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from work.

Well, there I was cruising along in the middle lane on Route 195 in Fall River Massachusetts, when all of a sudden a cloud of white smoke starts billowing out of my tailpipe. Well, next thing I know the car starts acting funny and right as I’m getting onto the Braga bridge, the oil light starts flashing.

About 2/3 of the way up the bridge, the engine seized up. Dead as a door nail.

So there I am sitting way up on the Bridge, halfway between the left lane and the breakdown lane, with cars and trucks flying up at me only to swerve away at the last minute to avoid hitting me.
Have I ever mentioned that I’m terrified of heights? And most of all, bridges? Have I ever mentioned that?

Well, yes, there I was terrified <read: PANICING> with all these cars flying at me. Fortunately, by the time the police and the tow truck showed up (within 20 minutes of my calling ), I was able to roll backward and get into the breakdown lane. Ugh.

So anyway, I survive the trip all the way to my Volkswagon dealership in Rhode Island.
As it so happens, I was scheduled to have the turbocharger replaced under warranty tomorrow, as well as a brake job. The guy at the desk said there was a possibility that the problem was associated with the bad turbo, and if so, there was a good chance that the engine would be replaced free of charge under the power train warranty. So here I am at 97,000 miles thanking God for a 100,000 mile power train warranty.

Hopefully it will work out that I'll get the new engine covered by VW. They've always seemed to stand by their product so far...hopefully it will continue.

Ugh.

Don Williams38764.8176967593

_________________
"I want to know what kind of pickups Vince Gill uses in his Tele, because if I had those, as good of a player as I am, I'm sure I could make it sound like that.
Only badly."

Wow, that is scary. You are so lucky! I have the worst luck...had it been me, car would have stopped, I get out, Mack truck rams me, get car towed to VW dealer, and on the way my mileage rolls over to exactly 101,000 as I pull into the dealer

Consider youself luck Don. Glad you made it out safely!
Tracy

Hey Don,
Glad you are safe. And it sounds like you lucked out with the warranty. Shoot me an email and let me know how it goes.

Hope you saved those receipts for all those oil changes! When I worked parts for a VW dealer, I remember this one customer who came in like clockwork. He carried a clipboard with.... you guessed it.... every receipt for everything ever done to his car. Cool guy. Glad you survived Don, good luck with the warranty deal. Glass half full, right!

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http://www.dickeyguitars.com

Well, Don, it makes for a good story. I just sent you some $$, put it toward a new pair of pants! Certainly sounds nervewracking, but hope it all works out for the best. You certainly had someone looking out for you!
Craig

The funny thing was I called the dealership as the car was falling apart to try to find out if I should stop driving it...and then of course someone there in the service department got to hear me freak out over the phone as the engine was dying...they asked if I called the police and AAA yet, and of course I hadn't...

So... when my wife and I finally get to the dealership, we walk in and the guy at the desk asks how we're doing. I give him this blank stare and said "well...that's a loaded question..."

All he said was

"Williams?"

LOL...it was a moment I'll not soon forget.

Don Williams38765.3281018519

_________________
"I want to know what kind of pickups Vince Gill uses in his Tele, because if I had those, as good of a player as I am, I'm sure I could make it sound like that.
Only badly."

[QUOTE=Don Williams]

All he said was

"Williams?"

LOL...it was a moment I'll not soon forget.

[/QUOTE]

And neither will they Don, neither will they.

_________________
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"There's really no wrong way, as long as the results are what's desired." Charles Fox

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"Generosity is always different in the eye of the person who didn't receive anything, but who wanted some." Waddy Thomson

God luvs you bro Good new all the way around!

wow,
that is good news as far as the warranty goes.I have a 2000 Neon and darn if everything didn't start breaking a week after the warranty expired.
good luck hope it works out
Tim

Don, phew that was a close call -- I hope the VW dealership does the right thing by you.

The Braga Street bridge -- I know it well and can visualize what you went through (meaning that's a life experience I can happily live with out). Good old Mayor Lambert of Fall River, MA is planning on converting it to a pedestrian/bicycle path bridge once its replacement is built. (now how does a guy from Toronto know this ) You should see the size of the planned replacement...if you saw it ... you'll be glad it happened on the Braga St bridge.

OK Anthony, I'll bite...so how do you know the Braga Bridge? And are you talking about the same bridge...the one a couple hundred feet in the air over a really big river? The one that is terrifying to look at? Six lanes of mayhem?Don Williams38765.3572106482

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"I want to know what kind of pickups Vince Gill uses in his Tele, because if I had those, as good of a player as I am, I'm sure I could make it sound like that.
Only badly."

One and the same!

I was mistaken its the "Brightman Street" bridge that is being replaced (further downsteam)
Anthony Z38768.8606828704

Fantastic story Don!
I hope it all works out for you!
You diserve it. Especially after your test of Fright.
I agree with Craig, someone's looking out for you for sure!   As they should be.


Wade

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Wade
Nashua, NH
http://www.wadefx.com

Don...The fates are telling you, "stay home and make guitars!"