Simple Fixes

[Mark_88]

While reading the post about preparing for a long trip I was thinking about 'roadside fixes' that may help others. I tend to carry spare parts when going long distances...but stop short of towing a backup vehicle (that would be great).

Over the years with my Ranger(s) I've been fairly fortunate with roadside emergencies and only required a tow three times...two of those could have been avoided if I'd had the parts and/or patience and/or knowhow to fix them on the side of the road...

Anyway, there is a tremendous amount of 'ingenuity' floating around this group and some of that might be put into a 'simple fix' category. As a for instance, on my 89 Tempo the heater core blew on the way home and I did not want to have it towed. What I did was by-pass the heater core and plugged the end of one hose onto the outlet for the return...got me home so I could fix it properly. (won't work on a Ranger that way but you can use the T connector to complete connection and bypass the heater core).

I'm sure I don't have to tell anyone that some things just aren't fixable (like the time my front tire came off on the highway)...but most things are...and a bit of preparation might save someone from expensive tows and/or downtime that could be avoided...

 

[97RangerXLT]

The best simple fix is to inspect your vehicle regularly and before a long trip. this way you can fix the things that might leave you stranded in your driveway before it becomes an issue.

Other than that, keep a small toolbox and an extra set of belts, a radiator hose repair kit, a few qts of oil and you should be good to go.

AJ

 

[mhughes165]

The best simple fix is to inspect your vehicle regularly and before a long trip. this way you can fix the things that might leave you stranded in your driveway before it becomes an issue.

Other than that, keep a small toolbox and an extra set of belts, a radiator hose repair kit, a few qts of oil and you should be good to go.

AJ

even if u do proper maintence on a regualr basis and check everything out before heading out on a trip things can and will happen, it is inevitble, keep a box of tools, somne spare belts and hoses, and always carriy a FULL SIZE spare tire if u plan on driving extended time when the tire is changed.

 

[Will]

I used to carry a bike in the back of my '68 VW bus. That was a good deterent to breakdowns.

In a smaller vehicle, an inflatible set of boobs and a wig should get you off the highway--and then busfare.

 

[Mark_88]

Do you inflate the boobs with a manual pump or do you carry a pump that you plug into the lighter? If they are the auto-inflate kind, I wouldn't carry them in my truck...they might think they are airbags and go off with the slightest bump...tits a shame they don't come as standard equipment in the older Rangers...

My dad used to carry all kinds of stuff in his trunk since he was commuting over 50 miles each way every day. That has sortof stuck with me over the years and you'd be surprised at what you need when you don't have it. Like a pair of winter boots and a snow suit. Lost count of the number of times I had to stand on the side of the road doing a repair while wearing my dress shoes...they don't hold up too well to the soggy slush on the side of the road...

 

[97BlackBetty]

I carry a full set of tools. I always have my High Lift, while I wouldn’t suggest using it for jacking up a vehicle while working on it, sometimes you don’t have a choice. I also carry a few ranger specific tools, like a wheel bearing nut socket. I have a tow strap with four 3/4" shackles and two 1/2" shackles. A full size spare- I need a new one, the old one got donated to a stranded motorist in a snow storm, not really a loss on the original rusted steel wheel and-old best of the worn out tires. Jumper cables and a small First-Aid kit. Tire plug and patch set, doesn’t really do much with out on-board air (Future Mod!)

In the winter on long road trips I also make sure to pack a heavy sleeping bag and Carhart Bibs and Jacket.

