Breaking down.

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Cope

Cope

Fusing with fire
Joined
Oct 20, 2009
Messages
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Location
San Jose, Ca.
Monday on the way to work I smelled antifreeze in the parking lot. I do the sniff test on my car to make sure it's not me and go to work. Today driving home after finishing a big job I can definitely smell antifreeze, I'm thinking well I got the rest of the week off I'll check out the car in the morning. I glance down at my temp gauge to make sure it ok and and F#CK it almost in the red.
I pull over in the first drive way (commercial area) and there's a nice bright sodium arc light so I roll to a stop under it and pop the hood. Upper radiator hose split.

Of course my AAA just expired but with the dart on the lift getting tubed I figure I'll renew it when I get paid so calling g then is out.....
I'm broke and far from home but my buddy (also my boss) lives close by. Call him up, he says there's an O'riley by my house I'll grab the hose and see ya in a bit.

Of course a bunch of folks are leaving the parking lot I'm broke down in, hood open, steam pouring out and NOT ONE stopped to ask if I'm ok.... what is wrong with folks??

Now I'm kinda pissed, I realy want a cigar but dont have any and was gonna stop and buy one. Low and behold there's one next to my seat!!

Buddy shows up with a bucket of water some vicegrips and the hose.

I change it out then ask what I owe ya for the hose? He says nothing and how bout I just pay you in cash now for the job?

So not only did I get it fixed I also got paid 5 days early in cash.

Not bad for breaking down, now I'm kicking back at the house, drinking an ice cold beer and smoking the rest of my underseat cigar!

Not a bad end to what could have been a realy crappy situation!

I'm glad good folks still exist.
 
There are lots of good folks, the problem is getting them where you need them when you need them LOL
 
I sat on side of the road(hwy 401) for 3 hours with cuda. After Moparfest(largest mopar show in Canada). Not one Mopar driving *** clown stopped. Flatbed it home CAA.
May be my last Moparfest.
Ignorant pricks are everywhere.
Glad yours turned out good!
Enjoy the stogie and pint!
 
Was planning on going to Mopar Max last weekend. Just before I left the house I got a call from a friend that another friend made it to the show with his 440/6 Challenger and the upper hose was bulging just above the thermostat housing. It wouldn't make the 75 mile trip home. I got online and found a universal hose, clamps and antifreeze at the local Advance Auto, I grabbed some tools and a drain pan and away I went to the show. 20 min. later we had him fixed up (right in the car show field) He made it home AOK and I was glad to help. Good thing my crock pot full of smoked chicken legs kept me home for a few min. longer. LOL
 
Cope said:
Monday on the way to work I smelled antifreeze in the parking lot. I do the sniff test on my car to make sure it's not me and go to work. Today driving home after finishing a big job I can definitely smell antifreeze, I'm thinking well I got the rest of the week off I'll check out the car in the morning. I glance down at my temp gauge to make sure it ok and and F#CK it almost in the red.
I pull over in the first drive way (commercial area) and there's a nice bright sodium arc light so I roll to a stop under it and pop the hood. Upper radiator hose split.

Of course my AAA just expired but with the dart on the lift getting tubed I figure I'll renew it when I get paid so calling g then is out.....
I'm broke and far from home but my buddy (also my boss) lives close by. Call him up, he says there's an O'riley by my house I'll grab the hose and see ya in a bit.

Of course a bunch of folks are leaving the parking lot I'm broke down in, hood open, steam pouring out and NOT ONE stopped to ask if I'm ok.... what is wrong with folks??

Now I'm kinda pissed, I realy want a cigar but dont have any and was gonna stop and buy one. Low and behold there's one next to my seat!!

Buddy shows up with a bucket of water some vicegrips and the hose.

I change it out then ask what I owe ya for the hose? He says nothing and how bout I just pay you in cash now for the job?

So not only did I get it fixed I also got paid 5 days early in cash.

Not bad for breaking down, now I'm kicking back at the house, drinking an ice cold beer and smoking the rest of my underseat cigar!

Not a bad end to what could have been a realy crappy situation!

