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Title: I'm cursed! Stay away! Post by Drk^Angel on Feb 24th, 2006, 1:53pm I'm pretty sure I'm cursed. Started about a week ago... Get in my car to go to work, turn the key and... Click, click, click... Battery dead. Wife calls sis-in-law... Try to jump start my car, and her car dies... Drained battery... She gets a jump from AAA and gives me a ride to work... Half an hour late. Get call from wife a few hours later... Sis-in-law can't pick me up from work, because she has a flat tire... At lunch, a co-worker says they'll give me a ride... At the end of the day, she gets fired... Luckily she still gave me a ride, and I don't find out that she's been fired 'til the next day. Next day... Get car jumped, and go to work. Buy battery before going home... Try to install battery, and find it doesn't fit quite right, but get it rigged up and working... Get in car to go to store about 26 hours later... Battery dead... Obviously a battery drain somewhere. Next day... Try to find battery drain with no luck... Best day of the past week. Next day... All Hell breaks loose (unrelated to the vehicle)... Worse day. Miss work that night. Fast forward to today... I've been jumping my car with a portable power station for the past few days because the battery won't charge... Suspecting alternator problems... This morning, driving home, notice the voltage reading on the dash was falling (I was hoping it was because of low idle at the stop light)... Get going, the voltage continues to drop, and the digital dash starts going dark... Oh shit... Okay, I'm in the right lane of a buzy highway, with a nearly dead electrical system getting ready to stall. Fairly wide shoulder on the right, but no businesses or other parking lots off the highway. Mall on the left. Do I risk stalling halfway through the left lane heading for the turn lane, just to get off the highway? Hell yes... Made it to the left turn lane, slowing down to stop at the light... Stall... Light turns green, and I let off the brake in neutral, lean out the door, and push as well as I could with my foot... I start rolling... Turn left begging for the light to stay green, and surprise... It does! I made it to the parking lot. Of course, couldn't even get it started again... Two hours later, my van is rolling off the back of a flatbed tow truck in front of my house. I'm cursed, so everyone should just stay away from me... Prolly dangerous to even talk to me for a while... In fact, you prolly shouldn't even be reading this... Go away... Quick! Before it's to late! PFDAN.................................... Drk^Angel |
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Title: Re: I'm cursed! Stay away! Post by zwibbs/Scott on Feb 24th, 2006, 2:00pm DARK, THAT SOUNDS LIKE MY DAY !!!--It sound like it is the alternator for sure....They aren't that hard to get out. If you can bring it to an auto parts store and they'll take money off of the price of a new or rebuilt one. Have a Much BETTER WEEKEND.... |
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Title: Re: I'm cursed! Stay away! Post by tanner on Feb 24th, 2006, 2:06pm Dark, I refuse to stay away!! I need to live dangerously just now ;;D crossin my fingers and toes........tim |
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Title: Re: I'm cursed! Stay away! Post by karma on Feb 24th, 2006, 2:59pm D^A Just finished a two day emergency repair on a 2,000 ton barge or so I thought, Started pumping water back out and guess what. Its leaking. Gotta deal with whats given you bud. ;) |
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Title: Re: I'm cursed! Stay away! Post by Guiseppi on Feb 24th, 2006, 3:05pm Ya gotta love those days when the dark cloud envelopes your every waking minute!! Like a kip 10.....they eventually pass, but they do take it outta you while they're around!!! Good luck, sending you some happy good luck vibes! Guiseppi |
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Title: Re: I'm cursed! Stay away! Post by Karla on Feb 24th, 2006, 3:45pm That kept happening to my kids car. The battery kept draining and dieing. He kept buying new batteries and getting jumped all the time. Alternator hu? I will have to let him know. I will pray that things get better for you quickly. I know how it is no fun when things are just not going right. |
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Title: Re: I'm cursed! Stay away! Post by echo on Feb 24th, 2006, 3:55pm Damnit Drk! My fu**ing car better start when I get ready to go home for the weekend. |
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Title: Re: I'm cursed! Stay away! Post by zwibbs/Scott on Feb 24th, 2006, 5:03pm Remember what I said----" It is absatively--posalutely the Aletrnator"-----I own a moderate sized Trucking Company, and have been there and done that ! |
