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I Think I Understand Now
I just came in from the rain after looking at my current door. For the first time in the 16 years I have owned this car, I noticed the wires attached to the door, tucked back carefully out of sight. I had always assumed that the seat belt mechanism was informed of door opening and closing by the button that turns out to be connected only to the dome light. In hindsight, no corporate lawyer worth his big salary would tolerate liability for life and death matters to rely on a 50 cent button switch. Now I understand that the wire I have is attached to the door latch and that my '88 door, with manual seat belts, will not have the proper connection for that wire and will have to be replaced by the latch from my current door. On a positive note, I at least had the foresight to realize the door lock would have to switched to have my key fit it.
For a Festiva lover constrained to working along public streets, a rainy day is the worst possible time to make auto repair decisions. On days like this my current door, with the molding strip coming loose due to rust from an accident which happened before I bought the car, doesn't seem so bad. On days like this I think I should wait, not only until I find a door that would provide a direct fit, but also that would match the "surf blue" color of my current car. And if the molding strip falls off before then, so what? But the door is bought, $42.54 (bought at full price to avoid the rain, mud and crowds pridicted for the days of the sale). And my choice is to take it back for the $4.00 core charge, at a loss of $38.54, or go to the trouble of making it fit, painting it, plus the trouble and expense of getting rid of my old door, since I doubt I'll be able to get the switch over done within the 14 days I have to return the core. You can probably guess what option seems best to me on this rainy, windy day.
Mistakes are unavoidable, even the most competent of men make them. The key to success is that you learn from them and gradually reduce their number due to the experience. So what have I learned?
I learned
1. It was a good idea to post my question on FordFestiva.com. I got lots of encouragement and useful information which allowed me to remove my first Festiva door. See following picture album for details.
2. I should have waited for a few days before acting. If I had I would have gotten Eric's post, passed on this door, and been spared an uncomfortable dilemma.
3. I should never allow saving a few dollars, half price off, etc., stampede me into doing something which might end up costing more in time and trouble than the $16 dollars I might save.
4. Accept my mistakes as a necessary part of life, to be embraced for the valuable lessons they provide.
5. Move ahead in life stronger than before, fortified in the ability to say, "I did that once and this is what happened." ... "Glad my experience has been of help to you. Pass it on." And the world spins on a little tighter.
I'll give this too a couple of days before deciding what I'll do. Then let you all know how the chapter ends.
John Gunn
Coronado, CA
I just came in from the rain after looking at my current door. For the first time in the 16 years I have owned this car, I noticed the wires attached to the door, tucked back carefully out of sight. I had always assumed that the seat belt mechanism was informed of door opening and closing by the button that turns out to be connected only to the dome light. In hindsight, no corporate lawyer worth his big salary would tolerate liability for life and death matters to rely on a 50 cent button switch. Now I understand that the wire I have is attached to the door latch and that my '88 door, with manual seat belts, will not have the proper connection for that wire and will have to be replaced by the latch from my current door. On a positive note, I at least had the foresight to realize the door lock would have to switched to have my key fit it.
For a Festiva lover constrained to working along public streets, a rainy day is the worst possible time to make auto repair decisions. On days like this my current door, with the molding strip coming loose due to rust from an accident which happened before I bought the car, doesn't seem so bad. On days like this I think I should wait, not only until I find a door that would provide a direct fit, but also that would match the "surf blue" color of my current car. And if the molding strip falls off before then, so what? But the door is bought, $42.54 (bought at full price to avoid the rain, mud and crowds pridicted for the days of the sale). And my choice is to take it back for the $4.00 core charge, at a loss of $38.54, or go to the trouble of making it fit, painting it, plus the trouble and expense of getting rid of my old door, since I doubt I'll be able to get the switch over done within the 14 days I have to return the core. You can probably guess what option seems best to me on this rainy, windy day.
Mistakes are unavoidable, even the most competent of men make them. The key to success is that you learn from them and gradually reduce their number due to the experience. So what have I learned?
I learned
1. It was a good idea to post my question on FordFestiva.com. I got lots of encouragement and useful information which allowed me to remove my first Festiva door. See following picture album for details.
2. I should have waited for a few days before acting. If I had I would have gotten Eric's post, passed on this door, and been spared an uncomfortable dilemma.
3. I should never allow saving a few dollars, half price off, etc., stampede me into doing something which might end up costing more in time and trouble than the $16 dollars I might save.
4. Accept my mistakes as a necessary part of life, to be embraced for the valuable lessons they provide.
5. Move ahead in life stronger than before, fortified in the ability to say, "I did that once and this is what happened." ... "Glad my experience has been of help to you. Pass it on." And the world spins on a little tighter.
I'll give this too a couple of days before deciding what I'll do. Then let you all know how the chapter ends.
John Gunn
Coronado, CA
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