?

?

Sunday, December 7, 2014

UPDATE: Hope I make it down the road a piece

This morn'ns write up on my break down will be very short. I am too disgusted to even talk bout it.

A couple of ya thought I had made a fix yesterday. Well no I didn't. All I did was run a temporary wire to operate the starter with out turn'n the key to the start position. If the ignition will stay on after I start the engine....with that wire, I may be able to go down the road a piece.

A auto repair guy was emailed in Lafayette, but he won't be open till Monday....and he may not even answer my email. There are no Workhorse authorized service centers any where close. The RV places are dealerships only....they don't fix stuff.

Depending on how "Sally da house" runs out there on the road, I may either go to a RV park or go through Lafayette do'n a hunnert mile a hour. I won't know until I crank this thing up an' pull out. But, I'll tell ya one thing....I'm sick.....I'm stressed to the max.....an' I'm skeered.

The sun has finally come up....I can see outside. It's cloudy an' get'n kind of close to cold (48 degs).

If worse come to worse, my son Robert say he would come help me. Let's all pray that don't happen. That would be a 535 mile trip for him. With that in mind, nephew Joseph is closer....450 miles. Damn I need a mechanic bad!!!!

Will update later............
**********************************************************************

As promised, here is your update....

On one hand I'm happy as a lark. Hmmmmm....how happy are larks??? Anyhows, I'm right at 45 miles from the dreaded city of Houston, Texas. Then on the other hand, I'm skeered shitless this thing will shut down go'n through a big city....like Houston. It's bad enough worry'n bout it driv'n down the road. At least there are shoulders to pull over on. But big city's, there ain't no sholders....just big ass concrete walls.

When I cranked up the engine this morn'n, it sounded sooo pretty. Made one loop around the rest area an' headed to the interstate. Run just fine, right through Lafayette, La. go'n a hunnert mile a hour. Then not much further, there's a traffic jam up. I know to be in the right lane just in case I got to pull off. I did. Engine shut down, ain't got no instrument panel lights....deader than a door nail. My first words was...."OH SHIT". Turn the key off an' back on, I got them lights. Kick in the starter with that piece of wire an' I'm back on the road.

Now I'm look'n for gas. Under half a tank, can only go bout 200 more miles. I pull into a hunnert gas stations. "Sally da house" don't fit. This causes stress ya know. I'm sit'n there cuss these gas stations an' "poooof", the engine is dead again. But....it start right back up. I'm tell'n ya right now, I need a ignition switch.
*if I could only figger out a way to jumper the contacts on the ignition switch*  You ain't gonna believe where they put that thing....up under the dash.

At this point, I have put 200 miles in today, with only two shut downs. Once I get through Houston, I'm home scott free. Close enough for nephew Joseph to come fix this thing....replace switch. I'm think'n bout another hunnert miles or so should do the trick.
Will let ya know laters.

17 comments:

  1. Now Sally is like the old time vehicles with a start button on the dash or floor. Drive safely.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Wanna use my "damnit" doll? you hold it and slam it on anything, while saying "damit damit damit"

    ReplyDelete
  3. I think you will be ok BB, the key think works in the run position, it just will not work in the start position. Get on down the road toward Stinton and you will be alright.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Here's hoping your ingenious "temporary" fix will get you to Texas and parked. Then you will have time to research the problem, find the part and fix it.

    ReplyDelete
  5. You need to call a mobile mechanic! They are everywhere, but call a real one, not a fly by night one!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Out in the big old world, how you going to tell what is real and what is a fly-by-nighter? I've met a few of the latter in my time.

      BB, damn, I'm holding my breath on this trip; in case you don't know it. Maybe you are too?

      Delete
  6. Tore that doll up, didn't ya? Made ol Sally work.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Ridin along with you and holding my breath. Sure hope you make it thru. Then you can sleep tonight!!

    ReplyDelete
  8. Had to make a decision,. Either drive all the way through, or stop for the night 80 miles short of destination. My god, there's a rest area. I can sleep there.

    As I pulled into a parking space, the engine shut down, emergency brake bring us to a sudden stop. Was able to restart an' move up 20 feet. I feel ZZZZZZZZ's call'n my name.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. 9 hours behind the wheel....I'm wored slap out.

      Delete
    2. I'm glad you stopped when you did. Hope things look better in the morning.

      Delete
  9. Should I plan on a tee time of 1000 Wednesday?????

    ReplyDelete
  10. I'm so proud of ya for makin' it safe'n sound but mostly that 9 hrs part!!! You da MAN! Sleep well, see ya in the morning' lol

    Gary

    ReplyDelete
  11. I was just thinking that your GM based motorhome may be covered under a massive recall for faulty ignition switches. My 2008 HHR was. Call a dealer and raise hell, I bet they will replace it free.

    ReplyDelete
  12. Now I can go to bed. I know you stopped safely. Maybe all will turn out well on Monday!

    ReplyDelete
  13. You are getting closer, one day at a time, soon you be much warmer and golfin.

    ReplyDelete
  14. You are getting closer every minute. Relax, you will make it!

    ReplyDelete