  Yesterday I worked on Jodi's car again. This time it was a creature comfort issue. I bought her a JVC cd/cd-r/cd-r/w/MP3/WMA Player and planned to install it. The installation went pretty well. I had to take the dash off which was relatively easy, just a matter of having the right tools. I was disappointed with the mounting bracket that crutchfield sold me.
Granted, they didnt make it, and granted it's an industry standard bracket for this type of car... but the attention to detail from whoever machined it just wasn't there. They drilled the mounting holes off about 1/4", and it was supposed to come with 3 screws 1 clip, someone reversed that and gave me 3 clips and 1 screw. So, of course, I had to go to the hardware store and get myself a couple of screws. While I was in the dash I noticed that the antenna wire wasn't up to industry standards. I had to go to pepboys (I hate pepboys) and buy an adapter. Once I was done installing the radio...
I put the dash back together and it was good to go. I burned a few hundred songs onto a cd for her to listen to. If you dont have an mp3/wma player in your car... I'd highly recommend it. Even if you don't download music... you can rip the songs from your cd's into mp3 format... then store the original. No more worrying about scratches etc.
If you scratch the disc you're using... just burn another one! Feeling good about the installation I did on her radio, I decided to tackle the air conditioner. You see, when the water pump went out before... it had a direct leak path to the a/c compressor.... so basically it flooded it out and burnt up the wires to it... so it was continually popping fuses. I didnt bother to hook the a/c back up to the car (didnt connect the belt) when I put everything back together because I had every indication that it wasn't going to work at all. Anyway, on a hunch, I cut the wires back at the bulk head, and spliced in my own. I rewired everything that connects to the A/C and then worked the belt on there (that was no easy task).
Once everything was together, I fired her up and tested it out.... It's sooooooooooo cold! You just GOTTA love Freon! I just hope it doesnt get a leak or anything... then it will have to be converted to an R34A, and as most of you know... it wont be nearly as cold. That was about it... I'm looking forward to Detroit.
I dont know if this countdown thing on my sidebar was a good idea though... seems to make it feel drawn out ;-) I'm definitely looking forward to the trip though. So much stuff to see. I suppose I should make peace with Mike... I didn't make a big effort to befriend him last time I met him and I doubt I will now. But I think I'll give him the benefit of the doubt. I dont think Francine is ever coming back to Cali. 
