The Van Saga

Many of you have kept up to date on our Van. Finally it is in running condition - sort of. Just to recap the saga:

• July 10th -- After heavy rains, we drove through a puddle and the car died. We roll up our pants and jump into the cold muddy water and push the car to the house.
• Tow the van to the mechanic's shop
• One week later they look at it -- ask us to order parts (they don't order the parts through the store, we have to go to a different place to order the parts).
• Two weeks later the gaskets come in and we take them to the mechanic who promised that he would begin working on the car as soon as the parts come in .
• Mechanic can't work on the car for 4 more days because he did not think the parts would come in on time and scheduled other work :)
• Takes the engine apart and realize (as we thought) that we need new pistons or a new engine
• After 3 days of searching for the cheapest way out, Chris goes to Moscow to buy a new engine. He leaves at 4 in the morning and gets there at 8:00 am only to find out that the store does not open untill 10:00. Good thing there is a McDonald's close by!
• Returns with the engine.
• The mechanics only have 5 days to put it in - or there is no guarantee for the engine.
• They get it in on time!!!! Call and say the engine is working -- great!
• We pick up the van and the mechanic says that he has had trouble getting the car into 4th gear -- it is an automatic.
• I drive the car and realize that the transmission is not working properly -- Mechanics say - not our fault, we did not touch the transmission. (it was working fine before we took it in). Also, the radio, AC and clock do not work.
• After 1 week of taking the van to every car place recommended in Ivanovo, we decide that we need to take it to Moscow.
• August 10th we begin the drive to Moscow. I am following Chris in a friends car. About an hour into the trip the battery dies in the van. We buy a new battery and pray that we get to Moscow
• Arrive in Moscow and can't find the shop. We ask several people and they don't know where it is and finally we find the shop (50 meters from the last person that we asked).
• They hook it up to the computer and within 15 minutes diagnose the problem - a blown relay switch!
• They order the part and install it.
• August 18th - we pick up our van!!!!! It is running and we are so excited to have it back.
• Now we are just waiting for the AC parts to come in and a few other odds and ins.