Labor Pains

After 52 days of incubation I had my first labor pain today. Steven from New State Corporation called to say my front lip spoiler had arrived and they would ship it out to me today, or Monday at the latest. If I get lucky it may be here by the end of next week. Stoked. Now to see how much it will cost to get it painted.

Called and set up a date to get the 15K service next Thursday, but forgot to ask how much they want for that. The 7,500 check was $72.13, does that mean, twice the mileage, twice the price. They are basically the same except in the 15K they clean the air filter and they inspect the freon in the AC.

Comet Gestation Counter: 52 days

I Hope This Works Out

Tomorrow I’m going to call and set up the 15K service and mention about the clutch shudder and the TSB that covers it. It has done shuddered the last two mornings, not as bad as Tuesday, but more annoying than recent weeks. It used to be just mornings, but now it has been showing up in the afternoon too on the way home from work, so it is getting worse. From anecdotal reporting I’ve seen on Miata.net this latest bulletin which entails swapping just the clutch disc seems to do the trick.

Don’t worry, I’ll keep you posted.

Comet Gestation Counter: 51 days

699

Thanks Barry Bonds. While trying to watch my favorite losers, the Red Sox, on ESPN tonight I had the game interrupted 5 times to watch you attempt to hit a home run. I’m sure 700 is a milestone for you, but the rest of us really don’t give a damn. At 715 and then again at 756, if you get there, maybe, but until then leave the nations airways alone.

Ticky Ticky Ticky Ticky Ticky Ticky

There used to be a slight ticking sound that was coming from over on the passenger side. We could make it go away by moving the seat forward and leaning it back or pushing it back and leaning it forward or something. This last time I vacuumed the car I didn’t get it right because the ticking returned. No manner of adjusting has eliminated it. It doesn’t feel loose in any way. Smacking it hard while stationary doesn’t make the noise.

This Sunday while returning from the gap and Donna driving, I did a little troubleshooting and discovered where the noise is coming from. I think it is the seatbelt hitting the side of the seat. It stops whenever you lift the seatbelt up off your shoulder. If you look at the seat there is a slight black smudge on the tan leather where the seatbelt is rubbing. I say I think, because I am 6 foot and Donna is 5′-2″ so the location of the belt is drastically different for each of us, yet the ticking is there for both of us. Also the driver’s side is silent for either of us and that same black mark is present on that seat as well.

My first thought for a solution is a small strip of the fuzzy side of Velcro (in tan) glued to the spot on the seat. Anybody else got a different idea?

Comet Gestation Counter: 50 days

15,000 Miles

Sometime during the 5th run through of Deal’s Gap this past weekend the car turned over 15K. One of the other couples we were with had their 2002 Miata reach that milestone a few days before the trip. I got there at least a year quicker than they did, but to be fair our car is the Family Truckster and theirs is a weekend fun toy. I guess I’ll schedule a maintenance stop at Rader for next week. I’ll give them one more shot, but three strikes and they’re out.

The clutch shudder was very noticeable this morning backing out of the garage, so much so it was audible. As usual it is almost completely gone by about the 3 mile mark of the 6 mile trip to work. If it does it like that 2 or 3 mornings more before the service next week, I may just say something.

Comet Gestation Counter: 49 days

Perfect Timing

Vanilla Ice comes to Augusta, GA to play a concert this Saturday. The assault weapons ban has expired. And as if that wasn’t enough to convince me, he is playing at a place called “Last Call.” Coincidence? I think not. Some one or thing is trying to tell me something.

If he is not stopped here, he is off to Germany and we don’t need a repeat of the David Hasselhoff incident now do we?

Back Home II

As promised, the lowlights:

  • Friday Morning: Spray painted graffiti on Georgia’s Stonhenge.
  • Friday Mid-day: Road construction in Clarksville, GA kicking up clouds of dust that settle on our cars as we eat lunch.
  • Friday Night: The mostly crummy meal served for dinner at The Sweet Magnolia Caf? in Robbinsville.
  • Saturday Early Morning: The continental breakfast at the Microtel.
  • Saturday Mid-Day: The freakin’ traffic in Gatlingburg, TN.
  • Saturday Afternoon: Some members of our group holding up a rice rocket longer than they needed to while transiting the Gap.
  • Saturday Night: Driving 49.7 miles on the Cherohala Skyway to dinner in Townsend, TN (although to be fair this can also be listed as a highlight.)
  • Sunday Morning: A crowded drive with straight piped Harley cruisers and old folks on the way to church through Maggie Valley on Hwy 19/74.
  • Sunday Mid-day: Meeting my sister and her husband at their Asheville hotel to find out they just got water restored after the flooding from T.S. Frances.
  • Sunday Afternoon: The drive home always seems so long…

Comet Gestation Counter: 48 days