And there it is leaving destined to be dropped off at our mechanic's garage.
How did this all come about? Well, Papa Pea was off early one morning recently to get our resupply of fresh, raw milk products. He was about four miles from home, going up a steep grade when the truck started to lose power. He was able to pull into a driveway, get turned around and coast down the hill for a couple of miles before he ran out of "hill" and had to stop. One more try and, yippee, the truck started again, but ran for only a hop, skip and jump before stopping . . . for the final time.
He was then only a couple miles from home so called for reinforcements. I didn't want to pull him home with the big pickup truck with the 9' plow on the front so we contacted Chicken Mama who was home and available. She grabbed a towing strap and other equipment that might have been needed and soon successfully towed him home with her Suburban.
Papa Pea and Gilligan took a cursory look at the truck and after checking what they could here in the yard, decided it was probably a fuel pump or related problem.
Since our mechanic is about seventeen miles away, up and down some hills and twists and turns in the road, and our Suburban currently has little or no braking power, we decided not to chance towing it all that way.
Only way to get it to the garage was to either manually push it . . . or call a towing service. We opted for the latter.
We're hoping to hear soon what the diagnosis turns out to be. And that it's not gonna break the bank to do the repairs. Besides being an excellent mechanic, J is a good friend and will do what needs to be done to get us back in business.
In the meantime, we're not stuck without options for transportation. All will be well. Considering this is the first time in the nearly fifty-five years of our marriage that we've had to have a vehicle towed (other than towing it ourselves), we can't complain one bit.
A fuel pump doesn't sound too bad. Hopefully you'll get your truck back soon. -Jenn
ReplyDeleteJenn - Right, it could be fairly simple. But I heard my husband mumble something about a gauge or regulator for the fuel that's in the gas tank itself . . . which would require taking the whole gas tank off. Eeeep.
DeleteSuburbans seem to be a kin to cats with 9 lives. Crossing all that dangles to a cheap er inexpensive fix. So glad that it wasn't worse considering the lack of braking and such. Best of luck!
ReplyDeleteGoatldi - Yep, it happened in a very good spot considering all the other trips this old work horse of a vehicle makes. It is old but Papa Pea has kept it in good shape so I'm sure it still has a couple/few more lives left in it. Thanks!
DeleteEgads! Papa Pea looks rather sad in the photograph. I hope it's something that won't break the bank and that keeps her going for another 10 years.
ReplyDeleteSusan - Oh yes, another ten years from the truck would be much appreciated!
DeletePapa Pea was rather chirky when he came in as he felt the tow truck guy was super-careful and a really nice guy. That helped him send his beloved Suburban down the road. :o)
Oh bother!! Yep. I don't do fuel pumps either. Last one I had done (an S-10, a Chevy but much smaller) required the mechanic to drop the tank I had just filled - it died about 4 feet from the pump. Dropping the tank is a pain in the tookus, but not as bad as one might think if you can put the vehicle on a lift and have the tall jacks to handle the tank.
ReplyDeleteMark - If the tank does have to be dropped, Papa Pea is thinking we should replace it because of the age and the equipment holding the tank will probably have to be "damaged" in the removal. That's okay. It's an old truck and we're committed to keeping it in good shape.
DeleteHaving to work on that gas tank of yours that had just been filled . . . NOT a good situation!
Oh my, another one of those *unexpected* happenings. We have been having them, around here, too. -sigh-
ReplyDeletePerhaps they are meant, to "test-our-metal" as the old saying goes. Regardless, I'm tired of them.
Good it all worked out. Now to hope for a not-too-expensive fix.
Hugs, hugs, hugs, hugs, hugs...
wisps of words - All will be well. Lots more serious things a lot of folks have to deal with. Another thing "they" say: "If it ain't one thing, it's another!" Keeps us on our toes, right? ;o]
DeleteOh I do hope it's a fixable repair. Suburban's are built tough and keeping fingers crossed yours will be back home soon! :)
ReplyDeleteLisa - The truck is in good hands with our mechanic. It's old but he loves it 'cause he says it's so easy to work on. Something to be said for the old clunkers!
DeleteBah! Not something one wants to see. Sigh.
ReplyDeleteI hope it doesn't end up too expensive! That's always a worry for me, the car repairs. Unless you own a horse and buggy though, which I would much prefer, you need a car to live our lifestyles! I have to bring the car in next month, it's making a bubbly noise in the back, I think it's the muffler, but who really knows? Having a good mechanic is a godsend! Ours is good, honest and very basic with the repairs. If he can fix it without buying new parts, he'll do it.
ReplyDelete