Got to ride in a tow truck

This is the first time in my year and a half with the Mark that he's let me down. I don't blame it all on him though. I saw the warning signs and was just trying to limp him back home where he could sit comfortably in the garage till the surgeons could get to him.

I left my apartment around 10 last night with the girlfriend. (We planned on comeing back) I made it across the Poplar Street Bridge (For those of you who don't know St. Louis, this is the main bridge connecting Missouri to Illinois; about 1 - 1 1/2 miles long) Just on the Illinois side of the bridge the climate control followed by the ABS, then traction control, etc. zapped out.

I made it to the inside shoulder of the road where I called for a tow truck and the let the police know my situation. They sent out a IDOT truck to sit with me till my tow got there. The IDOT guy got there and really wanted to PUSH my car out of the way to an exit. Me don'ts thinks so. There was no way in hell I was going to let him push my car for a mile regardless that he reassured me the rubber bumpers wouldn't hurt my car. So he put flares up around my car and then he left. Way to stay with me till my tow got there.

My flatbed tow truck arrived about 25 min later and I was loaded up. We made the 20 mile trek back to the garage where he is sleeping right now with the vette and Trans Am. Peliminary diagnosis by the doctor actually looks good compared to what it could have been. The alternator seemed to check out fine and the battery was showing a very weak charge. I'm hopeing for a better reading on it as the day goes by.

For now the other Lincoln has picked up where the ill Lincoln left off. Tomorrow the Explorer will be on cargo duty as I'm helping the girlfriend move into the dorms. And by Monday, hopefully he'll be feeling good as new and will be well enough to take a sponge bath.

RE: Got to ride in a tow truck

Sorry you had such troubles, but glad to see you've still got your sence of humor. For what it's worth, I laughed out loud at the sponge bath part! I hope (he/she ?) recovers fast and never has a relapse

PS/ What year are you starting in college? My Matt joined a Frat, and I am not happy 'bout it!~ Everything is to help the Frat, raise money for the Frat, devote time & energy to/for the Frat, give money to the Frat ~ etc, etc. I fear his grades are gonna go to "H" and the Frat won't give a Crap!

RE: Got to ride in a tow truck

I'm still going to say that it's the alternator. I don't think the car would stop running because of a bad battery, unless there's actually a short in the battery. Even then, i don't know. I had the same symptoms with my old lincoln, and sure enough, it was the alternator. The 78 chevy i had, i broke the battery in. apparently i broke a plate or two off inside the battery by jumping the truck. Truck ran fine until i shut it off, then the lights went dim so quick it was unbelievable.

RE: Got to ride in a tow truck

oh sandy..goodluck...

RE: Got to ride in a tow truck

I agree with Sleeper! The altenator is most likely toast, it may check out fine now that its had a chance to cool off. The car wouldnt die while driving if the battery was weak(can actually run without a battery, although its really hard on the altenator). The regulator is probably shutting down when it gets hot. Charge your battery overnight and install a new altenator. If your lucky the battery cables may have corrosion at the posts(so check that first). good luck!

RE: Got to ride in a tow truck

I have seen a car shut down when the battery had a direct short.Its pretty common in the heat of the desert.Take the battery to a checker or wherever.They can put it on a machine that will tell you if it will even take a charge.Only takes a few minutes.If the battery is good replace the alt.

RE: Got to ride in a tow truck

so hows your bumper looking after they loaded it onto the tow truck? that little black strip below the front bumper on mine has 2 chain-link sized dents that will forever remind me of my many many towing incidences.

RE: Got to ride in a tow truck

Sandy, this is the start of my 3rd year here. But I can't really call myself a junior. I have this year plus 2 more left. I only have one word to say about frats. Blah! When I get time I'll drop an email by your way as well. Might not be till Sunday night or Monday though.

I just got back from work and I have a few things to do around here first, (actually have to wait on them, thats why I'm on the computer). I don't need to take it to a shop. Everything I need to check and/or charge the battery is sitting right in front of my patients bed. Haveing a dad that restored corvettes in his younger life comes in handy once in a while.

