Friday, August 8, 2008

Thanks to the Angry Coder for automotive assistance.

Last night we replaced my Honda Civic's fuel pump. It was a smashing success in that the car now runs. Things I learned:

- My car was made in Canada... eh?
- My car is labeled as a Civic but my exact engine type doesn't seem to have ever been put in a 1994 Civic and it would appear that the car is in fact a Del Sol... or something like it.
- I don't have the inner strength required to siphon gasoline through a garden hose. I even practiced in the kitchen with a sink full of water and had it down pretty good... but the problem is water is not preceded through the hose by heavy noxious fumes. I never even got to the point of accidentally getting gas in my mouth because as soon as the fumes came through the hose I very nearly yacked each time I tried. I guess there is not enough Indy Redneck in my blood.
- Blvd Lunar Ale does quite a good job at getting a bad taste out of your mouth.
- The fuel pump is not in fact under the fuel filter as I was previously led to believe.
- The fuel pump is in fact inside the gas tank... under the car... accessible only by removing the back seat.
- A torque wrench does not very well register a mere 4 foot pounds when tightening a bolt that only requires 4 foot pounds.
- Commuting in a car that smell heavily of spilt gasoline causes mild light-headedness and mild headache after 10 miles.
- The Angry Coder saved me approximately $430... for which I will repay him with various invitations to drink good beer while watch hi-definition 52" entertainment.

10 comments:

Unknown said...

Good job, boys...er...um...men.

The Angry Coder said...

The best part what when Percussivity blew into the hose to make sure it was all the way in the tank. Gas game spewing out of the tank from around the hose! It spattered several feet away causing quite a spectacle. Maybe it was the fumes or maybe it was the beer, but it seemed pretty danged funny at the time.

Percussivity said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
The Angry Coder said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Percussivity said...

ummm... for the record that was before I had the beer, although the fumes were likely getting to me by that point. Now that I think about it, when the Coder started laughing it did have a rather odd quality to it; like listening to laughter on an old vinyl LP set on the wrong speed. Haaaaa... Haaaaa... Haaaa... heeeee.... hoooo...

Plus there were two of him which at the time I didn't consider or at least I don't recall thinking anything of it.

The Unabashed Blogger said...

I can't believe you didn't knwo the pump was in the tank... I mean, it was you working on it right? You should have known it was going to be much more difficult than planned....

Reminds me of a poker night when words stopped making sense as the Pensive player was stuttering and stumbling while trying to communicate. THAT was HILARIOUS. I don't know, maybe it was the atmosphere...naw...it was funny. I'm thinking he can't hold his liquor..

Percussivity said...

What can I say... I have many more years between now and my days of unrighteous drunken revellings than you. And besides I had two beers and I was tired. I mumble a lot as it is. OK I am going to stop defending myself because it sounds like I am being defensive.

Brandon Briscoe said...

That's funny, I always thought drinking Lunar was putting a bad taste in your mouth?

I guess in comparison to gasoline it ain't so bad.

Percussivity said...

Wow... ok so I know what not to get you for Christmas. I will say that I am hardly a discerning beer drinker, but I do like the Lunar Ale and the Unfiltered Wheat the best of the main line of Boulevard beers. I haven't quite acquired a taste for really hoppy beers like an IPA but I very much like the quadrapel they make in the smopkehouse line which I've been told is a heavy malt flavor.

Brandon Briscoe said...

...the real reason I left that comment is because I don't know anything about cars and didn't know what else to say.

With that said there is this *bubble gum flavor in Lunar that I can't get past. It reminds me of this toothpaste we used to use when we were little that was bubblegum flavored.

*see 1986 in link
http://www.oralb.com/us/aboutus/history.asp