Best dead on the road saves, Getting home stories Options

[r_towle]

What are some of your best “getting it home” repairs?
Those side of the road breakdowns you will never forget?

I have a few…
One of the best was when a buddy and I were heading up north to ski country and the throttle cable broke on my vw beetle. I got out, sat sideways on the rear bumper and I was the accelerator while he drove us up off the highway to a gas station….then bike cable and some clamps, fixed.

914 broke the cable at the local autox , about 10-15 miles away.
I tied that sucker off at 3500 rpm’s with my shoelace and drove home
I was given some wide eyes at a few lights and stop signs….but it worked.

[technicalninja]

1973 Super Beetle: transmission stuck in reverse and forth gear due to large driver's thighs that pushed the shift lever to the right in reverse allowing the internal shift fork to get behind the other forks and he engaged 4th gear.

Locks tranny up and car cannot be moved without a roll back truck.
Fat friend (who I sold my Wife's bug to) has no money and is in Marshall Texas near the Louisiana border 200 miles away from me.
Christmas Eve 1989.
Drove 200 miles and ripped that puppy apart in a college parking lot in 3" of snow and it was still coming down.
Removed engine then transmission, popped cover off of tail of transmission, fixed shift fork misalignment. popped it all back together and he drove home for Christmas.

8 hours round trip with 52 minutes of wrenching time, cold as hell, in the snow.

That's the day I said "No more VWs EVER!"

It was the third time he had done this crap requiring powerplant removal/lots of practice. We couldn't figure out why it was doing this till it happened when I was with him in Ft Worth a couple of months later. He knocked it out of reverse again and I got to play with it before he engaged another gear. working the shift lever back next to reverse and popping it back in turned out to be the answer to his problems.

Moral of story. Don't sell cars to your friends unless you want to help them fix it on Christmas Eve in a snowstorm...

[Krieger]

I had the throttle cable break on my Karman Ghia one night driving home from work. I happened to have about 10 feet of electrical wire. I tied the wire to the throttle on the carburetor. I used my left hand to pull the wire connected to the throttle and my right hand to steer and shift. Fortunately the lid was raised a couple of inches with spacers under the hinges. I went 10 miles on city streets like that. It wasn't too bad.

[ClayPerrine]

When I was in high school, I had a 1969 Pontiac Firebird. One day I was coming home from my girlfriend's house, and it started to overheat. I pulled into a convenience store, and opened the hood.

The radiator sprung a leak at the seam on the right hand end tank. I let it cool down while I thought about what to do.

So I went in and bought a pack of Big Red chewing gum. Once the radiator was cool, I chewed up the whole pack of gum, and used it as a sealer paste to "gum" up the leak in the radiator. Then I filled the radiator with water from the hose and left the cap loose so it wouldn't build pressure.

Drove it 45 minutes home like that, and three days to work and back at the local Jack-In-The-Box so I had money to pay to have the radiator fixed. When I finally got it fixed, the guy at the radiator shop cussed me out because he had a really hard time removing the "crap" I used to seal the radiator up.

[Superhawk996]

name='technicalninja' date='Mar 7 2023, 10:55 PM' post='3063298']
Moral of story. Don't sell cars to your friends unless you want to help them fix it on Christmas Eve in a snowstorm...

Moral of story. Don't sell small foreign cars to your fat friends unless you want to help them fix it on Christmas Eve in a snowstorm...

Fixed it for ya’.

There are just some folks that don’t belong in certain types of cars yet they insist on trying to fit into them. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/lol-2.gif) This goes in all directions: too tall, too short, too skinny, too fat.

[Superhawk996]

Broken clutch cable - not too much of a problem but trying to rev match the engine and the transmission is bound to make a few grinding noises that makes everyone think you have no idea how to drive that funky little sports car.

Getting though the small towns with stop lights. Trying to coast and time it so you don’t hit the red light . . . But fail. Starting the car in 1st gear - bucking and lurching to drive away on green.

