Handling a roadside breakdown

[Nix]

I'd recommend doing what my parents do.

They buy older vehicles (currently a '97 Ram) for local use and, when they want to travel, they rent a car. For about the cost of 1 car payment they can rent a car for a week that's no more than a year or two old, gets great gas milage, is comfortable, and reliable. It isn't worth the stress worrying about an older vehicle breaking down when your out of town, let alone the stress and cost if/when the breakdown actually happens. They've been doing this ever since the last new car they bought ('84 Mercury Lynx Wagon, lol) finally went the the scrap yard (around '91, I think).

Don't misread this as critizing the OP's choice. I'm just offering an alternative.

 

[GarageEnvy]

I questioned the plastic radiator too. The OEM one was plastic and it split alongthe top. NAPA told me they were all plastic. There wasn't an alternative. I asked again at the radiator repair shop that did this replacement and I got a two minute profanity laced monolog on how guys think $750 aluminum radiators are the best and why they are wrong. The monolog finished with his views on selling "all of our metals" like copper and brass to China. I was sorry I had asked.

I'm sort of glad to see there wasn't a consensus that I should have done something different. Some would have fixed it themselves and some would have paid the shop. I haven't seen anyone say they would have run the remainder of the way on the patch and frankly that was probably my plan B if I had picked up a new radiator.

It is certainly true that being on vacation, having family in the car, the terrain you're traveling over and areas you're traveling through influence your choices.

What's funny is that until reading some of the responses, I had never considered the 1994 car to be old.

 

[jimindm]

Spending vacation time and money at a repair shop is not fun. You did what you had to do.

I am sure that the repair shop did not have a time scheduled for an out of towner to stop for a radiator replacement. He made time for you and got you on the road, so you could enjoy your vacation. In the mean time, he maybe worked two hour later than normal, or pushed back a customers car that was in for scheduled repairs. The price may have been a little higher than normal, but he got your car done for you. You got your car, but some one else waited onother day or was late in getting theirs. Someone that they will most likely see again.

The stories that could be told about the vehicles that people travel in, that repair shops have seen, could probly fill several threads here.

It sound like you were questioning the shop from the start. How did you you come across with the shop? You already patched it in hopes of making it through your trip. Depending upon the type of shop you were in and what time of day it was, how did you treat them. It sounded like you were at a small shop. Did you watch over them, to see how they were doing it. Could you have walked over to the donut shop and got breakfast for the guys? How about a gift card at the convenience store down the street. How about a pie for an afternoon snack? A six pack of pop or beer.

I know that this thread started about how to handle a roadside breakdown. As mentioned a pretty easy repair. Maybe the parts store could have recommended a guy down the street that could have helped you. Maybe while telling your story to the counter guy, one of us could have been in line behind you and told you to bring it over.

I talked my BIL through a wheel bearing replacement on an 02 ford psd, in january, in the middle of montana, in a ranchers machine shed, forty miles from any town. All while the family was inside the house enjoying the company of stangers that stopped to help on a tuesday afternoon in the middle of montana.

When it comes to car repairs most people just have the thought that they are going to be taken advantage of no matter what. Some times you just have to trust people.

To answer your question about roadside breakdowns. You knew that the radiator needed replaced after it had cracked. When you are traveling, you just have to put your trust into others. Whether thats at a dealership, or a machine shed in the middle of no where. Be thankful that some one could help, when you needed it the most.

In the end, you got it fixed. Did not miss out on much vacation/family time. Maybe sending the repair shop a thank you card, would make their day. It may have cost you a little more than it should have, but think of what could have happened.

 

[bams50]

Here's a theory that has always served me well: Don't think gas mileage, think durability.

We travel a lot. We have been to Disney World in FL over 30 times, 3000 miles round-trip. Started when the kids were little.

Back then I bought a '95 Dodge Conversion Van with 133K miles. It was usually only 4 of us, and it seated 7, but the back seat folded down into a sofa. Had onboard TV with headphones, dual A/C, etc. But those were just bonuses.

The reason I bought it was because underneath all that plushness and gingerbread was a 3/4 ton TRUCK. That meant HD suspension, trans., and cooling; plus enough space and power to not only fit comfortably, but stand up better to the rigors of long highway use. I put HD truck tires on it for safety, and never had a problem. That solid 318 V8 engine had the power and durability to carry my family not only in comfort but in reliability. I let the old girl go at 206K miles without it never once having let us down (still running great today) and went into an '02 Ford Conversion that only had 128K. We still have that and it just turned 184K on the way back from IN 2 weeks ago, towing a Studebaker, A/C cranked.