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Title: Re: I'm cursed! Stay away! Post by Melissa on Feb 24th, 2006, 5:06pm Yup, da alternator. ;) Sorry Drk, you sound like my best friends life lately. During the c-section of her baby, the surgeon screwed up her bladder, so she had to go back in for corrective surgery 3 weeks later. Well, turns out she ended up with an infection, her husbands transmission on his truck went, so he took her Blazer and ended up hitting a deer the same day. Spurts happen, reminds me of when my blazer caught on fire. It's like everything snowballs after that. :-/ It'll iron out eventually. ;) hugs, :)mel |
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Title: Re: I'm cursed! Stay away! Post by TomM on Feb 24th, 2006, 5:28pm Damit Drk. My monitor is flickering... ;;D TomM |
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Title: Re: I'm cursed! Stay away! Post by Dragnlance on Feb 24th, 2006, 5:37pm ummmmmm.... do two negatives make a positive? I hope so, since my week has been the same.... Dragn |
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Title: Re: I'm cursed! Stay away! Post by Cerberus on Feb 24th, 2006, 7:06pm Hell week for us all it seems... Albeit my troubles seem contrite in comparison, however its always a wonderfull feeling to suddenly find out that directly after lunch for 2000 high school kids, you have to serve a complete "sit down" meal for 400 senior citizens... (who, btw will be pissed if there is no coffee ready when they start arriving) ya, late start day and not even the principal of the school caught it. I did about a week before hand and was more or less prepared as a result... thanks to myself. Anyhow... I gotta ask Drk; HOW IN HADES DID IT TAKE YOU A WEEK TO FIGURE OUT THAT IT WAS THE ALTERNATOR?!???! !!? Ok... not funny... I'm done now. :) 'Bus |
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Title: Re: I'm cursed! Stay away! Post by Drk^Angel on Feb 25th, 2006, 8:48am I had started to figure it was the alternator when the battery wouldn't charge...Before that, didn't figure the alternator, because I've never had an alternator cause a parasitic drain like that... Then I was hoping it'd make it 'til my next day off, so I could replace it... I know... Stupid idea, but that van is my only reliable way of gettin' back and forth to werk... For about half an hour today, I thought I was gonna have to buy a bicycle after werk to ride home... 10 miles... On a cold, windy day... Luckily I was able to get a ride at the last minute. PFDAN................................................... Drk^Angel |
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Title: Re: I'm cursed! Stay away! Post by FramCire on Feb 25th, 2006, 10:10am It could have been a dead short. While the alternator is the more likely culprit, I had a dead short that acted a lot like that. The good news for me was that a small piece of electrical tape solved my problem. |
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Title: Re: I'm cursed! Stay away! Post by burnt-toast on Feb 25th, 2006, 10:40am D^A A former boss, mentor and dare I say friend, had a saying for times when things appeared to be falling apart. "This too shall pass. What are our plans for when it does?" Keep plowing forward, we're all cursed in some way or form. The trick is to keep moving past were we are and remain focused on where we choose to be. No one is going to stay away. What you're currently going through can't rub off on folks. Do something to help you establish a more positive frame of mind and keep looking ahead. Best Wishes Tom |
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Title: Re: I'm cursed! Stay away! Post by Linda_Howell on Feb 25th, 2006, 11:29am You're not cursed Drk. You just need to get you a FORD. ;;D Linda |
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Title: Re: I'm cursed! Stay away! Post by Drk^Angel on Feb 25th, 2006, 11:32am Well... I hope it's not a short... Because I really don't feel like searching all the cable runs and wiring harnesses in my van (Is it really necessary to have so many electronics in a vehicle???). If the alternator was pulling power, it should be pretty easy to test for it once I pull the wires from the alternator tomorrow. PFDAN..................................... Drk^Angel P.S. It does to rub off... Just look at what happened to my sis-in-law and co-worker... DA |
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Title: Re: I'm cursed! Stay away! Post by Jonny on Feb 25th, 2006, 11:48am on 02/25/06 at 11:32:43, Drk^Angel wrote:
Just pull the positive cable off the battery while its running, if the alternator is good the van should keep running. Thats if these computer vehicals work anything like cars in the old days....LOL...I dont even screw with cars today, all my trucks and cars go to the shop. Good luck, Dude! |
