Semi-OT: Saved my car last night.
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Joined: Oct 2003
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From: Hendersonville, NC
Semi-OT: Saved my car last night.
Well, I saved my car from an untimely end last night. Here's the story:
Typical Saturday, woke up at four in the afternoon after one hell of a Friday night. I had plans for the day, and for the following night. Nothing spectacular, just mess with the car a little bit before screwing around online and finally hanging out with a few friends of mine. I was having what I believe to be alternator problems for the past couple of days, however the car was running fine and charging well enough to get around for a few days at a time without having to charge the battery. I had just installed a fresh battery the night before, so all was well. After running a bottle of Sea Foam (the new rave of the Integra forum) through the car, I was pleased with the results and proceeded to work so that I could screw around online. Finally, at about 11 PM I headed up to a local hangout where I proceeded to get a cup of coffee and a cigar, and then chill while checking out some of the cars.
It wasn't as crowded as it usually was, there was some kind of show up at the track and several of the more heavily modified cars had gone to that. There was a couple of quick all wheel drive cars as well as the fastest documented N/A MKIV Supra in the country. After chilling for a few hours, a few of us headed over to my friend Alex's house and tried to convince the Supra owner to put ITB's on his car.
On the way home, everything was fine up until about seven miles from my house. The ABS light came on (in the past this has indicated that my battery is losing charge and that I can make it about twenty more miles before the car dies) and I wasn't worried due to the fact that I was almost home. At about five miles from home, the situation turned for the worse, my tach and speedometer quit along with my turn signals, and my headlights were extremely dim. "This is going to be close," I thought to myself as I turned off of US-1 onto Avocado Drive, a long straight road that came close to my house. I didn't make it a hundred feet on Avocado, and the headlights completely went out, the car bogged, and rolled to a stop. I looked at my phone, 4 AM, "****," and the antenna was broken off.
After stepping out of the car and realizing that I was in a neighborhood that I wouldn't consider safe to leave any car, much less a Type R, and further realizing that I couldn't call home due to the antenna being broken off of my phone (rendering it useless as anything but a clock), I made the decision that the only viable option was to push. The location of the car when it died was a solid 4 miles from the house, oh well.
The pushing was extremely slow. I started out by pushing the steering wheel and door so that I could more easily control the direction of the car. The first mile was almost the end of me, there were a few cars that drove by, two of them eyeballing it and one making a phone call immediately upon realizing that the car was in Integra. After a couple of breaks, I rounded out the end of the second mile and then later passed Krome Avenue which is about a mile and a half from the house. At this point I was just about ready to give up and walk the rest of the way home.
Then it happened, a couple of shady looking guys in a blinged out Ford truck rolled down their window and asked me what had happened. I told the one in the passenger seat that my alternator had killed out, while the driver made a phone call. I wasn't sure, but I could have sworn that the driver had said the word "Integra" as he looked my car over, he was being quiet about it. At this point I immediately realized what was going on and said that I just lived a couple of houses up and they just nodded and drove away slowly. As soon as they were out of site, I lined up the steering wheel as straight as I could get it, and then wedged my shoulder to the door and began pushing with everything that I had. Every thirty seconds or so I had to let off and realign the steering wheel but I was making good time. Not long afterwards, I made a left onto Roberts Rd. and made the final stretch toward the house which is about a block off of Roberts. Right as I was making the last hundred feet or so, my grandfather pulled out of the driveway to leave for work and stopped to ask what I was doing. I explained the situation and he helped me push it safely into the garage where it now sits. I now feel 100% confident that had I left my car, I would no longer have it.
I don't exactly recall the remaining events of last night due to exhaustion, but I did wake up at about 1:30 this afternoon, tired as hell with a shoulder that hurts like hell. I stumbled out of bed and into the garage, "piece of **** Type R," I mumbled to myself as I limped to the shower.
Typical Saturday, woke up at four in the afternoon after one hell of a Friday night. I had plans for the day, and for the following night. Nothing spectacular, just mess with the car a little bit before screwing around online and finally hanging out with a few friends of mine. I was having what I believe to be alternator problems for the past couple of days, however the car was running fine and charging well enough to get around for a few days at a time without having to charge the battery. I had just installed a fresh battery the night before, so all was well. After running a bottle of Sea Foam (the new rave of the Integra forum) through the car, I was pleased with the results and proceeded to work so that I could screw around online. Finally, at about 11 PM I headed up to a local hangout where I proceeded to get a cup of coffee and a cigar, and then chill while checking out some of the cars.