As a contrast, my brother did not feel the same way and hauled his family the same trip several times in minivans. Had several problems, mostly related to overworking an undersized running gear and suspension. Spent tons of money and lost vacation time and stress addressing these things over the years; way more than the couple hundred extra in gas.

I too know people who drive older cars and rent for trips, and it makes sense. But if your kids are young, I always recommend investing in a heavier-duty vehicle like (like your Tahoe) for traveling. My experience is, prioritizing gas mileage is false economy.

 

[Squankum]

I don't think your car is old! I think it's fancy and modern!
(I drive an '85, and '87, and an '89...)

My plastic radiator durability tale: drove my '85 since new, around the 17 year mark, changed the radiator just on principle, after bopping the end tanks off of that before taking it to the scrap yard, I found the tubes nice and clean...

The replacement radiator, less than ten years old, OEM German quality, about two years ago, I bumped the upper hose outlet/upper hose while working on something else and the brittle thing just cracked and fell off and coolant came gushing out. Maybe the modern plastics aren't as good as they were in the mid 80's?

So, since we're talking old car, long trip reliability, have you changed every cooling system hose? I do like the way you did the W/P and radiator and T-stat already.

I start to wonder about the intense price competition nowadays affecting quality on humdrum parts like radiators and thermostats that are not rocket science. : (

 

[mikeyr]

if you plan ahead you can get a car rental awfully cheap, its what I do when going long distance. Unless I want to drive my car for some reason (and I often do because I like my car), I rent, no worries about breakdowns or things like that, if it breaks a simple phone call and you have a new car ready to go.

 

[BARN ONE]

One time my buddy and I were out in my old Willys Jeep and it was starting to run hot. I knew the thermostat had to be stuck closed. All I had with me was a screwdriver and a pair of pliers. I took the hose clamp loose and pulled the hose off, then punched some holes throught the thermostat with the screwdriver. Then to refill the radiator we found a empty beer can and got water out of a mud puddle! Then away we went!

 

[musgofasta]

If by myself, I'd be fixing it in the parking lot of the auto parts store.

With wife - She'd be dropped at a coffee shop and I'd still fix it.

Wife & Kids, on a vacation? I wouldn't be losing any sleep to pay the $300 to get it fixed and be on my way.

Don't sweat it.

 

[GarageEnvy]

I am sure that the repair shop did not have a time scheduled for an out of towner to stop for a radiator replacement. . You got your car, but some one else waited onother day or was late in getting theirs. Someone that they will most likely see again.

It sound like you were questioning the shop from the start. How did you you come across with the shop? You already patched it in hopes of making it through your trip. Depending upon the type of shop you were in and what time of day it was, how did you treat them. It sounded like you were at a small shop. Did you watch over them, to see how they were doing it. Could you have walked over to the donut shop and got breakfast for the guys? How about a gift card at the convenience store down the street. How about a pie for an afternoon snack? A six pack of pop or beer.

Maybe while telling your story to the counter guy, one of us could have been in line behind you and told you to bring it over.

When it comes to car repairs most people just have the thought that they are going to be taken advantage of no matter what. Some times you just have to trust people.

I'm not sure if those questions are rhetorical or not but I'll answer them.
When we got to our hotel in Reno (Circus Circuss) I asked the front desk and concierge but they didn't know of anyone. Ironically, I missed the exit for the hotel and backtracked through town. I pulled over in a lot to get new directions from where I was and ironically found myself in the A-1 radiator parking lot. This was Sunday at 6pm. I called them in the morning but they were too busy. The repair shop that did the work answered the phone and said they could do it anytime I brought it in. I found them and a couple of other places in the phone book. There were no other cars in the shop and I did thank him several times for doing the job on short notice. I did not hover over the guy. I went to a burger joint with the kids and then (God help me) to the JC Penney outlet store.

The parts counter guy in Lake Tahoe was very helpful and sympathetic but there wasn't even a parking lot to do the repair in. He didn't know of a shop in town and said I was one of many who had broken down. Given the altitude and the number of older cars making the trip from Reno during Hot August nights I suspect that was true.

Believe it or not I actually thought about jumping on GJ and posting a "help I'm stuck in Tahoe" message. In the end it worked out.

Mikeyr
Several have mentioned the rental car idea. We haven't done it in the past but might in the future.

Squankum
Yep, hoses are new too.

