Headlight Trim Ring

We noticed the right headlight trim was cracked the other day. This morning, I noticed something odd about the front of the bus. It look me a minute to notice that the headlight trim was missing. She looks so naked.

$20 replacement. This should at least be an easy part to install.

Discover the Combi Nation

Trying to spruce up the blog image abit today -- hunting down other VW bus blogs -- I stumbled upon a great site. Go surf: Magic Surf Bus. And I don't even surf.

A highlight for you: Discovering the Combi Nation first published in Motorhome Monthly (Sept 1998). This is a fantastic introduction to the mystical qualities of a VW bus. If you see me on the road, wave! I'll wave to you even if you aren't in a bus.

Cost per mile

Before the latest visit to the shop, I told myself that it was OK to spend more on Indy. She's been a fun learning experience already and the worst case scenario would be we'd sell her for a loss and recoup half our costs -- making the cost per mile around $6. I've made costlier mistakes. And best case, she's ours for another 100K miles and provides us with lots of adventure.

Surprisingly, the visit to the shop didn't feel expensive -- I'd prepared myself for worse. And so I ready to run the cost per mile numbers again.

Major expenses since the last report:
Replacement parts
New Battery
New (used) fuel pump
Gas (and that is no longer incidental at $2.5/gallon)
Hand soap
Throw pillows

A back of the napkin estimate says we've driven about 600 miles now. And without bringing up the spreadsheet of expenses (eyeballing the events since the Jan 5th estimate) it appears we may gone beneath the $10/mile milestone.

What about the theoretical minimum... say just gas. At 15 mpg and $2.5/gallon, that's about $0.2/mile. Of course, insurance and registration really ought to be considered part of the theoretical minimum at ~$400/year (?) and our insurance limit of 5000 mpyear means another $0.1/mile. Total: ~$0.3/mile. That's under the government reinbursement amount. Not sure the same can be said for the Hummer (we don't own one -- and won't until one can legally mount a submachine gun in the turret and stilll drive it on the California roads.)

Regrettably, we can't reasonably add in the cost of campgrounds and beach parking and camping gear and road trip snacks to the per mile costs. But given we'll soon have a working laptop (cheaper than the bus) Indy may be getting more short trips to Sunset Cliffs or the OB Pier for "work".

Out of Gas

I drove Indy into work today.

She had a bit of an issue going up the hill out of Mission Valley -- a little bit like sputtering and flooring didn't seem to help. I thought nothing of it while at the same time considered getting gas. But I was a running late and so figured I'd do that on the way home.

I went to Tai Chi after work. And didn't get gas before heading home. Indy didn't want to drive. Down shifting didn't help. Flooring the gas pedal didn't seem to help. But then she'd regain power. I made it onto the freeway but then she really started floundering. I think I made it off the exit ramp at 20mph and a few mad drivers behind me.

"Well," said Bob, "I think I'll pull into the gas station and hope something magic happens." I fill her up just because that's a good thing to do while waiting for the engine to cool. Not knowing what else to do, I try starting her. She powers out of the station without any fluttering. She makes it down the first block, then the second, without wheezing and asking for a break or slowing down without asking permission.

Best guess: out of gas and running on fumes.

She made it home running like a brand new bus.

Home repairs

AutoZone has a really nice "loaner" program. You can "borrow" a tool -- such as a steering wheel puller -- and return it when you are done for a full refund. That's the good news. The bad news is the puller didn't really fit Indy. Luckily the steering wheel basically flew off anyway.

The steering wheel was step #1 of replacing the turn signal switch. The repair manual made it seem simple. However, in the process of tearing the steering wheel apart I decided I wasn't ready for a 5 hour task and the very likely chance it wouldn't work and so I reassembled the existing bit. A picture here would be great but doesn't exist. The steering wheel went back together and still turns the wheels.

The previous owner had done a ducttape repair job on the turn signal switch. Instead of buying a new part, he put his own mechanical switch on the end and messed with the wiring to get it to work. Lots of electrical tape. After my first attempt today, I think 4+ hours and I could have undone his work and installed the new one. But I needed a simpler task.

Like... replacing the glove box. We had one of those horrible cardboard ones. I had a plastic replacement waiting for 6 months. I put in the new one. The only problem was a stripped screw holding the dash in place and I needed another 1/2 inch in order to fasten the glove box into place. I went to a longer screw. it should hold. And I need to remember to connect a few loose wires.

End result -- 3 hours in the sun, clean carpets, new glove box, and confidence that I can get the steering wheel off again someday. Now, do I return the SWP now or soon. But first, how about a trip to the dog park!

One step forward

After 4+ months of inactivity and a bus that wouldn't start, Indy lives . I finally realized I wouldn't be able to jump start her or wish her back into health so she went down to Rich's Auto Repair. She needed a fuel pump replacement.

Now she just needs a bath.