Parking Lot Repairs

[Mitch Rockwell]

So how many of you have had to fix a vehicle in a parking lot?

The reason this comes up is because I got stranded in the diesel this morning, parked at a gas station. I shut the truck off to go in and grab something to drink, came back out and it wouldn't start. The gauge cluster and radio was dead, and nothing would happen when I turned the key. After getting my dad to bring me some tools, I pulled the cover off the steering column and found the culprit. The hot wire going to the ignition was broke. A little black tape fixed it good enough to get home. I suppose tilting the wheel up and down caused the wire to break, but I'm still a little miffed that I found out this way.

So don't be bashful, share your best parking lot repair with the crowd.

 

[Doc Tinker]

I replaced a lift pump in the Post Office parking lot a few weeks ago. A guy with a Dodge Ram gasser stopped and offered to help until he saw I had a diesel. He said he didn't know nothing about diesels so he couldn't help me. I told him I'd teach him something, but he left anyway.



Doc

 

[Mitch Rockwell]

One other thing to add. My brother came with my dad and brought his Ferd gasser(he still kicks himself for selling his CTD). After I got home I told him "there's no way I was gonna be pulled home by that Ferd". LOL

 

[gitchesum]

Man, I don't think I can count that high. Many times to say the least.



Up until 4 years ago, my most expensive car was $1000. Those types of vehicles usually require some type of parking lot maintenance.

 

[Deezul1]

I used to street race old flat head Fords and it was an unusual night that we didnt replace a trans or axle in a parking lot

 

[BK]

my funniest parking lot repair was with my yota 4x4. . broke the shift lever off. . went for second. . and found the lever in my hand... pulled into a parking lot to see what happened. . took off the shift boot. Saw a stub sticking out of the gear box.

Dug out a pair of vise grips, locked them onto the stub... used that for a few day to shift till I got a new shift lever to stuff into the box.



Done a few Uj with friends on their trucks.



On my ford vans, starters were pretty common to fail, real easy todo in the parking lot. . bring it in to avoid the core charge... come back out with the new one, slap it in and go.

 

[WDaniels]

This just happened a couple of weeks ago. Was just pulling out of the gas station after getting fuel and as I stepped on the pedal, lots of movement and no go right in the middle of the exit. The threaded metal throttle rod snapped right where the threads quit. Called the wife, and she went to the stealer and got another one and I installed it in the parking lot. The dealership mechanic said that this is a common problem.

WD

 

[BK]

WD,

what year is yours? (re: common problem)

 

[WDaniels]

sorry, forgot that the sig's were turned off. Mine is a 97 2500. I've had two mechanics say that it's common enough to warrent hauling an extra one around in the truck.

WD.

 

[gitchesum]

Originally posted by WDaniels

This just happened a couple of weeks ago. Was just pulling out of the gas station after getting fuel and as I stepped on the pedal, lots of movement and no go right in the middle of the exit. The threaded metal throttle rod snapped right where the threads quit. Called the wife, and she went to the stealer and got another one and I installed it in the parking lot. The dealership mechanic said that this is a common problem.

WD

Forgot about that one. Mine did the same thing about a month ago. Luckily, it broke right where it threaded into the ends. I had enough threads to fix it.

 

[Doc Tinker]

Years ago, I was a mechanic for an airport limo service. I spent many a night working on 1 ton Dodge vans and shuttle busses in the airport parking lot. Once me and another mechanic had to retreave a highway bus that broke down in Ann Arbor. It was out of fuel, so we took a 55 gal drum of fuel and a transfer pump to get it going. We pumped in the fuel, started the bus and headed for home. We didn't know that the fuel return line was broken and spraying fuel all over the highway and any cars who happened to get behind us.



Doc

 

[Mactruck]

I don't know if this counts?



A few of us New Englanders did a wrench session in a Hooters parking lot.

That is when I installed my front Denver Offroad & Rear Reunel Bumpers.

We got some strange looks in that parking lot

 

[WDaniels]

gitchesum,

by just threading it back in, didn't it affect your throttle travel? It would seem to me that a shorter throttle rod would either affect your top end or your bottom end.

WD

 

[TORQUE THIS]

My buddy installed an injection pump in the dealers parking lot

 

[Doc Tinker]

Do flat tires count? I've changed a few in parking lots



Doc

 

[gitchesum]

With Pier's 3K Gov spring kit. I've had the RPM's over 3600rpms. If that ain't WOT, I'm afraid of what is.



I haven't noticed a difference at all. Truck runs great.

 

[illflem]

I installed my gauges in a shopping mall parking lot while waiting for my daughter Xmas shopping, had time to spare. Kept on thinking I was going to get busted with all the folks walking by and me fooling with wires under the dash. Amost had to replace a clutch on the Oakland Bay Bridge, but a CHP came along and pushed me to the other side.

 

[Bill Lins]

Lessee here, there's been starters, alternators, valve train parts (396 Chevy), and Dr. Joe did my timing, torque plate, and AFC spring kit in a parking lot!

 

[dseabaugh]

Most of the time I've had to mare a "road side repair has been in the rain and I have found car washes to be a great place to get in out of the weather as nobody uses them on rainy days



For years ( until 1983) I drove a 1967 3/4 ton 4x4 International pickup. One night during a torential downpour I went through some deep water running across the highway and drowned out ignition. I had an acetylene torch in the back, no towels, crc or any thing else to dry with , so I fired up the torch and fried that puppy dry. right on the highway. ( no one else was out. ) Next morning put on new wires, cap, rotor. You wouldn't believe how you can cook that stuff in a pouring rain with acetylene. 5 minutes and I was on the road again. Oo.

 

[rrausch]

'bout 25 years ago I had a pretty brunette girlfriend who drove a white VW. One day it blew, and I pulled the engine and put it in the back of the van I drove, intending to re-build it in my buddies shop. I bought the cylinder and pistons and bearings and the oil cooler, and pump etc. etc... . got everything I needed (for about $200 bucks as I remember) I had the stuff all in the van and then I put the job off for a few days. Well, I went out one night for a Chili-Burger at Tommy's in L. A. , and that burger got to doing summer-saults in my stomach and I got restless. So I climbed into the back of the van behind Tommy's Hamburgers and rebuilt the VW engine right there. I finished about 4:00 a. m. and hauled it over to the gf's place and started putting it into her VW before breakfast. Ahhh Youth!