Is your car ever left u on the side of the road ?

[rslifkin]

I've come close twice in the Jeep.

First time, alternator rectifier dead shorted on me. Fortunately, I was less than 1/2 a mile off-campus, and was able to limp it back before the alternator got too hot (the rest of the alt lived through the incident, and it works great after a new rectifier and new brushes).

The 2nd time was a couple of weeks ago, when my e-fan override switch wiring decided to fail (couldn't figure out an exact cause, only a list of parts that failed). Driving down the road, center console suddenly starts pouring smoke. I pulled over, pulled out a knife, cut the accessible wires for it, kept them separated, and continued home.

 

[Spazdog]

Oh goodness, let me see...

My 1981 Mustang L 2.3? When it's gas gauge needle touched the "E", you were out of gas. None of this business where the needle could go a significant way past "E" like you could in the parent's cars. Nope. That was my fault. Also, the OHC 2.3 distributor is mounted real low on the engine. That's a handy bit of information to have before negotiating a low water crossing. Also my fault. Nothing a can of carb cleaner couldn't dry out though.

Routed a transmission cooler line on my convertible badly. Spewed ATF+3 all over the freeway and got stuck. Also my fault.

I was borrowing my mom's Audi 4000 and it spontaneously threw a belt. I guess it was just that belt's time. For once,I was actually driving responsibly when it went. In my youthful "I know everything..." state. I pressed on until the car started to get hot. I pulled over to let it cool off before it overheated. (it takes a long time for a VW/Audi 1.8 to cool off) Get back in the car and the battery is now dead. So, I'm out later than I agreed to be when I borrowed the car, at a gas station, with a dead battery, and I can't find the jumper cables. I had to accept responsibility for that one. Not sure it was really my fault though. I did learn that the A/C belt on an Audi wraps around the front engine mount because I had to replace both of the belts for calling to be rescued at 2:00am.

 

[beanoil]

More times than I should have been. In 1978, I was stranded in a pullout off of the Long Island Expressway with a broken front shock. My Fiero blew the head gasket while on vacation and missed 3 days of work while the Pontiac dealer in Cocoa Beach put it back together. My Mercury Villager started misfiring, and stalled one night on the way home from work. The contact came off the top of the rotor. The ignition switch failed in my Pontiac Montana, leaving me stranded at a shopping mall. Apparently the passkey sensor failed. There are more, but why go on. That's just my luck, and I've learned to accept it. Dooky happens.

 

[javacontour]

Just this weekend. Driving the church van up to O'Hare airport to pick up our daughter and others from the church returning from a mission trip to Kenya. Just outside Pontiac, IL I notice the van is doing it's best impression of putting down smoke screen like you see in those WWII naval movies. I check the gauges and everything is fine, smoke stops and we proceed to the exit at Pontiac, IL, where the problem is obvious as we come off the freeway, transmission.

We literally coast into the C-store. One of the transmission cooler lines breaks off at the radiator and the transmission had pumped most of the fluid out on the highway.

Of course this is at 5:30pm on 7/3.

oilBabe and I make some calls. No vans to rent, nothing open to fix the van. (I certainly have no tools to use, let alone any means to craft a new line.) After about 90 minutes, start getting return calls from folks back home and we suggest leaving the van since nothing can be done until today, and that someone bring us one of the other vans and they can either go on with us, or drive back if someone follows them up.

Our son follows a friend as he drives us the older 15pax van. We notice a Chevy dealer and drop the key and a note in the box with the story, the churches number and the location of the van so they can get it. We continued our trip yesterday while our son and friend return home.

The dealer called this AM and is getting the van and starting to look at it after they reach someone from the church.

 

[Dave Sherman]

My dad's 1988 Pontiac 6000 left me on the side of a highway when the plastic camshaft gear shed a few teeth. I think that was much worse than a belt; at least a belt is designed to be replaced without having to pull the engine, remove all the lifters and pull the camshaft out. Fortunately, it was a non-interference engine.

I think I headed off being stranded after I bought tires for the Honda. Stupid tire shop had their impact wrench set for "cold weld", and the first time I rotated them there was no way they were coming off with the stock wrench. I nearly drove back and demanded they try loosening them with the stock wrench, but remembered I had a cross arm lug wrench in the camper. I bought one for the Honda after that.

I've had my share of unplanned stops in the MG, thanks to the more volatile gasoline we have today and a mechanical fuel pump that gets hot enough to boil gasoline, leading to lots of vapor locking. Fixed that with an electric pump.

 

[Scorch]

My baby has been good to me for the past 70K miles I have driven and owned it. 2004 Dodge stratus with the notoriously bad 2.7L V6 Chrysler created with an internal water pump.

Anyway the only time I had a real issue was when I started noticing at around 104k that I was starting to lose a small amount of coolant with no noticeable leaks I started to think the water pump seal had started to leak. I changed the oil and did not find anything remotely milky looking so I started looking elsewhere but couldn't find anything. Finally I rolled into work one day and actually smelled coolant burning and thought oh god, popped the hood and out of the top water outlet that connects the engine/reservoir/radiator was coolant spurting out. Turns out that the top was just "glued" to the bottom of the enclosure. Purchased an aftermarket one that bolted with gaskets inbetween to ensure it will never happen again. Other than that no issues!