There is no elegant way. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/sad.gif) But you can get there. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

[jhynesrockmtn]

A small group drove 3 356's to the West Coast Holiday in Bend in 2021. My buddy Pat's car (since sold) was a very original 64 coupe. So original it still had the original accelerator cable connector which broke about 10 miles from our VRBO. We pulled over to the side of the road near a pet daycare that had a home in front that was under construction.

We found some wood and jacked the car up. Using the wood as jack stands Pat proceeded to cobble together the cable with some wire and tape we gathered. The best part was the pic I got. After getting settled at our place, he found some wire coat hangers and made a more secure fix that he left on the car for a year.

[StarBear]

Was in my 914 with my future wife and her girlfriend (sitting on the “middle” seat, heading back from a day at the Brotherhood Winery in NY. Really not suitable to drive But we were young. Driving along I-280( I think) and got lost just above the NJ State prison at dusk when the car just died.
Pulled over to the shoulder of the elevated highway and said in my mildly drunken stupor, “No problem, I know what is the matter.” No clue as to how I guessed, but pulled out the spare oil cap filler O-ring, removed the old one and installed the new one. Car started right up and we found our way home. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/driving.gif)
The girls were agape with mouths wide open. Big boost to my cred that night!

[914rrr]

Broken clutch cable - not too much of a problem but trying to rev match the engine and the transmission is bound to make a few grinding noises that makes everyone think you have no idea how to drive that funky little sports car.

Getting though the small towns with stop lights. Trying to coast and time it so you don’t hit the red light . . . But fail. Starting the car in 1st gear - bucking and lurching to drive away on green.

There is no elegant way. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/sad.gif) But you can get there. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

Had the exact situation driving my 914 back 4+ hours to KY from VW show in MO with my then girlfriend / future wife.

(One of our) best stories was my wife, dog and I picking up a 914 4+ hours away in S FL with a friends' sketchy boat trailer to car trailer conversion. Trailer literally felt apart piece by piece in S FL morning rush hour traffic with our newly purchased, sorta drivable 914 on it. Rolled 914 off and I had my wife follow me (and lost her) while she tried to drive the randomly crab-walking, part dropping trailer off the interstate through a neighborhood to a large parking lot to asses the damage. Called my friend to inform him I would leave his POS trailer on the side of the road if he didn't come and fix it. He drove down 4+ hours with his flux core MIG, found a Home Depot that reluctantly agreed to let us use their power outlet, blew up said outlet before the repair was complete and it was closing time anyway. It's now late at night and we limped the trailer to a several other locations to beg for an outlet to plug in the MIG. Found a convenience store worker that agreed (only because he likely didn't understand what we were really asking to do), plugged into his ice chest outlet, proceeded to make the entire store's lights pulse on and off while finishing the welds, freaked out worker yelling at us, trying to ignore and/or placate said freaked out worker, etc. (Sorta) completed welds enough to get the 914 back on the trailer and back home 30+ hours from time of departure.

[Quinn Moore]

My first car, '72 914. I bought in 1983/84-ish. Accelerator cable broke. Back roads somewhere between Mission and McAllen TX. There was a long enough piece of cable from the throttle body that I was able to leave the engine cover open and pull on it with my left hand through the driver's side window. Steering and shifting with my right hand. Before the internet. Drove it that way for a couple weeks while waiting for a new cable.

Next to go, a month or so later was the clutch cable. (Should've ordered one when the accelerator cable broke). Learned to shift without it until the new one arrived. Would shift into first before coming to a complete stop.(still do usually).Leave it in first gear when parking. Don't park in a situation where reverse might be needed.

Good times. Memories .

QM

[relentless]

Was driving in town with two friends back when I was young. Tranny locked up in third gear. With several stop lights to negotiate, I had to come to a stop in 3rd, clutch depressed. When the light turned green I had my buddies get out and push the car to get it rolling, 5 - 10 mph. They then had to jump back in the car while I madly slipped the clutch and revved the motor until we got up to speed. Pretty embarrassing, I must say.

