So our car broke in NOVA. I need a tow/advice.

LEAKYSEALS951 · 03:09 PM

Anybody with a trailer heading south from NOVA to Central Va?

Last weekend we were driving up to Alexandria for our anniversary when my wife's accessory belt snapped. Volvo v60 2015. It got caught up in the timing belt, so there you go. The timing belt has jumped some cogs, but the engine still turns and gets compression, so it might not be destroyed just yet. The electronic valve timing is doing it's best to keep it running, but it ain't making the trip under power.

Fortunately, we were able to tow it to her sister's house in Vienna, Va. Turning lemons into lemonade (as best possible), we got to spend a great night with her sister/brother in law, who are fun as usual. Even more fortunately, they are moving from NOVA back down to our hometown in Charlottesville, so they needed a driver to take an extra car back (another volvo) home, so that got us some good steak, wine, lodging, and a free car to drive home. We packed up their car with moving stuff (a convertible volvo btw) and we drove back. It was planes, trains and automobiles stuff with all the stuff in the back.

Bad news is my wife's car is still up there. I need it towed from Vienna-Charlottesville (Afton). I've got two neighbors who have double axle trailers, and one has already offered to help, but he's older and I don't want to bother him (even with money.)

The route is 120 miles approximately. I'm wondering if there is a better way. I don't even want to see that d#$% car for the next week or two.

Picard voice- I need options number one!

Scott Douglas · Scott Douglas's Garage

Aaa?

LEAKYSEALS951 · 03:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Scott Douglas

Aaa?

I did. I think I got schnookered. Perhaps not. We were outside and it was hard to hear on the phone. They said 5 miles and then something per mile. That was the AAA agent. The tow truck driver was contractor with very poor english. At the time, I hadn't used it for ages, and need to look and see if we had basic or high end plan. Even before looking though, today I saw some fine print that they will only tow it once per breakdown, so even if true, I've already shot that magic bullet. This was a very stressful moment as we were stuck in a busy parking deck holding up traffic. The tow truck couldn't clear under the low overhang, so the tow guy and I were pushing frantically to get the car out of the parking deck, while getting honked at by all of Washington DC. I was in a bit of a survival mode. To make matters worse, he wanted to try to start the car, which would have jumped the timing more because the accessory belt was still in the timing gear, I wouldn't let him, he didn't trust me, so a lot was going on.

Steve Carlton · 10-11-2021, 02:46 PM

Can you get it fixed near where it is?

LEAKYSEALS951 · 10-11-2021, 02:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Steve Carlton

Can you get it fixed near where it is?

I could, but need to look into it. Basically, I'd be looking at a dealership timing belt replacement, but if the valves are damaged, then it get's expensive. If I decided to bring it home to do it myself, then I'd be towing anyway, and I'd have to decide quick to avoid storage fees.

What I did was tow it to Matt's house/ then the next morning I unwrapped the accessory belt out of the timing housing, and attempted to inspect the timing to insure I was sill aligned at TDC. This model has a very difficult to read crankshaft TDC indicator, so I was not able to confirm, but from my best guess it's off and retarded but the cams are trying to compensate. It did spin over like a normal engine though, building compression, and releasing it with no catches, but it's not running smooth.

beatnavy · beatnavy's Garage

I got nothing except to say I'm sorry your weekend in Alexandria didn't turn out as planned (and that your car is "t's" up). At least you made the most of it.

Charlottesville is a really pretty part of Virginia.

LEAKYSEALS951 · 03:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by beatnavy

I got nothing except to say I'm sorry your weekend in Alexandria didn't turn out as planned (and that your car is "t's" up). At least you made the most of it.

Charlottesville is a really pretty part of Virginia.

Yeah! We were super bummed. We had made reservations from the suggestions here, and were going to hit a bunch of the places for snacks/lunch. We decided to stop in Tysons? to get our daughters christmas shopping done, and thats when it took a dump.

In retrospect, I am sooooooo glad this didn't happen on the beltway (no pun intended

). That would have been waay worse. We would have gotten killed. The engine would have surely torn itself up. I was at least able to stop it in the parking deck fairly quick.

drcoastline · 10-11-2021, 03:14 PM

That's a bummer, sorry this messed up your trip.

