Do you happen to have a 1987 VW Cabriolet and need to change your alternator? Well you came to the right spot!!

Previously I wrote how to replace the fuel pump and I promised to write this post. Because after I changed out the fuel pump I changed out the alternator. And I had a hard time finding information online.

First, disconnect the battery. You don’t want to be shocked. I’ve taken 12 volts before it isn’t a nice feeling.

Then go over to your alternator. See where my finger is

I used an adjustable wrench, but you want to adjust the alternator so it shifts down. You are doing this to loosen the belt so you can remove it. There are 2 parts of the bolt I am pointing to. 1, the smaller one, is to remove the bolt. The second is the larger one and it moves it up and down the grated teeth so you can adjust the belt. I cranked it a few times so I could slip the belt off. I also went ahead and removed the bolt. I then removed the bolt at the other end of the bar to remove the bar. I wanted more room.

You can see the bar here

Now there is the part where I got stuck. I got this far without looking up how to remove the alternator. Cause I thought hey girl you so awesomely changed out the fuel pump on your own you can do this.

But see this…

I wasn’t expecting after dealing with 1/2″ that they would throw in a 6mm allen. I was screaming at German technology at this point. This was the 1 thing holding me back from removing the alternator.

Oh the main bolt is here where my finger is

Ensure that you disconnect the alternator of it’s wiring before you remove it.
And tada you’ve removed your alternator.

Now I called the auto part store and had them order me a new one. I read off the numbers from my old one to order the correct part. I then went to the auto part store and they switched out the pulley for me. This saved me money on the core and honestly I couldn’t have removed the pulley and put it on the new one myself.

I then went home and began tackling installing the alternator. The first thing I did was reattach the 6mm bolt. Since this is the base bolt it’s the bolt that holds in the alternator in place, you know so you don’t leave it on the road as you’re driving. I then reattached the bar. And then went to wire the alternator, and that is when I realized I had a problem.

The new alternator had different connections than the previous one. I had to rewire the exciter wire. Basically the ending needed to be changed from the circle ending to a female ending. My husband is an Electronic Engineer in the Navy and happens to be very techy. So he had the parts for me to do this. I snipped the circle off and then clamped the female on. I also happened to have shrink wrap that I had slid on before I clamped the new piece on.

I then slid on the belt. And adjusted the alternator so that the belt was tightened. Go through and ensure all of the bolts are tightened. Replace that negative wire back on. Start you’re car and you’re good to go.

Unless you’re me. Then you find out that the fuel relay needs to be replaced. Had to order a new one and wait a day. I also purchased a battery jumper because I found myself with a dead battery. The battery jumper allowed me to start my car without having to call someone. And where we live it takes a bit for anyone to come and help out.

I hope this was helpful to you. As I said I had a hard time finding information on this. This wasn’t my first time doing car repair but I do like to leave it up to my husband.

I have 1 more post in the works for my 1987 VW Cabriolet in the works.

The thing about PTSD is well…

Did you know that?

And…

I have PTSD. I wish I could describe to you what it’s like having PTSD. By that I mean I wish I could generalize it. I wish it fell under an umbrella. Kinda like other disorders. But PTSD doesn’t.

Each person that has PTSD doesn’t follow some text book definition of it.

Shaking is a huge part of my PTSD. When a trigger, flashback, or hey it just felt like it occurs I shake. I actually shake so bad that I wonder if I have Parkinson. But I don’t have Parkinson. I have PTSD.

When I experienced the trauma that caused my PTSD doctors said that the trauma was enough to cause myelin damage. Damage to my nervous system.

It was hard for me to walk, hard for me to talk, I couldn’t hold my head still. I shook that bad. I couldn’t stop it. Well I tried and the pain was so great. People would stare. One person said I looked like a bobble head. Hey I never forgot, it has stayed with me.

Some days I can’t get out of bed. Not that I don’t want to. I’m afraid to get out of bed. I’m shaking so bad I’m afraid I’ll fall. And I know I will. I’ve tried to get out of bed before while shaking and I hit the ground. I’m stuck there for a while.

It’s scary. I’m alone. I’m afraid. And I’m on the ground shaking. And I just have to wait for it to pass.

Someone once told me to just get over it. Well you wouldn’t say that to someone with cancer. “Hey buddy I get you have cancer but just get over it”.

I’ve tried to think of the worst things I’ve been told.
1. Are you sure you’re on the right medicine?
-When we PCS and I had to get a new psychiatrist I was asked what meds I was on and if they worked. And my psychiatrist (you know the person that went to medical school) said he didn’t want to touch my medicines. I was fine. And it’s hard for someone who has PTSD to be regulated with medicine.
2. Just shake it off.
– yes I too enjoy Taylor Swifts song but I can’t shake it off. It isn’t a mole that I can go in and have removed. I can’t just shake it off. I wish I could.
3. I wish you were the person you were before…
-that one hurts. I can’t apologize for changing cause I didn’t purposely do it. I’m reacting to something that was done to me.
4. Yesterday you were fine
-a lot of things happened yesterday. And a lot of things will happen today, even more tomorrow. Did it make you uncomfortable to witness a flashback or trigger? Think how it makes me feel.

