Classic breakdowns
Discussion
A photo on a recent Jensen Interceptor thread made me think of all the times I have broken down in a classic; these days I consider a journey completed on the back of an AA truck as an occupational hazard.
Thought that I would share some photos of these over the years.
Collapsed fuel hose meant a no-start in Glasgow
https://photos.app.goo.gl/Ybyjdd8f8cGrCOPP2
An evening at the Cinema ended badly due to a malfunctioning Opus unit
https://photos.app.goo.gl/vX50eC4ncWeV71rX2
Failed condenser - M11 on the way back from collecting the car the day I bought it
https://photos.app.goo.gl/lTIF5DXfozEKCvZd2
Fortunately only a failed oil pressure gauge - but a scary moment when I thought I had lost all oil pressure
https://photos.app.goo.gl/TWnIqnFFRE8ZaWjl1
Overheating caused the car to stall just as I got home - a new radiator sorted that out
https://photos.app.goo.gl/i64XW0X4idaN2hl33
Not really broken down but on its way to restoration
https://photos.app.goo.gl/R7243K4isrJgtr4q2
While being collected from the restoration - water in the fuel tank so an easy fix once home and apparently a common in-period issue (and yes, the car has changed colour as part of the restoration)
https://photos.app.goo.gl/xjlJOREkprFR3S9g2
And I do sometimes drive a modern - this one unfortunately had an issue with the brakes - again an easy fix as the filter in the hydraulic reservoir only needed a clean.
https://photos.app.goo.gl/ZewLp4gn1cAVgO892
Thought that I would share some photos of these over the years.
Collapsed fuel hose meant a no-start in Glasgow
https://photos.app.goo.gl/Ybyjdd8f8cGrCOPP2
An evening at the Cinema ended badly due to a malfunctioning Opus unit
https://photos.app.goo.gl/vX50eC4ncWeV71rX2
Failed condenser - M11 on the way back from collecting the car the day I bought it
https://photos.app.goo.gl/lTIF5DXfozEKCvZd2
Fortunately only a failed oil pressure gauge - but a scary moment when I thought I had lost all oil pressure
https://photos.app.goo.gl/TWnIqnFFRE8ZaWjl1
Overheating caused the car to stall just as I got home - a new radiator sorted that out
https://photos.app.goo.gl/i64XW0X4idaN2hl33
Not really broken down but on its way to restoration
https://photos.app.goo.gl/R7243K4isrJgtr4q2
While being collected from the restoration - water in the fuel tank so an easy fix once home and apparently a common in-period issue (and yes, the car has changed colour as part of the restoration)
https://photos.app.goo.gl/xjlJOREkprFR3S9g2
And I do sometimes drive a modern - this one unfortunately had an issue with the brakes - again an easy fix as the filter in the hydraulic reservoir only needed a clean.
https://photos.app.goo.gl/ZewLp4gn1cAVgO892
John Watson,
You are such a prolific classic owner, and you didn't know?
A "failed condensor" is one whose insulation has failed internally, and now it conducts electricity across it, shorting out the points by earthing them.
The cure? Remove the condensor. The engine will run perfectly - but the points will wear out a thousand miles sooner, that's all!
John
You are such a prolific classic owner, and you didn't know?
A "failed condensor" is one whose insulation has failed internally, and now it conducts electricity across it, shorting out the points by earthing them.
The cure? Remove the condensor. The engine will run perfectly - but the points will wear out a thousand miles sooner, that's all!
John
Very few fortunately.
Loose distributor, on my way back from having an exhaust fitted so no tools in car. Truck came out took me home, had the car started before he'd completed his paper work.
Broke a shock in a pothole, but car made it home 120 miles.
Coolant leak, car made it home 150 miles with a bottle of water as back up.
Broke flex disc on an autoroute, my fault had ignored the warning signs. Tow to a garage back on the road 48hrs later.
So mostly my fault (as I suspect most breakdowns are)
Loose distributor, on my way back from having an exhaust fitted so no tools in car. Truck came out took me home, had the car started before he'd completed his paper work.
Broke a shock in a pothole, but car made it home 120 miles.
Coolant leak, car made it home 150 miles with a bottle of water as back up.
Broke flex disc on an autoroute, my fault had ignored the warning signs. Tow to a garage back on the road 48hrs later.
So mostly my fault (as I suspect most breakdowns are)
This one springs to mind, the timing chain flew off on my A40, while leaving Tatton park show in 2009.
Then there was the A40 Somerset that expired somewhere in the Pennines (I'd just swapped an E28 535i for it), we coasted down the hill and waited in a pub for the AA bloke to fetch us. It took a while to get that thing running properly. A rear wheel came off at a later date - a chap who saw this unfolding, offered to loan me the wheelnuts from his wife's Metro to get me home. However thanks to various passers-by, we found the originals and managed to limp home at slow speed.
Spitfire 2.5 conked out due to mastic having been applied by a previous owner to seal the carbs to the inlet manifold. Again pal and I waited in the pub to be fetched. Also had the n/s/f suspension pack up with this one (reversed home with the front end supported on a trolley jack), and a rear half-shaft let go at 50mph on a separate occasion - that made quite the racket.