[flipb]

Three I've had in my current 914.

1. Like everyone else, I've had a throttle cable break. Fortunately I had a plethora of assorted zip-ties in the front trunk, and was able to put together an adequately snug linkage from the cable nut to the hex bar.

2. My shift rod came apart about a mile from my house. It was stuck in 4th gear and I didn't know enough yet to shift it from the trans console. I was at the bottom of a hill in a neighborhood. Several times, I pushed the car backwards up the hill as far as I could, pulled the handbrake, and then tried to build up enough speed to make it up the next hill in fourth gear. Much to the entertainment of some old guy sitting on his front porch. After a few attempts, I made it.

3. Another shifting woe: I tried to replace shift bushings at home, and had a bitch of a time getting the linkage back together. Destroyed a couple of cone screws trying. Eventually, I went back to the shift console (by then I'd figured out how) and stuck it into 2nd. That worked for a ~4 mile drive to my mechanic, sticking to neighborhood roads as much as possible.

[bossboy302]

A save of sorts...
Young pup with a '67 911S. Drove up to go skiing, heading home had to put chains on. Of course, one broke a flailed around. Very fortunately it did no quarter panel damage at all. Unfortunately it beat up the heat exchanger pretty good and took out an axle shaft.
Literally coasted to a gas station, called buddies for ride and left car there in the snow. Made it back up with a new axle and with only the jack and hand tools managed to get the new one plugged in. Drove home.

[930cabman]

Being an old guy, I must have a few but unable to recall now.

BUT, thanks for all the laughs, not sure if there is a winner, all are great

[Gordong]

75 914 2.0. I leave work one day and about two miles down the road my clutch cable snapped. I called my buddy who was a Sheriff and asked him if he could help me get the car back to my work. I started the car in third gear and followed him in his patrol car. As we approached the intersections, he stopped in the middle with his lights on blocking cars as I drove right through!

[rick 918-S]

Just one of my many advantures:

Sandy and I were heading to Hershey in the Alien for a 914 gathering. Driving thru Chicago on the elevated freeway in the far left lane. The freeway is rough as a washed out gravel road. Hit a pot hole. It shook the car so hard the wire to my coil fell off. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/yikes.gif)

I am coasting in the left lane about 75 mph. Can't step on the brakes or slow too fast. No shoulder to my left side.

I saw an opening and cut right across 4 lanes of rush hour traffic right onto an off ramp. I lost too much momentum to make it off the ramp so I pulled over on the narrow shoulder to the right.

My right side tires were touching the concrete barrier and my left side tires were on the white line. I popped the lid. slid up on the trunk from the right side and found the issue. I plugged in the coil as semi trucks were rocketing passed. The wall of wind rocking the car with the force of a derencho. I jump back in and fired that bitch up and got the hell out of there.

That was only one of my mis-adventures in Chicago... (IMG:style_emoticons/default/huh.gif)

Earlier in the day in the downtown area I was in stop & go traffic. My clutch cable was stretching and the clutch was starting to grab everso slightly..... I was depressing the pedel as hard as I could to the floor. Once again attempting to find a way out of the left lane. When I had the chance I managed to move over and get off the freeway. I ended up in a neighbor I knew I would not be safe in. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/unsure.gif) I started thinking about what I would need to undo the jamb nut and adjust the cable. I spotted a large black topped school yard that was completely fenced with an opening I could drive thru. I drove to the furthest part of the yard from the opening in the fence. I jumped out and pulled my tool bag out and grabbed the two wrenches I always have just for this type of issue. This was the fastest clutch adjustment I ever did. With a clutch that would now release I hunted for the shortest route back to the freeway.

[Quinn Moore]

Just one of my many advantures:

Sandy and I were heading to Hershey in the Alien for a 914 gathering. Driving thru Chicago on the elevated freeway in the far left lane. The freeway is rough as a washed out gravel road. Hit a pot hole. It shook the car so hard the wire to my coil fell off. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/yikes.gif)

I am coasting in the left lane about 75 mph. Can't step on the brakes or slow too fast. No shoulder to my left side.