Paul, I honestly can say I haven't looked. I am going to make a quick trip down to the garage before I head out of town here in a few hours and I'll be sure to take a peak at it.

Have to say the tow truck driver was a really nice and cool guy. The IDOT people are sucky.

RE: Got to ride in a tow truck

Final update on the situation

After long tedious hours under the knife the Mark is once again able to walk and run on his own. After careful testing it was deteremined that the alternator was fine but the battery was fried and one of the cables had a moderate amount of corrosion build up. Both where replaced with extreme care and delicacy. Within about an hour he was able to go gallop with the stallions again

Paul, the tow guy was great. Not a single mark on the car fron the chains.

RE: Got to ride in a tow truck

Sandy -- did Matt end up joining ZBT? I know you were talking about that one a while ago.

RE: Got to ride in a tow truck

No. Said there were too many pot-heads in there & he's not into that scene. He was happier in Sigma Phi Epislon (?) "SigEp" He's very happy there, and is SigEp Fund Raiser for '03-'04 school year. He's got a tie-in now with "Pizza-Uno" (another pizza chain)wherein 20% of $$$ spent there by Rider University students goes back to SigEp - a Car-Wash MAY follow with Sandy suppling the wash soap as a Father-Donation. It all starts on Aug. 31st

RE: Got to ride in a tow truck

Another update on my Mark

He had a relapse At approximently 10:45 this morning the patient fell back into the same conditions. This time he was shut off before loseing all power. Once arriving back at the hospital after his piggyback ride he was re-diagnosed. The battery was showing very weak, but this time the alternator wasn't showing anything.

The problem area was removed from the subject and carted away. In the mean time a used alternator supplied by a donor (rebuilder guy just happened to have the same one lyeing around). This is just a temporary transplant untill his own organ can be rebuilt and beefed up.

So far now the Mark is living on a donor alternator. His own should be rebuilt in the maximum of 2 weeks.

RE: Got to ride in a tow truck

Jay, wouldn't you do better to instal a brandy new Alt? Sure, it's more money - but in the long run wouldn't the peace of mind and the added service be worth it? Winter is coming, as you know with added drain on things electrical, cold temps, snow & sleet. Give it some thought.

RE: Got to ride in a tow truck

Alternators often die within a week of a dead battery. The alternator is overworked trying to charge a battery that won't hold a charge.

It has happened to me several times on other cars.

Alexander
President
Lincolns of Distinction

RE: Got to ride in a tow truck

Jay, wouldn't you do better to instal a brandy new Alt? Sure, it's more money - but in the long run wouldn't the peace of mind and the added service be worth it? Winter is coming, as you know with added drain on things electrical, cold temps, snow & sleet. Give it some thought.

Click to expand...

Sandy, this was given some thought when I decided to have it rebuilt. The only reason its being rebuilt is because of past alternator rebuilds he has done and his reputation with them. The guy came out of highschool together with my dad. The 2 of them would work countless hours restoring cars and whenever one of them would get stuck with something they would call the other. And that still happens but on a smaller scale now.

This guy rebuilt the alternator on the T/A when its engine was overhauled. Its gone 80K miles since then and shows no signs of failing. Other people have had theirs rebult by him to, and have gone over 150K miles without trouble.

He will completly dissasemble this alternator and go through every part. Anything that shows any wear at all on it will be replaced. Another thing I found curious that he was saying was our alternators are very similar to a Mittsubishi's. Are voltage regulators on them (if I remember right) are identical.

I will feel a lot more safer with this rebuilt and beefed up alternator than a brand new one.

RE: Got to ride in a tow truck

The OEM alternator is a *cough* Mitsubishi *cough*.

IMHO a quality rebuilt alternator with HD parts is superior, certainly superior to parts house remans and in certain cases superior to new units.

RE: Got to ride in a tow truck

Darn lucky you are, Jay, to have a guy like that! Rare as a 1960 Edsel !!!