Bams50
Honestly I kind of was thinking about durability. This is the first time in the car's history it has ever broken down on the road. It's the only car I've ever owned that has never seen the south end of a tow truck. Our other car, a 2000 Tahoe has all sorts of electrical gremlins that I have yet to sort out. By comparison it ate a motor at 34,000 miles via a head gasket, lost a steering box and has all the electrical issues. That's with 80,000 fewer miles than the Camry.

Thanks for all the suggestions.

 

[bams50]

Bams50
Honestly I kind of was thinking about durability. This is the first time in the car's history it has ever broken down on the road. It's the only car I've ever owned that has never seen the south end of a tow truck. Our other car, a 2000 Tahoe has all sorts of electrical gremlins that I have yet to sort out. By comparison it ate a motor at 34,000 miles via a head gasket, lost a steering box and has all the electrical issues. That's with 80,000 fewer miles than the Camry.

I wasn't referring to individual cars but design. A truck has every part designed to be more durable and haul loads, therefore everything is less stressed. A Camry is a dressed up econobox with the attendant light-duty chassis and drivetrain. OK for what they're designed for, which is light loads. But long runs with a whole family and luggage, in mountainous areas, in hot weather, puts them under much more stress than they were designed for. They can do it some, when they're new and every piece is working perfectly- perfect bearings and tires without wear, spotless cooling system, etc. But natural use causes wear, and tiny compromises in all the systems, which increases the strain on the other systems, which degrades the others, and on and on in a vicious cycle. With a heavier duty vehicle, you get a lot less stress, thus slower wear. And, HD systems have more leeway built in.

Long-winded I know, but I just wanted to make that distinction. Vacations are for relaxing and enjoying, not white-knuckling along with fingers crossed

 

[jimindm]

I wasn't referring to individual cars but design. A truck has every part designed to be more durable and haul loads, therefore everything is less stressed. A Camry is a dressed up econobox with the attendant light-duty chassis and drivetrain. OK for what they're designed for, which is light loads. But long runs with a whole family and luggage, in mountainous areas, in hot weather, puts them under much more stress than they were designed for. They can do it some, when they're new and every piece is working perfectly- perfect bearings and tires without wear, spotless cooling system, etc. But natural use causes wear, and tiny compromises in all the systems, which increases the strain on the other systems, which degrades the others, and on and on in a vicious cycle. With a heavier duty vehicle, you get a lot less stress, thus slower wear. And, HD systems have more leeway built in.

Long-winded I know, but I just wanted to make that distinction. Vacations are for relaxing and enjoying, not white-knuckling along with fingers crossed

I am not sure I agree with that totally. There are many econoboxes out there that are driven everyday the way the OP did. The plastic tanks of a radiator are a problem waiting to happen on any vehicle that they are installed in. The only difference is the one in your van weighs more than the one in the camry. I would not call replaceing one, part of the preventive plan, but many crack and bust daily. It happens.

OP thought enough of the camry, that he decided to drive it in the first place. Its just part of taveling. You can do all of the maintenance that you want, and could not foresee a radiator failure like that.

You travel by your means. Some people that is a rental car, some its a prevost motor home. For many, its the family sedan with 150K on it. Most do not have a problem. There are many **** boxes out there I would not want to drive across town, but the owners feel comfortable in driving them.

When it comes to higher mileage vehicles, I would be more worried about a catastraphic failure that would ruin the whole trip. A failure of a radiator is no different than blowing a tire, or hitting an animal on a the road. It was just something that happens.

Sounds like he got it fixed, went on with the trip, and hopefully had fun and enjoyed the time with the family. Glad for him at was not a major issue, and he could continue after minor repairs were performed.

 

[carhunter]

I wasn't referring to individual cars but design. A truck has every part designed to be more durable and haul loads, therefore everything is less stressed. A Camry is a dressed up econobox with the attendant light-duty chassis and drivetrain. OK for what they're designed for, which is light loads. But long runs with a whole family and luggage, in mountainous areas, in hot weather, puts them under much more stress than they were designed for. They can do it some, when they're new and every piece is working perfectly- perfect bearings and tires without wear, spotless cooling system, etc. But natural use causes wear, and tiny compromises in all the systems, which increases the strain on the other systems, which degrades the others, and on and on in a vicious cycle. With a heavier duty vehicle, you get a lot less stress, thus slower wear. And, HD systems have more leeway built in.

Long-winded I know, but I just wanted to make that distinction. Vacations are for relaxing and enjoying, not white-knuckling along with fingers crossed

Considering the millions of Camrys still on the road vs the relatively low number of conversion vans, I'd have to disagree