Fullback32
Well-known member
- Joined
- Mar 6, 2009
- Messages
- 247
- Location
- Colorado Springs, CO
- Corvette
- 2004 Magnetic Red Metallic II Convertible
I will admit it...I am kinda dumb when it comes to cars. When you add to it that I really haven't done any real car work since my 1979 Trans Am back in high school , which ironically I bought in 1979, I find myself way behind the power curve as things have changed....a lot. Get beyond oil changes, basic tune-ups and brakes, I am pretty useless. As I look under the hood of cars manufactured, say, after 1986, I generally close the hood, smile and just tell myself that I simply don't have time to do it myself and it is worth the money for a mechanic to do it. But, I am wanting to learn how to work on my own 'vette. This is probably foolish on my part, but you gotta learn sometime unless you want to continue to pay someone else a lot of money for some relatively easy things you could otherwise do yourself with a set of Craftsman tools.
As I poured over the many good threads dealing with the dreaded rough idling problem (which BTW turned out to be failing injectors in my case --thanks for giving me a good place to start!), I came across many acronyms that were unfamiliar to me. With a little Googling, I was able to figure out what these mysterious engine parts that sound rather messy and dangerous are so I didn't seem SO clueless to our local Corvette guy. Although, I probably sounded like that guy who knows some terms he overheard his car buddies using in a proper context and then proceeds to use them as if he actually knows what he is talking about....yeah...that guy. You all know him. Since I readily admit my lack of knowledge I hope none mistake me for "that guy" and also hope that none of this affects my man card.
"So, what is the point of all this, Rick?", you maybe asking. Well, I was wondering if it would be possible to create a sticky thread which is essentially an acronym list that newbs such as myself could refer to in a one stop shopping manner: Read a thread...look up the acronym here. This way, novices will at least know what part of the so far useless GM Service Manual for the 1989 Corvette to go to and decide whethere or not to attempt a repair or , of course, I can sound like I know "something" when I take the car into my 'vette guy. BTW, I say "useless" only because either the words in there might as well be Mandarin Chinese to me OR I am fairly sure that if I try some of those things, I will probably make things worse.
hnoes It is, otherwise, a great tool. Someday, it will be for me as well. 
Acronyms are easy to throw around among people with knowledge of a system. I was in the Air Force for 20 years, and believe me, we are the masters of throwing around acronyms and wondering why there are people who do not understand what we are talking about. I am not asking anyone to do this for me; I will be glad to help with this effort and start out with common ones I have come across. Then we as a group can add to it as we see fit.
Thoughts?
As I poured over the many good threads dealing with the dreaded rough idling problem (which BTW turned out to be failing injectors in my case --thanks for giving me a good place to start!), I came across many acronyms that were unfamiliar to me. With a little Googling, I was able to figure out what these mysterious engine parts that sound rather messy and dangerous are so I didn't seem SO clueless to our local Corvette guy. Although, I probably sounded like that guy who knows some terms he overheard his car buddies using in a proper context and then proceeds to use them as if he actually knows what he is talking about....yeah...that guy. You all know him. Since I readily admit my lack of knowledge I hope none mistake me for "that guy" and also hope that none of this affects my man card.
"So, what is the point of all this, Rick?", you maybe asking. Well, I was wondering if it would be possible to create a sticky thread which is essentially an acronym list that newbs such as myself could refer to in a one stop shopping manner: Read a thread...look up the acronym here. This way, novices will at least know what part of the so far useless GM Service Manual for the 1989 Corvette to go to and decide whethere or not to attempt a repair or , of course, I can sound like I know "something" when I take the car into my 'vette guy. BTW, I say "useless" only because either the words in there might as well be Mandarin Chinese to me OR I am fairly sure that if I try some of those things, I will probably make things worse.
hnoes It is, otherwise, a great tool. Someday, it will be for me as well. Acronyms are easy to throw around among people with knowledge of a system. I was in the Air Force for 20 years, and believe me, we are the masters of throwing around acronyms and wondering why there are people who do not understand what we are talking about. I am not asking anyone to do this for me; I will be glad to help with this effort and start out with common ones I have come across. Then we as a group can add to it as we see fit.
Thoughts?
Jane Ann