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Title: Re: I'm cursed! Stay away! Post by burnt-toast on Feb 25th, 2006, 12:20pm Jonny's given you the easiest test for alternator functionality in regards to providing electrical power sufficient for running the vehicle. A volt/olm meter should be used to verify that the alternator is producing sufficient volts to power the vehicle and charge the battery. A good book for your vehicle will provide the specs. and walk you through the basic testing procedures. Most alternators have internal voltage regulators these days but there are still vehicles with external regulators - could save you a lot of money if you happen to own one. A repair manual based on complete tear down and rebuild of a specific make/model is the first thing I buy after purchasing a vehicle. Tom |
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Title: Re: I'm cursed! Stay away! Post by Drk^Angel on Feb 26th, 2006, 11:02am When I tried to run the car without a battery attached, it ran... Sort of... Kinda sputtered and spat, and the damn digital dash was all screwy... Then it died. Then again... I haven't tried it since I completely lost power and stalled a few days ago... All's I know... If AutoZone tells me that the alternator is good, I doubt that I'll believe them. Of course, first I should take the damned thing off that overweight paperweight sittin' in front of my house... LOL PFDAN................................ Drk^Angel |
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Title: Re: I'm cursed! Stay away! Post by TomM on Feb 26th, 2006, 11:27am on 02/25/06 at 10:40:25, burnt-toast wrote:
I prefer: "Like gas, this too shall pass." TomM |
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Title: Re: I'm cursed! Stay away! Post by Cerberus on Feb 26th, 2006, 12:23pm Quote:
Little surprises me anymore... But I STILL can't believe anyone said this. ::) FORD sux! 'Bus P.S. if you take your van to Advance Auto Parts they will run a diagnostic from the ODBC Data Port under the dash... and tell you exactly what the problem is, IF.... big IF there are any Trouble codes to read. |
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Title: Re: I'm cursed! Stay away! Post by Drk^Angel on Feb 26th, 2006, 12:30pm Welp... The van ain't movin'... Plus, without power, any stored codes there may have been have prolly been purged. BTW... Dunno if this is important... But the van is a Ford. PFDAN....................................... Drk^Angel P.S. All cars sux... Ford parts just cost less when they need replaced... At least in my experience so far. DA |
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Title: Re: I'm cursed! Stay away! Post by sandie99 on Feb 26th, 2006, 12:34pm You're not cursed. I hope lots of better days your direction next week! :) Wishes, Sanna |
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Title: Re: I'm cursed! Stay away! Post by Sandy_C on Feb 26th, 2006, 2:51pm Too late! We've read the thread! :-/ If all our cars poop out on us in the next few days - HE IS CURSED!!! :o ;;D Seriously, hope you can get it worked out. Sandy |
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Title: Re: I'm cursed! Stay away! Post by lilboo on Feb 26th, 2006, 7:04pm Hi, I used to own FORDs but not anymore. I learned that spelled backwards it stands for Driver Returns On Foot ;;D |
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Title: Re: I'm cursed! Stay away! Post by Drk^Angel on Feb 27th, 2006, 12:14am Welp... Couldn't get the damn alternator off today... Bought a cheap little tool kit, because my cheap big tool kit got stolen, and I needed a 13mm socket... Already broke the 13mm socket, so tomorrow I'll have to take it back... I'll just return it when I return the battery... Hopefully I'll be able to get a deep well socket set with a 13mm socket for only a little more than the cheap kit. At least I know what size I need now, so I can look for it... LOL PFDAN...................................... Drk^Angel |
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Title: Re: I'm cursed! Stay away! Post by AussieBrian on Feb 27th, 2006, 12:52am Fix Or Repair Daily Found On Rubbish Dumps And if you can't afford a Dodge, dodge a Ford. |
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Title: Re: I'm cursed! Stay away! Post by karma on Feb 27th, 2006, 5:58am Quote:
F irst On Race Day |
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Title: Re: I'm cursed! Stay away! Post by Drk^Angel on Feb 27th, 2006, 6:49am Damn I wish parts on a production vehicle was as easy to change as on a NASCAR vehicle... Of course... I also wish I had a pit crew to do the repairs for me. PFDAN................................... Drk^Angel |
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Title: Re: I'm cursed! Stay away! Post by chewy on Feb 27th, 2006, 7:13am Quote:
Just got a blue screen. |
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Title: Re: I'm cursed! Stay away! Post by blood_Redd_son on Feb 27th, 2006, 9:15am if you're cursed, laugh it out. that's wat works 4 me! :3 |