LEAKYSEALS951 · 10-11-2021, 03:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by drcoastline

That's a bummer, sorry this messed up your trip.

Thanks, yeah, total bummer. When my wife and I got back into town, we agreed we needed to go out somewhere before picking up our daughter. We needed to do at least something. We chose an old mexican place we like. Got there- and were closed. They had just started a "closed on Sunday" work hours.

It really became a matter of let's just get home safe and push on. My arms are all cut and bruised from trying to reach up under the car with limited access tools. It's kicking in today. oh yeah!!!

I went into work today on empty. I think I'm better now... let me check... nope!
Still on empty.

Steve Carlton · 10-11-2021, 03:55 PM

Looks like you have an interference engine. Hopefully the valves are just a little out of time and nothing's bent.

id10t · 10-11-2021, 04:03 PM

Even the AAA Platinum membership only covers 100 miles.

Your car insurance may have tow assist, worth a call to see if you can get it reimbursed.

LEAKYSEALS951 · 10-11-2021, 04:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Steve Carlton

Looks like you have an interference engine. .

Repeat 1000x

"Never EVER let me buy a volvo without first consulting Steve and his volvo insurance" (if your still doing that)

LEAKYSEALS951 · 10-11-2021, 04:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by id10t

Even the AAA Platinum membership only covers 100 miles.

Your car insurance may have tow assist, worth a call to see if you can get it reimbursed.

Good to know both. Thanks.

pwd72s · 10-11-2021, 04:09 PM

Heck..that "older" neighbor might even welcome a road trip. 'Specially if you do most of the driving & buy the gas.

Zeke · 10-11-2021, 04:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LEAKYSEALS951

Thanks, yeah, total bummer. When my wife and I got back into town, we agreed we needed to go out somewhere before picking up our daughter. We needed to do at least something. We chose an old mexican place we like. Got there- and were closed. They had just started a "closed on Sunday" work hours.

It really became a matter of let's just get home safe and push on. My arms are all cut and bruised from trying to reach up under the car with limited access tools. It's kicking in today. oh yeah!!!

I went into work today on empty. I think I'm better now... let me check... nope!
Still on empty.

I've had those days. Tomorrow the sun comes up again and so do we.

LEAKYSEALS951 · 10-11-2021, 04:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pwd72s

Heck..that "older" neighbor might even welcome a road trip. 'Specially if you do most of the driving & buy the gas.

I'm thinking your right. I just feel really bad about subjecting him to that NOVA driving!

So far he's the best bet. He custom built an overbuilt trailer with homemade winches and a fat duallie to pull it by. He's prolly got a rolling coal option on his diesel.

I love him already.

I still need to talk to my next store neighbor, younger (well, mid 40's), and perhaps more eager for short term day work.

My head was so bonkers this weekend, I completely forgot I have neighbors with larger trailers. Took a day for that to come back to me. Give me 24 more hrs, I'll give you a winning lottery number.

I do love living in the country!

LEAKYSEALS951 · 10-11-2021, 04:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zeke

I've had those days. Tomorrow the sun comes up again and so do we.

That's the truth. I was just talking to my wife, I think it brought us together a little bit, and that's cool. It's just a car. My wife joked when we were in the garage, a couple was fighting over setting up a baby stroller.

fastfredracing · 10-11-2021, 04:26 PM

Im going to go out on a limb, and say , if it is still running, then you did not bend valves, Usually , when a tb jumps, or breaks, and the piston makes contact with valves, it will uniformly bend valves in all the cylinders equally, and you will effectively have zero compression , therefore a no start . I have seen a few times , where only one or two valves were bent , but that is pretty rare, the motor has to be almost at idle when the belt breaks to get that lucky
Id try to find a good euro indy near the car. That job is not too awful terrible to do .
Either that, or rent a u haul dolly , and a truck if you have to ?

LEAKYSEALS951 · 10-11-2021, 04:29 PM

Also, will share another story-
(energy slowly coming back)

Kind man offered to help me fix the car in the garage. "I know a little something about cars, need some help? That's a BMW right?" He wasn't kidding.

"Yup, we're good" replied I in my best deadpan Chevy Chase.

fastfredracing · 10-11-2021, 04:30 PM

Make sure your neighbor keeps his eyes on the road, when he starts rolling coal, we don't need another thread like that .
Best of luck .