 

[wander2039]

Just one a few others for a hour or two. Chevy Tahoe loaner apparently when it read 1/8 tank it was bone dry. GMC S15 on occasion would start cutting out for no reason $500 and new computer fixed that, after setting 2+ hours it was driveable. Dad's 86 F150 would shut off when the TFT(?) module got hot.. got a few good naps from that one.

 

[exranger06]

Never been stranded with my own cars, only with some POS company trucks I used to drive. 1994 Chevy S10- driving down the highway (3 lanes- I was in the far left lane) all of a sudden the gauges started moving around and acting crazy, the speedometer went all the way over 100 mph while my actual speed didn't change. Then the truck just died. I tried using the turn signals and hazard flashers as I moved across the other 2 lanes, but the whole electrical system was messed up and didn't work. Managed to get to the breakdown lane, all while trying to restart the truck. Accidentally turned the key too far back and locked the steering, luckily I was almost stopped at that point. I called my boss and he sent a flatbed, which I rode in back to the store.

2000? S10- I was making a delivery. I got in the truck, and the starter wouldn't engage on the flexplate, it just spun freely. Had to get a coworker to come pick me up.

2002 Ford Ranger started overheating on me as I got off the highway, this one didn't actually leave me stranded. I managed to get back to the store just in time for the steam to really start pouring out of the hood.

 

[NJC]

Only once ... a broken time belt on a 1976 'vette (Chevette).

Oh, and a rented 1996 Ford motorhome continually left us stranded in hot weather one summer. We'd have to sit on the side of the road for it to cool, then we'd be back on our way. What A PITA!

 

[PandaBear]

Twice, the battery died once and the ignition coil died the other.

 

[MetalSlug]

wow some of u are worse then me, anyway got new starter in today, crank it up and drove stray home, then got a ride back and ride other one home. man I have to went thru [censored] and alot hammer on exhault to install the new style heavy duty starter. Im cover in grease and dirty. Im hoping that starter last me a long time.

 

[javacontour]

It's happened other times as well. The OP's story about the starter reminded me of the time in the past year when I changed the starter on the Camry driven by the kids. Fortunately on the 2002 Camry, you can change it from the top and I did that in the parking lot of the local library.

I took the old one out, locked the tools, battery and the air box in the trunk of the car, took the starter to Advance Auto to test it. When it tested bad, I had them pull my order for the replacement, purchased with a percent off a purchase over X dollars coupon code. I had them test the replacement starter before I left and returned to get the starter installed in about 30 minutes.

I think I spent as much time driving as I did R&R on the starter. I was glad I could get to it from the top as that made it a pretty easy job. I don't think any of my other cars would be quite as easy as the Camry.

 

[MetalSlug]

Originally Posted By: javacontour
It's happened other times as well. The OP's story about the starter reminded me of the time in the past year when I changed the starter on the Camry driven by the kids. Fortunately on the 2002 Camry, you can change it from the top and I did that in the parking lot of the local library.

I took the old one out, locked the tools, battery and the air box in the trunk of the car, took the starter to Advance Auto to test it. When it tested bad, I had them pull my order for the replacement, purchased with a percent off a purchase over X dollars coupon code. I had them test the replacement starter before I left and returned to get the starter installed in about 30 minutes.

I think I spent as much time driving as I did R&R on the starter. I was glad I could get to it from the top as that made it a pretty easy job. I don't think any of my other cars would be quite as easy as the Camry.


I wish my at the top, the heavy duty one that I got much bigger, I have to hammer the [censored] out off my header and Y pipe. to make it fix.

 

[65cuda]

Had a 84 Tempo that left us stranded at a stop light in Mo. My 80+ old aunt was with us and we had to get it towed back to her house about thirty miles away. So there three adults, one kid and the tow truck driver in the cab of the tow truck. My aunt was laughing about it all the way back. Luckily since it was over Memorial weekend she knew the mechanic down the hill from her and he came over after church the next day and looked at and we took it to his shop. The ignition module had gone out on it and luckily they had one. Guess they were pretty common to go on them. Also had a starter on a Chevy van go out parked in front of the dealership and probably a couple of other ones I don't want to remember.

 

[MetalSlug]

Do u guys feel shame or embrassing when your car broke down ? I bet every one in their life time, got there car broke down.

My friend event worse, his car break down on his way for interview, and it was rains hard that time, he have to walk in for interview, he very late, but the boss did gave him a job.

Btw list some thing that you cant maintaint or check it weekly-monthly. when it fail it fail
Im start with starter, oil pump, fuel pump

 

[1 SX]

Yes!, my 1994 SL2 in the rain... I hit a puddle around 60Mph, the front tire spun for a split sec, and it blew the diff pin!...

 

[97tbird]

None of the cars we have owned left us stranded:

89 Accord (had 189k miles when traded in)
88 Caprice (125k miles - just died in granny's care - i only had it for like 5 months)
01 Saturn SL2 (totaled in acc. had 50k miles)

97 Tbird (current - 155k miles)
03 Elantra (current - 167k miles)
05 BMW 330Ci (current - 20k miles)

 

[SteveSRT8]

It seems obligatory to point out to the people that have never been left stranded that it is pure luck.

If you drive long enough of course you will eventually be left walking somewhere.

 

[PandaBear]

Originally Posted By: SteveSRT8
It seems obligatory to point out to the people that have never been left stranded that it is pure luck.

If you drive long enough of course you will eventually be left walking somewhere.


For absolute probability I agree with you, but for vehicles with large enough sample size, the relative reliability can be assumed if one model has significantly more "left on the side of the road" than the other.