Here's a funny story about how I probably don't pay attention as much as I should. I was getting into my daily driver the other day (94 Grand Am) and I notice that I almost had to floor the pedal in order to pull out of my parking stall. Then I realized my e-brake was on. I felt quite stupid at that point. Just thought I would share my ignorance with you guys...haha.
Wakey, Wakey! That's better than my brother. One time he drove his station wagon and it seemed sluggish and didn't have much power, but he kept driving. He heard a screeching noise and kept on driving. He smelled smoke and kept on driving. He finally realized about 15 miles down the highway that he left the brake on. - Freed
I do that all the time when I park in the driveway, like around 1 out of 20 times I'll put it in reverse and start going and it feels like I'm going up a ramp. My mom did that to my dad's truck once, left it on while driving until about 15 minutes later she noticed the blue smoke coming out of the rear fender well(s).
My favorite was one I did in my '64. live right down the road from my in-laws, not even to get the car to 10 mph. I crank up the old Buick, put it in drive, and it runs like a slug. I check-e-brake is off-and keep driving. I thought maybe the transmission is taking a dump. I go to my in-laws, hang out for 30 minutes, get back in the car, go to back out, same sluggishness. Get out of the car, look, and the driver back tire was flat! Wal-Mart (where I have the whiz-bang tire warranty) told me the bead had rusted and fixed me back up. I just thought it was funny driving for so long not knowing I had a flat tire!
I once rented (thank goodness) a Grand Am at the Houston airport to drive a couple of hundred miles for a family reunion. Along the way I remarked to my (ex)wife about how weak the engine seemed. It was whining away at 60, and didn't seem to have any pickup. Turns out the shift indicator was off a little bit, and I drove the whole way (at highway speeds) in second gear. ou:
i did that in my ranger a few years ago. was out in the glamis dunes at night down at the big party spot. big line of trucks... thousands of people... and me getting stuck about every 50 ft. couldnt figure out for the life of my why my truck was being a dog. i finally get out of the mix, drive to the only resturant within 25 miles to air up my tires... get out to find smoke comming from the wheel wells. the rim itself left a pretty good blister on my hand. the next day i take off the drum and springs and parts just start falling out. felt pretty dumb. pete
Hmm I drove for about 5 miles in the Riv with my Passenger side front broke locked with up. Couldn't see the smoke but I could smell it! I'm sure I took a couple of years off the life of my brakes right there.
The other night I was getting out of my new POS (93 Plymouth Sundance) and as I pulled the keys out of the ignition I noticed they were stuck. I tried turning the car over. Not even a crank. I go in the house and throw a fit. Go back out to the car look down. Shifter is still in drive. Damn neutral safety switch.
93 Sundance, huh? Scott you have a 93 Sundance? My dad once bought an 86 Plymouth Reliant. The thing would only go 60, but it had to be put to the floor, going downhill and a really strong wind pushing it. It was quite a dog. He traded it after a year. Good MPG, though!
when i was a kid ...my brother spent a whole day at a friend's house ..30 miles away ... workin his butt off raising the back of his 55 chevy by flippin the rearend up-side-down uzzled: ... had to rework brake lines ...left the parkin brake disconnected.... had to plug the vent so grease wouldnt leak out .... once he was finished ... he found out that it now had 4 gears for backin up and only one for goin forwardou:
with the same truck, i spent about two hundred dollars to get a mech to figure out why my battery wouldnt hold a charge... the end result... a penny fell into my cig. lighter....
I have to really watch it after driving the 2NABOT, I'll get into my work car ('03 Hyundai) and try to put it into drive with the wiper switch/stalk. It's amazing I haven't ripped it off the column yet.ou:
