Working on a Volkswagen: Part 1
Andrew Stark
2 Comments
Should a ‘96 Volkswagen Golf need a new engine? Well, maybe more than 200,000 kms out of an engine in a low-end car is too much to ask, but I for one am filing this project away in the “fixing what shouldn’t be broke” file.
Luckily, this car isn’t mine. Yet, since I would hate to see a car go to waste, and since it is owned by a good friend of mine, it was my suggestion to him that we replace the engine ourselves. My friend agreed, and that is what Kieran and I will be doing over the next couple of days.
At the present moment we are one specialty tool—a triple-square driver—away from having the old engine out. In the meantime, let’s take a look at this little engine before she gets put where she belongs. The first thing you will notice is that she has pretty much rusted away. You will also notice that she isn’t losing her mass in little flakes, as would be expected, but in large chunks. Personally, I prefer flakey over chunky any day of the week. Still, how unique and increasingly slender she is!
In the following photo, you can see some quality German design. Notice the chicken wire valiantly holding the distributor cap on. What can’t that stuff do?
And here is the old girl in all her glory. Kind of shabby-chic, isn’t she?
Too hard on this little engine? Maybe, but the least she could do is stick around for long enough to blow up in a blaze of glory like a normal engine. That would at least be exciting. I must admit, however, that my opinion of Volkwagen cars has been jaded by my years of service as a glass technician. They are simply a pain for the glass-man.
At any rate, by the end of tommorrow I hope we’ll have her new engine in and running. Then, perhaps, I can develop a more positive opinion of her. Stay tuned for what should be a happy ending to this dramatic story.
And Kieran, sorry for insulting your car, but she was asking for it. I refuse to just sit back and watch my friend be let down like this without saying something. I know, I know. I may have pointed out that speaking badly of a man’s girl is in terrible taste, no matter how badly put together she might seem, since he might be with her for a long time, maybe forever. But I’m talking about cars, here. With cars it’s fine, so long as you’re gonna help him fix her up. And no, it is not okay to insult a man’s girl, even if you are willing to help him fix her up. Shrinks and plastic surgeons be warned.
Related Tags: volkswagen, volkswagen golf, engine, mechanics
Luckily, this car isn’t mine. Yet, since I would hate to see a car go to waste, and since it is owned by a good friend of mine, it was my suggestion to him that we replace the engine ourselves. My friend agreed, and that is what Kieran and I will be doing over the next couple of days.
At the present moment we are one specialty tool—a triple-square driver—away from having the old engine out. In the meantime, let’s take a look at this little engine before she gets put where she belongs. The first thing you will notice is that she has pretty much rusted away. You will also notice that she isn’t losing her mass in little flakes, as would be expected, but in large chunks. Personally, I prefer flakey over chunky any day of the week. Still, how unique and increasingly slender she is!
In the following photo, you can see some quality German design. Notice the chicken wire valiantly holding the distributor cap on. What can’t that stuff do?
And here is the old girl in all her glory. Kind of shabby-chic, isn’t she?
Too hard on this little engine? Maybe, but the least she could do is stick around for long enough to blow up in a blaze of glory like a normal engine. That would at least be exciting. I must admit, however, that my opinion of Volkwagen cars has been jaded by my years of service as a glass technician. They are simply a pain for the glass-man.
At any rate, by the end of tommorrow I hope we’ll have her new engine in and running. Then, perhaps, I can develop a more positive opinion of her. Stay tuned for what should be a happy ending to this dramatic story.
And Kieran, sorry for insulting your car, but she was asking for it. I refuse to just sit back and watch my friend be let down like this without saying something. I know, I know. I may have pointed out that speaking badly of a man’s girl is in terrible taste, no matter how badly put together she might seem, since he might be with her for a long time, maybe forever. But I’m talking about cars, here. With cars it’s fine, so long as you’re gonna help him fix her up. And no, it is not okay to insult a man’s girl, even if you are willing to help him fix her up. Shrinks and plastic surgeons be warned.
Related Tags: volkswagen, volkswagen golf, engine, mechanics
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Reader Comments (2)
Have fun replacing it :D