Made it 270 miles farther across Texas today. We had planned on Abilene but when we got to Big Spring... the truck quit. Yup, lost speed and we were just able to get off an exit and onto a service road. Big dose of good luck there. The exit was right there where we needed it and it happened to have a huge shoulder to pull off. We have the slide out and are still off the traveled portion of the road.
The engine was running fine but the speed was dropping. When we parked I looked under the truck and found transmission fluid raining down from the back of the engine; probably that new torque converter. That would explain the symptom. We are about 10 miles out from Big Spring, modest size city of 27,000. I called Good Sam Roadside Assistance since i have the camper in tow. But it's Sunday and they could not find anyone open. Since I'm in a safe place they suggested staying here tonight. Tomorrow morning when things open up we'll go at it again. They said if they towed me today to a place that could not handle the repair I would pay for the next tow. there is a Dodge dealer and a campground in Big Spring so we should be pretty well set when it gets arranged.
I wanted to notify the TX State Police I was parked here so they wouldn't have to get curious in the night. I tried 4 different phone numbers from the internet and all were no answer. Even one labeled 24 hour roadside assistance! When we went for a walk a trucker stopped to ask if we were OK. When I explained it all he gave me the local dispatcher phone number from memory; he is a former deputy! (I had noticed he was packing) 😄 Then a young couple in a pick up stopped to ask too. He was wearing a cowboy hat. Seems like a good neighborhood.
Tonight may be noisy. We have I-20 50' away on one side and a railroad 20' away from our door. Good thing I like trains! In the 7 hours we have been here at least 9 trains have passed.
First some West Texas landscape:
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Callahan has the whole back seat area with the seat folded down and his bed from home on the deck.
He likes to ride with his chin on the console. Doesn't look comfortable to me, but... |
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Gushing and dripping, Oh My!
Not a precise quote! |
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| That's camp! |
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| We went for a walk down a rural road near us and Cal found lots of interesting aromas in the tall grass. |
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| TX Farm Road 818, goes to Lomax |
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| Trains! |
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| More trains! |
That's some bad luck with the torque converter, but not as bad as if this had happened on an open stretch of lonely Texas highway.
ReplyDeleteLooks like they may not have replaced the input seal when replacing the TC. Good Luck, Looks like you could use it!
ReplyDeleteApparently not all clips were attached correctly to hold the intercooler tubes in place. Some loose, a couple missing! Covered by Mopar part warranty!
ReplyDelete