Re: P.O.S....

[dmiller@iea.com (Doug Miller)]

Al,

You and I clearly were born in the same phase of the moon, or whatever
cockamamie scheme the astrologists use.  I have been working on my own
vehicles for years - even the new ones.  Yet, every time I try something
remotely critical things go to hades in a hurry.  A perfect example from
THIS MORNING:

My wife and I were on vacation in Palm Springs all week. She flew down, and
I'd driven the Quattro down the week prior.  The upgrade bulbs for the A6's
fog and low beams arrived in time for my departure, but the high beams
arrived late and I asked her to bring them down for me.

So this morning we are leaving the hotel and its 4am.  I decide to quickly
install the high beams as its dark and I want to see how they work out.  I
pop the hood, pull the left bulb out in about 1 minute flat.  Trying to get
the new 100w bulb in, I quickly realize there is not enough space to get my
hand in there for leverage to pop it in place.  10 minutes of sweating and
struggling, poking and gashing my hand on the headlamp opening and I give
up when I feel my finger touch the bulb and have to pull it out for
cleaning.  Then I realize the job won't be any easier to get the old one
in.  24 minutes later I finally get it clipped in place as my penlight
batteries gasp their last.  Pissed and now borderline late for getting my
wife to her flight, I reflect on what it is that makes these things happen
to me.

I hope your engine work goes surprisingly smoothly. Just know you are not
the only one these things happen to.

Doug Miller
dmiller@iea.com
97A6Q Wagon, 93 LandCruiser w/diff locks (and well used skidplates), 71
LeMans Sport V8 Convertible. Cannondale Super V 900 Comp.