So things were looking up and then ...

[rockrighter]

Just got home.

I was parked in my friend's driveway (on a slant) and start up the car and pull out the e-brake whilst my foot is on the disc brake.
I hear a bit of a clunk but sometimes the e-brake makes a 'tung' noise when I pull the lever back anyway, so I don't think anything of it and back out very slowly, put the car into drive and head down the road. I am coming toward a stop sign and so I apply the brakes ... nothing. I sorta panicked and threw the car into park and put the e-brake back down (not good, I know). Turn off the car. Restart and test the brakes, and find that I can still stop but very slowly. I have to push the pedal all the way the down to get anything, and it's slower than molasses. I figure I can stil lmake it home since the streets are nearly deserted. I put my 4-ways on and hug the outside of the lane and just got in.

If Sensei Joe cannot fix me up tomorrow, the Gorge trip is in serious jeopardy. I am trying to come up with a Plan B - this would require Nancy, Rhi and I to take public transit to Seattle with all of our shit. And I have to bounce it off of Rob, too.

What the hell did I do to deserve this? This month has just been one shitbomb after another. I'm really glad I got my car full of friends home safely before any of this happened, though.

[prism]

I'm glad that you made it home okay. I knew there had to be a reason why i couldn't sleep (j/k.) well this is kinda sucky. hopefully you can get it fixed. I see don't see much(just kinda) of a problem with taking a bus to seattle but how on earth would we get from seattle to the gorge? for what it would cost for the three of us for bus fair just to Seattle and back(to here) we could possibly rent a car? I know that enterprise rents to under 25 year olds. just throwing that idea out there

[Buannan]

look into taking amtrak or greyhound from bellingham into seattle too

when is the gorge again?

if you guys have no other way to make it to seattle, and if my car is still running, I might be able to drive up there and fetch all of you..it'll be squishy in my car but it's possible...then y'all just need to find a ride from seattle to the gorge...there's enough people from here going that they may be willing to help out

if you can't find a rent a car...you guys can rent a u-haul truck...one of the small ones...they rent to anyone...I've used them as a "car rental" before

don't fret ms rockrighter...we'll find a way to get ALL of you there

[rockrighter]

Update: Pulled a brake line out of an '89 model at Pick-a-Part. Took about 2 hours which sucks but only costed $4.54 which did not suck (price vs. labour balance, which is nice). I checked under my car and it looks to be the same set-up. So later on, we're gonna pop the hood somehow - currently unopenable 'cause of the accident and fiddle around with it and replace the brake fluid and la dee da.
Oil change would be good, too.
Last on the list is headlamps and grille, although the grille will get pulled out so we can pry the hood open.
So far, so good. But it ain't over yet.

Thanks Shaley for the car rental info. Will definitely keep it in mind although going to Enterprise would suck for me since I embarassed myself there earlier in the month. (Nothing major, but still ... blush-worthy.) :p Plan B is to get to Seattle - by bus, perhaps, and then Rob would take us in although it would be squishy 'cause his car is smaller than mine (don't know the model/make, but he said it is smallish.)
Getting back ... ? Same thing I guess.
Will keep ya'll posted.
Gonna clean up now and eat grub.

[Highway23]

wow...

now it's time for your luck to turn around...I know it!

http://www.houseoftheorangemonkey.co.uk/monkey/hats/images/leprechaun.jpg

[yer ardy]

wish i could help, somehow....
all i got is to offer up a "give reena a break" mantra....

keep the faith :)

[rockrighter]

Most of the hard parts are over. Most.

Got the hood popped - finally after about 1.5 hours, it was an absolute bitch - and fixed the cable that was preventing it's coming-offedness (I'm tired, okay), got some screwy bits near the rear brake that wouldn't come off for the life of us ... off - sapped Sensei's strength, though, big time. Took everything he got, which is a hell of a lot considering he's in great shape - for a smoker (:p). The brake line set-up from the '89 matches the '91 precisely. It's a matter of getting the screwy bits off the front parts and manoeuvering it in there now, then bleeding the brake fluid in and whatnot.
Then, there's the headlamps and the plastic case thingie for it ... gotta go back to Pick-a-Part tomorrow for those and then get the grille on it.
I took pictures of the car as it sits in my driveway right now. I'll post them if I get a spare moment in the next few days. Hopefully some 'after' pictures, too. :p

Things are cautiously optimistic at the moment. I'm hesitant to get too confident or prematurely upbeat.

Thanks pals.

'Til tomorrow, then.

[smellrose1]

sending many good car vibes your way!

(they're coming from the motor city, so they're really powerful)

:)

[rockrighter]

Brake line is in. Hood is popped. Last to go in are teh headlights and grille. Off to the junkyard to get the plastic headlamp casing thingie and hopefully
the headlamps themselves (minus the bulbs, those are fine.)

Phew. The worst is over. Now to avoid cops with my grille-less and left headlight-less car. Oh, well. If I get a ticket, so be it.:calm:


THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR VIRTUAL SHOULDER.
:dog:

[reallygroovN]

well, just make sure you leave before all of us so then if we see ya by the side of the road, we can get ya to the concert :)

[jamijams]

yeah, Reena - seriously it would be great if you could give us Rob's cell or does Nanc have one or soemthing?
do you guys have my number?

[Highway23]

1-800-MeSoCool :)

[prism]

yeah, Reena - seriously it would be great if you could give us Rob's cell or does Nanc have one or soemthing?
do you guys have my number?

I'll show you my cell number if you show me yers :silly:


p.m. is on zee way

[rockrighter]

It is done.

Total parts costs came to less than $100. :ninja::cool: Headlamps including extra bits I got as a "just in case" were a little over $30. The grille was $20. The brake line was $4.54. Brake fluid and Liquid Wrench unsure (my Dad graciously went to the store to pick them up for us), but I'll guess about $15. So, approximately $69 (DUDES!) and some cents.

Labour yet to be determined, but ICBC is giving me $1200 for the damages. So Sensei Joe will get most of that, if not all. I would like to give him all of it, he totally deserves it. I think he put in about 14 hours in two days.
*busts out the calculator and old receipt from getting the heater core repaired a few months ago*
At my usual garage mechanic's rate, it works out to just over $1000, so I think it's right to give him my settlement money. Plus anytime we go to Timmy's or have a social night with Dojo folk, his drinks are on me for life. I'm so grateful and lucky. Yay!

:bigsm:

P.S. Jake is cool.

[Highway23]

that's sweet!

I bet he doesn't want even half of what you want to give him

give him what he will take, and then buy drinks for him for life

sounds like one cool guy! Awesome!

[mensane]

awesome....

see you there!!!!

[smellrose1]

yay! I'm telling ya, it was those good motor city car vibes...

have a safe trip:)

[rockrighter]

*grumble*

I have to tie the hood down if I plan on going faster than 70 klicks. I may be able to get that fixed before I leave, but this may be a permanent fixture.

Which reminds me, I need to post a miles/kilometre conversion chart on my dash. Don't need to worry about school zones, so other than 35 mp/h in city streets (56 kp/h), what numbers do I need to look out for on the 2 highways? I remember seeing a 70 mp/h on the 1-5 ... ?

[mensane]

prob 70, 65, 55...

[rockrighter]

Thanks!

[mensane]

http://www.pedersens-racing.no/bil/VDO/speedometer.JPG

just tape this to the middle of your speedometer

[Highway23]

that would be the funniest thing ever and I demand pictures!


have a great and safe trip!