dainovan -

Unfortunately, the part of the solution that I lack for all the stuff falling apart around my own home is the funds for the parts and the energy to "get down and do it all."

I may have a significant contribution toward the car thing though. My own '95 Chev has been having some misfire and stalling problems occasionally, so the whole thread here has had lots of "familiar points."

This afternoon I made a run for provisions (including a couple of "routine maintenance" parts for the vehicle). When I went into the store at the last stop it was beginning to look just a little grey. When I came out, it was beginning to shower. Two blocks down the street, it was raining so hard that the wipers wouldn't leave enough of a track on the windshield to see approaching headlights at 50 feet, so I pulled off to one side.

As soon as I hit the first 5" deep puddle, the engine died. Since the engine was warm, it would "dry out" and restart after a couple of minutes, but at the next puddle - instant death.

After the seventh restart (and about 1.2 miles progress), the battery was beginning to get a little low, so I called Lin to warn her to get her britches on in case I had to have her come after me. Three stalls and two restarts later, I called again and suggested she come and tow me home.

The third restart did come, and I managed to drive it home with her following; and of course by the time we got there the sun was shining as it went below the horizon.

Diagnosis - I have a strong suspicion that I've got some really shitty electrical junk under the doghouse (it's a van, so getting to the engine costs more in labor than fixing anything that's in there). Ignition module etc replaced not long ago, but probably is the most likely suspect, although rotten spark plug wires and such are probably in there too.

But it's not supposed to rain again until ...

John