Wink
03-15-2006, 10:57 PM
It starts about 4:40 this afternoon. I just picked up the kids from daycare. I was on my way home, when I start to hear what I think is a chunk of rubber that's letting loose on my right front tire. You all might know that sound-- Thump-thump-thump-thump.... Then all of a sudden I hear a loud POP!!! But the funny thing is that I was still tracking fine down the road. I was like, "WTF!!!!!" Then I looked down at my gauges as I "try" to change lanes. Well that verified my fears. I busted my serpentine belt on the ol' 3 ohhh.
Well, since the wife forgot to renew our AAA membership this year, I had to make a very important choice. Do I park it and walk another 5 miles with my 3 and 6 year olds. Or do I say, "Screw it!!", and continue home, hoping I don't loose battery before I get there. Well, I decided to go for it. Those 5 miles felt like and eternity to me. Well, I made it to about 40 yards from the house, and it died. Luckily for me, I had enough momentum to coast it into my parking spot at the house.
Now, keep in mind this isn't the fun part of the story.......
... Since the wife has been in the hospital, her van has been parked there. And the Shadow has burned down. I now have no vehicle to use to get any parts I may need. :( So, I procede to call just about everyone I know, that might be willing to help me out. Well, it was about 7pm before I actually got ahold of someone to be willing to lend a hand. So, he picks up another belt for me. He gets to the house just after 8pm and we proceed to change the belt. I start the motor, and notice that the belt is riding on the outside of the power steering pulley. Well, that just made too much sense. Now I know why I threw a belt. THE DAMN TENSIONER!!!!!!!! :mad: It's 8:45 now, and I'm fearing that no one would be open. So I dart inside to my PC and look online for a local parts store. I called. And to my surprise they are still open. Not only are they open, but they had the part in stock. My buddy goes down to pick it up for me, since I can't just leave the kids alone at home. While he's gone, I get the bad one out of the car. Lemme tell you all this. Late at night, without a garage, and just a flashlight; it makes for an interesting time to make emergency repairs. I get the damn thing out as he pulls up to the house. Another 15 minutes later, it's all together again. Fired it up again, and everything looks much better this time. So we grab a beverage of choice from my ice box, and laugh about the tension that was just lifted from "my" world.
Long story short.... I replaced a serpentine belt and tensioner on the "Headless Horseman" tonight.
Well, since the wife forgot to renew our AAA membership this year, I had to make a very important choice. Do I park it and walk another 5 miles with my 3 and 6 year olds. Or do I say, "Screw it!!", and continue home, hoping I don't loose battery before I get there. Well, I decided to go for it. Those 5 miles felt like and eternity to me. Well, I made it to about 40 yards from the house, and it died. Luckily for me, I had enough momentum to coast it into my parking spot at the house.
Now, keep in mind this isn't the fun part of the story.......
... Since the wife has been in the hospital, her van has been parked there. And the Shadow has burned down. I now have no vehicle to use to get any parts I may need. :( So, I procede to call just about everyone I know, that might be willing to help me out. Well, it was about 7pm before I actually got ahold of someone to be willing to lend a hand. So, he picks up another belt for me. He gets to the house just after 8pm and we proceed to change the belt. I start the motor, and notice that the belt is riding on the outside of the power steering pulley. Well, that just made too much sense. Now I know why I threw a belt. THE DAMN TENSIONER!!!!!!!! :mad: It's 8:45 now, and I'm fearing that no one would be open. So I dart inside to my PC and look online for a local parts store. I called. And to my surprise they are still open. Not only are they open, but they had the part in stock. My buddy goes down to pick it up for me, since I can't just leave the kids alone at home. While he's gone, I get the bad one out of the car. Lemme tell you all this. Late at night, without a garage, and just a flashlight; it makes for an interesting time to make emergency repairs. I get the damn thing out as he pulls up to the house. Another 15 minutes later, it's all together again. Fired it up again, and everything looks much better this time. So we grab a beverage of choice from my ice box, and laugh about the tension that was just lifted from "my" world.
Long story short.... I replaced a serpentine belt and tensioner on the "Headless Horseman" tonight.