Picture Of The Day Or Week
Monday, January 28, 2013
Are You For Real?!
Have you ever seen a more beautiful exhaust system? What caught my eye in the dark darkness, of course, was my new, shiny, not sad, chrome tailpipe. Just wow! And it does feel like the Hondamatic runs so smooth now. And no more coughing!
Exhaust System Is Done
This past Saturday the Hondamatic had it's entire exhaust system replaced! Everything from the intake back that is. But they did replace the missing bolts that we had lost from the intake manifold during the engine re-installation project from last year. At first Collin wanted to keep the old exhaust parts but he was talked out of it. The pieces were so nasty and corroded and more than just flaking to pieces. I am so glad to have it done though! I get to pick the Hondamatic up tonight. It's really a hassle coordinating this with the bus.
Monday, January 21, 2013
Premonitions
A dense fog has descended upon Seattle. It's been like this for days. Since last Thursday. Or maybe Wednesday. I thought the fogginess was going to disipate completley yesterday since it became really sunny and clear, but by the time night rolled around, so the fog rolled back in. It's really dangerous out there. It's not freezing so much anymore, though the temperature is hovering around a fairly consistent 33-36 degrees.
Speaking of last Thursday, I had a strange thought in the morning as I walked to the Hondamatic to go to work. I took the car cover off that Collin had unearthed from our many things stored at his mom's and started up the engine but thinking to myself that I ought to take the Thunderbird that morning. I quickly dismissed such a notion insisting that if the Hondamatic was up and running I was going to drive IT to work.
When's the last time you didn't listen to your own self and end up regretting it later?
So I had barely made it to the first stop light five blocks away. There were a few cars ahead of me as I slowed toward it but the light had just turned green. Nonetheless I had to slow down and then stop briefly and put the Hondamatic back into first. I gave it gave a second later and ... the Hondamatic died. Ugh! Again! Ok, so I and all the cars behind me would have a few seconds delay while I restart. Aaaaaaand, no go. Power but no turn over. Damn you starter!!! You were just rebuilt!! Why are you failing in rush hour traffic in the middle of HWY 99??!! This was mortifying. I just became "that car." I was honked at and the morning commuters began going around me. In the middle of all this I was trying to hammer on the starter like I did in the summer to coax it back into position. All to no avail. Eventually two guys offered to push the Hondamatic off the road. That helped especially since the road construction crew was closing off the right lane for their day's work behind me and everyone was being directed into the left lane, where the Hondamatic had previously sat very sad and stranded. Collin came to help me but went too far and had to double back. Basically he went to the street I said I was on but one city north of where I was. He thought I had been gone longer than I was. I walked back home to take the Thunderbird to work and Collin was able to get the Hondamatic started and got it home too. Major crisis averted.
In light of all the lack of visibility lately I do feel better driving a giant green Bird than my tiny burgundy Hondamatic. There have been numerous close calls these past few days and I do feel that the Hondamatic stalled there on the road when it did for a reason: likely to save my silly butt from a worse experience that morning since I didn't listen to my own thoughts a few minutes earlier.
Take a look at the fog on the lake - this is what it looks like on the roads and I'm not even kidding. Photo courtesy of Collin.
Speaking of last Thursday, I had a strange thought in the morning as I walked to the Hondamatic to go to work. I took the car cover off that Collin had unearthed from our many things stored at his mom's and started up the engine but thinking to myself that I ought to take the Thunderbird that morning. I quickly dismissed such a notion insisting that if the Hondamatic was up and running I was going to drive IT to work.
When's the last time you didn't listen to your own self and end up regretting it later?
So I had barely made it to the first stop light five blocks away. There were a few cars ahead of me as I slowed toward it but the light had just turned green. Nonetheless I had to slow down and then stop briefly and put the Hondamatic back into first. I gave it gave a second later and ... the Hondamatic died. Ugh! Again! Ok, so I and all the cars behind me would have a few seconds delay while I restart. Aaaaaaand, no go. Power but no turn over. Damn you starter!!! You were just rebuilt!! Why are you failing in rush hour traffic in the middle of HWY 99??!! This was mortifying. I just became "that car." I was honked at and the morning commuters began going around me. In the middle of all this I was trying to hammer on the starter like I did in the summer to coax it back into position. All to no avail. Eventually two guys offered to push the Hondamatic off the road. That helped especially since the road construction crew was closing off the right lane for their day's work behind me and everyone was being directed into the left lane, where the Hondamatic had previously sat very sad and stranded. Collin came to help me but went too far and had to double back. Basically he went to the street I said I was on but one city north of where I was. He thought I had been gone longer than I was. I walked back home to take the Thunderbird to work and Collin was able to get the Hondamatic started and got it home too. Major crisis averted.
In light of all the lack of visibility lately I do feel better driving a giant green Bird than my tiny burgundy Hondamatic. There have been numerous close calls these past few days and I do feel that the Hondamatic stalled there on the road when it did for a reason: likely to save my silly butt from a worse experience that morning since I didn't listen to my own thoughts a few minutes earlier.
Take a look at the fog on the lake - this is what it looks like on the roads and I'm not even kidding. Photo courtesy of Collin.
