Wednesday, May 14, 2014

Stuck on the Mountain.

On Saturday I was driving up the mountain when my car lost all drive. I had just crested the last hill when the power went completely out of my drive and smoke started billowing out the back of the car. I was able to coast the car into the parking lot of a BP gas station two miles after the smoke started but I was shaken up. I popped the hood while my son cried in the back seat and went to check out what was happening because I had the half hearted hope that I might be able to fix the problem.

When I looked under the hood I thought that my engine had cracked because there was all this black liquid dripping from every thing. I panicked for a few minutes while I called for someone to come get us. If I'd been by myself it would have been a relatively simple matter of me walking the three miles to friend's house and waking him up, but with a two year old that's really out of the question. Once I was able to get a hold of Dad and he was on his way my priorities shifted as I had to entertain the boy and spot diagnose the car. 



Looking at the photograph above it's easy to mistake that broken pipe for a radiator line since that's where it's connected - only it isn't as I would find out on Tuesday. That steel pipe is actually a transmission line (which is why I lost all the drive). Getting it repaired, along with a minor problem I was already taking the car to the mechanics for, ended up costing me $222.78. That included the tow ($62.95), labor, and parts.

As a result I've been stuck up on the mountain since Saturday. What's new with you?

7 comments:

  1. Punctured tire with a slow leak. Tried to fix it myself. I took the nail out, and tried to use the tire-repair kit I had. After about an hour of frustration I said, "To hell with this. I'll just take it to the tire shop."

    So I went to get the spare out of my trunk. Discovered it was almost flat, too.

    A friend drove me to the nearest gas station, where I tried to fill up the spare--but some joker had broke air hose nozzle. When to a different station, filled up the spare. Sprayed it with soapy water just in case of a leak. No leaks.

    Put spare on car. Tried one last time to fix regular tire. It seemed to work. But I sprayed the spot with soapy water. Saw bubbles.

    Essentially I traded one slow leak for another. What I should have done was drive the car to the tire shop right away. Because by the time I was finished the nearest shop was closed. You live, you learn. lol

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. PS: May you get down from the mountain soon.

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    2. True story my friend and not far from what I've gone through before!

      P.S. I'll be down from the mountaintop tomorrow. Thanks for the good thoughts!

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  2. If I may... http://www.edmunds.com/driving-tips/run-flat-tires-a-primer.html

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Why have I not heard of those before! Thank you so much for sharing that link Joseph!

      Delete
  3. Last time I had a flat it was six below, without the windchill; with the wind it was more like twenty below. In fact that seems to be the only time I get flats anymore. That may be why my fingers are more sensitive to frostbite now a days. Anyway, good luck with the car repairs.

    ReplyDelete

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