I’m trying to be strong. I’m trying to fight this. I need you to respect that. I need you to respect me.

I have PTSD. I’m not a victim. I’m a survivor.

This song by Beyonce popped in my head while I was doing this.

A piece of my car broke and my husband ordered the part. Problem was he was leaving for C School and wouldn’t be here to fix it. He told me how to put the part on and told me it would be easy my husband lies.

This is the piece of my car that broke. I couldn’t even tell you what it’s called. But without it I can’t shift, so I can’t drive the car. Well… I could but you know what I mean.

My husband pointed out the two places I clip this part to. He told me it was easy. You just clip it on then you’re done.

Okay so maybe he told me to take a few things off. But my hands are tiny so I just slipped them in. But was the part easy to clip on, no… it’s why I said my husband lies. I actually texted him this photo and told him I hated him. His response was grease was good for my skin… men.

The left side was pretty easy to clip on. But that right side wanted to fight with me. I actually took the part out of the car and threw it on the ground. Cause yeah that made me feel better.

I went and got a large adjustable wrench. I clipped on the left side and then used the wrench to press down the right side so it would clip. And I just kept thinking the whole time… If I was a boy would I be having this much issue. Actually was it just my messed up shoulder making it not easy to clip this piece on.

Luckily I got the leverage I needed and clipped it on. Drove the car around and first gear is iffy, but I’ll let my husband fix that.

But you know what? I’m not a boy. I’m glad I’m not a boy. And I got this part on NOT being a boy. I’m a girl. A girl put this part on. A girl that barely knows anything about cars and HATES getting grease on her. A girl with phobias who blindly put her hand into her car so she could drive it.

I love my car. I don’t like how messy it sometimes makes me. But I love my car. And I love being a girl.

We PCS’D from Norfolk to Everett knowing that within the year there my husband would get new orders. 

That proud, stiff out his chest, going from sea to shore duty.

The orders came. Hovering in the land of soft orders. Waiting, waiting, waiting. Then finally. Official orders.

We did a DITY move or PPM. We packed up boxes, rented a truck mild debate about burning everything. Figured out where to store my car because we couldn’t drive 3 cars.

Our new duty station is Fallon, Nevada. We heard mixed reviews. I ended up finding a horse farm to rent. And we packed up and headed down.

We had x, y, z days to get down there then had to be back. My husband was detached from the ship but not truly. He detached to skip going underway because he signs out. But he had to go back to detach from the base. Confusing a bit but paperwork was ran a bit wrong.

We arrive and have his new command come out and help. It was awesome. Them bam we boarded the dogs Koda didn’t like the ride and went back for my car.

Through Oregon and California. Please tell me why at 5,000 ish feet construction jam that we had to stop. Saw some awesome signs in California don’t pee in the bush.

I loved having my car back. But I learned Cali sun is harsh and got burnt. Convertible.

Slowly settled into our home. The pups love the fenced acre. Lulu plops on the porch that has the most sun lol.

This PCS trip wasn’t that bad. But do sleep at 6,000 feet in your car just bring a sleeping bag I got cold. But I missed my doggies and wanted them back.

I’ve always wanted to visit California.

I was looking forward to enter California during our PCS. I counted down the miles.

Oregon frustrated me. I couldn’t figure it out at first. But after the 3rd time seeing Butte I figured it out. Reminds me of Montana, and our car broke down during our last PCS move in Montana.

We enter California and I get so excited. My excitement died…

Modoc National Forest, if I could never see another national forest it would be due to this national forest.

Driving, driving, driving. Realizing if something happens you have NO cell phone reception. Please update national forests. If something happens you can’t call for help.

I finally see the sign that says leaving Modoc. Get so excited. But then a few miles away you enter it again. I questioned how big was this forest.

Now I’d like to state I’ve been to Yellowstone. While visiting there as a blizzard. Yellowstone is HUGE. But with a blizzard you drive slower.

I started questioning why we went this way. It wasn’t just the no cell reception. But NO FOOD. I didn’t check the route before hand. But when hunger strikes, you’re starving. Then the little towns are closed, I mean abandoned. You’re wondering when the next service station is… and there wasn’t a sign last gas until… come on.

Why did I want to visit California? Then I realized I needed to be more specific.

I want to see the Hollywood sign, go to Disneyland, go to San Diego beaches, Coronado to see if it’s like the books you’ve read, and you didn’t mean rural California. You didn’t mean a national forest.

Sorry to rant.

One of the first things I do in the morning besides a cup of coffee is to check my phone. My sisters are on Eastern Standard Time and sometimes I will get messages from them I have learned to turn my phone on silent cause 8am EST is 5am PSD. And I will check my email have you noticed that spam happens to come at like 1am.

