Interesting Weekend

"CaptDale - is secretly British" (captdale)
03/26/2019 at 19:00 • Filed to: weekend wrenching, Personalopnik

Starts off with personal stuff too... that isn’t good, but some was . So you’ve been warned.

Friday night I had one of my best friends attempt, well harm himself and was taken to the hospital. Quite distraughtly had to cancel the dinner date I had to go see if I could visit him. Called my ex cause we are all friends together (the reason my ex and I met in the first place) cause I couldn’t drive at that point and we went over to the hospital. Sadly due to the nature of his injuries we were not allowed to visit. So back to drop me off though we decided to hang out a little bit and try to calm down. I was driving a customer’s G8 for the weekend to test to make sure we fixed it (been having recurring issues). So my ex very into the G8 wanted a ride and I needed to drive it anyhow. So took it around and found we did not fix it.

Yes that is zero indicated oil pressure. Thankfully there was pressure while under throttle so I took the car back to work and swapped back into the wagon which my VAG-phile ex liked.

Took a couple photos of our wagons together and found it funny how much bigger his C6 Passat looked compared to my C5 A6. So Friday night was super rough and Friday I just vegged out literally all day till a friends party. That was a ton of fun and a bit needed.

I got information that my friend had been transferred to a hospital in the bay area after getting 5150'd and that is where his insurance sent him. He called Saturday and asked if I could pick him up when he is released Sunday evening and of course I said yes. It especially worked out cause one of my other friends was driving his Miata home to Davis for spring break and I was already joining him for a large section of the drive just to have a fun drive.

So we met up in Morro Bay, stopped in Cambria to have lunch with his Mom, went up the 1 to Nacimiento Fergusson, over to 101 and up to King City to take Bitterwater to CA-25 and up that to Hollister. Well my friend that had been committed called while we were pulled over at one of our favorites stops on CA-25. He said the hold wasn’t 48 hours like he was told, but 72 (seems like no one was giving him straight info the whole time).

So being Sunday evening and already over halfway up there I called my boss and told him I needed Monday off. Thankfully my friend let me stay at his Dad’s place in Davis Sunday night. We decided to hang out all Monday till I had to pick up my friend at 6:45 pm.

tooth from the rear diff

So Monday went into downtown Davis and had breakfast at this great Crepe place and then put my car in his garage and jacked it up to find a vibration. Ended up one of my driveshaft bolts was coming loose. So loctite and some force and all tightened down. My friend’s buddy was suppose to come over to do brakes, but he was cleaning his apartment and was worried to make an ass of himself in front of me because my friend told him I am a car guy. Which was what is was and so we pulled my friend’s Miata in the garage and did the transmission and rear differential fluids. About 1 pm my friend called and said that the hospital wasn’t releasing him because his anxiety and viatals weren’t where they wanted to see. So that gave me all the time to wrench with my friend. Honestly a much needed therapy for myself and my buddy. By the end of all the work, which of course took all day, we were both done but satisfied. His dad made dinner and then I took off to drive back home.

I am still worried about my friend, but I know his is technically in a safe place and while I am sad I could not take him home I am glad I got some quality wrenching time in. I haven’t felt this good mentally in a while and it is nice.

Thanks for reading about my weird ass weekend. Have some TFritch 911

DISCUSSION (20)

Captain of the Enterprise > CaptDale - is secretly British
03/26/2019 at 19:07

Hey I’m sorry to hear about you’re friend but am very glad he survived and is getting some help. He has a long way to go but I’m glad he has you as a friend.

CaptDale - is secretly British > Captain of the Enterprise
03/26/2019 at 19:12

Thank you. Yeah I know he has a lot to deal with and work on. I am very very happy he is still here.

SPAMBot - Horse Doctor > CaptDale - is secretly British
03/26/2019 at 19:13

Damn dude, sorry to hear about your friend but glad the hospital is keeping him if he is still not in a good spot. That is great you are in a good headspace, though. Take care of yourself, first and foremost!

I think we need to make a TFritch 911 and Spambot 348 on a lift picture. I’m sure we both have things that need attention in which a lift would come in handy :p

CaptDale - is secretly British > SPAMBot - Horse Doctor
03/26/2019 at 19:21

Come on up here and I know we can make that happen.

Yeah thanks. I am glad he is doing well and feels good to feel good.

