Well, my '99 5.4 left me stranded in Mitchell SD over Memorial Day. The alternator light started flashing around Chamberlain, and the thing quit at Mitchell. I had to use the battery from the trailer to limp back to a KOA in Mitchell and wait until Tuesday to get it fixed. The Ford dealer there had us up and on the road by 11:30 Tuesday. (try and get that service from Toyota!)

Anyway, the service guy was surprised I got 110k on an alternator. Now I wonder what is the next thing that can go wrong that will strand me again.

I want to keep this baby for some time at least for towing, but can't afford to get stuck again. I do all the regular maintenance stuff, but should I think about things like water pumps, fuel pump, etc?

Peace, Dennis

 

Hey I live in Mitchell. Next time you get stranded here look me up i'll help get you back on the road. While you were here did you get the chance to visit our giant bird feeder (a.k.a. the Corn Palace)?

 

Sorry about your unfortunate event.
Seems that things have a certain amount of time built into them. I have a '94 Aerostar mini-van that has over 142000 miles on it and still has the original everything. (except rear axle, but that's another story) As for my truck, I've only had it for a year, and I don't know about it's past service history.
I guess it's just a "crap-shoot" when it comes to part longevity.

I also tow a camper (Hybrid travel trailer) and am always concerned about breakdowns when on the road. But, as I bought this used truck for the purpose of pulling my trailer, it'll probably do just that. BTW, my used truck is a '97 F-150 scab, 4.6 w/ 100k+ miles.

Have a great day
Happy Camping
Bob

 

Chris,

Yes, we were on our way from Rochester MN to Rapid City and stopped at the Corn Palace on the way out. Didn't think we'd see it again on the way back.

Here is the rest of the story...the light started coming on at Chamberlain. By Mitchell, the charge gauge was heading south. Nothing open on a holiday, including the truck stop, so we dropped the trailer off at the KOA, thinking if we got stranded, I didn't want the trailer attached. I did take the battery out of the trailer for good measure.

We got about 10 miles down the highway when the gauge cluster died. We turned around and headed back to Mitchell. Truck died about 6 miles short. So, I took the trailer battery, put it at my feet in the cab, hooked up the jumpter cables, ran them from under the hood through the window. Wife hit the key, truck fires right up. Wife says "is this legal?" I said, "do you want to walk?"

So we spent a nice night at the Koa, charged the truck off the trailer overnight, and the nice folks at your Ford dealer fixed us right up. Funny store now, but what would I have done if it had died in the Badlands?

Peace, Dennis

 

Well, you can't carry a spare for everything....

Just part of the 'game' we play with automobiles... If we could predict failures, tow truck companies would be out of business!

Considering the thousands of different parts that make up a rolling vehicle, it's a wonder that we can get anywhere with them.....

Here's a story about my stranding, while not as bad as yours, it was still an adventure!!

My alternator went out on me on a day that I wasn't that far from home, but it was night, it was raining and when that idiot light first came on (the only indication that the alt had failed btw.... The damn gauge did NOT move..... ) I knew I would not make it home (about 20 miles away, but with having to have headlights and wipers on....). I was lucky, in that, the auto parts stores were still open and I did have tools in my truck. I ended up parked in a car wash stall to protect me from the rain. Pulled my old alt out and had the new one in in about 1/2 hour. The hardest thing to deal with was the damn fan belt! I didn't have a 1/2" breaker bar with me, so I could not get the belt back on!! I got it off ok, but without the breaker bar, there was no way I was getting it back on... Another lucky break was that there was a motorcycle repair shop right next to the the car wash. I went over and explained my situation and asked to borrow a breaker bar. They had one and said that they were closing in about 15 min.... Ok, I should have that sucker on in about 5 min.... ha, ha...... Well, the guy comes out after he closed and I'm still struggling with the belt... It seems the pully on the new alt was a tad bit bigger then the old one, so I could not get the belt to give enough to get on the pully.... Ended up having the motorcyle guy help me out and hold the breaker bar and we were able to get just enough of the belt over the pully and then I had to crank over the motor to get the belt to seat.... Well, there was a post I read that if you floored the gas pedal and tried to start the engine, it would not start...... Well, that's a myth that I can say is BUSTED!! I floored that pedal and just gave the key a bump, and damn if it didn't start!! Here, I have this guy sitting on top of my engine, holding a breaker bar on the tension pully and the damn engine fires up!! (after I tell him it won't.......) He was a bit shaken, but no damage done! I turned off the ignition right away, but I had my belt on!!

Anyway, I've got 144k miles on my truck now, and still don't worry about taking it out with the trailer in tow.....

Like I said, it's just the 'game' we play with our toys!

Good luck!

Mitch

 

You would have had a nice long walk.

When the altinator went out on my 92 ford f-150 it gave me know warning. I went out from work to start my truck and it wouldn't even turn over.