Lazy-Ferret
18-10-2015, 18:24
Saturday night, we had to pop out to Tesco for some last minute bits for the caravan as we were going on holiday to Wales on Sunday morning. On the way, there is a section of road that runs down hill, with a bend, that leads down to some traffic lights, and because people speed, there are often rear end shunts here.
As we drive down there, the car in front of us, stops dead, a long way back from the lights, and the lady driver jumps out, waves us past, then lays down in front of her car... I had horrible visions, so reversed back up the the front of her car, and turned my amber beacons on, then got out to see what she was up to.
As this point cars are screeching up behind her.
As I look down fluid is pouring out the bottom of her car. I suggest pulling the car to a safer place, but when we look, she has no idea where the towing eye is stored, and a quick look does not find it. As it is down hill, I decide to get Suz to drive blocker in the T2, and I offer to push the car over the lights to where the road is straight and a bit wider. When we try to move the car however, it is seized solid. I check out the obvious, like is it in gear, hand brake etc, but the car will not roll forward. I did manage to push the car backwards a foot or so, and as I did something in the gearbox made a bang. I now found I could push the car forward, although with some very nasty graunching and bangs, but managed to get her to safety. We left her, just as her sister pulled up, and they were sorting out recovery between them.
What amazed me while doing this, was we got hooted at and shouted at, but no-one else helped us at all, even as I am pushing the car for about 200yds.
Roll onto Sunday morning, at 5:30am we hitch up the caravan, and set off on our holiday. We were happily driving round the M25 just approaching J14, when I look in the mirror and can see what looks like smoke pouring out the back. I look in the other mirror and see it is both sides. I get onto the hard shoulder, and we disappeared in a cloud of smoke...
Bearing in mind the car is loaded with 12 ferrets in cages in the back, we leap out, ready to start pulling our guys out, when I realise that it is steam, not smoke.
I lift the bonnet, but between the darkness, and steam, I can't see anything, so decide to put on my florescent yellow jacket, and head light, and look again to see where the steam is coming from. I spot the top hose, where it joins onto the radiator was hanging loose, the problem was, the bit the hose slides onto, was still inside the end of the hose. The hose fixture had completely snapped off the top of the radiator.
Now, I think this is a bit unfair, as I am sure I should be owed a bit of positive Karma for my good deed last night!!!!
We call Green flag, and the lady tells us they are very busy, but as we are on one of the worst parts of the M25 for hard shoulder accidents, we are a priority to be moved, and they will put us to the front of the queue. This means they will get a pickup truck to us within 90mins!!!!
So we are standing behind the crash barrier, both wearing florescent yellow coats waiting for the recovery truck like the sensible, cold, thirsty, needing the loo people we are. What I do not understand is, why do people feel they need to hoot and shout at you when you are broken down? I can't believe how many did it.
Anyway, the truck arrived, we get the car loaded, then discover the tow bar they have, that mounts with pins on the back of the truck, has never been fitted, and the pins won't go through the holes. My trusty Gerber multi purpose tool came to hand, and I was able to remove the plastic coating from the inside of the holes, and with a bit of persuasion from a hammer, we got the pins through. Then we discovered that, the lighting socket, was only a 7 pin, not the 13 pin we had on the caravan, and was also mounted over to one side of the truck, so our caravan leads could not reach it. Luckily, I had my trusty "Odds & Sods" box in the boot, and had 13pin to 7 pin converter, and an 7 pin extension lead. Ironically, Green Flag actually asked us what connector we had on the caravan, and we told them 13pin.
Finally, we got home, and all unloaded.
We decide we need to see what damage has happened to the engine on my car, as I have no idea how far I might have driven with the hose snapped, before I noticed the steam, so after a lot of pleading, I take the radiator out of Suz's T2, and fit it into mine. As I disconnect the top hose on Suz's car, no water came out, when I disconnect the bottom hose from the water pump a small amount of water dribbles out, so the radiator was pretty low on water. I then discover that her car has a leak from the thermostat area (just add that to the list of jobs)... Anyway, I get the radiator out, and Suz asks what the florescent green dye is on the other radiator... I look, and the Aircon radiator must have a hole in it, as it is covered on an area near the electric fan with this dye (Stick that on the list as well).
I fit the radiator into mine, and luckily after pressure testing the cooling system, and then a trip out, I am happy the car is fine with no ill effects (how lucky am I! Maybe I did have a bit of positive Karma after all).
