Am I surprised, not at all
Parts shipped today
California (coulda sworn this company was in Ohio,,,)
USPS
If I see them before Christmas weekend, I will be happy.
If I see them by Satyrday, I’ll be JOYOUS,
But
is
what
it
is
sigh,,,
impatiently being patient
And mentally assessing my memory banks for the USEFUL stuff left over from years back, that I haven’t flexed in ages.
Like the fact that I can recall the imagery from one of my techbooks (teaching o-scope diag) VIVIDLY,,, Hadn’t thought about that stuff in YEARS,,,, But there they are: as if I had just pulled the classes and passed the exams. (that was one class that ProCare paid for myself and another to attend, and I have no idea what that cost was, but I can tell you, it was not cheap as it wasn’t the usual “Vendor” type class that techs attend. NO BRANDS pushed,, Just information.)
Funny that, My o-scope knowledge came in handy a few times while in the Entertainment world,,,,
But more than that side of it. Other things creeping out of the darker recesses, things where Diag was more of a, “Hey, look for the brake lights,,,” intuition sparks. Just something said or heard in such a way that the solution just jumped to the forebrain, making me seem more talented than I was.
And my mentors,,, Recalling my mentors, FrankD and FrankF,,,, Yeah, two Franks,,, or my later mentor Clay, who was also a machinist. I wouldn’t have the confidence to tackle the parts ahead if it weren’t for some of the “Outside the box” stuff he taught me.
And wiggle tests,,,, How many times did you get a TSB called ‘wiggle test’? I recall the Ford Escort was NOTORIOUS for one. A wire breaking right at the firewall: Start and run great, so long as you DID NOT put it gear,,,, Wiggle test isolated WHERE, and the fix was about 5 minutes and a headache.
Many miles later, here I am again,,, And I DO have a learning curve ahead of me. I haven’t touched anything newer than early aught models, and yet, I know I will be when I start down this path. (actually, I have touched much newer, but only at the J.O.B. and only stuff like wheel bearings or brake pads. Simple shit in otherwords.)
Thats the ONLY reason I am researching the scan tool thing. I can do 90% of Diag with ‘simple’ tools, but the cars these days,,, You can’t “just” fix the problem, you have to convince the computer the problem is fixed. Like that “I/M” button on the newer OBDII readers,,, its there to initiate Monitor Reset after a repair, You are telling the computer “hey, new parts you have to learn” and then you have to drive the vehicle until the computer signals it figured it out. Scan tools can assist in that ‘learning curve’ by telling the computer the parameters of the parts upfront, (I’m paraphrasing the actual process here) and reset that monitor without needing the drive time.
More headaches, but stuff many DIY’ers don’t have access to, and DO NOT want to pay the $115/hr Dealer charge,,,
(and admittedly MANY DIY’ers wouldn’t want to be caught dead in most of the newer vehicles, but their wives???? YEah,,, those are my target audience here,,, the guys with the wife with the new car that can’t access the stuff he needs, and doesn’t want to deal with the dealer,,,)(Hi B! 😀 )
its gettin’ dark, and I am making thoughts on what I can do this weekend towards getting BLoo a little closer to road ready, ASSUMING my parts do not arrive. There are things that need done (like how I wired in that BU camera,,,)
One of those ‘things’ is covering the holes in the boxes where the previous owner (may he Rest in Peace) had mounted stuff up top. Leaks!!! I may end up mounting something up there at some point (welder?!?!) but for now, I want to keep the wet OUT. Several options and I’ll investigate those further assuming no parts. (rubber roofing material glued down on top seems most doable. Other option is FIBERGLASS,,, LOL I have it, but I don’t think Da would tolerate the stink in his basement,,,,)
I’m bored,,, Too early to go to bed, to late in the day to throw sticks, not much going on in the house as the kids are all sprawled in the ‘good spots’ doing what I can’t do because its too damned early yet,,,,,
More laters
Live
Learn
Laugh
LOVE
LOAD!



addendum: thinks for the week, kinda doomy-gloomy




Too early for bed, too late or dark for work… Sharpen your stabby tools, clean and oil your liberty dispenser or just continue to sit, pray and ponder your path. Or any combination for multitasking points.
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December 18, 2025 at 7:37 am