My 914 is a parking lot punching bag...

kevinseven · 05-09-2002, 03:04 PM

For the fourth time in under 2 months, my 1975 has been backed into in my office parking lot. Only two of the four idiots have bothered to stop and claim responsibility. Just yesterday I went to a body shop and got an estimate for restoring the whole car (plus adding a GT kit) but now I don't know if I should.

I've tried all sorts of different parking spaces and it just doesn't seem to matter. What I need are some orange cones that are about six feet high and packed with some kind of shaped charge. Or one of those proximity alarms tied in with a 200 dB siren that blows the glass out of any car that gets more than three feet away.

But enough ranting. There is a question in here somewhere.

Just after noticing my newest crunched left front fender, I hopped into the car to go rescue a freind with a dead battery. BTW...I first had to pull the bent fender out of my tire before I could drive. On my way down the street I noticed my Generator light was on and I had no turn signals. If I hit the brake pedal then my gas guage would bottom out and the gen light would get brighter. One of my fuses keeps blowing. My cover is pretty mangled so I can't tell which one but I think it is the one for the turn signals, lighter, etc...

Could the impact have shorted out my turn signal circuit? The side marker is intact... the fender isn't but the lense is fine. My Hanes is at home and without any brake lights I can't get there. Anybody with a suggestion woul dhave my thanks.

kevin
1975 914
atlanta, ga

ejm914 · 05-09-2002, 03:57 PM

Kevin- Generally the gen light, brake lights and turn signals are on the same fuse. Can't seem to find a diagram for a '75. It's fuse #9 (from the left) on a '74, my '76 owners manual shows it as #8. Does the fuse blow right away or is it related to turning something on? If it blows when you turn on the left signal check the l/f bulb closely. Its not uncommon for an impact to break the filament and result in the bulb shorting internally.

kevinseven · 05-09-2002, 04:29 PM

It probably blows the moment I start flicking swtiches. I guess I swallow my disgust and get my butt outside and do some trouble shooting. I'll start by pulling the side marker off and checking the bulb.

Thanks.

kevinseven · 05-09-2002, 05:01 PM

It blows when I activate the left turn signal. It blows when the bulbs are removed and I activate the left turn signal. Hmmm.

I didn't seem to blow when I used the brakes or ran the lights but I might not have run it very long. Maybe it's in the switch and the fender damage is just a coincidence.

red-beard · red-beard's Garage

I seriously think you have a shorted wire under the fender...

James

Dave at Pelican Parts · Dave at Pelican Parts's Garage

I agree with Red-Beard.

--DD

(PS-- what's a Pirate's favorite letter?? That's right--"AAARRRRRR!!!!")

David Bahr · 05-16-2002, 02:22 PM

Kevin -

I carry zero deductible on my comprehensive insurance. That way, deer, cracked windshields, vandalism, hailstorms and people backing into my car all cost me $0. Here in the Midwest the cost delta is less than $10 every six months. Call your agent...

kevinseven · 05-16-2002, 02:38 PM

I guess I suffer from the paranoia that the moment I make a $600 claim for some smashed fender, I'll lose my State Farm Accident Free Driver discount of $92 a year. And suddenly my rates will go up $200. And with my $100 deductible, getting that $500 from my insurance company is going to cost me $3000 over the next 10 years.

Unless, of course I keep getting hit in parking lots every few weeks. Then they'll just drop me and I'll end up with some crappy company that wants $1,800 a year because I'm such a bad risk.

Talk about AARRRRR!

Mockmaw · Mockmaw's Garage

A difference of $10? I'll take a venture and say driving children aren't involved in that price?

kevinseven · 05-16-2002, 02:40 PM

I told my 5 year old that the legal driving age in Georgia was 21.

I wonder how long I can keep him in the dark?

red-beard · red-beard's Garage

In California - Both parents have to sign off for a child to get a driving permit. You could just about hold your child to that....

James

(Arrrrrrrr - Indeed!)

Yo ho ho and a bottle of rum!

David Bahr · 05-22-2002, 07:18 AM

Mockmaw -
True, single, 30+ in age, no kids, pretty clean record. But the difference in premium to get that zero comprehensive deductible makes me a lot happier when I have to park the car wherever!

bmw4ricky · bmw4ricky's Garage

People must hate you to hit your car that much, but they do have alarms that will vibrate the wireless door lock thing so u can run out and catch em, thats what'd I'd do, and get a bat or crow bar