The good news is, we will try again to head to Wales tomorrow morning. The bad news is, when I get back, I need to get a new water radiator, aircon radiator, and gaskets for the water pump/thermostat area of the engine, so I can sort Suz's car out.
Rant Over...
As we drive down there, the car in front of us, stops dead, a long way back from the lights, and the lady driver jumps out, waves us past, then lays down in front of her car... I had horrible visions, so reversed back up the the front of her car, and turned my amber beacons on, then got out to see what she was up to.
As this point cars are screeching up behind her.
As I look down fluid is pouring out the bottom of her car. I suggest pulling the car to a safer place, but when we look, she has no idea where the towing eye is stored, and a quick look does not find it. As it is down hill, I decide to get Suz to drive blocker in the T2, and I offer to push the car over the lights to where the road is straight and a bit wider. When we try to move the car however, it is seized solid. I check out the obvious, like is it in gear, hand brake etc, but the car will not roll forward. I did manage to push the car backwards a foot or so, and as I did something in the gearbox made a bang. I now found I could push the car forward, although with some very nasty graunching and bangs, but managed to get her to safety. We left her, just as her sister pulled up, and they were sorting out recovery between them.
What amazed me while doing this, was we got hooted at and shouted at, but no-one else helped us at all, even as I am pushing the car for about 200yds.
Roll onto Sunday morning, at 5:30am we hitch up the caravan, and set off on our holiday. We were happily driving round the M25 just approaching J14, when I look in the mirror and can see what looks like smoke pouring out the back. I look in the other mirror and see it is both sides. I get onto the hard shoulder, and we disappeared in a cloud of smoke...
Bearing in mind the car is loaded with 12 ferrets in cages in the back, we leap out, ready to start pulling our guys out, when I realise that it is steam, not smoke.
I lift the bonnet, but between the darkness, and steam, I can't see anything, so decide to put on my florescent yellow jacket, and head light, and look again to see where the steam is coming from. I spot the top hose, where it joins onto the radiator was hanging loose, the problem was, the bit the hose slides onto, was still inside the end of the hose. The hose fixture had completely snapped off the top of the radiator.
Now, I think this is a bit unfair, as I am sure I should be owed a bit of positive Karma for my good deed last night!!!!
We call Green flag, and the lady tells us they are very busy, but as we are on one of the worst parts of the M25 for hard shoulder accidents, we are a priority to be moved, and they will put us to the front of the queue. This means they will get a pickup truck to us within 90mins!!!!
So we are standing behind the crash barrier, both wearing florescent yellow coats waiting for the recovery truck like the sensible, cold, thirsty, needing the loo people we are. What I do not understand is, why do people feel they need to hoot and shout at you when you are broken down? I can't believe how many did it.
Anyway, the truck arrived, we get the car loaded, then discover the tow bar they have, that mounts with pins on the back of the truck, has never been fitted, and the pins won't go through the holes. My trusty Gerber multi purpose tool came to hand, and I was able to remove the plastic coating from the inside of the holes, and with a bit of persuasion from a hammer, we got the pins through. Then we discovered that, the lighting socket, was only a 7 pin, not the 13 pin we had on the caravan, and was also mounted over to one side of the truck, so our caravan leads could not reach it. Luckily, I had my trusty "Odds & Sods" box in the boot, and had 13pin to 7 pin converter, and an 7 pin extension lead. Ironically, Green Flag actually asked us what connector we had on the caravan, and we told them 13pin.
Finally, we got home, and all unloaded.
We decide we need to see what damage has happened to the engine on my car, as I have no idea how far I might have driven with the hose snapped, before I noticed the steam, so after a lot of pleading, I take the radiator out of Suz's T2, and fit it into mine. As I disconnect the top hose on Suz's car, no water came out, when I disconnect the bottom hose from the water pump a small amount of water dribbles out, so the radiator was pretty low on water. I then discover that her car has a leak from the thermostat area (just add that to the list of jobs)... Anyway, I get the radiator out, and Suz asks what the florescent green dye is on the other radiator... I look, and the Aircon radiator must have a hole in it, as it is covered on an area near the electric fan with this dye (Stick that on the list as well).
I fit the radiator into mine, and luckily after pressure testing the cooling system, and then a trip out, I am happy the car is fine with no ill effects (how lucky am I! Maybe I did have a bit of positive Karma after all).
The good news is, we will try again to head to Wales tomorrow morning. The bad news is, when I get back, I need to get a new water radiator, aircon radiator, and gaskets for the water pump/thermostat area of the engine, so I can sort Suz's car out.
Rant Over...