Ladybug's BAD BAD Beetle day - and it's only 9a.m.!

[LadybugEwa]

Holy crap, what an unpleasant surprise on the way to work today!
When I left for work this morning, I looked at the fuel gauge and it was one notch above reserve.
I thought, "That's plenty to get me to work, but I'll have to get some gas after work."
More than halfway to work, my low fuel light came on - I expected that. What I didn't expect is to begin smelling gas inside the car , then stall out on the busiest highway in Canada! So I called work first thing, the girl from the night shift agreed to bring me some gas (one person that really deserves a medal!) Then I called my bf, who's got the CAA card, and he said he'd come help me too
Long story short, I was sitting at the edge of the highway for about half an hour, smelling gas, scared to get out of the car (we've had some horrific accidents with people on the side of the highway lately), and FREAKING OUT BECAUSE I COULDN'T POSSIBLY HAVE A FRIGGIN' SMOKE IN A CAR THAT SMELLED LIKE A GAS PUMP!!!
My bf got there first, and called CAA to come give me gas in case that's all it was, and in case my work friend couldn't find me. She did, though! That girl rocks! We poured the gas in, and the bug started, and we thought all was well, so she left. Thirty seconds later, I see my bf in the rear-view mirror waving at me frantically to TURN OFF THE IGNITION!!!
Apparently the gas is pissing out of the car, where the fuel filter is! Thank goodness for my bf, and for my foresight of having some plastic ties in the trunk. The fuel line came detached from the fuel filter!!! He hooked it back up with the plastic ties, but I guess I'll need to get a whole new fuel line now
I was late for work too. I'm not a happy camper just now...

[Lnzbug]

Not a good way to start the day. Glad you got it figured out. I would buy that girl lunch for sure. Isn't it scary to be stuck on the side of the highway? Just think if it was night time

['01vwbeetle]

Sorry to hear about you troubles. At least your bf figured it out and it is fixable without a ton of $$. If it makes you feel any better. When I changed my fuel filter, whoever had it before me used a zip tie to hold it on. It seems as though the clip either broke or they didn't know what they wre doing and broke it. I had to do the same thing to put the new one back on. 25,000 miles later, it is still holding. I acutally forgot about it till I read this post.

[LadybugEwa]

So I don't have to change the whole fuel line? The zip tie might be enough to hold it, or is it just a bandaid solution? My bf said the plastic clip that normally holds the fuel filter to the fuel line is partly cracked.

[scarabY2k]

CRAP!! I feel your pain baby.

Probably fraggin rosd debris huh?

[LadybugEwa]

I didn't notice running over any debris at all
But soon after the "feed me" light came on, I started smelling gas like crazy, and then she stalled out. Thank goodness I had enough momentum to coast to a stop at the shoulder. The highway is scary-big and super-busy at that point. It might be 20 lanes overall at this point
I talked to my bf, and he said I might be able to get away with just the zip ties. He just wants to jack the car up and check it for sure. I really would love to avoid buying the whole fuel line. Anyone know how much that is? Am I rambling?

[LadybugEwa]

THIS JUST IN: I smell like gas, the buggy smells like gas, and I'm sick of the smell!
Now that I added it up, she probably peed out at least $5 of gas on the side of the road (and on my bf)
I keep going down to the loading bay checking for drips under Ladybug, but she's dry so far

[dnyed]

Holy Schnikey!


I think this is how fires start, and you can count your lucky stars with this one. Hopefully, it's an inexpensive repair, in the grand scheme of things. Good luck to you, Sweetie.

['01vwbeetle]

Originally Posted by LadybugEwa

So I don't have to change the whole fuel line? The zip tie might be enough to hold it, or is it just a bandaid solution? My bf said the plastic clip that normally holds the fuel filter to the fuel line is partly cracked.

To be honest, where the clip goes and holds the line to the filter is where I put the zip tie. there is a little lip on the filter that the line goes past. I have the zip tie in the inside edge of the lip and pulled on the line to make sure it wouldn't come off. For me it has held up for 25,000 miles.

[bluebeetlebabe]

oh man sorry about your day!! I hope it gets much better!

[LadybugEwa]

I can't get over the miracle of having 2 seemingly useless plastic zip-ties in the trunk... That's my silver lining for the day

[scarabY2k]

Originally Posted by LadybugEwa

I can't get over the miracle of having 2 seemingly useless plastic zip-ties in the trunk... That's my silver lining for the day

That's the spirit kid

[Beetlemania]

I think you just inspired me to keep some zipties with my ratchet kit in the trunk.

So glad you and LadyBug are okay, Ewa! That's really scary!

Good thing you didn't light up... you might have gotten a ticket for waving a firearm!

I actually wish I could smell like fuel again, but jet fuel in my case. This polish and citrus cleaner I've been doused in just isn't the same.

[LadybugEwa]

Guess I'm on a roll!
Today most of downtown was closed because of some idiotic marathon
In consequence I couldn't get on the highway. In consequence I was late for work again!
On the bright side, I scared a Honda owner good!
There was a single lane open to get on the highway, and people were just butting in. This guy in a new Civic thought I was some kind of pushover. I waited in that lane for ten minutes, so I honked, moved up to block his cutting in, rolled the window down and yelled, "Wait your effin' turn, buddy, like everybody else!" His windows were up, but he sure heard me (and half the street too) because he looked truly scared.
It's not often a girl in a beetle can scare a 30-something guy stiff <- his eyes actually bugged out like that

[branvan]

lmao! we smokers tend to have an eloquent way with words don't we?

[Lnzbug]

Originally Posted by LadybugEwa

Guess I'm on a roll!
Today most of downtown was closed because of some idiotic marathon
In consequence I couldn't get on the highway. In consequence I was late for work again!
On the bright side, I scared a Honda owner good!
There was a single lane open to get on the highway, and people were just butting in. This guy in a new Civic thought I was some kind of pushover. I waited in that lane for ten minutes, so I honked, moved up to block his cutting in, rolled the window down and yelled, "Wait your effin' turn, buddy, like everybody else!" His windows were up, but he sure heard me (and half the street too) because he looked truly scared.
It's not often a girl in a beetle can scare a 30-something guy stiff <- his eyes actually bugged out like that

YAY!!! Way to go!!! welcome to the truckers mouth club! Sometimes you just have to talk to them in their own language

[Beetlemania]

Rock on, Ewa! I've wanted to do this a number of times! I try to block shoulders and ending lanes when people have ignored the last mile's worth of notices, but in a Bug it just doesn't seem to work well. I suppose a good set of lungs still does the trick, though!

[scarabY2k]

Ewa, you're awesome. Here in Jax, it's the bicycle clubs driving in packs- with no regards on how to properly ride.

When is "effin" going to be added to the dictionary???

[LadybugEwa]

Yeah, I'm a bad girl...
... anyone got a problem with that?

[Beetlemania]

Originally Posted by LadybugEwa

Yeah, I'm a bad girl...
... anyone got a problem with that?

Quite the contrary!