Where have you broken down?
Discussion
A few months back I got stuck on a Welsh mountaintop due to suspected wheel bearing issues with only an ice cream van and sheep for company 
.
While waiting for the breakdown service for 3 hours I wandered around enjoying the lovely view and watched the various bikes and nice cars come and go.
And just as I was losing hope the breakdown service would come, who should show up but none other than the Youtube drive crew and Chris Harris even offered me an ice cream - top bloke!
So while my planned trip that day was ruined, I thoroughly enjoyed the unplanned stay at this viewpoint (and had a few too many ice-creams)!
. While waiting for the breakdown service for 3 hours I wandered around enjoying the lovely view and watched the various bikes and nice cars come and go.
And just as I was losing hope the breakdown service would come, who should show up but none other than the Youtube drive crew and Chris Harris even offered me an ice cream - top bloke!
So while my planned trip that day was ruined, I thoroughly enjoyed the unplanned stay at this viewpoint (and had a few too many ice-creams)!
Edited by Hyperen on Tuesday 11th September 01:17
pjdow said:
As is was in the middle of roadworks and I came to a halt in the coned off section the police decided that they needed to close the motorway to allow for the AA to recover me.
Why would you need the AA for a blow out?My worst was a broken gearlever on the A82 just west of Drumchapel at rush hour; gaffer tape and string got me home using 2nd and 3rd only.
I could fill this topic...
My old '93 RR County LWB (US 4.2 LSE) on the side of I-95 in the middle of nowhere South Carolina pulling a trailer. Blew a radiator hose. Pulled the split open hose off, walked 3 miles to a house, bribed a guy $20 to drive me to a parts store, found a hose that we were able to make work. Oh, it was August so that means over 90 and humid as a sauna. Fun.
Cross country trip in an E-Type S1 4.2 roadster... Fuel pump decided to die in, again, nowheresville, Indiana on the side of I-70. Thankfully the shoulder was nice and wide and I had a spare fuel pump so changed that on the side of the road. This triggered a massive thunderstorm as well, so that was fun
Last December... I had finally gotten my 1960 Lincoln working and was taking it about 45 miles away to a big meet for Toys For Tots. I had made mention that the Lincoln would be debuting there, Its at a well known speed shop and over a hundred cars were there. I pull up (I had collected bags and bags of toys for charity, this is a program run by the US Marines) and I'm waved in and I park right in front. As I pull up the lower radiator hose pops loose and the car is sitting in a puddle of steam and coolant in front of everyone and everything. That was fun.
The Lincoln again.. 2 weeks later... Finally get the then girlfriend to agree to a ride... Turns put the radiator shop had recorded the radiator with cheap epoxy instead of solder. Boom, right on the Garden State Parkway all hell breaks loose and I limp into a service plaza in a cloud of steam and coolant. Ahh... Fun...
My old '93 RR County LWB (US 4.2 LSE) on the side of I-95 in the middle of nowhere South Carolina pulling a trailer. Blew a radiator hose. Pulled the split open hose off, walked 3 miles to a house, bribed a guy $20 to drive me to a parts store, found a hose that we were able to make work. Oh, it was August so that means over 90 and humid as a sauna. Fun.
Cross country trip in an E-Type S1 4.2 roadster... Fuel pump decided to die in, again, nowheresville, Indiana on the side of I-70. Thankfully the shoulder was nice and wide and I had a spare fuel pump so changed that on the side of the road. This triggered a massive thunderstorm as well, so that was fun
Last December... I had finally gotten my 1960 Lincoln working and was taking it about 45 miles away to a big meet for Toys For Tots. I had made mention that the Lincoln would be debuting there, Its at a well known speed shop and over a hundred cars were there. I pull up (I had collected bags and bags of toys for charity, this is a program run by the US Marines) and I'm waved in and I park right in front. As I pull up the lower radiator hose pops loose and the car is sitting in a puddle of steam and coolant in front of everyone and everything. That was fun.
The Lincoln again.. 2 weeks later... Finally get the then girlfriend to agree to a ride... Turns put the radiator shop had recorded the radiator with cheap epoxy instead of solder. Boom, right on the Garden State Parkway all hell breaks loose and I limp into a service plaza in a cloud of steam and coolant. Ahh... Fun...
Middle of the Australian desert, about 200 miles from the closest town, head gasket went. Got towed to the closest petrol station (a mere 20 miles) and determined the problem, and that I was screwed! Fortunately hitchhiking is very easy when there's basically one road going straight to the next town and I managed to get a lift up there, traipse around in the sweltering head and find a reconditioned cylinder head (I wasn't going to take a chance on the old one being fine with a 400 mile round trip!) so I bought that, found a lift back and then the fun started. Changing a head gasket in the middle of a giant sandpit, with assistance from a couple of ostriches who thought plug leads looked like nice juicy worms, and a limited selection of tools.