I saw an opening and cut right across 4 lanes of rush hour traffic right onto an off ramp. I lost too much momentum to make it off the ramp so I pulled over on the narrow shoulder to the right.

My right side tires were touching the concrete barrier and my left side tires were on the white line. I popped the lid. slid up on the trunk from the right side and found the issue. I plugged in the coil as semi trucks were rocketing passed. The wall of wind rocking the car with the force of a derencho. I jump back in and fired that bitch up and got the hell out of there.

That was only one of my mis-adventures in Chicago... (IMG:style_emoticons/default/huh.gif)

Earlier in the day in the downtown area I was in stop & go traffic. My clutch cable was stretching and the clutch was starting to grab everso slightly..... I was depressing the pedel as hard as I could to the floor. Once again attempting to find a way out of the left lane. When I had the chance I managed to move over and get off the freeway. I ended up in a neighbor I knew I would not be safe in. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/unsure.gif) I started thinking about what I would need to undo the jamb nut and adjust the cable. I spotted a large black topped school yard that was completely fenced with an opening I could drive thru. I drove to the furthest part of the yard from the opening in the fence. I jumped out and pulled my tool bag out and grabbed the two wrenches I always have just for this type of issue. This was the fastest clutch adjustment I ever did. With a clutch that would now release I hunted for the shortest route back to the freeway.

you have b*lls of steel for driving the Kennedy on the inside lane (or Stevenson, whichever). or any lane, kudos!. I was an install tech and on the road in Chicago for quite few years. 80mph+ is the minimum non rush hour. ill admit it would be blast though.

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/beerchug.gif)

Qm

[r_towle]

Gotta say, cables are bad.
Or at least cables need more attention.

[fixer34]

Having owned a number of VW's and a couple 914's, clutch cable sagas are almost routine. Pop it out of gear when come to a stop, turn off the engine, put in first and crank it. Rev it up in first, 'crashbox' thru the gears to get up to speed. Next stop, repeat the process.

My first adventure in my -6 was less than a year after I bought it (used). Drove to Dallas for a work assignment, was heading back to the hotel on one of the highways at night and the fan belt broke. Fortunately had the tool kit and a spare belt, but never done it before. Got to an underpass with some light, felt my way around a very warm engine, and got it replaced.

[DBF]

In high school, my girlfriend and I were heading to a movie in my 1960 Karmann Ghia when the car quits running. I coasted off the highway into a subdivision. She is very concerned and keeps asking what are we going to do. I tell her don't worry, put the car in neutral, put on the parking brake, get out of the car and tell her to slide over into the driver's seat so she could turn the key when I told her to (it's on the left). I always kept a toolbox, spare 009 distributer (points set, new capacitor, with the mounting bracket so pre-timed), carb, coil and fuel pump in the trunk. In just a few minutes, I diagnosed no spark, put in the new distributer and we're back on the road. We made the movie in plenty of time.

Another time we were swimming in a quarry and there were a lot of people around so there wasn't a safe place to leave the key. I tied it to my wrist with a piece of leather bootlace, but you know what happened. She is panicky - she wasn't supposed to be swimming there even though this was her idea. I keep telling her to calm down. I knew how to slide the rear quarter window out to gain access to the inside of the car, used a stick to move the door handle and I unlocked the door. What 17-year-old VW mechanic didn't know how to hot wire their car!! I'm her hero!

I taught her how to drive a manual transmission in that car, and sometimes when she was driving it at night, when going through the huge park near our village, the car would occasionally start bucking and coast to a stop. That was a diagnosis of vapor lock which would fix itself "if we waited a bit". When it started happening with some regularity and she started wondering about the reliability of my 14-year-old Ghia, I showed her how I moved the fuel lever to the 45-degree position to shut off the fuel. After that, she would occasionally shut the fuel off when I was driving!

The only car I ever regretted selling.