SPAMBot - Horse Doctor > CaptDale - is secretly British
03/26/2019 at 19:27

I currently need to replace a CV boot, a sensor, and change the oil. A lift would assist all of that lolol. Just gotta make sure whatever we do can be finished in a weekend :#

LOREM IPSUM > CaptDale - is secretly British
03/26/2019 at 19:31

Sorry to hear about your pal. Hopefully he is able to get into a better headspace. Sounds like he could use some wrench time as well to get his mind off his troubles. Hope he's out and stable soon.

CaptDale - is secretly British > LOREM IPSUM
03/26/2019 at 19:39

Sadly not a car guy. But he will be better eventually.

CaptDale - is secretly British > SPAMBot - Horse Doctor
03/26/2019 at 19:39

More like a Friday night over a few beers. Or a Saturday just gotta make sure the mini TFritches are being looked after.

ST80MND > CaptDale - is secretly British
03/26/2019 at 19:44

That's quite the weekend, good on you for being there for a friend, etiquette lost nowadays. What can you tell us about G8's? They are getting cheap in my parts, and in my oppoinion one of only 3 Pontiac's made since the 60's actually worth time and effort. What are the problems they suffer, and are they as good as I perceive?

SPAMBot - Horse Doctor > CaptDale - is secretly British
03/26/2019 at 19:46

Or just teach them to wrench! Small hands can help with hard to access bolts lmaoooo

It would be a good time though. I still owe you a beer for flaking the other weekend haha

Wrong Wheel Drive (41%) > CaptDale - is secretly British
03/26/2019 at 20:06

I couldnt keep straight which car you were driving for the Nacimento portion, that road is pretty gnarly though. Hopefully this time of the year there at least wasnt much traffic. When I took it while the PCH was closed to the South, it was quite hairy due to the amount of traffic around the blind turns. Made it not very enjoyable to try and hoon in the Miata.

Also, what car is that piece of rear diff from? Doesnt seem important to lose that lol. Feeling real jealous of having some space to casually work on cars though. That is definitely something I am missing in my life. I cant even check my oil at home and seeing as I drive a Subaru, this is a near daily routine!

Looking forward to the Socal Oppo scavenger hunt, hoping you are finding time to work on it. And as always, I am glad to offer help in any way possible for it.

CaptDale - is secretly British > SPAMBot - Horse Doctor
03/26/2019 at 20:15

Sounds good to me

gettingoldercarguy > CaptDale - is secretly British
03/26/2019 at 20:58

Shit, glad you’re handling it well and your friend seems to be well looked after. It is amazing how therapeutic wrenching on a car can be. Hope everything turns out for the best.

SPAMBot - Horse Doctor > CaptDale - is secretly British
03/26/2019 at 22:13

Give me a date and I'm probably in haha

Future Heap Owner > CaptDale - is secretly British
03/26/2019 at 23:28

You’re a good friend. I’m glad your friend can count on you. I hope he is feeling a little better than when he went in, though I know it’s hard to improve much in such a setting.

And thanks for the wrenching writeup! Was the tooth that came outta the rear diff from your friend’s Miata? Is one tooth falling out really not a big deal?

CaptDale - is secretly British > ST80MND
03/27/2019 at 11:31

Yeah they are quite good cars. Really the only issue some people see is with the cylinder deactivation lifters failing. Many delete that. Other than that they really do not have issues other than finding more oddball trim parts. The forums and aftermarket are picking those up as GM stops having stock.

CaptDale - is secretly British > Future Heap Owner
03/27/2019 at 11:36

Thanks. He is a good guy just going through a really rough time.

Yeah plus it is quite small we are going with it is only part of a tooth and not being a particularly powerful car the other teeth can keep up. The tooth that came out was a bit beat up but the gear oil wasn’t particularly shiny so we are hoping there wasn’t too much damage to the rest of the diff. And as the fluid seemed almost original we don’t know how long it has been broken so he is just going to start saving to buy a new one when that time comes.

CaptDale - is secretly British > SPAMBot - Horse Doctor
03/27/2019 at 11:37

Ha ha ok I’ll get with TFritch

CaptDale - is secretly British > gettingoldercarguy
03/27/2019 at 11:37

Thank you

CaptDale - is secretly British > Wrong Wheel Drive (41%)
03/27/2019 at 11:40

My buddy drove his Miata and I was in my GTO.

Yeah that was a chunk out of the rear diff. We aren’t too worried about it tbh.

Yeah looking at some time in fall as per the last update.