My truck blew up.











Not literally, but it might as well have. I was backing up to pull out of a steel-mill here in Conshohocken, PA, when the damn thing just stopped. Didn't die, but the shifter stopped working and the accelerator did nothing. Got a "Check Engine ECU at next stop message on my screen, and SM in the gear indicator, which means Shifter Malfunction.

OK, try putting the shifter in manual, nothing.
Turn off truck, restart, try again, nothing.
OK, call the shop.
Our mechanic says pull the battery cables, let theECU reset, reconnect.
Do so, restart, put in gear. Fault comes up again.
Call shop.
Mechanic says, "did you pull the fuses?"
"No, you didn't say to."
"Oh, well, do that."
Do that, reconnect, restart truck.
POP.
SH*T.
No power. Anywhere. All electrics out. No lights, no guages, no CB, no nothin.
Call shop.
Call wrecker.
Realize that the truck has stalled blocking the only entrance to that part of the plant in such a way that the wrecker can't get at either end.
Realize that truck has no pressure, therefore the safety-brakes can't be disengaged.
Curse.
Have wrecker run air to truck. Use overhead crane in manner never intended by manufacturer, to move truck back.
Hook truck to wrecker.
Wrecker driver realizes there is no way to tell whether the trans is in gear without working guages.
Attempts to drop driveshaft.
Driveshaft bolts are immovable.
Attempts to remove halfshaft.
Halfshaft bolts are immovable.
Attempts to remove other halfshaft successful.
Tow truck and trailer to shop, encountering many stubbornly idiotic four-wheelers on the way...
So, I'm stuck near Philly in a hotel. And as a topper to this lovely day, when I fished everything out of my pockets to put it on the nightstand, I found my key a half-inch shorter than usual. Damn thing broke in my pocket!

Ummmm did you try to open a beer yet? if not do so now.


Good luck Brian

Wish I could. Hotel is in high traffic area, nearest available beer requires nimbleness I am not possessed of... :(

Dude, be thankful you're not stuck in the middle of nowhere. That would suck. It seems like there was a few things goin' for ya, like the crane. Keep yer head up; maybe the great one will grant you a miracle with Big Bad, lmao.

Philly pretty much is the middle of nowhere for truckers. There isn't a real truckstop inside of 30 miles of the city, after that sh*t-hole Walt Whitman place closed, not that I ever would have stayed there anyways. Miracle there is a Volvo shop here at all...

sorry to hear that man if you where in my neck of the woods i would get you some frosty beverages as well as a place to sack out away from the hotel

yeah but least you dont have to pay for and repairs ?? right :?

Damn skippy! I'd leave the stupid thing and walk home before I'd shell out to repair a work vehicle!

Brian:
That really *****. Kiss of Death to a trucker is to be stuck with a broken down rig.

Grab a beer and a Philly cheesesteak. Will not fix the problem but you will feel better.