more lucky stars...

[sheepfarmer]

I hit a patch of black ice on the fwy today and, even though I did my best, no brake, no accelerator, steer into the skid, I went off roading in my truck. I think it was my tractor driving, keep the nose pointed down hill, no driving on sidehills instinct that saved me. I "drove" about 50 yards through a foot or two of snow, clipped a big bush with my mirror, and fetched up against a small bank. Or I was just lucky. The next guy that hit it rolled his truck, and the trooper that stopped said I didn't roll because I didn't try to yank the wheel to the right to get back on the freeway. I sure didn't have time to think about it.

I thought I might be able to get myself out, but there was mud under the snow. The bad news is that the tow truck pulled it out by dragging it over another bush, and I felt it would be good if someone put it up on a rack to see if all the cables and lines were in one piece, there were sticks poking out, and the outfit I took it to didn't find any crash damage, but that to check the alignment they would have to do $2600 worth of repairs to assorted other items that were "loose" in the front end. I apparently don't use the brakes enough? Something was rusty. Anyway I am thinking all that over, that was a phone call when I was out in the barn. I'm a little skeptical. Actually a lot skeptical. He kept saying disparaging things about a truck of that age...(2003). That's practically new in my book.

Anyway I am glad to be in one piece, the guy that rolled seemed to have some cracked ribs and his truck was totalled.

 

[North Idaho Wolfman]

VERY VERY Happy to hear you made it out unharmed, I know how those things go!
It also sounds like you did the 100% right thing, and not over react!

I do know that rust is really hard on trucks, and Michigans salt use notches that up a ton.
Get a written estimate of what needs to be changed and why, email me a copy and I can tell you if it jives.

 

[85Hokie]

I too am happy you didnt get hurt- machinery and tools can be replaced......the human parts are harder to fix! ---- older parts are really hard to fix!

I also think someone is looking to "Stick" it too you ......pun intended!

 

[Grouse Feathers]

It's been a few years since I crested a hill and my truck came unglued from the pavement (freezing rain). I skated down that hill making minuscule adjustments to the steering as I tired to stay on top of the road crown. What I really remember though is how t i m e s l o w e d w a y d o w n ... It seemed like I had all the time in the world to think about what to do and how to do it.
It sounds like maybe you did the same and actually made the right decision to not over correct and yank it back.
Glad your okay.

 

[RonBoyBX25D]

Glad you are ok, must have had an angel on your shoulder. I had a similar issue when I was getting my 94 Suburban aligned. Took it to a good friend and he spent about an hour going through the suspension...result it was about as tight as a replacement part will be. Glad you are safe and get a second opinion on the repairs.

 

[sheepfarmer]

Thanks guys! I admit to being a little rattled and discombobulated still. NIW I'll get a written estimate tomorrow when I go there. It didn't make sense to me over the phone because I couldn't visualize the parts he was talking about. No surprise there.

 

[D2Cat]

sheepfarmer, it's good to hear you're OK!

On your repairs, as NIW suggested asked to get a written quote and why..... I'd sure enough ask, but I'd bet they're not putting anything in writing.

It's a sad thing, but auto service shops take advantage of folks....especially women. They'll make it sound like if you don't get these tires replaced today you may not make it home!!!! Or your brakes, or your radiator....

My advise would be to try to find an independent mechanic you can trust. Maybe one a friend might recommend. Don't make emotional decisions. Take your time and think each repair through.

Some repairs are urgent, some are important. Chances are your truck has no urgent issues. You've told us in other threads how meticulous you are with it's maintenance.

Relax....be thankful you're safe.

 

[mdhughes]

Sounds like you did something right not to turn the truck over! Glad to hear that you didn't get hurt!

I think I would take the truck somewhere else to see what they say. I hate to agree with the other guys, but some places will take advantage of a women when it come to vehicles.

Be careful out there! And that goes for everyone on the forum!

 

[CaveCreekRay]

Ace driving there kiddo! Trucks are easy to fix. People aren't.