Another Spitfire, rear wheel almost came off, the exhaust did the same (both in N Wales). The engine also let go - steam & oil over the road etc - (handily near a pub once again) so I ended up being towed home behind dad's car.
The auto gearbox on my S1 XJ12 let go quite spectacularly on the M56, leaving a smoke trail in its wake that Red Leader One would have been proud of. Someone had bodged the clutches inside the 'box apparently.
All my other breakdowns were fairly minor by comparison, minor fire behind the dash (Amazon), running out of fuel (yes, I'm looking at you again XJ12) that kind of thing.
RJ
Then there was the A40 Somerset that expired somewhere in the Pennines (I'd just swapped an E28 535i for it), we coasted down the hill and waited in a pub for the AA bloke to fetch us. It took a while to get that thing running properly. A rear wheel came off at a later date - a chap who saw this unfolding, offered to loan me the wheelnuts from his wife's Metro to get me home. However thanks to various passers-by, we found the originals and managed to limp home at slow speed.
Spitfire 2.5 conked out due to mastic having been applied by a previous owner to seal the carbs to the inlet manifold. Again pal and I waited in the pub to be fetched. Also had the n/s/f suspension pack up with this one (reversed home with the front end supported on a trolley jack), and a rear half-shaft let go at 50mph on a separate occasion - that made quite the racket.
Another Spitfire, rear wheel almost came off, the exhaust did the same (both in N Wales). The engine also let go - steam & oil over the road etc - (handily near a pub once again) so I ended up being towed home behind dad's car.
The auto gearbox on my S1 XJ12 let go quite spectacularly on the M56, leaving a smoke trail in its wake that Red Leader One would have been proud of. Someone had bodged the clutches inside the 'box apparently.
All my other breakdowns were fairly minor by comparison, minor fire behind the dash (Amazon), running out of fuel (yes, I'm looking at you again XJ12) that kind of thing.
RJ
JohnBlackWatson said:
And I do sometimes drive a modern - this one unfortunately had an issue with the brakes - again an easy fix as the filter in the hydraulic reservoir only needed a clean.
https://photos.app.goo.gl/ZewLp4gn1cAVgO892
That's actually considered a classic now.https://photos.app.goo.gl/ZewLp4gn1cAVgO892
grumpy52 said:
How many keep a decent spares kit in the car , fully built up dizzy with leads , coil , carb kit , plugs , belts , hoses and fluids ? Bits of electrical cable , connectors ,tape and a useful tool kit .
I do, but only for holiday insurance. In addition to the supplied car tool kit in the boot. Gaffer tape
Insulating tape
Combination spanners
Screwdrivers
Common 3/8 socket sizes with rachet, extension, UJ, plug socket.
Test light
Mulitmeter
Blink code reader
Contact cleaner
WD 40
Cable ties, hose clips, electrical connectors, crimp tool
Pliers
Magnetic pick up tool
Non magnetic pick up tool (I'm clumsy)
Inspection light
Fuses
Bulbs
It all fits in a soft zip up case measuring 14" x 10" x 3" and sits under a seat.
The only thing I've needed to use over the last few yrs was gaffer tape, I managed to reverse into a bollard and broke a light!
grumpy52 said:
How many keep a decent spares kit in the car , fully built up dizzy with leads , coil , carb kit , plugs , belts , hoses and fluids ? Bits of electrical cable , connectors ,tape and a useful tool kit .
yep, for the TR – injectors, pump, filters. Need to put one together for the Quattro but probably easier/cheaper to just buy another car.
grumpy52 said:
How many keep a decent spares kit in the car , fully built up dizzy with leads , coil , carb kit , plugs , belts , hoses and fluids ? Bits of electrical cable , connectors ,tape and a useful tool kit .
I do:Socket Set
Multimeter
Screwdrivers
Engine oil
Coolant
Transmission oil
Gaffer tape
Cable ties
Fuses
Electrical cable
Hose kit
Belt kit
Alternator
Fuel filter
3 x switches
2 x 12v relays
Bulb kit
2 x Bulb holders
Flasher unit
4 x wheel nuts
Starter motor solenoid
Multiswitch (indicators, horn, wipers)
Distributor leads
I have only ever had to have the car recovered twice in 16 years of ownership
The metal pipe from the fuel tank parted company from the rest of the tank and on the second occasion the gearbox failed.
Driving a Trabant over a number of years, I have had spark plugs spat out of cylinder heads, numerous drive belts chewed, exhaust dropped, electrical fires, relays jammed open/shut, and various other things come adrift in the engine bay.
But it brings a smile to my face every time I take him out for a spin...
But it brings a smile to my face every time I take him out for a spin...
In 15 years of driving 25+ year old GM cars daily (bar an E63 AMG, now solved with a Bedford CF), I've only been let down once. The feed to the fuel pump came off my Manta GT/E while on a date with a lovely lady. I called the AA and the driver turned up with a truck with a spec lift. He lifted the back of the car on the lift while I went underneath and plugged the connector back in. Problem solved!
I've always been of the opinion that if you look after your car it will look after you!
BTW lady and car are both now long gone
I've always been of the opinion that if you look after your car it will look after you!
BTW lady and car are both now long gone
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