into Lonewolf and Seeker who were buying themselves dinner. Coincidentally enough, they had been thinking of visiting us, and likewise us thinking of visiting them. They were given some extra fish for free (Seeker works there) and had more than they needed. Lonewolf went out to the car with me and we did some troubleshooting. We sprayed some starter fluid in the fuel injector air intake and the car started up for a second. Now we knew it was a fuel delivery issue. We left the car and went back to their place to visit, have dinner and watch a movie.
We decided that since Lonewolf was going to bring us back to the car, and since they lived north of Plymouth and we lived south of Plymouth, and since we all had the next day off, Kathy and I would camp out on their lawn. We pitched the tent and then headed in for dinner.
The fish was delicious! We also had mashed potatoes with cheddar and white rice. Then watched The Incredibles. I had seen it previously but Kathy hadn't. In general, I thought it was a fun movie. This time around I fell asleep quite a bit throughout.
We woke up early in the morning to the sound of two ravens singing to each other. It was beautiful.
Lonewolf and I had breakfast and left Seeker to play Dungeon Siege and Kathy to sleep more in the tent. We decided to head to Tilton and get a Haynes manual and a new fuel filter. We figured we would start with the cheapest possible solution. We returned to the car, still in the lot, and proceeded to troubleshoot the fuel problem. We followed the manual's instructions on trouibleshooting the fuel pump. To us it seemed like it was not functioning, but we couldn't be sure. Then we tried to troubleshoot the fuel pump relay. Haynes manuals can be great, but then again they can also be very lacking at times. The diagram they displayed for the relay and how to hook up the multimeter to test it was unclear. I could flip the relay either way and it would resemble the diagram. Instead of their diagram labeling what each post on the relay was (since they were labeled on the relay itself) they lettered them A through D.
We pulled off the fuel filter, which looked as though it hadn't been replaced in a long time. While we had it off we put a bottle over the fuel feed line from the tank and turned over the car. No gas. Which means the pump indeed was not functioning. So we finished installing the fuel filter, called the garage for a tow and an appointment. The soonest they can get to it will be next Thursday. Bummer.
In the meantime I've transferred ownership of the Bronco to Kathy, and since the experience has somewhat scared her away from the Sidekick because she still feels partially responsible for the breakdown, she has decided the Bronco (being an automatic) is now her vehicle. We have to go register it today and then this weekend I'll be spending my time trying to find the vacuum leak and repairing it so it will pass inspection.
So to those who called over the last couple days and didn't reach me, I apologize. I spent most of my time either out of cell range or under a car. I will be returning calls today. Unfortunately, plans for the weekend have obviously changed due to vehicle troubles and lack of cash. Sorry. :(
Wednesday evening after Kathy and I got out of work, I decided before we go shopping I would take advantage of the big half-emtpy parking lot to begin teaching Kathy how to drive. She drove around the lot a couple times in first gear. Then I tried to teach her how to come to a complete stop. I had already explained it a little ahead of time. I explained it again but she didn't get on the clutch enough and it stalled out. No problem, right? Well, the vehicle wouldn't start again. It would turn over but wouldn't catch. Odd. Never heard of this happening before.
I called around and got the same reaction from a few friends: it was odd that stalling out like that might cause the car to not want to start. Figuring that maybe it was flooded, we went in to the grocery store to get a small dinner. Poor Kathy was in tears because she thought she killed the car.
Inside we ran into Lonewolf and Seeker who were buying themselves dinner. Coincidentally enough, they had been thinking of visiting us, and likewise us thinking of visiting them. They were given some extra fish for free (Seeker works there) and had more than they needed. Lonewolf went out to the car with me and we did some troubleshooting. We sprayed some starter fluid in the fuel injector air intake and the car started up for a second. Now we knew it was a fuel delivery issue. We left the car and went back to their place to visit, have dinner and watch a movie.
We decided that since Lonewolf was going to bring us back to the car, and since they lived north of Plymouth and we lived south of Plymouth, and since we all had the next day off, Kathy and I would camp out on their lawn. We pitched the tent and then headed in for dinner.
The fish was delicious! We also had mashed potatoes with cheddar and white rice. Then watched The Incredibles. I had seen it previously but Kathy hadn't. In general, I thought it was a fun movie. This time around I fell asleep quite a bit throughout.
We woke up early in the morning to the sound of two ravens singing to each other. It was beautiful.
Lonewolf and I had breakfast and left Seeker to play Dungeon Siege and Kathy to sleep more in the tent. We decided to head to Tilton and get a Haynes manual and a new fuel filter. We figured we would start with the cheapest possible solution. We returned to the car, still in the lot, and proceeded to troubleshoot the fuel problem. We followed the manual's instructions on trouibleshooting the fuel pump. To us it seemed like it was not functioning, but we couldn't be sure. Then we tried to troubleshoot the fuel pump relay. Haynes manuals can be great, but then again they can also be very lacking at times. The diagram they displayed for the relay and how to hook up the multimeter to test it was unclear. I could flip the relay either way and it would resemble the diagram. Instead of their diagram labeling what each post on the relay was (since they were labeled on the relay itself) they lettered them A through D.
We pulled off the fuel filter, which looked as though it hadn't been replaced in a long time. While we had it off we put a bottle over the fuel feed line from the tank and turned over the car. No gas. Which means the pump indeed was not functioning. So we finished installing the fuel filter, called the garage for a tow and an appointment. The soonest they can get to it will be next Thursday. Bummer.
In the meantime I've transferred ownership of the Bronco to Kathy, and since the experience has somewhat scared her away from the Sidekick because she still feels partially responsible for the breakdown, she has decided the Bronco (being an automatic) is now her vehicle. We have to go register it today and then this weekend I'll be spending my time trying to find the vacuum leak and repairing it so it will pass inspection.
So to those who called over the last couple days and didn't reach me, I apologize. I spent most of my time either out of cell range or under a car. I will be returning calls today. Unfortunately, plans for the weekend have obviously changed due to vehicle troubles and lack of cash. Sorry. :(