Sunday, January 13, 2013
CVCC Stands For CertifiedVeryCleanCar
The Hondamatic got a detail! And how beautiful it is. They even put in a couple of clips in the rear body trim panel that were missing. So cute.
It has been freezing here in the past few days, so it appears that the mold issue has been defeated and since there is not really any moisture to speak of (luckily it has been a very dry freeze around here) I think it is safe to say that it shouldn't come back. As long as I keep driving the Hondamatic and keeping it alive. Collin is also going to find our car cover too. And that will help for the early morning defrost routine. Though I have to say that the Hondamatic is very impressive in that regard.
Next up, exhaust system check...
It has been freezing here in the past few days, so it appears that the mold issue has been defeated and since there is not really any moisture to speak of (luckily it has been a very dry freeze around here) I think it is safe to say that it shouldn't come back. As long as I keep driving the Hondamatic and keeping it alive. Collin is also going to find our car cover too. And that will help for the early morning defrost routine. Though I have to say that the Hondamatic is very impressive in that regard.
Next up, exhaust system check...
Tuesday, January 8, 2013
What A Sweet Ride
Hurray! Got the Hondamatic back on Sunday. Oh was I nervous driving home from Kirkland. But everything is GREAT! No more issues really to speak of. I am going to get the muffler checked soon. My exhaust is making some poofing sounds intermittently. Other than that it's basically all cosmetic from here!
Oh I need to get a detail done. Badly. The Hondamatic was sopping wet when I picked it up. There were still quite a few mold spots so I stopped off at Rite Aid and got some Lysol orignal spray and just sprewed every single spot with the stuff. Looks like it did a good job making it all go away. Or at least it looks like it's all gone anyway. I'm currently in the process of drying out the interior. I bought a bunch of super absorbent towels at Goodwill and just soaked up all I could Sunday night. Yesterday and today I have my mini-space heater blasting away at the carpets as best as that little thing can. Luckily I work in a large garage with an extra bay where I can just plug it in all day and let the Hondamatic dry. It's getting better, but there's still some moisture in the fabrics.
And I see that Collin put in my hood support rod clip and my new pedal pads! He won't let me re-install my stereo though. I wonder if he's planning on getting my dash extension installed too. Well, it's boring riding without tunes.
On another note, Collin bought us a little Honda CH80 at an estate sale on Saturday! It's at the shop now and should be ready tomorrow. It's a cute little thing from 2003 with about 150 miles on it. We are very excited.
In not so good news, the Subaru needs a front end brake job to the tune of $300. Blech. But it is what it is.
The Thunderbird is still running with the everlasting "check engine" light on. It's just the mass air flow sensor that needs to be replaced. Or maybe it's not running on all six cylinders. Who knows. We may or may not get it fixed.
So now you are up to date.
Next stop for the Hondamatic - the detail shop!!
As soon as it's dry.....
Oh I need to get a detail done. Badly. The Hondamatic was sopping wet when I picked it up. There were still quite a few mold spots so I stopped off at Rite Aid and got some Lysol orignal spray and just sprewed every single spot with the stuff. Looks like it did a good job making it all go away. Or at least it looks like it's all gone anyway. I'm currently in the process of drying out the interior. I bought a bunch of super absorbent towels at Goodwill and just soaked up all I could Sunday night. Yesterday and today I have my mini-space heater blasting away at the carpets as best as that little thing can. Luckily I work in a large garage with an extra bay where I can just plug it in all day and let the Hondamatic dry. It's getting better, but there's still some moisture in the fabrics.
And I see that Collin put in my hood support rod clip and my new pedal pads! He won't let me re-install my stereo though. I wonder if he's planning on getting my dash extension installed too. Well, it's boring riding without tunes.
On another note, Collin bought us a little Honda CH80 at an estate sale on Saturday! It's at the shop now and should be ready tomorrow. It's a cute little thing from 2003 with about 150 miles on it. We are very excited.
In not so good news, the Subaru needs a front end brake job to the tune of $300. Blech. But it is what it is.
The Thunderbird is still running with the everlasting "check engine" light on. It's just the mass air flow sensor that needs to be replaced. Or maybe it's not running on all six cylinders. Who knows. We may or may not get it fixed.
So now you are up to date.
Next stop for the Hondamatic - the detail shop!!
As soon as it's dry.....
Thursday, January 3, 2013
Still Here
Ooops!
It's been a while I see. Blogs just weren't on my agenda all of the end of last year it seems.
Wow, 2013 already.
So I'm still here, Collin is still here along with the Itsy and, of course, the Hondamatic. I'm not sure how many times I even got into the Hondamatic, let alone started it up before we left for Uruguay and Argentina for our Honeymoon. I do recall reluctantly following Collin's instructions to at least run the car for a few minutes once the night before we left for three weeks so that it might start up again when we came home. Guess what I found in the car. Mold. Boo mold. That was depressing.
It's been a wet, wet winter.
