Well, of course I didn’t get it all done.

What did you expect? I managed to get the two inspections done, but that was about it.

I was down at PTH, the Panamanian authority that determines that your car has not been stolen or something. This was an office with two dingy, beat up chairs that you sank to the floor in, a TV to keep you entertained while you wait, and one person running a very busy place. He was equipped with carbon paper, packing tape, the oldest type-writer I have ever seen, and a long pinky nail. You do the math.

They actually rub the carbon paper on your VIN # and lift it with the packing tape, just like a finger print. |-| Hey, whatever works. I actually had the papers done at 10:30 or so, but had to wait until 2 PM to come back…because…he had to wait for the boss to come and put his John Doe on the form. This he told us only after waiting for an hour after the papers were done.

Ok, fine. So I went to go get the mechanical inspection done. My old beast needed a little love. The idler arm was beat up a little worse than I thought from that rock I hit in Belize. Or, should I say, launched me into the air.

Yeah, just after I took this picture, about 300 meters down this very road. I had just finished saying to my guide at that point “I can’t believe this is a road!!” Took the picture, and then BAM!>:XX

So they put it in and did an alignment for $70. Not bad. Of course, they wouldn’t give the inspection papers until I had the PTH papers, but at least they would do the inspection for me then, and do the paperwork when we came back later with the PTH papers. They closed at five.

We went for lunch, came back, and went to the PTH again. It was now 2:45, and when I asked the guy when the boss was arriving, he told me around 2:30. Hmmmm. Ok, can’t read a clock, eh? I ended up having to follow him across town to where his boss was and waiting outside the building for him to come back out. U-( Oh yeah, and he bummed a ride there with another guy in the same boat, and tried to bum a ride back with me. I just plucked the paper out of his hand. Tough luck, buddy. It was then 4:30. At least I didn’t have to pay him for that service.

Back to the mechanic. I have never been asked so many questions about my car. Automatic or manual? How many gears? Disk brakes or drum? V6 or V8? How many bolts in the wheels? (I’m serious) How many miles? They had to take pictures, for Christs’ sake. Where do you live? Passport #? On and on… It cost 10 buks.

Well, now I have papers that make me legal for fifteen days. I may need them :>> Oh, and to add to the fun, my car was acting up ALL DAY. Stalling in traffic, not idling. Try following someone through heavy traffic like that. This is the same thing that came and went before without any similarities in circumstance. Until now. It only does it hot.

I have a good idea that it is an ignition problem. The pickup coil in the distributor. When they fail, the windings in the coil expand when hot, and deliver a weak signal to the ignition coil. It sure seemed like I was getting a weak spark.

The only other time I have ever had to deal with that was when I lit the Xs’ car on fire. But….that is another story (always re-connect the gas line). A few singed parts… :roll:Replace the coil, AOK. We’ll see soon enough.

Tomorrow I am going to a beach. I haven’t had my foot in the water since I got here. Ken knows where it is, so he can drive. I will stare at the scenery and come home sun burnt.