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Title: Re: I'm cursed! Stay away! Post by Drk^Angel on Feb 27th, 2006, 1:04pm I got the old alternator off! W00H00!!! Tested at Advance Auto Parts... Yep... It's dead... Got a reman... Took it home and installed it, along with a brand new battery. Checked, and the drain was gone, so I got everything back into running order... Hopped in the van, and turn the key... We have power... Turn the ignition, and it starts! W00H00!!! Making wierd noise, so I turn it off, check the belts, and everything I could see, and didn't find anything wrong... Hopped back in the van, turn the ignition and... Click... Just a single, solidary click... Let go of the key, and have lights, digital dash, all power... 12.5 volts at the battery... But every time I try to start it, just one little relay click. I know... "Sounds like the starter." I'll do some testing once I get some sleep... I'm exhausted. Alternator... $100, Battery... $60, Accesories... $20, Finding out you'll prolly have to buy yet another part to get the rust bucket running... Priceless. PFDAN................................... Drk^Angel |
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Title: Re: I'm cursed! Stay away! Post by Ghost on Feb 27th, 2006, 1:12pm So I am guessing the curse still aint lifted? ;) :o 8) |
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Title: Re: I'm cursed! Stay away! Post by Opus on Feb 27th, 2006, 1:38pm Sounds like the starter gear didn't release. Try whacking it with a hammer and see if that helps. If it does at least you can drive it to the parts store. A bad connection will chatter the relay. I have been down the old, change alternator, then battery, then starter road before. Have a bad part puts a strain on everything else. Hope the starter bolts are well lubed by oil leaks. Opus/Paul |
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Title: Re: I'm cursed! Stay away! Post by ..Danielle.. on Feb 27th, 2006, 2:08pm 20 years driving, 3 cars, 7 alternator replacements. Datsun, Chev and Ford. This added to the multiple tire repairs ( at least 25, no exaggeration, the mechanic kept a jar of the stuff he took out of just my tires, the last ones were due to porcupine quills), a couple of starters, and all the usual stuff. Add this to the fact that my husband works away, and I'm left to figure out whats wrong and try to fix it. Now that I can almost afford a mechanic, he loves when I walk through the door........ I understand your curse Danielle |
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Title: Re: I'm cursed! Stay away! Post by Drk^Angel on Feb 27th, 2006, 4:05pm I haven't done any testing yet, but I'm lookin' forward to beatin' the shit outta the starter... Just hope I don't break my hammer in the process. PFDAN....................................... Drk^Angel |
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Title: Re: I'm cursed! Stay away! Post by doodles on Feb 27th, 2006, 11:34pm Sending good running car vibes your way! 8) Jan |
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Title: Re: I'm cursed! Stay away! Post by Jasmyn on Feb 28th, 2006, 12:52am Sherbet Ken, I'm crossing myself... stay away... getting my silver bullets and sharpening my stakes! Best of luck to you pal! ;) |
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Title: Re: I'm cursed! Stay away! Post by zwibbs/Scott on Feb 28th, 2006, 1:27am Opus is right---give the starter a little love tap and it will crank right up---but a starter wouldn't make noise ( that I am aware of--once started) When you loosened the belts to get the starter off--make sure they're in proper connection. |
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Title: Re: I'm cursed! Stay away! Post by AussieBrian on Feb 28th, 2006, 1:37am My mate Fred took his Ford down the back paddock and shot it. 300 rounds of .303. |
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Title: Re: I'm cursed! Stay away! Post by purpleydog on Feb 28th, 2006, 2:19am on 02/28/06 at 01:37:58, AussieBrian wrote:
I haven't felt the need to do that with my Ford. Defintiely with the Dodge Van though. I wouldn't own a Chrysler product, no matter what. I manage a small fleet of Dodge trucks at work, and they have their times of being in the shop... and they are less than a year old. We get new ones every year. Anyone wanna buy last years dodge pick-up? I can put you in touch with the closest branch from where I work. Prices just came down, and are negotiable, of course! (shamelessly plugging my business... ) Chris |
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Title: Re: I'm cursed! Stay away! Post by burnt-toast on Feb 28th, 2006, 5:18am on 02/27/06 at 16:05:54, Drk^Angel wrote:
A tear down/rebuild book for your make/model would be useful but... Is the click at the starter or is it on the firewall? (usually located on the side behind the battery). Get someone to turn the key with another person listening while the hood open. If you get a click on the firewall... May have a bad solenoid (starter) relay that can be replaced after removing one bolt/a few wires and spending just a few dollars. Beats replacing the starter only to find out it was an external relay. In most cases the relay will go before the starter does. Hope this saves you some work and time. Tom |