I'm glad good folks still exist.
Click to expand...
Man I hate breaking down it sucks so bad!! Good thing you have friends like your boss!! Sounds like a good guy. I have always drove older fixer uppers so I'm kinda use to fixing stuff on the side of the road lol I always keep a toolbox and extra parts like hose clamps jugs of water brake fluid pieces of brake line and a flaring tool with fittings etc. Lol luckily with my current vehicle it has only left me setting once. Water pump locked up had to tow it home. Other than that iv always been able to limp it home and do the repairs
 
Cope said:
Monday on the way to work I smelled antifreeze in the parking lot. I do the sniff test on my car to make sure it's not me and go to work. Today driving home after finishing a big job I can definitely smell antifreeze, I'm thinking well I got the rest of the week off I'll check out the car in the morning. I glance down at my temp gauge to make sure it ok and and F#CK it almost in the red.
I pull over in the first drive way (commercial area) and there's a nice bright sodium arc light so I roll to a stop under it and pop the hood. Upper radiator hose split.

Of course my AAA just expired but with the dart on the lift getting tubed I figure I'll renew it when I get paid so calling g then is out.....
I'm broke and far from home but my buddy (also my boss) lives close by. Call him up, he says there's an O'riley by my house I'll grab the hose and see ya in a bit.

Of course a bunch of folks are leaving the parking lot I'm broke down in, hood open, steam pouring out and NOT ONE stopped to ask if I'm ok.... what is wrong with folks??

Now I'm kinda pissed, I realy want a cigar but dont have any and was gonna stop and buy one. Low and behold there's one next to my seat!!

Buddy shows up with a bucket of water some vicegrips and the hose.

I change it out then ask what I owe ya for the hose? He says nothing and how bout I just pay you in cash now for the job?

So not only did I get it fixed I also got paid 5 days early in cash.

Not bad for breaking down, now I'm kicking back at the house, drinking an ice cold beer and smoking the rest of my underseat cigar!

Not a bad end to what could have been a realy crappy situation!

I'm glad good folks still exist.
Click to expand...

I would have stopped for ya, especially if you were driving a Mopar.
A couple of weeks ago I was on my way home from a show when it started raining and along the way a blue 67 Chevelle was sitting dead at a stop light.
I turned my emergency flashers on and jumped out to help the guy push it out of the street.

Once out of the street and talking to the guy it was apparent that he really knew nothing about cars.
He had headlights but no cabin power at all.
I told him Chevy's usually get their cabin power from the connection at the starter and that we should trace the wires off the starter and find where the power loss is.
(Blank stare) so I asked if it was ok for me to take a look and he said "please do".

While following the wires I found a inline blade type fuse holder hiding behind his heater wires and coolant hoses at the firewall, and sure enough there is a 15 amp fuse in it that is blown.
I told him 15 amps isn't enough for the engine, headlights, brake lights, signals, wipers and heater blower. (remember it was raining)
He said when he turned on the wipers at the stoplight the car just shut off.
I asked him if he had another fuse, and again with the blank stare and eventually a "no I don't think so"

I run to my car a grab a 30 amp fuse out of the trunk box and pop it in and the car sprang back to life.

This was now the fourth car my Dart has made me rescue out on the road.:D
I think it gets some kind of sick satisfaction out of it.
 
This story makes me think of something my grandfather used to say. "You were awful lucky to be so unlucky"
 
TrailBeast said:
I would have stopped for ya, especially if you were driving a Mopar.
A couple of weeks ago I was on my way home from a show when it started raining and along the way a blue 67 Chevelle was sitting dead at a stop light.
I turned my emergency flashers on and jumped out to help the guy push it out of the street.

Once out of the street and talking to the guy it was apparent that he really knew nothing about cars.
He had headlights but no cabin power at all.
I told him Chevy's usually get their cabin power from the connection at the starter and that we should trace the wires off the starter and find where the power loss is.
(Blank stare) so I asked if it was ok for me to take a look and he said "please do".

While following the wires I found a inline blade type fuse holder hiding behind his heater wires and coolant hoses at the firewall, and sure enough there is a 15 amp fuse in it that is blown.
I told him 15 amps isn't enough for the engine, headlights, brake lights, signals, wipers and heater blower. (remember it was raining)
He said when he turned on the wipers at the stoplight the car just shut off.
I asked him if he had another fuse, and again with the blank stare and eventually a "no I don't think so"

I run to my car a grab a 30 amp fuse out of the trunk box and pop it in and the car sprang back to life.

