gibbsgirl
02-05-2010, 11:32 PM
Well, I already had to call home once a few weeks ago cause "the car died" while I was out. That one was a lucky fix. I had no gas cause I didn't know the guys had burned up a bunch of it idling Colonel Brandon (my 79 wagoneer) while they were fiddling with him that week.
Yesterday though I REALLY broke down. I drove across the river into KY to run an errand for my hubby. When I started the car to come home I smelled rubber/plastic melting. Of course, I'm not motor head, so my first thought was my daughter's Tinkerbell purse or my son's legos must be pushed against the heater vents. So, I scooted everything away from the vents. Then, it still smelled. But, I've got a nose like a bloodhound (so the guys tell me), so I thought maybe there's something wrong with the heater. So, I shut that off.
About a minute later, I knew it wasn't the heater. I'd been looking at all the gauges and the hood to see if there was smoke. Nothing. Then, the power steering died and the engine cut out. I coasted a little, then stopped. And, wouldn't you know it, I had to breakdown in front of the "Parole Officer Check-in Office".
So, a man (very nice, but I'm pretty sure he wasn't there cause he was a "probation officer") came out and helped me push the truck up into the parking lot. He managed to pop the hood (good thing cause I didn't know how). Now I saw A LOT of smoke. It cleared in a minute and we found several melted wires and hoses. Some still had red embers cooking. Yikes!
My hubby was over an hour north of me at a job-site and my dad was home with two of my kids, one of whom was sick. So, I decided I better see if I could find a motor head to help me before I called them with no meaningful info on what had happened. I didn't want them to come out and not know whether I should tell them to bring a few tools or bring a trailer to tow me home.
There was an Auto Zone across the road, so I headed there to ask if where a mechanic was. They pointed me down the street to a big "Purcell"(?) auto shop. I asked if I could pay them to walk across the road and tell me if it looked like I had a $10 problem that could be fixed with an Auto Zone part, or if I needed to just pay for a tow. No dice. The boss had 10 or 12 guys there, but said they were all "oil changers" except one guy who was busy.
So, me and the two kiddos with me marched down the road further. This time I found a used car lot with a shop. I asked if I could hire the mechanic for the same question. They asked me what I was driving. (Me and the kiddos were getting cold by then.) I said a 79 Jeep Wagoneer......
Well, that seemed to spark their interest!!! The mechanic hopped in his suburban and drove down the road and checked it out. He said he thought I probably needed a tow. They let me and the kiddos stay at their shop while I waited for my dad to come down and get us and the truck.
I swear they were really nice guys, BUT I convinced the fact that I had a 79 wagoneer just tickled them! LOL. They tried to talk shop with me about how great they are and safe and they run forever. The mechanic had even checked some other stuff on it (alternator, belts) and tried to tell me a few things I should fix up. God bless them, they figured out right away I had no idea what they were talking about! So, they just hung out with us til Dad got there and then made sure to chat with him about those things.
My dad and hubby were really sweet about the whole thing. I felt terribly guilty, like I'd broke my car cause I hadn't pulled over fast enough before it got fried. They said there was nothing I could have done, because they had actually been working on it the day before and "not put some stuff back in the right places". So, I guess the wires/hoses were laying in the wrong spot and got burned up from the heat.
So, I have no wagoneer to drive til they fix it (bad storms coming so no working on the vehicles til the weather clears). But, I guess I didn't do any REALLY BAD damage to Colonel Brandon.
So that's my latest news. Hope this wasn't too long....is anyone still reading this...LOL. Oh well, I had fun writing it. I never have been any good and knowing car stuff. But, I like having my wagoneer. And, this is the only kinda "car talk" I've got to share :)
Hope everyone has a fun weekend!!
Yesterday though I REALLY broke down. I drove across the river into KY to run an errand for my hubby. When I started the car to come home I smelled rubber/plastic melting. Of course, I'm not motor head, so my first thought was my daughter's Tinkerbell purse or my son's legos must be pushed against the heater vents. So, I scooted everything away from the vents. Then, it still smelled. But, I've got a nose like a bloodhound (so the guys tell me), so I thought maybe there's something wrong with the heater. So, I shut that off.
About a minute later, I knew it wasn't the heater. I'd been looking at all the gauges and the hood to see if there was smoke. Nothing. Then, the power steering died and the engine cut out. I coasted a little, then stopped. And, wouldn't you know it, I had to breakdown in front of the "Parole Officer Check-in Office".
So, a man (very nice, but I'm pretty sure he wasn't there cause he was a "probation officer") came out and helped me push the truck up into the parking lot. He managed to pop the hood (good thing cause I didn't know how). Now I saw A LOT of smoke. It cleared in a minute and we found several melted wires and hoses. Some still had red embers cooking. Yikes!
My hubby was over an hour north of me at a job-site and my dad was home with two of my kids, one of whom was sick. So, I decided I better see if I could find a motor head to help me before I called them with no meaningful info on what had happened. I didn't want them to come out and not know whether I should tell them to bring a few tools or bring a trailer to tow me home.
There was an Auto Zone across the road, so I headed there to ask if where a mechanic was. They pointed me down the street to a big "Purcell"(?) auto shop. I asked if I could pay them to walk across the road and tell me if it looked like I had a $10 problem that could be fixed with an Auto Zone part, or if I needed to just pay for a tow. No dice. The boss had 10 or 12 guys there, but said they were all "oil changers" except one guy who was busy.
So, me and the two kiddos with me marched down the road further. This time I found a used car lot with a shop. I asked if I could hire the mechanic for the same question. They asked me what I was driving. (Me and the kiddos were getting cold by then.) I said a 79 Jeep Wagoneer......
Well, that seemed to spark their interest!!! The mechanic hopped in his suburban and drove down the road and checked it out. He said he thought I probably needed a tow. They let me and the kiddos stay at their shop while I waited for my dad to come down and get us and the truck.
I swear they were really nice guys, BUT I convinced the fact that I had a 79 wagoneer just tickled them! LOL. They tried to talk shop with me about how great they are and safe and they run forever. The mechanic had even checked some other stuff on it (alternator, belts) and tried to tell me a few things I should fix up. God bless them, they figured out right away I had no idea what they were talking about! So, they just hung out with us til Dad got there and then made sure to chat with him about those things.
My dad and hubby were really sweet about the whole thing. I felt terribly guilty, like I'd broke my car cause I hadn't pulled over fast enough before it got fried. They said there was nothing I could have done, because they had actually been working on it the day before and "not put some stuff back in the right places". So, I guess the wires/hoses were laying in the wrong spot and got burned up from the heat.
So, I have no wagoneer to drive til they fix it (bad storms coming so no working on the vehicles til the weather clears). But, I guess I didn't do any REALLY BAD damage to Colonel Brandon.
So that's my latest news. Hope this wasn't too long....is anyone still reading this...LOL. Oh well, I had fun writing it. I never have been any good and knowing car stuff. But, I like having my wagoneer. And, this is the only kinda "car talk" I've got to share :)
Hope everyone has a fun weekend!!