Obsessive Personal Routines

[awolff280sl]

1. i never roll UP the window with the door closed, although rolling down is ok. Having redone the window mechanisms, I found alot more stress on the regulator and the guides when rolling windows up especially if you've got a tightly sealing window.
2. I try to be gentle when shifting gears to lengthen the life of the shifter bushings.
3. I clean off the automatic antenna before lowering. Quite a bit of road grime sticks to a lubricated antenna that may gunk up the mechanism.
4. I check under the car for leaks prior to driving, and check the under surface of the hood after driving.
5. I am gentle with the stalk when forcing a manual cancellation of the turn signal.
6. I do not let an uninitiated passenger adjust the chrome vent louvers, they may break it (from experience).
7. I leave the windows down a bit when not driving to preserve seals.
8. I won't adjust the odometer with the car moving.
9. I won't adjust the clock backwards, only forwards.

I've got some others too embarrassingly obsessive/compulsive to mention.
 

[MichaelB.]

Hahaha !

Another guy as sick as me.

[thelews]

When parked at home, I close the doors only on the first latch to preserve the seals.

[Garry]

As per John, same applies to the boot / trunk remaining slightly ajar.

I always disconnect the battery with the quick release connector when not in use. Had a car fire once whilst garaged, mice I think. Destroys the car and garage! Dont ask :'(

I always keep car covered unless in use. Helps save the finish and rubbers.

I don't leave the hand brake applied when parked for any length of time in garage, they may seize. Leave in gear only.

A bad mistake I have made is leaving the softtop down for a month or two at a time in summer then try to raise it on a cold morning.  It shrinks and hard to get up and locked back in to place!! Winter with the hard top on is the same problem. I guess there is no easy fix to this.

yep another sick guy

[jacovdw]

Glad to see that I'm not the only obsessive compulsive individual here...

[JOS]

 I always said good night to the baby.

[Jordan]

I prefer to call it judicious care, except maybe for the part about saying good night to the baby.

[al_lieffring]

"9. I won't adjust the clock backwards, only forwards"

The rule not to turn a clock backwards would only apply to a 19th century clock with a striking mechanism. And even then it only applies to not turning the minute hand back past the 12.

Quirky car behavior doesn't only apply to collector cars, Working at a GM dealership in Iowa I was supprised to see that most of the "Sweedish Bachelor Farmers" that were our customers would turn everything off before getting out of the car. Even though most everything would be turned of automatically.

[Kemal]

Don't get me started!

Kemal
280SL
Manual LHD69

[awolff280sl]

Al, thanks for your help with that one.

[Travis71280]

Little noises coming from the car drive me insane if i dont know where its coming from.

I will double check both doors to see if there locked everytime i park the car.

[douglas dees]

1. i never roll UP the window with the door closed, although rolling down is ok. Having redone the window mechanisms, I found alot more stress on the regulator and the guides when rolling windows up especially if you've got a tightly sealing window.
2. I try to be gentle when shifting gears to lengthen the life of the shifter bushings.
3. I clean off the automatic antenna before lowering. Quite a bit of road grime sticks to a lubricated antenna that may gunk up the mechanism.
4. I check under the car for leaks prior to driving, and check the under surface of the hood after driving.
5. I am gentle with the stalk when forcing a manual cancellation of the turn signal.
6. I do not let an uninitiated passenger adjust the chrome vent louvers, they may break it (from experience).
7. I leave the windows down a bit when not driving to preserve seals.
8. I won't adjust the odometer with the car moving.
9. I won't adjust the clock backwards, only forwards.


I've got some others too embarrassingly obsessive/compulsive to mention.
 

How about never let anyone fold down your soft top to prevent pinching of the fabric or always place a cotton cloth between the folds to prevent scratching of the rear window.
Never let a passenger stand on the seat
Doug Dees
Toronto 280SL

[Witt]

As per John, same applies to the boot / trunk remaining slightly ajar.

I always disconnect the battery with the quick release connector when not in use. Had a car fire once whilst garaged, mice I think. Destroys the car and garage! Dont ask :'(

I always keep car covered unless in use. Helps save the finish and rubbers.

I don't leave the hand brake applied when parked for any length of time in garage, they may seize. Leave in gear only.

A bad mistake I have made is leaving the softtop down for a month or two at a time in summer then try to raise it on a cold morning.  It shrinks and hard to get up and locked back in to place!! Winter with the hard top on is the same problem. I guess there is no easy fix to this.

......You may try this, as I do: Remove the soft-top entirely ( only four screws ! But mark the correct position of the mounting brackets for easy re-installation !) and store it indoors during the winter befor installing the hard-top....

CHEERS !
WITT !

yep another sick guy

[georgem]

Gentlemen,

My obsessive behavior relates to wind.

We have two classics; an Austin Healey 3000 and our Pagoda. Funny thing is, when driving the Healey, I feel quite comfortable letting rip a big Blazing Saddles style fart - its just that sort of masculine car, BUT NEVER in the Pagoda - it just wouldn`t seem right.

Do I need to talk to Dr Phil?

George

[thelews]

Gentlemen,

My obsessive behavior relates to wind.

We have two classics; an Austin Healey 3000 and our Pagoda. Funny thing is, when driving the Healey, I feel quite comfortable letting rip a big Blazing Saddles style fart - its just that sort of masculine car, BUT NEVER in the Pagoda - it just wouldn`t seem right.

Do I need to talk to Dr Phil?

George

That's because the Healy sounds like one big Blazing Saddles style fart.  We won't discuss how it drives.  That said, I've never had issue with letting one rip as the opportunity presents itself in any of my cars. 

[awolff280sl]

(topic has generated significant flatulent discourse).
This highlights the importance of maintaining a good ventilation system and working windows.

[dtuttle123]

TOO MUCH INFORMATION!   

[bogeyman]

Isn't that one of the reasons to have a convertible in the first place??

[J. Huber]

Ya, you guys are afflicted. My only committable offense is I sign onto this website every 5 minutes!! 

Really.

[Kayvan]

Dont allow wet bikinis on new GAHH covered leather seats

[paulr]

I keep a stack of square carpet tiles in the boot ( trunk ) to lay down in case it's muddy....probably.

[Ulf]

I keep a square piece of carpet in the same burgundy colour as my interior next to the Pagoda in the garage to wipe my feet on before entering.
I also have a tendency to pat it after each drive as to say "thanks for not breaking down on this drive either".
Sometimes after tugging the kids in, I take out a lawn chair in front of my garage just to sit and admire the shape while sipping a single malt and smoking the occasional cigarette...

[dtuttle123]

"Dont allow wet bikinis on new GAHH covered leather seats" - LOL!!!!

I warn my wife NOT to slam the door as she is getting out of the car - but she does it anyways.

I always clean the windshield before taking a ride, and I always bring my cell phone with me - just in case.

I take the tool roll and manuals out of the car if I bring it in for service - just for security.

[badali]

I keep a clean cloth in the car and wipe the door handles and chrome if someone touches them.
Never touch the door paint to close the door, only the handles.
Use the cloth when shutting the hood and trunk.
Keep your feet on the mat.

[Jordan]

There is a spot on the bumper that just doesn't shine as well as the rest of the bumper.  Every time I look at it or see it I give it a wipe, just in case.  Never seems to work.  Maybe I should just get the whole bloody thing rechromed.