At 02:32 PM 5/11/03 -0400, Dennis Haynes wrote:
>So you picked up an "02 beetle at an auction. It is probably bank
>repossession. I can imagine how it was taken care of, especially once
>they new the repo man was coming.

Yep.  Probably right.

>The battery was dead. How did they move it around at the auction? 1.75
>volts indicates one or more open cells. You got it jump started and then
>drove it with an "open" battery. Future electrical failures, here we
>come. Good luck with just replacing the battery. Plan on an alternator
>soon and anything else that resembles electronics.

Arghh.  Wonder if it fried the computers.  Probably huh?  Ship.
What more can I say . . .
At the scene, I thought (as just about anybody would) that it was simply a
discharged battery rather than a truly DEAD battery  . . .
Like I said, "ship."

>Needed fuel so you mixed gasoline and engine oil. I'll bet the fuel
>injection and the engine loved that combo.

Yep, and I would do it again in a heartbeat. In desperate situations you
have to *act* as best you can with *what* you have.  I had nothing, my
man.  Nothing but the brain the good Lord gave me.  I did what I thought I
had to survive and get home alive.  Plus, while driving only about 8 miles
up the road to discover a diesel station open, I never noticed any change
in the sound of the engine and I was very easy on accel.  I've been driving
diesels longer than some of these people have been born. : )

>Good luck with your new toy.
>
>Dennis

Thanks Dennis.  It was supposed to be for my wife.  I got my own toys.

Okay so I screwed up with the whole deal from buying the car to getting it
home?   Bummed out is not the word my man. But I guess only time will
tell.  At least you guys will have a little bit more knowledge based on my
pitfalls and avoidances.  I will be calling you to rebuild all my comps and
electricals.  By giving this advice above you are deemed to accepted that
job in advance.  ; 8