It wasn't as crowded as it usually was, there was some kind of show up at the track and several of the more heavily modified cars had gone to that. There was a couple of quick all wheel drive cars as well as the fastest documented N/A MKIV Supra in the country. After chilling for a few hours, a few of us headed over to my friend Alex's house and tried to convince the Supra owner to put ITB's on his car.
On the way home, everything was fine up until about seven miles from my house. The ABS light came on (in the past this has indicated that my battery is losing charge and that I can make it about twenty more miles before the car dies) and I wasn't worried due to the fact that I was almost home. At about five miles from home, the situation turned for the worse, my tach and speedometer quit along with my turn signals, and my headlights were extremely dim. "This is going to be close," I thought to myself as I turned off of US-1 onto Avocado Drive, a long straight road that came close to my house. I didn't make it a hundred feet on Avocado, and the headlights completely went out, the car bogged, and rolled to a stop. I looked at my phone, 4 AM, "****," and the antenna was broken off.
After stepping out of the car and realizing that I was in a neighborhood that I wouldn't consider safe to leave any car, much less a Type R, and further realizing that I couldn't call home due to the antenna being broken off of my phone (rendering it useless as anything but a clock), I made the decision that the only viable option was to push. The location of the car when it died was a solid 4 miles from the house, oh well.
The pushing was extremely slow. I started out by pushing the steering wheel and door so that I could more easily control the direction of the car. The first mile was almost the end of me, there were a few cars that drove by, two of them eyeballing it and one making a phone call immediately upon realizing that the car was in Integra. After a couple of breaks, I rounded out the end of the second mile and then later passed Krome Avenue which is about a mile and a half from the house. At this point I was just about ready to give up and walk the rest of the way home.
Then it happened, a couple of shady looking guys in a blinged out Ford truck rolled down their window and asked me what had happened. I told the one in the passenger seat that my alternator had killed out, while the driver made a phone call. I wasn't sure, but I could have sworn that the driver had said the word "Integra" as he looked my car over, he was being quiet about it. At this point I immediately realized what was going on and said that I just lived a couple of houses up and they just nodded and drove away slowly. As soon as they were out of site, I lined up the steering wheel as straight as I could get it, and then wedged my shoulder to the door and began pushing with everything that I had. Every thirty seconds or so I had to let off and realign the steering wheel but I was making good time. Not long afterwards, I made a left onto Roberts Rd. and made the final stretch toward the house which is about a block off of Roberts. Right as I was making the last hundred feet or so, my grandfather pulled out of the driveway to leave for work and stopped to ask what I was doing. I explained the situation and he helped me push it safely into the garage where it now sits. I now feel 100% confident that had I left my car, I would no longer have it.
I don't exactly recall the remaining events of last night due to exhaustion, but I did wake up at about 1:30 this afternoon, tired as hell with a shoulder that hurts like hell. I stumbled out of bed and into the garage, "piece of **** Type R," I mumbled to myself as I limped to the shower.
!
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From: Craig from QC
holy **** man, lucky u dont live in rocky mountains or in a land of the guns otherwise you woulda been jacked on a stick up, although they couldnt go anywhere with the car without a flatbed first... which is why they prolly didnt bother stealing it!
you get my respect for pushing that **** 4 miles even though your R is lighter from havin no b18c5 in it, hehe
you get my respect for pushing that **** 4 miles even though your R is lighter from havin no b18c5 in it, hehe
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 10,289
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From: Hendersonville, NC
Re: Semi-OT: Saved my car last night. (98ITR#0020)
<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by 98ITR#0020 »</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Your lucky you live in a flat area.. 
Good stuff, now get that **** fixed Gotta love Adrenalin, even though you pay for it the next day</TD></TR></TABLE>
For once I was thankful that I'm in South Florida. My replacement alternator should be arriving on Tuesday or Wednesday.
Good stuff, now get that **** fixed Gotta love Adrenalin, even though you pay for it the next day</TD></TR></TABLE>For once I was thankful that I'm in South Florida. My replacement alternator should be arriving on Tuesday or Wednesday.
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From: Couple SW99 40 Cal. For Ya, Do Ya Really Want It.., NJ, U.S.A
Re: Semi-OT: Saved my car last night. (B2FiNiTY)
40 blocks I would have at least tried to push start it. I got miles on a push started civic with a bad alt.
I would have at least tried to push start it. I got miles on a push started civic with a bad alt.
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 10,289
Likes: 1
From: Hendersonville, NC
Honestly, if the car was stock, I don't think I would have made it.
for massive weight reduction and D series engines.
I'm thinking about gutting the car again, just in case this ever happens again.
for massive weight reduction and D series engines.I'm thinking about gutting the car again, just in case this ever happens again.
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