A buddy was driving home in NH a couple years back in his Ford Focus and hit black ice. Neither the steering or the brakes did anything. He hit a solid concrete bridge abutment at 27 mph. The vehicle did a great job of absorbing the damage but it still cracked his chest bone along the center line. He said that was the worst pain he had ever experienced. Glad you are OK.

Be safe out there gang!!!

Ray

 

[Wbk]

I hit a patch of black ice on the fwy today and, even though I did my best, no brake, no accelerator, steer into the skid, I went off roading in my truck. I think it was my tractor driving, keep the nose pointed down hill, no driving on sidehills instinct that saved me. I "drove" about 50 yards through a foot or two of snow, clipped a big bush with my mirror, and fetched up against a small bank. Or I was just lucky. The next guy that hit it rolled his truck, and the trooper that stopped said I didn't roll because I didn't try to yank the wheel to the right to get back on the freeway. I sure didn't have time to think about it.

I thought I might be able to get myself out, but there was mud under the snow. The bad news is that the tow truck pulled it out by dragging it over another bush, and I felt it would be good if someone put it up on a rack to see if all the cables and lines were in one piece, there were sticks poking out, and the outfit I took it to didn't find any crash damage, but that to check the alignment they would have to do $2600 worth of repairs to assorted other items that were "loose" in the front end. I apparently don't use the brakes enough? Something was rusty. Anyway I am thinking all that over, that was a phone call when I was out in the barn. I'm a little skeptical. Actually a lot skeptical. He kept saying disparaging things about a truck of that age...(2003). That's practically new in my book.

Anyway I am glad to be in one piece, the guy that rolled seemed to have some cracked ribs and his truck was totalled.

Glad to hear everything went well for you, the truck can always be repaired. Over the years I repaired a lot of wrecks, I would surely get a second opinion especially when the Tech. run down your truck (his bread and butter). It's been my experience when they bad mouth your vehicle they either don't know what they're talking about or trying to pull one over on you.

 

[Daren Todd]

Glad you made it out of it ok, with no damage

I agree with others about getting a second opinion. My wife used to use a local dealer for oil changes. The last time she took the car in, they said she needed 2500$ worth of repairs. Two of the things they said we needed, were tires and brakes. I stopped by to talk to the service manager. And ended up getting the store manager because the service manager refused to talk to me and show me the estimate. After looking at the estimate, I had both managers walk out into the shop and look the car over with me. Service manager said we needed new brakes and tires. I reached into the glove box and showed them the reciept for new tires and brakes from three days earlier The tires still had the nubbings from when they were made

 

[Lil Foot]

I have a friend who has been a mechanic, technician, or service writer for many years. He just quit his job as a service writer at a local Toyota dealership because of a policy that takes him out of the raise pool unless he writes up at least two items that need service (besides the original problem) on every car, every visit, whether they are needed or not. When he said it was hard to write up two items on a new car that comes back for it's first oil change, he was told to make up something, or have the guys in the shop break something.

 

[D2Cat]

Lil Foot, that is a sad testimony to a problem we have in America. Lack of honesty and integrity.

About a year ago I had a rattle in the front of my '03 Dodge Dakota. I couldn't determine what it was. Took it to two friends who are mechanics. They both drove it on rough cobblestone roads to the the rattle to sound off. The truck had 55,000 miles. Couldn't determine the rattle.

I looked on line and found Chrysler had a recall for that truck for lower ball joints. I took it to the local dealer after they had time to order in the part.

They called me in 1hr. to let me know I needed brakes on all 4 corners, tie rod was loose. Then I'd need the front end aligned after they replaced the tie rod.

I told the service writer to write down all that was needed, price it out, and I'd visit with him when I came in to PU the truck. Not to do anything but the recall work.

When I got in I asked him about the tie rod. He called the mech. over and they were telling me how dangerous it was to pull out on the street with this problem. I asked him why he would have to do an alignment after replacing. (I knew, but I wanted to hear his answer)

I then asked them, "How could it be so bad? I just had an alignment 5 weeks ago? They tried to cover their deception with I must have hit something real hard since then.

Oh, their estimate for addition work was $600, that included the alignment.

