"Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo" (thetomselleck)
10/31/2014 at 21:07 • Filed to: Tercel
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"Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo" (thetomselleck)
10/31/2014 at 21:07 • Filed to: Tercel | 1
| 6 |
I've driven some problem-cars in my day, but this is one I haven't mastered.
I had talked with our family mechanic and we hashed out some quotes for the newest edition to my stockpile of 80's cars: an '83 Tercel wagon. For the four people who probably don't even remember, it has a slipping clutch. I mean, not even really slipping... more like toasted and oven-roasted, only it's leaving me with an empty feeling. It was so bad that part of the deal of the purchase was that the seller had to drive it an hour to my place (because I could barely get it even moving, but this guy had driven the beast for 10 years).
Knowing it would be a challenge, I took her for a test run to see if I could make it 10 miles to the mechanic. I quickly conquered first and second gear... but that damn thing is hanging by a thread... the knob sloshes around like it's in neutral even whilst in gear. And to prevent it from slipping, I have to accelerate at a rate similar to the rate of our economic recovery. So I'm usually stuck going 10-15mph under, pulling over for cars, and then struggling to get back in first gear, which half the time won't even engage. Soon after, 3rd and 4th were obtained.
So what gives? Even in this condition, why can't I drive it 10 miles? 2 answers.
One: inclines! To maintain or increase speed on incline I obviously have to provide more throttle. But more throttle fighting gravity and having to double my speed to get on the on-ramp for I-5, it doesn't take. RPM begins to fly, speed remains stagnant (the falls), and I've effectively shifted myself into neutral. If I quickly lower the throttle and re-shift into whatever gear, I do actually get a response and I can salvage myself, but I have to barely accelerate if at all... and with people racing behind me wondering, "How high is this kid?" and cars incoming on my left at full speed, it was terrifying... But I did actually make it on the freeway. However, there was one unavoidable giant hill right before getting to the mechanic's. And if there was a backup at that light, ohhh man... I don't think I can get bac in first. But this was a hill I would actually never reach in my journey.
Which brings me to answer 2: wiper motor on the fritz! It has been absolutely dumping here this last week. Standing water, wrecks, the usually inability to drive by the locals (don't point out the irony! I'm tired). With ALL that I stated above, I go to turn on my wipers because it's pitch black, it's pouring, cars are splashing me, and I'm driving blind. Wipers come up halfway... When suddenly BZZZZZT KHH KHH KHH BZZZZZZ! Even if you turn off the motor, the noise persists, and the blades remain up. I have roll down my window and swat the left blade down to get them back in position, and you know, not lose control of my vehicle while I'm halfway standing up in my own car.
So I get off at the following offramp. I decided I didn't want to die. Even for a Tercel. A celica GT maybe, MAYBE, but not this Tercel.
It then took me about 10 minutes driving 2 miles to get home through town at an average speed of 19 MPH.
May your weekends be infinitely more enjoyable than my Thursday.
davedave1111
> Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo
10/31/2014 at 21:13 |
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If it's one of these, you're being a wuss:
I used to have a nineties Toyota in badly-oxidised reddish pink, too. I wonder if that was the factor name for the colour.
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davedave1111
> Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo
10/31/2014 at 21:15 |
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Also, third, third, third... All you need is third...
Spaceball-Two
> Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo
10/31/2014 at 21:18 |
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Where was all this happening? Took my 67 minutes to go 16 miles on Tuesday.
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Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo
> Spaceball-Two
10/31/2014 at 21:42 |
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Yeah but you live in Bothell. I can't really hold a candle to the joys of 405 AND Bothell Way. And 228th. And 35th ave during construction. And Bothell Everett highway. And 100th ave. Well I've made my point I think.
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Spaceball-Two
> Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo
10/31/2014 at 21:53 |
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You were in my area? 228th makes me winded just looking at it.
gergey - Wishes vette was Datsun
> Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo
11/01/2014 at 01:34 |
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I had an '84 Tercel wagon in white & rust, nice two tone look. Had 340k on it, it had been parked in the bush for 6 or 7 years... I dragged it out with a tractor, put in a new battery and a thermostat and drove it for the better part of a year. Just a few months ago I called an auto wrecker to come pick it up, and he gave me $120 for it, pretty sure I broke even on it since I got the title for free.