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Do I have a story to tell!
17 years ago
Made it back... and here's the story of how it went down.
Well, first day out:
I had just gotten my oil changed, than everything loaded up into my Jeep. Everything was going fine till about 600 miles on route through I-40, I hear a snap, a bang, than a long horrible grinding noise. I look in my rear view mirror to see a billow of white and grey smoke flow from the back of my Jeep. I pull over on an off ramp and stopped in an empty lot. The cool thing was it was a historic site of the continental divide. YAY!
I look under my jeep to see that the drive shaft to the front axle is hanging out of the Transfer case (My Jeep has part time 4 wheel drive, so a shaft goes to power the front axels when needed). I called up my step dad Matt, and he's the one to tell me what the problem is. As I'm waiting there on the side of the road, a lady was kind enough to ask if I needed help, and directed me to a local mechanic. My Jeep made a lot of horrible grinding noises, but was still drivable.
The mechanic looks underneath my Jeep and finds it to be the same problem as described by Matt... but what to do? It's to late to go to a shop, he was actually closed himself, but was kind enough to stay open for me.
We couldn't really tell if it was a bad Yoke in the transfer case, bad U-joint, or if the transfer case was going bad. All I knew was that I didn't need the front drive shaft, because I didn't need 4 wheel drive. He helped me to remove it. When I asked him how much I owed him, he said nothing, and that I would probably need the money farther down the line.
I was very grateful and thanked him for his help, than continued on my way.
I made it to the first place I had to stay the night at and got some much needed sleep.
The next morning I grabbed a bite to eat, gassed up, and than continued on my way.
234 miles down on my route through I-44, another snap, bang, and that same grinding noise. I pulled off to the side, looked underneath the Jeep to see the same thing.
I called Yuni, and she gave me the number to our insurance. They contacted a local wrecker, and had them come to pick me up. The driver was kind and dropped took me to a local dealership that could service my Jeep. He asked if he could drop me off at a local motel, but I had to turn him down... I was so low on money I knew I couldn't afford it... that night, I slept in my Jeep in the dealership parking lot.
The next morning the dealership looked at it (for a $45 charge). I was hoping it was only a bad Yoke or a U-joint... no such luck. The Transfer case was ruined, and I needed a new one. Getting a used one from a local salvage yard alone was $650, than add on another $340 in labor. Needless to say I called the same salvage yard they did and asked them if they wanted to take it off my hands. Thankfully they said yes, and offered $750. I agreed.
Shortly after the wrecker came to take away my Jeep. I had them drop me off at the local "Super 8" motel, and got them to drop their cost for a room down to only $60... which was just about all I had on me. I unloaded all the stuff from the Jeep and stuck it in my room. I was getting ready ready for the driver to cut me the check (that's how it's done), till he asked for the title... I didn't have it... and we were already this far into the transaction.
He called his boss, and said I could just mail it in, than they would mail me out the check, so I lucked out on that one.
I had called my folks earlier before the wrecker arrived, and told me that my mother and brother would be coming down with a truck to help me out and bring me back home. It took them about 11 hours, which isn't bad timing. We all got some sleep at the motel, got up early, loaded everything into my brothers truck, than scooted out on our way.
The drive back was a nice one, and we did some talking of times passed, and got back in a timely manor with no hang ups.
No I'm trying to figure out what all I'll be doing in the coming days with no job, no car, and no real plans as of yet... other than wanting to get back in college.
So, I'm back, I'm safe... but I'm still a bit at a lose :(
Thank you all for your support and those that prayed. I'll be around. See yall again soon.
Well, first day out:
I had just gotten my oil changed, than everything loaded up into my Jeep. Everything was going fine till about 600 miles on route through I-40, I hear a snap, a bang, than a long horrible grinding noise. I look in my rear view mirror to see a billow of white and grey smoke flow from the back of my Jeep. I pull over on an off ramp and stopped in an empty lot. The cool thing was it was a historic site of the continental divide. YAY!
I look under my jeep to see that the drive shaft to the front axle is hanging out of the Transfer case (My Jeep has part time 4 wheel drive, so a shaft goes to power the front axels when needed). I called up my step dad Matt, and he's the one to tell me what the problem is. As I'm waiting there on the side of the road, a lady was kind enough to ask if I needed help, and directed me to a local mechanic. My Jeep made a lot of horrible grinding noises, but was still drivable.
The mechanic looks underneath my Jeep and finds it to be the same problem as described by Matt... but what to do? It's to late to go to a shop, he was actually closed himself, but was kind enough to stay open for me.
We couldn't really tell if it was a bad Yoke in the transfer case, bad U-joint, or if the transfer case was going bad. All I knew was that I didn't need the front drive shaft, because I didn't need 4 wheel drive. He helped me to remove it. When I asked him how much I owed him, he said nothing, and that I would probably need the money farther down the line.
I was very grateful and thanked him for his help, than continued on my way.
I made it to the first place I had to stay the night at and got some much needed sleep.
The next morning I grabbed a bite to eat, gassed up, and than continued on my way.
234 miles down on my route through I-44, another snap, bang, and that same grinding noise. I pulled off to the side, looked underneath the Jeep to see the same thing.
I called Yuni, and she gave me the number to our insurance. They contacted a local wrecker, and had them come to pick me up. The driver was kind and dropped took me to a local dealership that could service my Jeep. He asked if he could drop me off at a local motel, but I had to turn him down... I was so low on money I knew I couldn't afford it... that night, I slept in my Jeep in the dealership parking lot.
The next morning the dealership looked at it (for a $45 charge). I was hoping it was only a bad Yoke or a U-joint... no such luck. The Transfer case was ruined, and I needed a new one. Getting a used one from a local salvage yard alone was $650, than add on another $340 in labor. Needless to say I called the same salvage yard they did and asked them if they wanted to take it off my hands. Thankfully they said yes, and offered $750. I agreed.
Shortly after the wrecker came to take away my Jeep. I had them drop me off at the local "Super 8" motel, and got them to drop their cost for a room down to only $60... which was just about all I had on me. I unloaded all the stuff from the Jeep and stuck it in my room. I was getting ready ready for the driver to cut me the check (that's how it's done), till he asked for the title... I didn't have it... and we were already this far into the transaction.
He called his boss, and said I could just mail it in, than they would mail me out the check, so I lucked out on that one.
I had called my folks earlier before the wrecker arrived, and told me that my mother and brother would be coming down with a truck to help me out and bring me back home. It took them about 11 hours, which isn't bad timing. We all got some sleep at the motel, got up early, loaded everything into my brothers truck, than scooted out on our way.
The drive back was a nice one, and we did some talking of times passed, and got back in a timely manor with no hang ups.
No I'm trying to figure out what all I'll be doing in the coming days with no job, no car, and no real plans as of yet... other than wanting to get back in college.
So, I'm back, I'm safe... but I'm still a bit at a lose :(
Thank you all for your support and those that prayed. I'll be around. See yall again soon.
Call it a win, get some sleep and THEN worry.
Its such a catch 22 because you need a car to get a job and you need a job to get a car @_@;;;
Seriously though honey I can give you herb- I live close enough to the campus that I dont need a car. And for my ceramics class I could see if I could car pool with someone.
If you dont have a plan come easter when I drive up there- I am leaving herb with you.
:3 you will have to brush up on your stick before I let you have him for good though :p