 

[Will]

I haven't broken down on the road since the timing belt went on my wife's former Geo in 1999. I do several long trips a year pulling something with my daily driver truck so I keep it well maintained. My B2 is broken so often--like welding required or busted parts, not breakdowns that are Ford's fault--that under it's crumpled sheet metal it's in excellent condition with many new parts and certainly fresh grease at all times. My wife's last 2 cars have been Honda's--progressively larger--CR-V and then Pilot--as our family grew and I have done the oil, rear axle lube, brakes and wiper blades and air filter but that's it. In the last 10 years those cars haven't even had a bulb go out or anything--let alone a repair. So my only real roadside advice is to keep your car maintained--or if you have a history of breakdowns to find a new brand. I really recommend a CR-V if you live in a place where slush is prevalent. That real-time four wheel drive really works well and you can get an early one for $6,000. It never breaks or has a problem of any kind. Wonderful cars. We gave ours to my wife's sister and she doesn't even know it has mechanical parts. It's taking real good care of her. Perpetual transportation and no frills.

 

[Shoeboy]

Back when I had my old Caravelle, I was heading out to Canmore to go visit a family friend and see what he had on his lot (he owns Canmore Chrysler), as at the time the Ranger offer hadn't come around, and I was still a dodge guy. Half way to Canmore, from Calgary, my alternator kicked the belt off, and I lost it somewhere down the highway. I did have a spare alternator belt with me, however, it was sitting in the truck of the car, the same truck that leaked water, and it was rotted apart, and broken in a few places. Long story short, I was stuck about 45 minutes (driving 100km/h), an without a belt, or cell phone. So I had to improvise. I made a belt out of duct tape, damn it squealed, but It ended up holding, long enough for me to get to Canmore and to get a new belt from Tim. By the time I got there, he was closed up and gone home, and all the parts stores were closed (it was nearly a 2 hour fix I had to do, as simple as it seems, it hard to do when Chrysler and their infinite wisdom gives you just enough room to work as a V-belt is thick), I ended up driving back to Calgary on my duct tape belt and to a parts store, and then home. All I can say, since all the sticky from the tape the pullies became coated int he sticky, at last my belts didn't squeak afterwards.

 

[Mark_88]

Hondas have a good reputation...like my 95 Sidekick...just keeps going...but I've had to do some fixes on that too...like giving the starter a rap when it decided to not crank...learned that from my 62 Ford Galaxie...the bendix just decides to stick sometimes and someone who is not savy would have called the towtruck...

General maintenance aside, I was thinking along the lines of fixes that some or most people would not have encountered...simple things...like removing a broken brake line from the master and plugging the open hole with a bolt in the master cylinder so you can at least get to a garage without towing the vehicle...

Or carrying a section of rubber fuel line in case the line breaks or leaks...or spare this or that part that you wouldn't normally carry but would be critical to fix something...like a hose connector...things you can do in extreme situations...like the boy scout motto "always be prepared"...or is that "pampered"?

 

[Shoeboy]

If your meaning mechanical repairs, and not just make shift fixes, thats a different story. When I had my Ranger, the front left brake hose blew out on me right after I got it (hey, i got it for a grand what could I expect. So me and tool box went to work on the side of a (busy) road. Vice grip, clam, get (ex)girlfriend to pump the brake, release vice grips, until I actually got a half decent pedal, and then clamped the hose off with 3 pairs of vice grips, and zip tied them out of the way, drove home. Switched cars, then I drove the truck to work the next day and replaced the line before the shop opened, its nice having hoist access.

Its still kind of make shift, but you can only carry so many things, keep the common things for a street truck, (mainly fluids, belts and the likes) and whatever else can either be jerry-rigged together for a makeshift hold, or tow the vehicle its nice when you have AMA.

 

[Mark_88]

Shoeboy,

When the brakes went on my Tempo I tried clamping (crimping) the busted line but could not get the fluid to stop leaking...not sure how you managed it even with vice grips...brake systems are under quite a bit of pressure and I was surprised how hard it was to stop it from leaking...

I ended up just removing the line from the master cylinder and putting a bolt (I now know you can buy actual plugs to cap the line) in the line hole and topping up the fluid...so I try to carry some of those plugs (one for each size line on the master cylinder) and they can be picked up for a few bucks.

That sorta thing...