GTI in the shop

[nibot]

It seems the starter solenoid in my GTI has finally kicked the bucket, after one last application of my hilarious jam-bare-copper- against-battery-terminal starting technique. The thing should have happily frolicked and rejoiced with that free-flowing current from a virgin 12.4 volt source, but instead it has died a mournful death, cooked slowly under the exhaust manifold over the last 100,000-some miles. It is a shameful thing—a Volkswagen death due to a honest, verifiable design flaw, in their stepchild Automatic Transmission version of the good old Mark II. Maybe it stands to reason—nobody in Europe would have an AT; hence the cobbled design? The starter has to come out through the bottom, possibly involving removing an axle—patently strange and nothing I could do myself. Anyway, now negotiating with various Rochester mechanics (and envious of the various rec.autos.makers.vw.watercooled gurus who can scrounge up $30 starters). My legal parking expired three hours ago.

In other news, the co-op (or, more specifically, Jon), just bought an arcwelder ($15 from the guy down the street).

Comments

Welding

[(Anonymous)]

GM Welding near MCC is doing my Vespa Engine reworking (alunumum welding!) and I've heard a ton of good reports about them. IF you need welding that is professional, they are worth checking out.