Any Minor World That Breaks Apart Falls Together Again

Seahawk · 05:39 AM

On Wednesday, for the first time in over 30 years, my car breaks down and I am stranded by the side of the road.

I had a meeting in Fredricksburg, VA and after the meeting hop on I-95 south off of route 17.

A mile or so on the highway the my 2005 F150 starts running really rough. I do the quick scan of the gauges and all is well. The big engine light starts flashing and I'm looking to get off the highway. Up ahead is a rest stop, by the time I can get over I'm coasting up the ramp and park.

Since I am all suited and gussied up, I pop the hood just in case something is obviously wrong. Nada.

AAA. I have the premium whatever, 150 miles tow radius. They are there in less than 20 minutes. Driver is great and really funny. He takes the truck the 65 miles to the dealer I use. Wow.

USAA and Hertz. Rental car secured and paid for in 5 minutes.

I call the guy I had the meeting with (old friend, retired Senior Chief) He gets to the rest stop when the tow truck does, wears me out about what a piece of garbage I drive, and takes me to the rental car place, about five miles away, tells me I owe him (all in jest) and skedaddles.

I call ahead and let the Ford dealer know the truck was on it's way and the symptoms I saw and heard when the truck started having issues. By the time I get to the dealership in Leonardtown, the truck is off the tow and a a tech has done a preliminary inspection: Fuel injector issues.

Eek.

Maintenance head comes out, tells me the truck is still under an extended warranty for this known problem (11 years or 120k miles - 112K on mine!) Parts are here and it should be ready Friday. No charge.

I get a warm feeling all over. I'm like Jimmy V. looking for someone to hug.

...fall together again!

Steve Carlton · 08-02-2013, 05:51 AM

You have the best breakdowns!

95avblm3 · 08-02-2013, 05:58 AM

I take from your subject line you are a Steely Dan fan?

Glad your breakdown worked out!

berettafan · 08-02-2013, 06:20 AM

Saw Steely Dan at Merriwether twice some years ago.

Feels good to be prepared doesn't it?

AAA saved my arse when the 911 suffered a control input error.

recycled sixtie · recycled sixtie's Garage

It is good to hear that good service is available from a dealership. It is that kind of support that helps that dealership get repeat business. Am happy it worked out for you....

It may be another 30 years before that kind of situation repeats itself.

Seahawk · 08-02-2013, 08:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 95avblm3

I take from your subject line you are a Steely Dan fan?

Pretty much

The transition from, "this is going to suck" to being in an air conditioned rental car headed home was awesome.

What a world we live in!

vash · vash's Garage

Quote:

Originally Posted by Seahawk

.............. looking for someone to hug.

...fall together again!

bring it here, friend!!

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/off-topic-discussions/763980-dont-hug-me-bro.html

Buckterrier · 08-02-2013, 08:44 AM

Good karma. I tend to think what comes around goes around.

nostatic · nostatic's Garage

Probably were just low on squonk's tears...

speeder · speeder's Garage

As far as *vehicle breaks down on highway far from home* stories go, that's one of the best! I'm shuddering to imagine, however, if someone had that truck and towed it somewhere other than a Ford dealer and had to pay out of pocket for the repair + possibly towing.

That could be a bad haircut.

Glad it worked out for you. The old truck is looking good!

95avblm3 · 08-02-2013, 10:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Seahawk

Pretty much

The transition from, "this is going to suck" to being in an air conditioned rental car headed home was awesome.

What a world we live in!

Me too. Saw them live about 10 years ago in Tampa and 6 years ago in Dallas with Michael McDonald... they are coming again to Tampa next month... tempting.

Again, glad your breakdown to rolling in a rental was so smooth... been pondering AAA for my wife's car (out of warranty and roadside assistance).

Seahawk · 08-02-2013, 02:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 95avblm3

Me too. Saw them live about 10 years ago in Tampa and 6 years ago in Dallas with Michael McDonald... they are coming again to Tampa next month... tempting.

Again, glad your breakdown to rolling in a rental was so smooth... been pondering AAA for my wife's car (out of warranty and roadside assistance).

Excellent!

Saw The New York Rock and Soul Revue in DC, early 90's. We've seen SD a few other times, with my kids willing participants.

MY son describes it this way: I'm eight driving with my dad in a Targa and he has the CBAT CD in. I was doomed.

Picked up the truck this afternoon. All is well.

Get AAA, btw. We got it for my daughter who goes to college in AZ. The savings in hotel rates alone is worth the price.

nostatic · nostatic's Garage

The first song my son sang, unprompted, was around age 1.5 years. From the back of the car one night, he lets loose with, "back...jack...do it again..."

*sniff* so proud. Now at 16 he can nail the piano intro to Home at Last and thinks current pop music largely sucks.

aigel · aigel's Garage

Glad you lucked out with the aftermath, but do you find it acceptable that an 8 year old truck with just over 100k leaves you stranded? Looks like a common problem, hence the "warranty" up to 120k and 11 years:

Stuck fuel Injection - Extended Warranty.. - Ford Truck Enthusiasts Forums

I would replace all injectors. Maybe I am sensitive, but I frequently drive places where I'd have to hike 10+ hours to get to cell signal, so getting stranded is not a good thing.

G

Baz · Baz's Garage

Great story, Paul.

Due diligence plus karma at work for ya.....tough combo to beat.

fred cook · fred cook's Garage

In 1968 I was on my way back to Marietta, Georgia from Myrtle Beach driving my 1952 Ford street rod w/289 engine, mag wheels, paint, etc. when I started hearing bad noises from the rear end. Tried to get off I20 at an exit but the driveshaft dropped at the differential and the pinion got sucked into the ring gear. There just happened to be a Ford Dealership at the top of the exit ramp, so I walked up and got them to tow my car to their shop. Turned out they had 2-3 junk 52-53 Fords on the back lot so they pulled a complete rear end and put it in my car. Total cost to me was $75.00! Took about 4 hours to get all this done and then I was back on the road home. Turned out that the pinion nut had worked loose and let the pinion pull back into the ring gear where they destroyed each other. Happened 45 years ago but I still remember it like it was yesterday!

Seahawk · 08-03-2013, 06:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by aigel

...but do you find it acceptable that an 8 year old truck with just over 100k leaves you stranded? Looks like a common problem, hence the "warranty" up to 120k and 11 years.

I would replace all injectors. Maybe I am sensitive, but I frequently drive places where I'd have to hike 10+ hours to get to cell signal, so getting stranded is not a good thing.

Of course I don't find it acceptable. I have been electronically chewing Ford a new ass the past few days.

The fact that this known failure did not occasion a recall is absurd.

I am still giddy, however, that on Wednesday I dodged a lot of potential pain with my McGuiver-esk skill with an iPhone

mreid · 08-03-2013, 06:12 AM

iphone, the new Swiss Army knife!

Excellent story and outcome.

KFC911 · 08-03-2013, 07:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Seahawk

....I dodged a lot of potential pain with my McGuiver-esk skill with an iPhone

Your iPhone-fu is not to be messed with Master Paul

ps: Can anyone drive by signs to Annandale without mentally streaming SD?
I can't