Don't Irritate the Fiat Gods ... or the Fiat

[aj81spider]

It was a beautiful day in Massachusetts today and the Fiat has been running well (despite some power and responsiveness issues), so I drove it to work. On the way to work I was thinking that it was finally getting reliable (mistake #1).

Later in the day I was talking to a friend and I mentioned that the 1981 I drove while restoring my 74 was much more powerful and I really liked the fuel injection (mistake #2 - the Fiat was in hearing distance).

After work I drove to a plaza down the road to pick up some stuff. Came back out to the car and it wouldn't start.

Ended up getting towed home. I guess I know what I'm doing this weekend.

[AriK]

I truly do believe there are Fiat Gods.

Whoso keepeth his mouth and his tongue keepeth his soul from troubles.

[Kevin1]

The act of keeping a Spider on the road makes YOU a Fiat God!

[aj81spider]

Unfortunately, given the amount of time it is on the road that would make me only a minor Fiat God.

[bbuckl]

In a similar vein, I took mine out the other night after telling my son how reliable my Sophia has been lately...(you know how this ends)

We hade it about half a mile before the rear caliper totally seized and ate the pads and the brake disk!

I feel your pain!

Brian
79 2000

[TX82FIAT]

Buy latest Spider back in 2010, Inspect spider, looks good so I take out for maiden trip. Oldest boy said "dad, didn't your last Spider break down on you when we lived in PA! I shush him quickly and explain he has no idea how these cars can hear what you say. The word breakdown shows a lack of faith and respect. Don't upset the car. Not two minutes later, Spider breaks down and 14 year old and I push 1/2 mile home with then 7 year old steering. Fiat God's are smiling as my kids were too young to remember the previous spider and not even a thought when I owned the first in high school.

It's now 2013 and my youngest is now 10. He is the one in the garage typically by my side when working on the car. We stop at a burger joint on the way home from a car show. Took 2nd place in imports. He is holding the trophy when he says "dad, the car sure has come a long way. Do you remember when she broke down on us the first day. She would never do that to us now." I shush the boy and remind him that we are not allowed to speak of the car breaking down. there is a delicate balance in the Fiat universe and speaking of breakdowns upsets the balance. We walk out to the car and the car will not start. Beginnings of ignition switch failure. Able to get her started by disconnecting and reconnecting battery. Re4place ignition switch shortly after.

2015 out for a ride with my wife in the Texas Hill country. Oil light flickers as it occasionally does when taking a right hand turn at Fiat Speed. She sees the light on the dash..... She says, do you remember, I turn the radio up and drown out her comments twice before she asks what are you doing. I asked what she had against the Stones. We get home no problem. She tells my youngest the oil light flickered. He said to her... you did not say the word breakdown around the old girl did ya!!! 19 year old looks at her and says "that's bad juju".

[Mattt123]

Ha! I have found that they respond well to a good old fashioned sacrifice.

[spiderdan]

Good sacrifice...



Bad sacrifice...