I've been driving it. I have not replaced all of the radiator fan wiring yet, but I have a rocker switch to flip the fan on if it gets too warm. I got the trans fluid changed and the oil changed. The transmission seems to be making a small (quarter sized) drip spot under the green cap end after running it.

In other news, the front left wheel seems to be getting hot after a short drive. After 10 minutes, its too hot to touch. Hmmm...brakes dragging or wheel bearing? Easy to figure if you pull the rotor and shove a 1/2" piece of metal between the pads! No front left brake test drive will definitely test your nerves and your parking brake!!! Turns out it might be hot from doing all of the stopping...because it wouldn't without it. But the bearing didn't warm up after a 10 minute ride on the interstate. New calipers and hoses for the front soon.

I've really been enjoying it and once I get the A/C working a little bit again, it should make it a lot better. I don't think its been to a fuel station since September...

Now I get to drive back from Franklin

Easier said than done! I stopped by Walmart on my way out of town to return a sleeping bag I didn't use and pick up a quart of oil. Got back out and it wouldn't start. The alternator belt idler pulley came a little loose and I guess that has to do with the bearing going out. Anyhow, it stopped charging and I had about 10 volts at the battery. Hmm... I looked at the warranty and it went out last month and was from a Walmart. Dang. Thougt about pushing it off but if it didn't work, I'd be in the way at a big Walmart. I finally broke down and called AAA. I had just recently upgraded from the basic membership to one of the better ones. They said they could tow it to my house 137 miles but they would charge $143 for the last 37 miles. I thought I had the premium deal with 200 mile towing but I didn't. I told them to come jump me off instead. I figured if the alternator quit, a diesel wouldn't need much electricity and I could maybe make it 37 miles closer. It worked! I got home.

Well, it wasn't that easy. I needed to buy fuel but I didn't want to turn the motor off so I waited as long as I could. Then I hit traffic and had to get off the interstate. Long story short, I ran out of fuel going over the base of lookout. I was able to get it going again and made it to a station on Broad. Close call!

I'm glad to be home. I'm glad that it made it. I'm glad I have a truck for tomorrow.

I think he had them on my car at one point

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Black-Outer-Pull-Style-Door-Handle-For-VW-85-92-MK2-Jetta-Golf-GTI-4-Doors-Kit-/261359857230?pt=Motors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&hash=item3cda42ee4e&vxp=mtr

If it needs replaced and you don't care about having a tach signal, a GM one wire alternator is pretty easy to put in there. Much cheaper than the bosch alternative and you can get them with much higher amperage.

Took the alternator to Autozone this evening and they tested it. Not for charging, but to see if it raised holy hell when they spun it up. It didn't. I came back home and looked at the idler pulley. There is a funky washer that covers the bearing. It appears that it is the source of the noise, although I can confirm it. I was thinking of shimming it out a bit to keep it from running. See the attached photos. Any thoughts?

Is a long screw driver held to the ear and the component to narrow in on the noise or a auto stethoscope

Brain fart. Did that last week with another vehicle but forgot to do that before I took it all apart on this one. I think it's the tensioner pulley and I'm gonna throw it back together tomorrow with a washer in there. Worst it will do it squeal and break the belt again.

The bearing feels fine. I noticed it squealing when I was trying to drive with the broken clutch cable. No noise for the 150 miles beforehand. When I got to investigating, the belt was loose, so I tightened up the adjust bolt...but it wasn't until the second time it came loose that I found out that the pulley had a bolt that pulled it sideways to adjust and then you tighten down the bolt that is the axle to lock it in place. So the pulley gained some lateral flex but it was because it was loosely connected, not because the bearing was going bad (I think!)

I got a new belt and put it on (pretty involved since the alternator belt is further back on a pulley than the water pump belt). You have to remove the alternator and loosen the A/C compressor in order to pull the outer belt off to get to the inner alternator belt. Who ever invented spring loaded tensioners on serpentine belts was amazing!

It still squeals at start up, but it goes away after a few seconds. Everything seems to be going ok so far. After replacing the front calipers and hoses, the brakes don't drag anymore.

It really needs a simple radio...