We came back in December and I was afraid to venture a peek in the Hondamatic. It took me a week to get up the nerve to look inside again. I kept using excuses like, "it's too dark outside when I leave for work and when I come home" or "I don't have time to deal with it right now, Christmas is coming fast!" Finally I did and it was worse than I had even imagined. Mold everywhere. All over the seats and carpet and seatbelts. Even on the steering wheel and e-brake lever. Ugh. I guess I could be grateful that it was white and light green mold and not black icky mold. Is there such a thing as good mold? I'm not talking about cheese. The Hondamatic doesn't make cheese. Unfortunately.
You know what. I finally just had to come to a decision.
The Hondamatic needs to get in shape. What exactly is holding me back from doing this? Sort of a fear of spending money maybe? Well, hell. I just have to do what it takes to get things going or just give up. I'm NOT giving up. That was the final decision. Collin was in agreement. Now how and when to get the Hondamatic to Kirkland.....
Fast forward to yesterday!
Collin worked some magic (though he pretends to know nothing about it) and somehow miraculously the Hondamatic landed itself at the Carb Connection (I think) and will be finished with a complete carburetor overhaul, inclusive of a new choke thermostat, by today! Amazing!!! I am so excited!
So now we can figure out what exactly to do with my interim car, the 1994 Ford Thunderbird inherited from Collin's mom when she upgraded to a fancy Lincoln. The Bird is a boat. I do not feel good in it whatsoever. It's a heavy, metal, scary contraption specically designed to rear end other cars. Like driving a battering ram with a mind of its own.
Now about the mold issue... I think Collin cleaned it up a little bit before taking it in to the shop - assuming he's the one who took it. He's blaming some wizards in blue hats that are only around when I'm not home. That was another thing. I didn't want to take a mold-mobile into a shop and risk the lives of my mechanics. But on New Year's day I put in some stuff called Dri-Z-Air to get out the moisture. My friend Mandy swears by the product. Though it was a dark, black night and I couldn't see the interior of the Hondamatic very well it seemed like there had been some work done. Like someone had cleaned up at least some of the mold. I couldn't be sure, however, and Collin is not very forthcoming on affirming any questions asked regarding his involvement in surprises such as these. Once I get the Hondamatic back I am taking it to get a good, deep down detail done. Yahoo!
And the "wizards in blue hats" advised Collin to inform me that I might want to take the Hondamatic to Midas to check the muffler.
It's been a while I see. Blogs just weren't on my agenda all of the end of last year it seems.
Wow, 2013 already.
So I'm still here, Collin is still here along with the Itsy and, of course, the Hondamatic. I'm not sure how many times I even got into the Hondamatic, let alone started it up before we left for Uruguay and Argentina for our Honeymoon. I do recall reluctantly following Collin's instructions to at least run the car for a few minutes once the night before we left for three weeks so that it might start up again when we came home. Guess what I found in the car. Mold. Boo mold. That was depressing.
It's been a wet, wet winter.
We came back in December and I was afraid to venture a peek in the Hondamatic. It took me a week to get up the nerve to look inside again. I kept using excuses like, "it's too dark outside when I leave for work and when I come home" or "I don't have time to deal with it right now, Christmas is coming fast!" Finally I did and it was worse than I had even imagined. Mold everywhere. All over the seats and carpet and seatbelts. Even on the steering wheel and e-brake lever. Ugh. I guess I could be grateful that it was white and light green mold and not black icky mold. Is there such a thing as good mold? I'm not talking about cheese. The Hondamatic doesn't make cheese. Unfortunately.
You know what. I finally just had to come to a decision.
The Hondamatic needs to get in shape. What exactly is holding me back from doing this? Sort of a fear of spending money maybe? Well, hell. I just have to do what it takes to get things going or just give up. I'm NOT giving up. That was the final decision. Collin was in agreement. Now how and when to get the Hondamatic to Kirkland.....
Fast forward to yesterday!
Collin worked some magic (though he pretends to know nothing about it) and somehow miraculously the Hondamatic landed itself at the Carb Connection (I think) and will be finished with a complete carburetor overhaul, inclusive of a new choke thermostat, by today! Amazing!!! I am so excited!
So now we can figure out what exactly to do with my interim car, the 1994 Ford Thunderbird inherited from Collin's mom when she upgraded to a fancy Lincoln. The Bird is a boat. I do not feel good in it whatsoever. It's a heavy, metal, scary contraption specically designed to rear end other cars. Like driving a battering ram with a mind of its own.
Now about the mold issue... I think Collin cleaned it up a little bit before taking it in to the shop - assuming he's the one who took it. He's blaming some wizards in blue hats that are only around when I'm not home. That was another thing. I didn't want to take a mold-mobile into a shop and risk the lives of my mechanics. But on New Year's day I put in some stuff called Dri-Z-Air to get out the moisture. My friend Mandy swears by the product. Though it was a dark, black night and I couldn't see the interior of the Hondamatic very well it seemed like there had been some work done. Like someone had cleaned up at least some of the mold. I couldn't be sure, however, and Collin is not very forthcoming on affirming any questions asked regarding his involvement in surprises such as these. Once I get the Hondamatic back I am taking it to get a good, deep down detail done. Yahoo!
And the "wizards in blue hats" advised Collin to inform me that I might want to take the Hondamatic to Midas to check the muffler.
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