The continuing Cellar Car saga

Undertoad · 05-18-2011, 12:31 PM

I feel like I have a responsibility to mention when the Cellar Car goes through anything at all. This'll be a thread for it.

Today the update is that J's son and his friend fixed the rear window.

The car was delivered with this issue, where one rear window was faulty and would not go up or down, and would not even close the whole way. There was always an inch of air where the window stopped, and the gap was closed with duct tape. Over the years I had learned to use Scotch's 200 degrees F heat resistant duct tape so that it would last through summer heat without melting.

Well J's lad had nothing to do on Sunday, so I said I would give him a few bucks if he would tear the rear door down and figure out how to push the window up permanently. He's a car guy, so he dug into this task whole-heartedly. And when his buddy came over, they both got into it. Pretty soon they isolated the bad regulator, and proudly ran to the junkyard to find a replacement. An hour and $30 later the whole thing is fixed.

Well that's great! But they ran the battery down whilst doing all this; and in jumping the car to start it, they must have blown the fuse to the stereo, because it's completely dead now. And that's how it inevitably works, you know; I just wanted the lad to put a 2x4 in there and push the window permanently closed, but he wanted to do a more complete job and as a result may have fried the $99 stereo along the way.

But what're ya gawna do? The kid was idle on a Sunday afternoon.

Spexxvet · 05-18-2011, 02:17 PM

Give him points for wanting to deliver more than was asked of him, anyway.

Undertoad · 05-18-2011, 02:33 PM

Yup, when directed at a job he can do, he is relentless at it. He's got that going for him.

sexobon · 05-19-2011, 03:21 AM

It wasn't a fuse in the car's main fuse box; or, a fuse link going to the stereo?

Undertoad · 05-19-2011, 10:37 AM

Fuse wasn't out the main box, I have to pull the whole middle dash to get the thing out to see if it's the fuse on the way in to the thing.

HungLikeJesus · 05-19-2011, 10:44 AM

Have you tried hitting it with a hammer?

jimhelm · 05-19-2011, 11:32 AM

I had to look back to see when we did this. January 09. awesome that it's still kicking!

how many miles on it now?

HungLikeJesus · 05-19-2011, 11:40 AM

Have you tried turning it off and back on again?

Gravdigr · 05-19-2011, 02:03 PM

Idiot list from any troubleshooting section of any manual ever printed:

1. Is the stereo turned on?
2. Do you have speakers?
3. Are the speakers hooked up?
4. Are they real speakers?
5. Is the stereo installed in a manufacturer-approved vehicle?
6. Does this vehicle have an electrical system?
etc, etc.

Undertoad · 05-19-2011, 02:26 PM

182K now

jimhelm · 05-19-2011, 02:33 PM

woot! finally out of the break in period!

I can see it lasting another 100, and you becoming an expert on Nissan maintenance.

I'm having an unbelievably hard time finding a car for a friends kid. He started out wanting one for $3500 and has upped the ante to $6-7k and I STILL can't find anything as nice as that car!

He wants a civic, sentra,corolla with less than 100k, but everything we trade is either 100k plus, or they put 8 grand in them! You could sell that Maxima today for more than I got for. with a quickness.

used car values are all twisted right now, especially imports.

glatt · 05-19-2011, 02:41 PM

The paper today had an article in the business section about how used cars are commanding 30% higher prices than they normally do because the supply is so tight. People simply aren't selling their old cars to buy new ones.

Edit: Found a link to the article. Apparently used car prices are the highest in 16 years.

Undertoad · 05-19-2011, 02:53 PM

I will keep the Car going until it needs a head gasket, I guess.

It does have a light rust issue that must be dealt with soon.

The Craigslist by-Owner section can be interesting. Right now there are a few 1998 Maximas under 3 grand.

HungLikeJesus · 05-19-2011, 04:17 PM

I wonder how much I could get for a 2003 Honda Insight with 60,000 miles. It gets 66 mpg.

I might have to look that up when I get some free time.

BigV · 05-19-2011, 04:21 PM

So harsh. You're such a LAMP-fanboy. Your stereo doesn't work, and OF COURSE it's Windows fault. Typical.

05-18-2011, 12:31 PM	#1
Undertoad Radical Centrist Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Cottage of Prussia Posts: 31,423	The continuing Cellar Car saga I feel like I have a responsibility to mention when the Cellar Car goes through anything at all. This'll be a thread for it. Today the update is that J's son and his friend fixed the rear window. The car was delivered with this issue, where one rear window was faulty and would not go up or down, and would not even close the whole way. There was always an inch of air where the window stopped, and the gap was closed with duct tape. Over the years I had learned to use Scotch's 200 degrees F heat resistant duct tape so that it would last through summer heat without melting. Well J's lad had nothing to do on Sunday, so I said I would give him a few bucks if he would tear the rear door down and figure out how to push the window up permanently. He's a car guy, so he dug into this task whole-heartedly. And when his buddy came over, they both got into it. Pretty soon they isolated the bad regulator, and proudly ran to the junkyard to find a replacement. An hour and $30 later the whole thing is fixed. Well that's great! But they ran the battery down whilst doing all this; and in jumping the car to start it, they must have blown the fuse to the stereo, because it's completely dead now. And that's how it inevitably works, you know; I just wanted the lad to put a 2x4 in there and push the window permanently closed, but he wanted to do a more complete job and as a result may have fried the $99 stereo along the way. But what're ya gawna do? The kid was idle on a Sunday afternoon.

