Comments on: Washer Fluid and Orange Lights

By: GW

GW — Tue, 09 Nov 2004 02:00:07 +0000

GSK Chicago: I posted this a while back on NAM, I was thinking the same as you:

“Last night I was thinking about the effect that MINIs have had on the automotive world and that a car like this spawns so many websites like NAM with so many passionate owners and admirers. I wondered to myself if owners of the ugliest car to ever roll across blacktop – the Pontiac Aztek – have forums like these.

Lo and behold, Google produced this: http://www.aztekfanclub.com

I laughed until I cried, and then held my right hand over my heart for freedom of speech, freedom of expression, and freedom to love really, REALLY ugly cars.

Sorry, just looking to pass the time while I wait for my car to arrive.”

By: KevinR

KevinR — Mon, 08 Nov 2004 19:54:48 +0000

"Fifty odd years from now, you pathological retrofitters will be cursed up and down by anal-retentive vintage car people who go to restore your Minis and are forced to de-retrofit all these little things in order to score well in concourse events."

No way. I never throw anything out. The original parts go in a box that would go to the next owner.

By: petsounds

petsounds — Mon, 08 Nov 2004 19:44:30 +0000

I live in LA and my '04 Cooper S runs out of fluid all the time, even if I barely use it. Which leads me to believe that the fluid is evaporating due to heat from the engine. Speaking of engine heat, why does the S vent hot heat from the engine through the air vents when the A/C is off? It's like running the heater on high…

By: Appalachian Mini

Appalachian Mini — Mon, 08 Nov 2004 19:17:45 +0000

After "upgrading" from my '99 Outback to my '04 Xterra I went from a 1 gallon washer fluid tank to a 1/2 gallon tank. Living the NC mountains I'm dreading a 2.5L fluid tank in the winter on my recently ordered '05 MC. Oh well, guess I'll just carry washer fluid stock in the boot like I do in my X.

By: Sith Bored

Sith Bored — Mon, 08 Nov 2004 06:33:31 +0000

HEY SITHLORD! YOU USED THE WRONG "BREAK" - YOU MEANT BREAK, AS IN "REST", NOT BRAKE, AS IN WHAT YOU USE TO STOP A CAR.

NOW THAT YOU HAVE TROLLED HERE AND PROVEN YOURSELF AN IDIOT, KINDLY PISS OFF!

;)

By: Ian C.

Ian C. — Sun, 07 Nov 2004 21:08:47 +0000

I once invested in a funnel – amazing technology that makes filling the MINI washer bottle much easier ;)

By: Rocketboy

Rocketboy — Sun, 07 Nov 2004 10:20:56 +0000

I'm left wondering if they are changing the shape of the end of the filler tube. Besides the fact that the size of the current tank is woefully small, unless I want to spend 3 minutes filling the tank, I end up spilling a large portion of cleaning fluid. Retangular and Narrow does not make for an easy pour…

By: Me

Me — Sun, 07 Nov 2004 07:50:29 +0000

Sith,

Grow up and lose the star geek, oops wars name.
Grow up and stop yelling like a 10 year old AOL'er.
It's break, not brake. You stop a car with a brake, break some ones arm.
Why am I bothering, you'll continue along your childish path.

By: Doug Kirks

Doug Kirks — Sat, 06 Nov 2004 20:29:57 +0000

It is out there, with a 1200 baud modem and, get ready for this, running on ProDOS 1.1.

Mmmmm.... history.

By: GSKChicago

GSKChicago — Sat, 06 Nov 2004 18:52:10 +0000

I wonder if somewhere out there, there are ten's of people that still love the Aztek.

I wonder if there is an AztekFile.com hosted on someone's old Apple II. :o)

By: Doug Kirks

Doug Kirks — Sat, 06 Nov 2004 17:20:47 +0000

C'mon now Gabe, don't you know by then all the Aztek's will have been destroyed by the Good Taste Police Brigade?

By: GSKChicago

GSKChicago — Sat, 06 Nov 2004 16:53:54 +0000

Thanks Doug Kirks, ChrisLW and Ian. Much appreciated. :o)

By: Gabe

Gabe — Sat, 06 Nov 2004 15:47:02 +0000

Ah but it could go something like this:

(Pebble Beach 2050):

"While the Red and White 2002 MINI Cooper S does have incorrect wiper stalk the change is admirable. The much sought after orange indicator lamp was such an improvement that we might find no fault with the owner for retrofitting such an historically important item. 100 points!"

"...Next over here we have the incredibly rare Pontiac Aztek..."

By: Doug Kirks

Doug Kirks — Sat, 06 Nov 2004 15:25:42 +0000

LMAO!!! that is too good (and most likely true) scooblymochee.

By: scooblymonchee

scooblymonchee — Sat, 06 Nov 2004 03:35:31 +0000

Fifty odd years from now, you pathological retrofitters will be cursed up and down by anal-retentive vintage car people who go to restore your Minis and are forced to de-retrofit all these little things in order to score well in concourse events.

Judge to disappointed contestant:

"Yes, your car is beautiful, no doubt. And I'm sure you spent many long months and thousands of dollars getting it to this point. But you see that little washer fluid warning light on the stalk there? That was not stock equipment on an '03. Someone must have retrofitted that at some point. Damn shame. Fix that and you might have a winner next time. Sorry."

By: Evan

Evan — Sat, 06 Nov 2004 02:42:44 +0000

It would be a great retrofit- both the larger tank and the warning lamp. Even my very first car, an '89 Toyota Tercel, had a low washerfluid light.

A much better warning than the sudden loss of all pressure in the jets- when it's low it just leaks out. Then I know to fill her up.

Retrofitting is just a way to make your MINI even more you.

By: Bobby

Bobby — Sat, 06 Nov 2004 02:06:00 +0000

Steve,

Did you even read Gabe's article? It is being repositioned to the other side.

By: Howard

Howard — Sat, 06 Nov 2004 00:58:38 +0000

I think a lot of 2005 car owners would like to retro fit a lot just because they are making all these nice little changes to 2005 cars built Jan 1 2005 and after and since we got an early model 2005 we got screwed out of a lot of nice features/changes.

By: Ian C.

Ian C. — Fri, 05 Nov 2004 23:49:57 +0000

Friday Crazyness ...

Scott, you can't retrofit the grab handle due to the location of the side airbags.

By: MiniDrew

MiniDrew — Fri, 05 Nov 2004 23:46:16 +0000

Wait, now why do I want to spray Snapple on my windshield?