Got it done and then made the 2,800 km journey back to Sydney in one go, hoping everything held out. It did.
For those that know it, there's a point where you come off the Blue Mountains where you come over the hill and see Sydney in front of you, and seeing that was without doubt the happiest moment of my driving/spannering career.
Got it done and then made the 2,800 km journey back to Sydney in one go, hoping everything held out. It did.
For those that know it, there's a point where you come off the Blue Mountains where you come over the hill and see Sydney in front of you, and seeing that was without doubt the happiest moment of my driving/spannering career.
Not long after getting my licence and first car, I ran out of petrol on a bridge.
I wasn't particularly popular with either the motorists who got stuck behind me or my sister who was cajoled into helping me push.
Here's the bridge in question. http://goo.gl/maps/lGkcX
I wasn't particularly popular with either the motorists who got stuck behind me or my sister who was cajoled into helping me push.
Here's the bridge in question. http://goo.gl/maps/lGkcX
The front suspension collapsed on the Mercedes, luckily I was doing about 5mph in the car park at the wedding I was going to!
Only problem was that this was in Chatham and I live in Herts. However, I spent a nice day at the wedding, and called the RAC when it was time to go home, so I could have a drink and get a lift the 100 miles home!
Only problem was that this was in Chatham and I live in Herts. However, I spent a nice day at the wedding, and called the RAC when it was time to go home, so I could have a drink and get a lift the 100 miles home!
Fubar1977 said:
M62 Coming up a lot on here...
Interesting that. I travel to Warrington from Stockport twice a week on average and I have to say it is one of the most uncomfortable motorway surfaces I have ever encountered.In an 18t truck, it feels like my fillings are about to fall out, makes you wonder what effect it can have on vehicles that are about to mechanically 'let go'.
martin84 said:
I'm not sure running out of petrol qualifies as broken down. More like user error.
Well in one my cases I ran out of petrol the day I bought my 350i. The reason was the seller said "I filled her up for you" but the guage was on the red, so I just assumed it the petrol guage not working, well, until she sputtered to a stop. I am not 100% happy to take that as user error - trusting a seller?!?Whilst living in brazil, we did a roadtrip around the north east of the country.
In short we ran out of gas on a bandit highway (where the local police dont pretend to offer any help) and i
left my wife in the car and hitch hiked into the next town to get more fuel. A once in a lifetime experience where i really appreciated the cool calm and logical side of my wife!
Especially as i had refused to stop for gas twice and made up a story about our rental car having a 45 litre reserve tank in the insane hope we could make it to the next town...
The roads were like this:
The full story from out travel blog is here:
http://gregandcathsadventures.wordpress.com/2009/0...
In short we ran out of gas on a bandit highway (where the local police dont pretend to offer any help) and i
left my wife in the car and hitch hiked into the next town to get more fuel. A once in a lifetime experience where i really appreciated the cool calm and logical side of my wife!
Especially as i had refused to stop for gas twice and made up a story about our rental car having a 45 litre reserve tank in the insane hope we could make it to the next town...
The roads were like this:
The full story from out travel blog is here:
http://gregandcathsadventures.wordpress.com/2009/0...
1400cvh lump decided to cut out & not resume for 30minutes+ one morning whilst going around the large roundabout at the end of bramall lane in Sheffield.
It was about 8.30am & I had a practical exam starting at 9am...... Just as tow-truck firm phoned to say they'd be there in 15 minutes, I managed to get the s
tting thing running, albeit over-fuelling like mad... So hurriedly popped/farted and burbled my way to the exam.
The 50 mile trek home at 10pm that night was a nervous one down the m18.
Never did find out what caused it, the 1100cc ECU could well have been the cause
It was about 8.30am & I had a practical exam starting at 9am...... Just as tow-truck firm phoned to say they'd be there in 15 minutes, I managed to get the s
tting thing running, albeit over-fuelling like mad... So hurriedly popped/farted and burbled my way to the exam.The 50 mile trek home at 10pm that night was a nervous one down the m18.
Never did find out what caused it, the 1100cc ECU could well have been the cause
M4, twin carb 948 Herald. Bottom bolt fell out of one of the 1 1/8 SUs so car was running on two cylinders. Bolt fell onto the chassis, fitted it back and carried on.
Broken halfshaft by spaghetti junction on the M6 - Triumph Courier Van - AA relay back to Coventry.
