Fixes for the Lincoln, Part Deux

Well I've had the Mark VIII for an entire week now and I hope I am nearly done spending money on it- though it being a 15 year old car, there is little hope of that! But it did require more repairs and cash outlays this weekend.

It was making an exhaust rumbling noise, that seemed to get louder each day and it seemed to be coming from the front of the car. So Saturday I took the car into the muffler shop and they quickly diagnosed a rust hole in the top of one of the catalytic converters. And since having an exhaust leak just under the floorboards is a first class opportunity for carbon monoxide poisoning, repairing the hole couldn't wait.

That bill was over $300...

I did receive the new Halogen Infrared Radiating headlight bulbs that I ordered and got them installed on Saturday. I also repaired a broken mount piece on the headlight that tipped up and down so now that headlight is secure and pointing the right direction. So far I haven't had a chance to drive behind the new lights but I am hoping for greatly improved visibility behind my new lights.

I also ordered a replacement mast last week and today I installed that and got the power antenna working. I had to remove the antenna from the car to remove the broken bit of the drive gear but after that I had it working just perfect.

I also took the car to Pep Boys to have the failed and corroded negative battery cable replaced today. It might seem like that could have been a driveway project but after I got the cable home, and then discovered where the cable bolted to the engine block- way under there, buried and hard to reach. Paying Pep Boys was a very smart thing because even on the lift the job required a great deal of dexerity and head scratching that I never could have managed in the driveway.

So, to recap- new catalytic converter, expensive but neccesary. New battery cable because the old one would have failed very soon. New headlights and repairs so I can see in the dark and a new antenna so it goes up and down like it is supposed to.

Another day still to come? I found an upholsterer who can repair my damaged driver's seat!