I had my personal mechanic replaced the front brakes. His inspection concluded everything else was fine!!!!!

Beware, especially women. These scoundrels use their macho, know it all,
BS line to guilt you into their money trap.

 

[Tooljunkie]

Young woman went to get tires changed. Aparrently entire front end was going to fall out from under car. My inspection revealed two worn control arm bushings and a stabilizer link. Their quote 1400. My invoice came out just under 400.

Take it to another shop, dont mention first quote. See where it goes.

I just passed on replacing 2 wheel bearings customer wanted done until after they put new tires on. A couple hundred out of my pocket, he was thrilled bearings werent needed. No charge to check.

 

[Daren Todd]

Beware, especially women. These scoundrels use their macho, know it all,
BS line to guilt you into their money trap.

In my wife's case, the service manager that gave her the estimate for 2500$ was a women. So it's not just men that are trying to guilt you.

My favorite is when you send a vehicle in for just an oil change, and they take it upon themselves to replace shocks, spark plugs, or some other thing you didn't authorize them to do. I smile, say thanks, and make them remove the unauthorized repairs from the bill I've gotten a free set of shocks, a free set of brakes, and I've lost count of how many tire rotations that the local ford place has had to eat

 

[Fastdonzi]

In last years snow I drove my Silverado off an 8' Cliff, At the end of my road you need to go right or left, I was going down the hill on ice and the Brakes wouldn't stop it, the steering wouldn't steer it so at about 20mph I took the plunge thru a Barbed wire fence into a cow pasture (Heath Shulers old pasture for U football buffs) I leaned over towards the door as far as I could incase the airbag went off (it didn't) when I landed I pushed the 4wd button and drove the 100' to the gate to get out. needed new headlights, Valence, fog lights etc.. the trucks not bent and all is good, I laughed the rest of the way to work...

 

[Tooljunkie]

Please forgive me, i should have started with i'm glad you are ok, most people dont fare so well.

My son rolled his truck, ice as well and right front wheel dug in on soft ground. Tumbled it endways corner to corner. Tore wheel right off truck. Demolished it.
Hes ok too, thanks to wearing his seat belt.

 

[Diydave]

In last years snow I drove my Silverado off an 8' Cliff, At the end of my road you need to go right or left, I was going down the hill on ice and the Brakes wouldn't stop it, the steering wouldn't steer it so at about 20mph I took the plunge thru a Barbed wire fence into a cow pasture (Heath Shulers old pasture for U football buffs) I leaned over towards the door as far as I could incase the airbag went off (it didn't) when I landed I pushed the 4wd button and drove the 100' to the gate to get out. needed new headlights, Valence, fog lights etc.. the trucks not bent and all is good, I laughed the rest of the way to work...

Actual video of the incident in question?

https://youtu.be/RGNZ3OJnVkA

 

[sheepfarmer]

Thanks guys, you have no idea how much I appreciate the moral support and advice, both for having survived in one piece, and in sorting out what my truck really needs. I have waffled between feeling stupid for losing control in the first place, and undeservedly lucky; it has really shaken my confidence in my ability to tell dangerous road from safe. The only physical consequence was a headache and that is finally going away. I picked up my truck, paying $173 for an oil change (it was due) with the multipoint inspection that I thought it needed, but there was an extra charge of an hour's labor for thawing it out in the shop so they could see what was there and remove the sticks. Since crawling under it in this weather was the thing I didn't want to do myself I can't complain.

I should have photographed the tire tracks, without pictures it didn't happen, right? Not sure if it was airborn when we first left the roadway, but diydave if I drove it like that gal drove that F100 it surely would be loose in the front end

 

[ShaunBlake]

Actual video of the incident in question?
...

One of my most favoritist Elmore Leonard [RIP] stories, with a wonderful screen adaptation and a great performance by what's iz name!

...
but diydave if I drove it like that gal drove that F100 it surely would be loose in the front end

Oh, were you driving an F100? I thought they were obsolete. OTOH, maybe if you were driving an F150, you might not have even needed that oil change!