North Circular well before M25 days, rush hour. Triumph Vitesse that wouldn't start with the starter when hot - stalled. To add some spice the drivers door was jammed shut - had to bump start it from the passenger side.
Near Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe. Broken halfshaft - Triumph Vitesse - replaced one broke a few days later in Namibia.
A423, plastic ball disappeared at the bottom of the gearstick - Herald coupe. Found a new one in the rear footwell.
M25, heading back to Coventry early one morning after a day trip to France, LHD Spitfire. Hit a rock that destroyed the tyre (and bent the steel rim). No jack handle - had to use the dipstick. Spare was virtually flat, had to drive on the hard shoulder to a service station - 20p for air!
Broken halfshaft by spaghetti junction on the M6 - Triumph Courier Van - AA relay back to Coventry.
North Circular well before M25 days, rush hour. Triumph Vitesse that wouldn't start with the starter when hot - stalled. To add some spice the drivers door was jammed shut - had to bump start it from the passenger side.
Near Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe. Broken halfshaft - Triumph Vitesse - replaced one broke a few days later in Namibia.
A423, plastic ball disappeared at the bottom of the gearstick - Herald coupe. Found a new one in the rear footwell.
M25, heading back to Coventry early one morning after a day trip to France, LHD Spitfire. Hit a rock that destroyed the tyre (and bent the steel rim). No jack handle - had to use the dipstick. Spare was virtually flat, had to drive on the hard shoulder to a service station - 20p for air!
My Mini emptied itself of coolant on Snake Pass on a section with nowhere to stop, it very quickly overheated and then cut out. I managed to coast to the traffic lights at Ladybower reservoir where there was space for traffic to pass in both directions. It was ironic that I was next to a massive reservoir and yet had no way of getting water into the radiator, I had to call a friend and wait for him to bring me some from Sheffield.
pjdow said:
davepoth said:
Middle of roadworks means nowhere to pull over. You don't change tyres in a live lane.
ThisI phoned it in, the emergency controller and I both having a word of empathy with eachother as to how anyone could be possibly so stupid.
"Did you manage to see which tyre it was?" Couldn't see much as I was in lane 3 going the other way. But "Yes", says I "rear nearside, it's on the jack as we speak". "FFS, ok cheers for that" say the controller.
pjdow said:
davepoth said:
Middle of roadworks means nowhere to pull over. You don't change tyres in a live lane.
ThisI caught the concrete support base (like a brick) for one of those flashing yellow lamps in a contraflow on the M62 and it put dent in the wheel rim and the tyre deflated. There was a coned off lane between the opposing contraflow lanes so I pulled into that and (doesn't bear thinking about now) changed the wheel - with F1 style speed.
While I was doing it the roadworks recovery crew went past on the other carriageway and shouted for me to wait, but I'd done it and gone before they came back.
A couple spring to mind!
Getting a flat Tyre in the middle of a herd of Zebra in Kenya. Changing the tyre with the thought of Lions in the area made us get a move on!
An old Citroen BX decided the best time for the starter motor to go was on the ferry, we were up the pointy end and the first car off....no one else could get past so I was jump started up the ramp.
Smoke coming into the cabin in my '78 Aston V8, stopped outside a police station to investigate, the car had had a flat battery so I had jumped it from a starter box, managed to get a plastic bag of socks attached at the same time.....
Mr Plod offered me a jump start a commented that it smelt of fire...
Getting a flat Tyre in the middle of a herd of Zebra in Kenya. Changing the tyre with the thought of Lions in the area made us get a move on!
An old Citroen BX decided the best time for the starter motor to go was on the ferry, we were up the pointy end and the first car off....no one else could get past so I was jump started up the ramp.
Smoke coming into the cabin in my '78 Aston V8, stopped outside a police station to investigate, the car had had a flat battery so I had jumped it from a starter box, managed to get a plastic bag of socks attached at the same time.....
Mr Plod offered me a jump start a commented that it smelt of fire...
S1_RS said:
Broke down just before entering the Dartford tunnel in a Mk3 Cooper S. it then broke down on the other side and once more before I made it home.
My old Carlton broke down *in* the tunnel. On boxing day.That was not fun. 2 of us pushed it halfway out until we got to the bit where it starts going up....
tomsugden said:
Many years ago I broke down in my 1965 Triumph Vitesse 6, in the middle of the dartford tunnel, in rush hour. This was before the bridge, so one tunnel in each direction. A kind police man eventually arrived, towed me to the service area, then fined me for breaking down 
And then the tunnel people turned up in a Landy and towed us out.Gassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff