fun with Old Blue
squeaky squeaky squeaky went my brakes. Seeing as how I just put down a grand to make sure my brakes were in tip top shape, I figured since they were still under warranty it would be a good idea to have them looked at again. I had noticed Old Blue was running particularly rough the past few days and I thought the tranny was acting up again. The crake shop resurfaced the brakes and I was on my merry way down 50 headed to colonial. Old Blue wasn't as responsive as he should be while easing on the gas pedal, and suddenly it happened. KER-CLUNK!
Well, there went the tranny. Or so I thought. Suddenly I noticed that the engine was still shifting gears. What could that sound have been? Suddenly I noticed the battery warning light went on and a few seconds later the batter guage starts plummeting. Odd. Did I knock a cable loose? did the alternator get knocked out? but if that had happened it seems the truck would have shut off immediately.
Next I see the temperature guage steadily rise, followed by increasing steam from the hood. Never a good sign. I make some quick calculations and determine I can make it into the back part of walmart. Maybe their battery/tire staff can be of some assistance.
As I try to turn into wal-mart, I notice that my power steering is now also shot. What the hell is going on? Ever try to turn an extended cab truck with no power steering and minimal momentum? I've seen some battleships more agile.
Limping into walmart, i cut the engine and pop the hood. After the steam clears, I see many frayed or loose belts strewn about and the fan next to the radiator has litteraly broken off and is now resting against the engine block. Of course it is just after 5pm and all car shops are now closed.
After emptying Old Blue of valuables, I decide to leave him there overnight and tow him to Irish Mikes (AAA affiliate) in the morning.
Apparently the water pump had exploded knocking off the belts and fan. The belts helped control the power steering and the alternator, while the fan cut into two radiator hoses and sliced the radiator itself.
sooo... after some clarification and $1,157.00 later, my truck would be ready the next day. and oh, the tranny is still sure to go sometime too. but hey.. after that, i'll practically have a new truck, right?
since my truck was still in thr shop a co-worker was taking me home.
On the way home from work, we were on university stopped to turn right unto Alafaya. we eased forward to check if the southbound traffic was clear. It was not, so we stopped again. I don't even need to tell you what happened next. but i will...
WHAM!!! no horn, no screeching brakes, no nothing. this was a full on collision by yet another moron at that intersection that has no fucking clue what a red light means. we were knocked unto Alafaya trail but luckily only the 1st lane and somehow the traffic avoided us. if my driver hadn't had her foot on the brake we would have been sent all the way across to the median.
The car was immobilized, so guess who got to get out and push the car into the chevron station... yaaaay.. my back was sore, but i didn't realize it at the time. The bitch that hit us went around in her SUV and parked at the Chevron and started talking on her phone as she watched me push. Thankfully, a nice motorist pulled over to help too. This wasn't a love tap. The trunk space is about 1/2 of what it used to be, although the windows remained intact.
The SUV got some scratched paint. What a fun day that was
Well, there went the tranny. Or so I thought. Suddenly I noticed that the engine was still shifting gears. What could that sound have been? Suddenly I noticed the battery warning light went on and a few seconds later the batter guage starts plummeting. Odd. Did I knock a cable loose? did the alternator get knocked out? but if that had happened it seems the truck would have shut off immediately.
Next I see the temperature guage steadily rise, followed by increasing steam from the hood. Never a good sign. I make some quick calculations and determine I can make it into the back part of walmart. Maybe their battery/tire staff can be of some assistance.
As I try to turn into wal-mart, I notice that my power steering is now also shot. What the hell is going on? Ever try to turn an extended cab truck with no power steering and minimal momentum? I've seen some battleships more agile.
Limping into walmart, i cut the engine and pop the hood. After the steam clears, I see many frayed or loose belts strewn about and the fan next to the radiator has litteraly broken off and is now resting against the engine block. Of course it is just after 5pm and all car shops are now closed.
After emptying Old Blue of valuables, I decide to leave him there overnight and tow him to Irish Mikes (AAA affiliate) in the morning.
Apparently the water pump had exploded knocking off the belts and fan. The belts helped control the power steering and the alternator, while the fan cut into two radiator hoses and sliced the radiator itself.
sooo... after some clarification and $1,157.00 later, my truck would be ready the next day. and oh, the tranny is still sure to go sometime too. but hey.. after that, i'll practically have a new truck, right?
since my truck was still in thr shop a co-worker was taking me home.
On the way home from work, we were on university stopped to turn right unto Alafaya. we eased forward to check if the southbound traffic was clear. It was not, so we stopped again. I don't even need to tell you what happened next. but i will...
WHAM!!! no horn, no screeching brakes, no nothing. this was a full on collision by yet another moron at that intersection that has no fucking clue what a red light means. we were knocked unto Alafaya trail but luckily only the 1st lane and somehow the traffic avoided us. if my driver hadn't had her foot on the brake we would have been sent all the way across to the median.
The car was immobilized, so guess who got to get out and push the car into the chevron station... yaaaay.. my back was sore, but i didn't realize it at the time. The bitch that hit us went around in her SUV and parked at the Chevron and started talking on her phone as she watched me push. Thankfully, a nice motorist pulled over to help too. This wasn't a love tap. The trunk space is about 1/2 of what it used to be, although the windows remained intact.
The SUV got some scratched paint. What a fun day that was