I was on my driveway coming home from work when my 2 little dogs came barreling up the road to greet me as usual. I stopped to let them in the truck, as usual, put Charlotte in 1st let out the clutch and she died. I thought, "shit, I let out the clutch too fast". Then it happened again and I thought, "what am I not in 1st?" So I put her in neutral and then she wouldn't go into any gear! I panic with car trouble so I'm not sure what I did. I think I turned her off restarted her and everything was fine.
Later I wanted to see if she was strong enough to pull my big van out of a hole (don't ask) When I tried to put her in gear, it happend again, then she self healed again.
Am I crazy or is this something terribly serious? Like I said, I panic when I break down. I always have to ask my poor dear neighbor to come to the resuce. They are very gracious and act like it's nothing, but I hate it.
I got the van dug out of the hole. Little ole' Charlotte didn't have near the power. It was obvious so I quit trying after like 2 seconds. At least I got the van dug out so I can drive him to work in the morning. But what about Charlotte? Does she need to see a professional and if so who, a transmission shop or my normal mechanic who knows and loves her? Or am I slam crazy?
The phooglebopper thingy isn't engaging the toollywhopper correctly.....I'll guess a simple one....throwout bearings.....JR will come along and chime in .....
clutch fluid??
You are a calming influence on me, Mug.
Quote from: LizStreithorst on March 06, 2015, 05:52:05 PM
You are a calming influence on me, Mug.
Well I didn't want to frighten you by suggesting it was the ishkabibble.... ;D
I was prepared to replace the entire ishkabibble if I had to. I know they're terribly expensive to replace, though not as expensive as automatic ishkabibbles. It's much less of a worry to find out it's likely the phooblebopper not engaging the tooleywhopper.
When I bought her last June I had my man replace all her bodily fluids. He didn't say anything about finding any leaks. Is there a dip stick for the clutch fluid and if I look under her bonnet will I be able to find it?
Quote from: LizStreithorst on March 06, 2015, 07:13:14 PM
I was prepared to replace the entire ishkabibble if I had to. I know they're terribly expensive to replace, though not as expensive as automatic ishkabibbles. It's much less of a worry to find out it's likely the phooblebopper not engaging the tooleywhopper.
When I bought her last June I had my man replace all her bodily fluids. He didn't say anything about finding any leaks. Is there a dip stick for the clutch fluid and if I look under her bonnet will I be able to find it?
What make model and year is it??...
Look near the master brake cylinder unit on the driver side near the firewall...
I'll look tomorrow. She's a Chevy S10 1989 with the little 4 cylinder.
Quote from: LizStreithorst on March 06, 2015, 07:23:24 PM
I'll look tomorrow. She's a Chevy S10 1989 with the little 4 cylinder.
yep...near the master brake cylinder unit on the driver side near the firewall..sometimes the line needs bleeding too....your friendly mechanic can handle that.......or he'll be able to tell if the unit is bad...??
Thanks, Mug :-*
Poor Charlotte, all she needed was fluid. Apparently it had been leaking in the past because there was a bottle of the stuff wedged in a corner under her bonnet. From now on, when I check her oil I'll check the clutch fluid as well.
Quote from: LizStreithorst on March 07, 2015, 03:12:13 PM
Poor Charlotte, all she needed was fluid. Apparently it had been leaking in the past because there was a bottle of the stuff wedged in a corner under her bonnet. From now on, when I check her oil I'll check the clutch fluid as well.
+1 +1..... ;D
Well that was a cheap easy fix. Thank God!!
I got in her to drive to work this morning and the pedal felt wrong so I took the van instead. This afternoon I checked the level of the clutch fluid and it was low again. I poured more in and looked at her underside and saw it dripping out :( There is no emergency. I have the van. I actually feel much better knowing where the problem lies.
My question is, next Monday, on my day off, do I dare drive her from home to my man in Ellisville 12 miles away if I take a couple of bottles of fluid with me or should I have her towed? The towing folks have been here twice to rescue the van. I'm a repeat customer ::) I'll have to wait for it to dry out here before I can ask them to come. We've had nothing but rain and it will continue to rain until Friday.
Towing is safer.....
Towing is always safer. How long has it been since you added fluid the first time.
I added it Saturday afternoon after work. When I added it this afternoon after work I saw it flowing out from her underside. I'll likely have her towed but I may take a look over the weekend and see if I can find where it's coming out and decide if I can patch it. It's only 12 miles to my mechanic. If I get stuck half way I can hoof it back home and have the towing folks take her in.
That is, if I won't do damage to her. If I might hurt her trying this I'll have her towed. I love Charlotte. I would never risk doing her harm.
Have it towed.......