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Title: Re: I'm cursed! Stay away! Post by Drk^Angel on Feb 28th, 2006, 6:15am It's a relay click... Located on the fender near the battery...Two bolts to remove, and bunch of wires on three posts... Like $10 to replace... If the starter isn't bad, then the little bugger may be the culprit. PFDAN..................................... Drk^Angel |
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Title: Re: I'm cursed! Stay away! Post by burnt-toast on Feb 28th, 2006, 6:47am Start by replacing the little bugger. I view it the other way - if the relay isn't bad then the %#$$@$ starter needs replaced. Faulty alternators will fry relays, and voltage regulators. These devices are a good way to protect more expensive components from electrical system malfunctions and sometimes they just simply give out on their own for no obvious reason. It can be difficult to even reach the starter of some newer vehicles but a simple test is jump the starter if you know how. If it engages and cranks the engine - it's a relay problem. If it engages the flywheel but doesn't crank the engine - it's in the drive/starter motor. If it doesn't engage the flywheel - it's usually the starter solenoid, a bad battery or any combination of drive, solenoid and/or battery. Start by replacing the relay. If the solitary click is in the relay - 99+% of the time that's the ticket. Sometimes it's worse and the starter needs work but not very frequently. Good luck and best wishes Tom |
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Title: Re: I'm cursed! Stay away! Post by Drk^Angel on Feb 28th, 2006, 9:44am Well... The wierd noise wasn't related to the starting problem... A piece of metal was rubbing against the tensioner pulley... Hope it wasn't important, because it broke off when I was messing with it. Needless to say, the van started (that's how I could pinpoint where the noise was from), but can't be sure if the piece of metal was important, because I couldn't start it again... Not from the ignition or by bypassing the relay and jumping the starter. Oh well... When I feel like getting cold and wet, I'll crawl under the van, and try to beat the shit out of the starter. PFDAN............................................ Drk^Angel |
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Title: Re: I'm cursed! Stay away! Post by seasonalboomer on Feb 28th, 2006, 10:40am I read this thread last Friday and a tree limb fell on my Range Rover Saturday night smashing the sunroof and windshield. Thanks! [smiley=laugh.gif] Scott |
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Title: Re: I'm cursed! Stay away! Post by Drk^Angel on Feb 28th, 2006, 11:29am See... And everyone assumed I was overreacting... Told ya I was cursed... Now y'all have it a little too... I'm thinkin' of tempting fate tonight, and drive the van to werk... I'll take bets on whether it'll start again after werk, and maybe come up with enough for a starter. LOL PFDAN.............................. Drk^Angel |
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Title: Re: I'm cursed! Stay away! Post by Melissa on Feb 28th, 2006, 11:37am Drk, want me to have my hubby read this thread and give you his opinion? He has built and rebuilt vehicles since he was like, 12 or something. His brother is also a mechanic (although hubby is much better at it than he is, LOL) lemme know and I'm sorry about all the car probs :( |
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Title: Re: I'm cursed! Stay away! Post by nani on Feb 28th, 2006, 11:48am Buy a Honda 13 years old, 130,000 miles... only didn't start once... ever. It needed a jump. ;;D |
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Title: Re: I'm cursed! Stay away! Post by Drk^Angel on Feb 28th, 2006, 12:03pm Mel... Thanks, but I'm pretty sure it's the starter... Just too depressed to crawl under and slosh through all the snow and snow runoff right now. PFDAN..................................... Drk^Angel |
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Title: Re: I'm cursed! Stay away! Post by TomM on Feb 28th, 2006, 12:29pm Buy BMW. Love my Bimmers! http://www.bmwusa.com/BMW2003/Images/TopNav/roundel.gif I have 2, have owned several Mercedes-Benz, and also have a Ford Expedtion. http://mysite.verizon.net/tgmeyer/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/.pond/bmwx2crop.jpg.w560h256.jpg http://mysite.verizon.net/tgmeyer/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/house_jul420065.jpg TomM TomM |
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Title: Re: I'm cursed! Stay away! Post by Jasmyn on Feb 28th, 2006, 5:00pm Hey Angel Guy, werk is an Afrikaans word! 8) Tom you're a real show-off! ;) |
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Title: Re: I'm cursed! Stay away! Post by Mastifflvr28 on Mar 1st, 2006, 12:08am I ain't fraid of you Dark, Besides...I need you in chat so you can reduce some gifs for me :) Mast |
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Title: Re: I'm cursed! Stay away! Post by Melissa on Mar 1st, 2006, 12:10am BAHHHH!!! Yoda man, YODA!!! May the force be with you!!! ;;D |
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