Well one morning my eyebrow perked up when I opened my email and saw the subject line “Welcome Aboard ****” (for OPSEC and PERSEC will not list the command). I rubbed my eyes as I opened the message. I was expecting some sort of spam message but NO.

This email was welcoming my husband to his new command and telling him some basic command information, and sponsor name.

I pulled myself out of bed and walked downstairs. Pretty sure my hair was standing up, meh he married me and is used to me waking up with funky hair. I asked him “have you heard from your sponsor yet?”

He gives me this look. Because I had asked him a few days ago and he just laughed at me. Perhaps I should throw in, he goes to school first then checks into his command. I turn my phone around. He grabs it honestly can’t blame him I was most likely swaying without my dose of coffee yet. And he says “why did they send it to you?”

Good question

“The Navy has taught me how to deal with ISIS, terrorists, and even each other. But they haven’t taught me how to deal with a 6 year old girl who just walks into your house with a cupcake, sits on your couch with said cupcake and eats it, ignores you questions.”

Let me rewind a little bit…
For the past few months I’ve had a little girl come to our backdoor. She will open our sliding door/screen and walk into our house.

I’ve asked her her name, if her parents know where she is, why does she come over. Questions after questions that are ignored. The girl will ask me questions, will ask me about our dogs, just won’t answer my questions.

If the door is locked she will knock. I’ve gone out there and have seen her father. As I went to tell her she couldn’t come in she ignored me and walked in. I gave her father the look, the do you know what your child is doing look aka WTF look.

I wish I could describe how awkward this all is. I don’t know her parents. Have never introduced myself to her parents. And I truly do hope they care for their child but I wonder who would let their child just wonder into someone’s house they don’t know.

I’ve told my husband about this. It got to a point to where I stopped opening the blinds out back and would keep the sliding door locked if she saw the blinds open she would knock until someone answered.

Then one day my husband was trimming the dogs nails and had the sliding door open. And the little girl walked in with a cupcake. She teased our dog with the cupcake, then sat down on the couch and ate her cupcake. I had taken a step back to let my husband deal with this payback for all the times he ignored me when I said this was happening. I suppose I should be honest, I ran away.

I heard my husband asking her questions and get ignored. And I had laundry to do… err yeah I ran away. I come back down stairs to my husband finally kicking her out. We were repeating this story to a friend when my husband said the above. That he was taught how to deal with ISIS, etc but not how to deal with some random child walking into your home, ignoring your questions, and who won’t leave until you force them out of your home.

I have tried to tell this child coming to a random person house isn’t safe. She doesn’t listen. And obviously ignores the ID channel I keep on hey I’m addicted to the ID channel.

Has this happen to you? I don’t mean your child dragging in some random child. But a random child coming into your home uninvited.

My sister and her husband traveled to Oregon to visit family. They rented a car to drive up and visit me and Seattle.

This was the first time my husband would meet one of my sisters. And you know how you warn your loving husband of your siblings… well…

We made our way through Pike Place Market and my husband asked if I was looking for my sister, Nifer. I said no I was looking for my brother-in-law Topher (thank the names to Starbucks). Topher is like 6’5″ tall he’s easy to spot. So when I look for my sister and her husband I look for Topher lol.

We finally find him and introductions are made.

My sister wants to see the Space Needle. So we made our way over. We get to the Space Needle and my huband (sticking with the Starbucks naming system) Atlas asks Topher if Nifer walks away from him in mid conversation…

What can I say… it’s a genetic thing. We don’t mean to. But have a habit of seeing something we like and walk away when our husband’s are talking. I’ve lost Atlas a lot due to this. It’s my super hero power.
I love my sister and super happy we got to spend time together.

We did some tourist things and what can I say it’s fun to be a tourist in a town you know.

One of the unique things about being in the military community is in the span of five minutes you can meet someone from each State in the USA.

My husband and I went out to eat with a group of friends.

We decided to sit in the bar area. And this restaurant requires ID if you sit in the bar area.

There were 4 of us and we each pulled out our ID. The waitress got to the first person and commented about not being from Washington.

Indiana, Tennessee, Michigan, and Virginia ID’S where on the table for the waitress to look at.

Here the four of us sat down to eat from 3 different states (yes I’m from Indiana but still hold a Virginia license) eating dinner at this local restaurant because the United States government brought us to the lovely state of Washington.

Now ask everyone in this group where we have lived and the answers will change. We’ve lived across the country and visited places.

I didn’t bother transferring my license when I arrived here. I knew we wouldn’t be at this duty station long. And honestly I chuckle when I end up showing my license and someone questions the location and I say “yeah the drive here was really long”.

A lot of people use the same option that I do and do not transfer over their IDs. So they have an ID from which ever state they went and got one.

Around the United States. Like the military just used a salt and pepper shaker and dispersed it’s service members.

Location doesn’t matter where you find friends.