bendingunit23

My car started so I drove to the parts store, found out it opens at 7:30. Walked to a gas station, bought my friday paper with TV guide waited for store to open (3 degrees above freezing). $136 later battery is bought and in my car. Head out to the airport, take convertable out of hanger, put my car in hanger, drive to mechanics.

the convertable was running as good as it seams to, I get to the mechanics, no parking spots. After a quick circle I realize there really isn't any parking spots so I go with the 4X4 only parking on some small boulders wedged next to a dumpster. The convertable makes and odd whine and stalls as I stop. I figure that it (rightly) doesn't like were it's parked. And go in.

After starting poorly and running fine for months. It doesn't want to run for the mechanic to run into the shop. I figure it is some small electrical problem that it (and all) old vw convertables are known for. I help push it in the shop. Wheels get aligned bender looses another $65. Push it out of the shop.

I can't get it to run. The problem has something to do with fuel delivery and the fuel pump relay wasn't at fault. That would have been about the only thing I could fix on the spot with no tools so I start walking back to my tools. Now day time and 5 degrees.

Grab tools, take my car out of hanger (there is a rather annoying security gate involved in this process) drive back to convertable. Test voltages and spray contact cleaner on things and decide that the fuel pump is dying/usefully dead. It's a 'new' part with like 50 km on it and they're a couple hundred dollars new.