I got a trip permit this morning and took Elsie down to get gas and tires. The gauge has been showing empty, but it turns out the tank was almost full, which means the gauge is not working for one reason or another. It's not an electrical problem; the car only has 2 fuses, and all other electrical works. Now I just need to worry about the age of the fuel that was in there, and the condition of the tank and fuel system.
Overall, the car is running really well, and now that she's got new tires, she handles well too. The handling and transmission are just like an old VW Beetle from that era (complete with gas smell in the cabin). The steering wheel seems to have more play than the owner's manual suggests, so that's something else that needs to be checked out. She's got pep, that's for sure, even for a 1.9L engine, and the engine feels strong and consistent.
I am a little concerned about the gas smell inside the car. It used to be common in my VWs, but not sure if I should be concerned. I found an old recall notice regarding corrosion in the spare tire well that could cause holes to form in the tank, which could be the source of the odor. Inspecting/replacing the fuel lines and filter, and flushing the tank, are on my short list, so I'll see if I can find the source then.
It's interesting how many folks want to talk to me about the car. It happened when Justin got the Barracuda, and now with the Corona. I've met three people in the past few days who used to drive Coronas from this era.
To Do:
- Troubleshoot fuel gauge malfunction
- Flush or replace fuel tank
- Inspect fuel system, replace lines and filter
- Investigate source of gas smell
- Adjust steering wheel
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