Georgia Fiero Club Forum

General Discussion and Announcements => General Discussion => Topic started by: TopNotch on November 10, 2019, 07:45:25 pm

Title: That knd of day.
Post by: TopNotch on November 10, 2019, 07:45:25 pm

As stated in another thread, I fixed a coolant leak on my silver Formula. Actually, the hose didn't completely fix it. When testing for leaks, I found coolant coming out of the thermostat cap. The heat must have damaged the gasket in it, because it was cracked.
My local Autozone didn't have one, but the big 24/7 Autozone on Lawrenceville Highway did. So I headed there in my Ford Escape. After getting it, I stopped at a nearby Arby's for lunch.
After lunch, the Escape wouldn't start. Well, it would start briefly, and then die right away. I'm thinking fuel pump.
So I called AAA and asked for a tow. It was  around 2 PM, and they said one would arrive by 3:15. Well, it was 4 PM when the truck finally arrived.
AAA said I could track the tow truck on their app, so I downloaded it and created an account. But every time I tried to log in with my new account, it would take me to the create an account page again. So much for tracking the tow truck.
And now they've sent me an email asking for a review. I'll give them a piece of my mind.

Title: Re: That knd of day.
Post by: Fierofool on November 10, 2019, 08:02:22 pm

So, if you had need to track the tow truck, they left you sitting at Arby's? 

Your events makes me think of the Hee Haw song "If it weren't for bad luck......"

Title: Re: That knd of day.
Post by: GTRS Fiero on November 10, 2019, 08:07:49 pm

So, is the Formula fixed?

When their tracking doesn't work, I call them to check on the status.

Title: Re: That knd of day.
Post by: TopNotch on November 10, 2019, 08:16:16 pm

Quote from: GTRS Fiero on November 10, 2019, 08:07:49 pm

So, is the Formula fixed?

Yes. After replacing the thermostat cap, I ran it until it was good and warm, and the hoses were tight with pressure. No leaks.

Title: Re: That knd of day.
Post by: GTRS Fiero on November 10, 2019, 08:30:30 pm

It leaked from the edge, or the center button?

Title: Re: That knd of day.
Post by: TopNotch on November 10, 2019, 08:44:51 pm

From the edge. The gasket was cracked.

Title: Re: That knd of day.
Post by: Raydar on November 11, 2019, 07:34:25 am

I'm happy that you finally made it back home.
A little over a year ago, Tammy broke a timing belt in her Odyssey, in Gainesville. (This would have been around noon-ish.)
She was able to get off the road by coasting into a parking lot (trailer sales place).
We figured out what was going on with the van, and called AAA for a tow. I made it from Douglasville and picked her up (and the dogs, which she had with her) before AAA could even tell them when a wrecker would be there. They finally came and picked up the van and took it to Mike's shop. It arrived at ~7 PM.
We were waaaaay beyond pissed.
They never even sent her a survey. They knew... 
OTOH, I blew a water pump gasket on my truck, a couple of miles from work. Limped it on in, but didn't figure I would ever make it back home, since there was a lot of steam, and water everywhere. Called AAA, and they were there, right on schedule.

Title: Re: That knd of day.
Post by: GTRS Fiero on November 11, 2019, 08:55:29 am

AAA already has your money.  What do they care, how long you wait?

Title: Re: That knd of day.
Post by: Fierofool on November 11, 2019, 09:17:04 am

At the last RFTH, Jack Cooke had to call AAA and they were there pretty quickly.  On another RFTH event, one of the guys broke down on a North Georgia back mountain dirt road.  AAA was there in very short order.  To the other extreme, when I locked my keys in my car in Cashiers, NC, HarryT called AAA on my behalf and they said it would be about 8 hours before they could get there. 

Title: Re: That knd of day.
Post by: GTRS Fiero on November 11, 2019, 07:02:28 pm

8 hours!  I'm lucky to have a loy of trucks in the family.  Someone would come, anywhere around here.  Further out, not so much.

I used to have AAA.  I got a run-around long story about how long is was going to be.  So, I called from my wife's phone, and they came very quickly.  After they dropped me off and expected payment, I presented the AAA, which I then cancelled.

Title: Re: That knd of day.
Post by: TopNotch on November 11, 2019, 09:52:02 pm

The Escape is fixed. It was indeed the fuel pump. The Escape has an access panel under the back seat, so I didn't have to drop the tank. But the pump was expensive (over 200 bucks), because it's the whole in-tank assembly, not just the pump:

The assembly is actually taller than the height of the tank from top to bottom, so after you put it in the tank, you have to push the top down against that spring you see until the top is seated, and then hold it while you tighten the lock ring.

Title: Re: That knd of day.
Post by: GTRS Fiero on November 11, 2019, 09:58:49 pm

Well, I'm glad it's all fixed.