05-18-2011, 02:17 PM	#2
Spexxvet Makes some feel uncomfortable Join Date: Dec 2005 Posts: 10,346	Give him points for wanting to deliver more than was asked of him, anyway. __________________ "I'm certainly free, nay compelled, to spread the gospel of Spex. " - xoxoxoBruce

05-19-2011, 10:44 AM	#6
HungLikeJesus Only looks like a disaster tourist Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: above 7,000 feet Posts: 7,208	Have you tried hitting it with a hammer? __________________ Keep Your Bodies Off My Lawn SteveDallas's Random Thread Picker.

05-19-2011, 11:32 AM	#7
jimhelm a beautiful fool Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: 39.939705 Posts: 4,504	I had to look back to see when we did this. January 09. awesome that it's still kicking! how many miles on it now? __________________ There's a Shadow just behind me. Shrouding every step I take. Making every promise empty, pointing every finger at me. _tool

05-19-2011, 11:40 AM	#8
HungLikeJesus Only looks like a disaster tourist Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: above 7,000 feet Posts: 7,208	Have you tried turning it off and back on again? __________________ Keep Your Bodies Off My Lawn SteveDallas's Random Thread Picker.

05-18-2011, 02:33 PM	#3
Undertoad Radical Centrist Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Cottage of Prussia Posts: 31,423	Yup, when directed at a job he can do, he is relentless at it. He's got that going for him.

05-19-2011, 03:21 AM	#4
sexobon I love it when a plan comes together. Join Date: Oct 2009 Posts: 9,793	It wasn't a fuse in the car's main fuse box; or, a fuse link going to the stereo?

05-19-2011, 10:37 AM	#5
Undertoad Radical Centrist Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Cottage of Prussia Posts: 31,423	Fuse wasn't out the main box, I have to pull the whole middle dash to get the thing out to see if it's the fuse on the way in to the thing.

05-19-2011, 02:03 PM	#9
Gravdigr The Un-Tuckian Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: South Central...KY that is Posts: 39,517	Idiot list from any troubleshooting section of any manual ever printed: 1. Is the stereo turned on? 2. Do you have speakers? 3. Are the speakers hooked up? 4. Are they real speakers? 5. Is the stereo installed in a manufacturer-approved vehicle? 6. Does this vehicle have an electrical system? etc, etc. __________________ These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA, EPA, FBI, DEA, CDC, or FDIC. These statements are not intended to diagnose, cause, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. If you feel you have been harmed/offended by, or, disagree with any of the above statements or images, please feel free to fuck right off.

05-19-2011, 02:26 PM	#10
Undertoad Radical Centrist Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Cottage of Prussia Posts: 31,423	182K now

05-19-2011, 02:33 PM	#11
jimhelm a beautiful fool Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: 39.939705 Posts: 4,504	woot! finally out of the break in period! I can see it lasting another 100, and you becoming an expert on Nissan maintenance. I'm having an unbelievably hard time finding a car for a friends kid. He started out wanting one for $3500 and has upped the ante to $6-7k and I STILL can't find anything as nice as that car! He wants a civic, sentra,corolla with less than 100k, but everything we trade is either 100k plus, or they put 8 grand in them! You could sell that Maxima today for more than I got for. with a quickness. used car values are all twisted right now, especially imports. __________________ There's a Shadow just behind me. Shrouding every step I take. Making every promise empty, pointing every finger at me. _tool

05-19-2011, 02:41 PM	#12
glatt ™ Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Arlington, VA Posts: 27,717	The paper today had an article in the business section about how used cars are commanding 30% higher prices than they normally do because the supply is so tight. People simply aren't selling their old cars to buy new ones. Edit: Found a link to the article. Apparently used car prices are the highest in 16 years. Last edited by glatt; 05-19-2011 at 02:52 PM.

05-19-2011, 02:53 PM	#13
Undertoad Radical Centrist Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Cottage of Prussia Posts: 31,423	I will keep the Car going until it needs a head gasket, I guess. It does have a light rust issue that must be dealt with soon. The Craigslist by-Owner section can be interesting. Right now there are a few 1998 Maximas under 3 grand.

05-19-2011, 04:17 PM	#14
HungLikeJesus Only looks like a disaster tourist Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: above 7,000 feet Posts: 7,208	I wonder how much I could get for a 2003 Honda Insight with 60,000 miles. It gets 66 mpg. I might have to look that up when I get some free time. __________________ Keep Your Bodies Off My Lawn SteveDallas's Random Thread Picker.

05-19-2011, 04:21 PM	#15
BigV Goon Squad Leader Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Seattle Posts: 27,063	So harsh. You're such a LAMP-fanboy. Your stereo doesn't work, and OF COURSE it's Windows fault. Typical. __________________ Be Just and Fear Not.

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