No, I am not writing yet another article about my mental health. Today was yet another Saturday filled with fun-ness (which I am pretty sure isn't a word). I woke up early to make it to the step kids soccer games, in the rain no less. Though we were lucky, all year we didn't have to sit out in the actual rain. But today was a special day, the LAST day of soccer (technically the step daughter has one more game, but we won't be here for it). And after the games we departed to my mom's house to celebrate Scott's birthday which happens on Monday. The plan was to go antiquing in a quaint town up north and then head to dinner and dessert at some local restaurants.
Unfortunately, after a Mercedes attempted to run us off the road, our lovely 2003 Toyota Highlander (not my vehicle) decided was about time to overheat. We pulled off the freeway and filled up on some coolant, and even added in a quart of oil for good measure. (Granted, I was sitting in the car during this time.) We got back on the road and, thinking everything was good, made it another ten miles before the car overheated again. We pulled over and called Toyota, the closest one to us, and of course they couldn't help us since it was already 2pm on a Saturday. So we decided we had to go home and drop it at our Toyota dealership, however after driving another five minutes, albeit the other direction, it was apparent we were not going to make it. We have AAA and after waiting for about a hour the tow truck came and we finally got home at 5pm, and home is such a relief! Tonight Scott is going to take a look at the truck and see if he can flush the coolant system before we drop it off at the Toyota dealership. Hopefully it isn't anything big!
Oh, and poor Scott's birthday plans weren't really fulfilled, but it should be fine. Now he has to share a birthday celebration with me, and Thanksgiving.
Posted by 10lees at November 4, 2006 06:06 PMAAA rocks. My brother just had a flat and AAA sent someone out to fix it right away.
Of course, I drove out there with my dad's truck so he could take the truck to work while I waited for AAA... but get the reason for the flat: my brother had worn the tires down so low they actually *wore* through the seal. You could see the metal rim through what was left of the rubber. The tire simply wore out.
Needless to say, we got a new set of tires.
Posted by: babada at November 4, 2006 08:03 PMAnd you didn't need a new axle or rims or anything either? That's pretty amazing. My tires are still doing pretty well and I am hoping to get quite a few more miles out of them. At least 60k.
I will have an update on what was wrong with the car soon. We have three thoughts: low coolant, malfuntioning temperature gauge, or water pump. Just as long as nothing bigger is damaged by any of these things we should be good.
Posted by: 10lees at November 5, 2006 02:50 PMIt could be the thermostat too.
babada:
You never had to learn how to change a tire in Driver's Ed? It is really easy to do and I'm still surprised to learn that some people don't know how to do it. Maybe it is because I'm kind of a country boy instead of a city boy.
I know how to change a tire! And I grew up in BP. Obviously its a cooling problem, so if nothing's leaking its either the thermostat (easy,cheap, but unlikely on a 2003) or something wrong with the coolant delivery system (more expensive - water pump etc). I'm pretty surprised that such a newish toyota would exhibit problems like this, but then again I drive a 215,000 mile 2002 ford focus so I always assume everyone else's car is way more reliable than mine.
Posted by: schdav at November 6, 2006 06:56 AMI didn't mean to generalize every city person, I was just thinking it was more likely that the skill was taught in the more blue collar filled drivers ed classes that are typically found in more country communities.
Schdav, did you learn in drivers ed or through your pops?
It might not be the Toyota's fault but the condition of the coolant that is causing the trouble. There is a $5 tool for testing the degree of cooling for antifreeze. It tells you the amount of cold your fluid can stand in the winter and the boiling point which is usually most useful in summer but in your case, fall. A quick google search for coolant tester will get you on the right path. It is basically a squeeze bulb, a straw, and some floating plastic balls of varying densities.
Posted by: jeff at November 6, 2006 08:28 AMI got 2 new tires today! Only because I put a nail through one of them, and they were getting pretty bald after at least 40K
Posted by: bleaus at November 6, 2006 05:50 PMI am impressed that you have time to read my blog before an election :-)
I know my mom made sure that I knew how to change a tire and I was a city girl by the time I knew how to drive. It may be more of a country skill since my mom was from the country.
Posted by: 10lees at November 6, 2006 10:08 PM