I was saying to my dad if I learned all this crap about my car if it ever breaks that at least I could fix it rather than it shutting off on me and then I just sit there on the side of the road with a puzzled look on my face going "well where the hell do I start.. what could be wrong now"... so

ked85 or TomP have either of you ever broken down on the side of the road.. what'd you do.. did you fix it? howd you find what was wrong?

(i know tom has the 2.8 and ked has the what.. 3.4?)

 

well, after just about any breakdown, you'll have a puzzledlook on your face and you'll be saying, whta the hell just happened. lol . I've only had the car crap out on me twice, and once it got me home, i was just stupid enough to take it out that same day to see what was going on, and it died up the road a tad. lets see, my two times of it dying was one =engine blew, and two = fuel pump went out. If u know ur cars having troubles, and have an idea where it's coming from, then maybe you'll have a clue where to start, but there is no set way of goiung about it. If i had to tell you that your engine died, just remember this. An engine needs three things to run, air, fuel, and spark. If it's missing one of these, then you're screwed, so, i'd check ignition components (coil wires, distributor, cap, rotor, wires, plug boots, etc. ) check the airfilter area, and the MAF, make sre theres ther obstruction in the screen and whatnot, or a goffball clogging your throttle body, hehe. And gas, not sure how to check that one, an inline fuel filter would work nice (the ones you see on carbed v8 cars, then you could see if gas was getting the the engine. Hope this helps.

 

generally i only break down when i expect to...like i know that something is wrong, then when i break down i say "ahh yes that was gonna get me sooner or later" then depending on whats wrong i call AAA

 

I carry tools

 

Two fuel pumps; one at a convenience store, one at raceway park, right after I ran the 1/4. Can't fix those; had the first one towed, second one I drove home- if I kept the engine rpm's above 3k, the motor kept running. Good thing it was late at night; drove home in 2nd, at stoplights I had to shift to neutral and rev the gas up.

One spark module, it died on the side of the road right before the delaware memorial bridge. Held an old towel soaked with gatorade pressed against the bottom of the distributor to pull the heat out of the module. It cooled down, drove home.

One alternator, left me on the side. Dad brought me our spare battery, we always keep it charged, I ran on the battery to get home. The second trans died on me when I was driving, luckily it left me a few hundred feet from my house; had to tow it. (First trans got me to the trans shop.)

Once my car just died. Got it running, it was running poorly, yanked off the road into a parking lot, put a puzzled look on my face, and stared at the barely running motor. Wound up wiggling the wires around the distributor- not the spark plug wires, the actual harness wires for the module and coil. When I wiggled the coil harness wires, the car died. I had used one of those blue splice connectors to tap my Sunpro tach into the harness- and after years of vibration, the splice connector ruined the main wire and left it with one strand! I pulled the splice connector and drove straight home.

But for me, not much has broken that was easy to fix. There are a few minor ones; like a dead MAF (unplugging 3pin connector), loose spark plug wires, a plug fell out once (thought my engine blew!), etc. Of course only the major ones are sticking in my mind.

Now I keep tools with me; nothing much, but enough to fix common stuff. Like the roll of duct tape for a blown rad hose. Or the exact sockets I'd need to swap an alternator, or pull a distributor module. I keep a spare belt with me in case one snaps, and a roll of wire & pocketknife in case I need to fix a wire. Something cool- using the wire, and pulling a marker bulb out of the fender, you get a test light! I've got a 10mm wrench, and I think a 1/2 and 9/16, and a phillips screwdriver & flathead. I tried to look at what could break, and how I could replace it on the road.

 

Only times my IROC has quit on me was a bad coil, replaced it once I figured out whats wrong. And when the tranny blew out, lost everything but first and reverse. Thats the only time my sport coupe left me stranded too, tranny blew

 

I think that there is a limit to how much you can "McGiver" the modern automoble - the more technical it is, the harder it is to fix w/ a swiss army knife. I've had some amazing luck with strangers stopping to help - one guy carried me to the auto parts place - AND brought me back to the car !! (when I dropped a drive shaft).
There are some good people in the world.
Once when the fuel pump went out, I had a can for model airplane fuel in the car - it had a rubber hose on it, I filled the can w/ gas and taped it to the top of the car, hooked the rubber hose to the fuel line & GRAVITY FED! the carb (350 w/ 4 bbr Holly), I had to fill the can 2 or 3 times but I got home. I don't think that this would on FI, think that they need more pressure.
But the all time award goes to - - - My mom. She used PANTY HOSE ! as a fan belt - to keep the Alt. & water pump turning to get to a station - I used that trick once myself, Boy, that woman looked at me funny, when I bought those Panty Hose. Again don't think you can do it with a serpentine belt sys.

When a break down happens; the main thing is to step back and take 2 or 3 deep breaths - slow it down, it usually happens at the worst time - realise that you ain't gona make it to the Party - work or where ever. Step back, let your mind work on the situation. DONT DO ANY THING TO MAKE THINGS WORSE. Keep your head, you'll come out ok.

 

Things I keep in my trunk incase I break down :

1. Tools of course
2. ignition coil
3. a couple of plugwires
4. jumper cables , in case I ever have a no start condition in a parking lot , it maybe the battery
5. water , antifreeze

I REALLY don't advise working on the side of the road , try to get your care in a parking lot if you can . I have seen too many people down her get killed or hurt trying to fix their car on the side of the road . If you can't work on your car in a safe place call a towtruck . Paying for a towtruck is worth way more than your life .

AND dont trust anyone bringing you to the parts store or etc , they have had people get robbed or killed down here doing that .
There is some good people in this world , but you cant go by looks when trusting someone .

 

I REALLY don't advise working on the side of the road , try to get your car in a parking lot if you can . I have seen too many people down her get killed or hurt trying to fix their car on the side of the road . If you can't work on your car in a safe place call a towtruck .

AND dont trust anyone bringing you to the parts store or etc , they have had people get robbed or killed down here doing that .
There is some good people in this world , but you cant go by looks when trusting someone .
__________________
Wayne

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You are so right, Bro -