This was now the fourth car my Dart has made me rescue out on the road.:D
I think it gets some kind of sick satisfaction out of it.
Click to expand...
I would kill for a Blank Stare sometimes! LOL Unfortunately I always seem to get the person who changed their oil and air filter once in college and now consider themselves somewhat of an ex mechanic!? But, just a little stumped on this one...
And since there an X pro there double questioning absolutely everything!
Sometimes I would just metaphorically kill to have someone give me a blank stare and keep quiet while I just fix the car.
 
j par said:
I would kill for a Blank Stare sometimes! LOL Unfortunately I always seem to get the person who changed their oil and air filter once in college and now consider themselves somewhat of an ex mechanic!? But, just a little stumped on this one...
And since there an X pro there double questioning absolutely everything!
Sometimes I would just metaphorically kill to have someone give me a blank stare and keep quiet while I just fix the car.
Click to expand...

Had a guy once pay me to change the timing set on his car, while he stood there and questioned everything I did, so I put everything together 180 degrees off.
(Then bet him 50 bucks more that it would run):D

Another guy pulled up to a stop sign and his truck died ((Ford with a 2.3)
I could tell by the sound of it cranking the timing belt broke, so I walked over and told him I could fix it right where it sat for 150 plus the belt, and he was ALL happy.
This was on the roadside on Sunday.
He went to get the belt and I was waiting for it when he got back with it.
He got all pissed off that it only took about 30 min for the whole job and didn't want to pay me.
OH, he did after a short little conversation about what kind of an asshole would do that after someone saved him from a tow to a shop and have to wait till Monday to even find out what they wanted to charge.
He was still pissed about it though.
 
Last edited:
Glad it worked out for you.

I always stop for old cars, motorcycles and Redheads.

Ben Drinkin normally beats me to the Redheads though!
 
67Dart273 said:
There are lots of good folks, the problem is getting them where you need them when you need them LOL
Click to expand...

I definitely count you as one of the good ones. Your advice on electrical issues was a big help to me, and I’m sure too many others here as well.
 
Check out the new hose...



Yup, that's a slice in the brand new hose...
Of course I tossed the receipt last nigh but at least it got me home....
 
Well said MHD, lots of knowledgable people on here. That's why I make it a point to hit THANKS button....lots here dont...and I notice. I take nothing for granted.
MileHighDart said:
I definitely count you as one of the good ones. Your advice on electrical issues was a big help to me, and I’m sure too many others here as well.
Click to expand...
67Dart273 said:
There are lots of good folks, the problem is getting them where you need them when you need them LOL
Click to expand...
 
@Cope if you’re broke there is a problem. You do fantastic metal work and shouldn’t be broke with the amount of work (and quality) you show. Charge more!!
 
Ha ha, Thank you for the kind words. Its a tough business. Lots of expenses but honestly, I do ok. Im not ritch by any count and money has never been a high priority to me. I almost always seem to find it when I am in need of it and the rest of the time I don't really think about it.

Thank you again and have a great day!
 
My brother and I rebuilt the push button 727 in my 63 Imperial. Figured it would be nice to add a drain plug in the pan, so a nut was welded inside and a hole drilled. We did use a gasket and a touch of silicone. Took it for a test drive and all was fine for awhile, until it wouldn't move as I was at a four way intersection once my light turned green.

I knew the drain plug had to have fallen out, so to confirm my suspicion I got out, crawled under and looked. Sure enough, fluid was still pouring out of the drain. So then like an idiot, as if somehow I was going to be able to find the plug and reinstall it, I put my thumb over the hole to stop the leak. That fluid was HOT. I let it all drain out and just laid there for a second before crawling out.

As I was just about to get out from under the car, some guy pulls up and asks if I'm okay. I guess it didn't look too good, someone laying under a car with a steady stream of red fluid on the pavement. He thought I was dead.
 
RussellSullivan said:
My brother and I rebuilt the push button 727 in my 63 Imperial. Figured it would be nice to add a drain plug in the pan, so a nut was welded inside and a hole drilled. We did use a gasket and a touch of silicone. Took it for a test drive and all was fine for awhile, until it wouldn't move as I was at a four way intersection once my light turned green.

I knew the drain plug had to have fallen out, so to confirm my suspicion I got out, crawled under and looked. Sure enough, fluid was still pouring out of the drain. So then like an idiot, as if somehow I was going to be able to find the plug and reinstall it, I put my thumb over the hole to stop the leak. That fluid was HOT. I let it all drain out and just laid there for a second before crawling out.

As I was just about to get out from under the car, some guy pulls up and asks if I'm okay. I guess it didn't look too good, someone laying under a car with a steady stream of red fluid on the pavement. He thought I was dead.
Click to expand...


thats hilarious, you should have told the guy that you were hillary's IT guy
 
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