Is it cursed... or not?
#1
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Is it cursed... or not?
I've been thinking about the white curse. Maybe I'm tempting fate, but here goes.
The car went through 2 transmissions in 150k, rear ending a rather solid Cadillac, and a lifter grinding itself to death to the point that the oil had more sparkle than Elizabeth Taylor. But it'* never left me stranded.
When the tranny died the first time, it let go on my way back to college a week early from winter break. I was in to hurry. And a cop showed up within just a minute, shortly followed by a random flatbed tow truck. It wouldn't move at all. But when it cooled down (didn't take very long as it was -5 deg), it would move just fine and I drove it onto the truck. When the rebuilder opened up the diff, it literally fell apart. The pin had been snapped and nothing was holding the spider gears in place. He said it should have been locked in place, but I'd been driving it for a few months with a weird clicking every time I turned. The dang thing just refused to give up. My parents' 92 Olds 88 was a willing surregate for transportation to fill my H-body need while it was in the shop.
Then I rear ended a Cadillac a year and a half later. Obliterated the front clip, pushed the radiator back to just touch the front EM. Didn't pop any leaks or anything. I drove it across town to my place followed by the cop just incase. Then I drove it for 25 minutes even further back across town to the shop. When it was all said and done, I had $1000 left from insurance because somebody on eBay just happened to be selling a complete front clip from a matching white 93, bumper, headlights, grill and hood, for super cheap and shipped it straight to the shop. I was at college, and didn't need to drive anywhere.
And when the tranny went again, it still refused to just quit. Slipping and shuddering for a year before 4th finally went away. And I could still drife it home, and then to the shop. This time, grandma'* 89 Olds 98 filled the need.
Most recently, it started cannibalizing rotating parts. It kept on chugging for weeks despite abysmal oil pressure and a lifter roller that shouldn't have been rolling. It never complained, except for a pretty good lifter tick. And my neighbor happens to work with me, so he took me to work for a couple days after I yanked the engine.
And even a couple weeks ago with the coolant leak, it showed up at home, where I had enough coolant to tide it over until I could take a little time to fix it the following day.
Lets not forget the crank sensor that got tired of life. It was intermittant and never fully quit. Drove 45 miles each way to work for a week like that until the new sensor arrived.
And the alternator went two years ago. I drove 30 minutes in the opposite direction from home with the VOLT light on before I decided to stop and call my dad, who happened to be on his way out the door to head in my direction for work I asked him to grab the spare alternator from the shelf next to his car. He basically tossed it to me on his way by from his window. I had all the tools I needed in the trunk.
Maybe I'm asking for a catastrophic failure, like a wheel falling off, but this thing just refuses to stop moving.
The car went through 2 transmissions in 150k, rear ending a rather solid Cadillac, and a lifter grinding itself to death to the point that the oil had more sparkle than Elizabeth Taylor. But it'* never left me stranded.
When the tranny died the first time, it let go on my way back to college a week early from winter break. I was in to hurry. And a cop showed up within just a minute, shortly followed by a random flatbed tow truck. It wouldn't move at all. But when it cooled down (didn't take very long as it was -5 deg), it would move just fine and I drove it onto the truck. When the rebuilder opened up the diff, it literally fell apart. The pin had been snapped and nothing was holding the spider gears in place. He said it should have been locked in place, but I'd been driving it for a few months with a weird clicking every time I turned. The dang thing just refused to give up. My parents' 92 Olds 88 was a willing surregate for transportation to fill my H-body need while it was in the shop.
Then I rear ended a Cadillac a year and a half later. Obliterated the front clip, pushed the radiator back to just touch the front EM. Didn't pop any leaks or anything. I drove it across town to my place followed by the cop just incase. Then I drove it for 25 minutes even further back across town to the shop. When it was all said and done, I had $1000 left from insurance because somebody on eBay just happened to be selling a complete front clip from a matching white 93, bumper, headlights, grill and hood, for super cheap and shipped it straight to the shop. I was at college, and didn't need to drive anywhere.
And when the tranny went again, it still refused to just quit. Slipping and shuddering for a year before 4th finally went away. And I could still drife it home, and then to the shop. This time, grandma'* 89 Olds 98 filled the need.
Most recently, it started cannibalizing rotating parts. It kept on chugging for weeks despite abysmal oil pressure and a lifter roller that shouldn't have been rolling. It never complained, except for a pretty good lifter tick. And my neighbor happens to work with me, so he took me to work for a couple days after I yanked the engine.
And even a couple weeks ago with the coolant leak, it showed up at home, where I had enough coolant to tide it over until I could take a little time to fix it the following day.
Lets not forget the crank sensor that got tired of life. It was intermittant and never fully quit. Drove 45 miles each way to work for a week like that until the new sensor arrived.
And the alternator went two years ago. I drove 30 minutes in the opposite direction from home with the VOLT light on before I decided to stop and call my dad, who happened to be on his way out the door to head in my direction for work I asked him to grab the spare alternator from the shelf next to his car. He basically tossed it to me on his way by from his window. I had all the tools I needed in the trunk.
Maybe I'm asking for a catastrophic failure, like a wheel falling off, but this thing just refuses to stop moving.
#3
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My tranny seems the same way. It just won't give up. It keeps shuddering, no slipping thank god, but the TCCs are gone. It kinda pisses me off knowing that some day I'll have to replace it, but I'll come around it and hopefully it'll happen at a time when I'm financially fit. Anywho, yeah, sounds like the white curse is alive in your car.
#4
DINOSAURUS BOOSTUS
Expert Gearhead
Our cars are durable. They simply will run and try with nearly every sensor unhooked, problems galore...etc.
Cept when a FI power wire breaks..lol.
Cept when a FI power wire breaks..lol.
#5
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Re: Is it cursed... or not?
Originally Posted by J Wikoff
a lifter grinding itself to death to the point that the oil had more sparkle than Elizabeth Taylor.
You must be old enought to remember her when she really had the sparkle. Makes a lot of the sexy wanabees look like the trash they are.
Also it made my morning.
Hang in there our cars are solid and dependable no matter what seems to break.
#7
Originally Posted by roadtech195
Just paint it green and you will be fine. not only will all your problems go away but your car will gain 35whp
#8
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Originally Posted by sqela
Originally Posted by roadtech195
Just paint it green and you will be fine. not only will all your problems go away but your car will gain 35whp
#10
I don't believe in the white curse. It'* a myth. I will prove it if I ever manage to acquire a white 97-99 Bonneville. Wait a second....... There'* a novel idea. Someone contact Myth Busters and have them test the White Curse myth!