Broke down on I-80 by Elkhart Indiana

[Buly]

Water pump failed and dumped all the coolant. Waiting for Coach net.
Just one mile from the exit.

 

[SteveMA]

Ouch! Good luck.

 

[Neemer]

Sorry to see that, @Buly. I hope coach net comes thru with flying colors.

 

[Buly]

Towing is the part that makes me
And we are only 4 miles from the RV park.

 

[John&Andrea]

Hang in there, good luck. We just left that area on Friday. We were at Coachmen having some work done.

 

[Rich W.]

This is a very simple, quick and inexpensive repair on a side radiaator coach. Have you considered getting a mobil mechanic out to swap out the pump to avoid a tow? A couple years ago, I replaced one for a stranded neighbor in a park in Wyoming.

Let us know how this works out. Hopefully you wont be stranded long. Good luck!

 

[Neal]

Sorry to hear this but you couldn't have picked a better place for it to happen.

 

[Buly]

It took 4.5 hrs, but we are at the parking lot of the Freightliner shop in Elkhart. Tom’s 24 hr towing service did a great job. The owner came from his home to supervise and drive the escort truck. And it is a big job. Looking at them pulling both drive shafts out with all the oil coming out, was an eye opener.
CoachNet was great. They called every hr to check on the progress.
Hope the shop does not make me wait long time (days) tomorrow. Running on generator and getting ready to have my lunch at 6 pm
Also we are booked for next week at Gaffney for 60K mile service. Some timing.

 

[Buly]

We considered mobile mechanic while waiting, but it is Sunday.
I was nervous as hell just trying to find out where the leak was. 18 wheelers scream by at 75-80mph only 3’ from me. Many of them don’t bother moving over, even if there is room? The tow guy also commented how inconsiderate some drivers are.
I have replaced countless water pumps on marine diesels, but that was not the place to work on engine. Plus I’m too old for that stuff

 

[Neal]

When my toad broke down immediately after a service I called the state police. They sent a trooper, everyone pulled over as soon as he arrived. Moral is, if you break down, call the state police!

 

[Rich W.]

We considered mobile mechanic while waiting, but it is Sunday.
I was nervous as hell just trying to find out where the leak was. 18 wheelers scream by at 75-80mph only 3’ from me. Many of them don’t bother moving over, even if there is room? The tow guy also commented how inconsiderate some drivers are.
I have replaced countless water pumps on marine diesels, but that was not the place to work on engine. Plus I’m too old for that stuff

Glad it worked out. I had my belt changed and water pump checked at 50k just because of reading stories like yours and having a rear radiator. That belt will probably well over 100k but I’ve had about enough of that kind of wrenching too. At 100k I’ll get another belt and a preemptive water pump and idler pulley.

Since your belt is going to be off anyway I’d reccomend a new idler pulley and belt to go with the pump. The old belt would make a good spare. I’m glad the tow went well and it makes sense that anywhere near Elkhart you’d get folks who know what they‘re doing, as Neal mentioned.

I also used to have a high opinion of truckers, considering them professional drivers. Many still are, but there are almost enough marginal and just plain bad drivers these days to change my overall opinion of them.

 

[Buly]

Good suggestions Rich. I’ll get a new idler pulley.
They put covers on the axel openings, but some oil came out which they collected.

 

[Rich W.]

Good suggestions Rich. I’ll get a new idler pulley.
They put covers on the axel openings, but some oil came out which they collected.

Figured they would - I plan to get a set to carry in the coach but I guess most big-rig tow trucks carry them.

 

[Buly]

Freightliner shop opened at 6am. I went in at 6:30 to talk to them. Immediately the technician came to the coach and started installing back the driveshafts at the parking lot and drove the coach into one of the bays. Told us the pump is in stock and he will be finished in about hour and a half. ( I must be dreaming) that is some service. Nice customer launch.

 

[Rich W.]

Always nice when a shop prioritizes folks on the road.