Ohhhhhhhh I am soooo excited! After more then a month in a Dutch garage, shitloads off issues with the engine and the doors, not being allowed on the road and a few warning letters. It is time to reunite. I missed my home and look forward to new adVINtures.
The issues
The annual inspection had to be done in April. The Portugese garage charged me a fortune and let me leave with more damage then before. The Dutch garage showed me what happened with the doors, the reasons why they didn't open/close we simple. They literally screwed up. Screws on places to keep the cables and locking system together, broken parts, a slide chain that was attached upside down and a broken steel cable tinkered together with a terminal block. Totally fucked up and unable to repair. The other doors that were placed back had damage too, one of them had no steel wires attached anymore. Fucking hilarious right?
What about that smoking engine? It had to be replaced by a new one. Well, first the turbo's were checked. They were ok. After analyzing the 4 injectors, it was clear. 2 of them, were totally fucked, the other 2 were hardly doing the job. Did the local mechanic last month did a proper job? He told me he checked the injectors when he chip tuned the car. I guess the meaning of the word 'checked' can be interpreted broadly. I do check out some nice women now and then, but I don't take any action most of the time. I guess the same situation happened with this guy...he checked the injectors, he didn't like them and that's it. But he did check them :)
Vin is happy to spray his Diesel again. It probably feels like his gallstones have been removed. The fuel filter has also been renewed. Vin is clean now and he quit smoking.
Diesel Power
So I turn on my multi media system. With a new smartphone the Carlink finally works. Tune into 'The Prodigy'...song 'Diesel Power'. Let it roar! Oops, I forgot to mention. The car went through the annual inspection for this year, but... The steering box is worn. The right front wheel has considerable play and therefore the VIN vibrates considerably while driving. And these are no good vibrations. It needs to be fixed in a few weeks. Another full day of labour and another attack on my budget.
Don't worry, be happy. I have my mobile home back. So, I am ready to sleep in a nice bed again tonight instead of crashing on couches everywhere. It was a short moment of happiness. First I missed a part of my 'luxury' dining table, Vin is lost without his pole. And besides that, there is no power anymore. Nothing inside works, solar panel doesn't charge and I can't make any Bluetooth connection with the battery charger. I guess the 2nd battery is dead. Funny, because another couple that picked up their camper van at the same time, discovered that their battery was dead as well. Did lightning struck when our 2 camper vans were cuddling outside last night?
Karma and the right type of network
How the f*ck is it possible, that almost every time I visit a garage, some new issue pops up afterwards?! Is this bad karma? Yesterday I applied for a temporary well paid job, today I got the 'news'. They didn't chose me, because I didn't had the right technical network. Isn't that hilarious?? I have exactly the same feeling when I look at my experience with technicians, that try to fix my cars and other stuff.
The van story continues, another episode...the other Vin Diesel likes to show up in new episodes of the Fast and the Furious. I am feeling more and more furious, that's for sure.
Don't forget, just keep on smiling 😀