If ole charlotte is visibly leaking, and the fluid gets low enough...........not only might you not have a clutch to Engage the trans into a gear, You might wind up with no useful clutch pedal making it TOUGH to take her OUT of gear (think stop sign/light......or oh shit there's the neighbors kid on his bike and I gotta stop NOW). SURE she'll stop, but not as quickly or easily as you are used to......and surprises like THAT, would suck.
Got a hitch on the van? Maybe rent a tow dolly, drive her up on it and tow it to the shop yourself for $20 or so?
The diesel van is a beast. He can tow and has towed huge loads over mountains! He won't even know that he is towing little ole Charlotte. My mechanic may have one he can loan me. I'll ask him. It will be a lot more fun if I can get Charlotte into him all by myself. It will make me feel not so damn helpless.
Ed is right if you can see the leak it is not safe to drive.
Yep,...just have it towed ......it's just plain easier, and safer........................
She has an appointment with the towing gentlemen Monday. The guy I spoke to is the one whose dog I groom. I told him about being worried about his big truck getting bogged down in my pasture while turning around. It's rained all week and we're supposed to get more tomorrow ::) He said that they could use the small truck with the winch. That'll work. I can pour in more fluid and get Charlotte in a good position for him to hook up to.
I'm really looking forward to this. I have a long list of stuff for my man to fix:
cluch fluid leak
windsheild wipers that work, usually
AC leak (he added a dye last time so he'd be able to find it)
Fix windows which need every moving and non moving part
check timing (she was knocking for a while, then quit knocking)
oil change. It's a little early but might as well have it done while he has her.
put in a new radio
give me an estimate on replacing my idiot lights with a real instrument panel
I know I'll spend a bundle. Most folks don't think she's much. I love her. She's old but still beautiful to me.
We have a 99 blazer....sun roof, etc....most everything still working too, except the A/C pump...I'll swap that out this spring.......starts quick every time, even at way below zero temps....it's a good old Chevy bang around, garage sale, the store, haul this, and tow that car.....love it..... ;D....
lol, my newer vehicle is a '99. He's a beast. A 99' Ford diesel extra long cargo van. He has only had serious problems 3 times but each time he left me in the lurch. Diesels are expensive to fix! Charlotte had the decency to break in her own driveway and aside from the windows and the instrument panel will not to be too hard on my wallet.
I've got an 89 Cheby van G20 that I recently resurrected after years of sitting in the barn. Changed the fuel sending unit and pump a few months ago but didn't start her up. Rusted the thing out and killed a brand new pump. Changed it out. Again and it started right up. AC needs a fill but that should be it.
How wonderful for the van. May it live long and prosper. Have you given it a name?
Quote from: LizStreithorst on March 14, 2015, 05:20:49 PM
How wonderful for the van. May it live long and prosper. Have you given it a name?
I don't name inanimate objects. They're all "she" and depending on the day a couple other names. :D
I name vehicles. The S-10 is Charlotte. The van is male. He's The Beast. If it's warm and sunny tomorrow The Beast gets a good bath. He needs and deserves one. It will be quite the job. He's huge and very dirty. I bought him seat covers today. They ain't great but they look better than the seats he came with. He's been a good boy. I shouldn't have neglected him like I have.
All machines are "she". Sometimes referred to as a word that rhymes with "witch" depending on how "she" is acting. Mine has the 350 in her. But it's an 89. Back when they had low to no HP. But it did tow my boat without a hiccup. 80 down the road and straight as an arrow. Rebuilt the tranny back around 120,000 and my buddy that did it said that was about double what he normally saw out of that tranny. Of course now my 02 dakota POS needs at least a shift solenoid at that requires an update. Might as well just rebuild that one but $$$ are tight.
(http://i483.photobucket.com/albums/rr191/Prairiedog112/cord.jpg) (http://s483.photobucket.com/user/Prairiedog112/media/cord.jpg.html) This is my baby. 36 Cord have had her for a very long time. Will never let her go.
Oh JR, She is a work of art. Do you take her to shows?
That is a beauty JR. My late Dad used to talk about how gorgeous a car the Cord was.
I remember seeing pics of my grandpa driving one too....it was a black convertible. if memory serves me right..?
Liz I show her around here. She has took best in show 3 times.
Quote from: JR on March 15, 2015, 02:57:53 PM
Liz I show her around here. She has took best in show 3 times.
I'll bet it did......sweet job that you did on that car..... ;D
Quote from: JR on March 15, 2015, 12:21:56 AM
(http://i483.photobucket.com/albums/rr191/Prairiedog112/cord.jpg) (http://s483.photobucket.com/user/Prairiedog112/media/cord.jpg.html) This is my baby. 36 Cord have had her for a very long time. Will never let her go.
She's a beaut for sure. FWD IIRC right?
FWD V8 Supercharged
Quote from: JR on March 15, 2015, 08:48:43 PM
FWD V8 Supercharged
First FWD IIRC. The old cars just had style. New cars (after 73) all just look the same.
That's a sweet ride for sure.