An Eventful Day. Some good and bad luck. Mainly Bad.

An Eventful Day. Some good and bad luck. Mainly Bad.

Stopped raining early and with drying roads, loaded up the ZT-T with nine alloy wheels for refurbishing. Four MG ZT Gridspokes and Five MG Metro 12" Pepperpots. Plus an early Metro front bumper centre section and a Rover 620ti Battery Tray. The wheels to be finished in Flat Silver Gloss and the Bumper and Tray in Black Gloss.

Leaving at mid-day, superb run up the M5 with light traffic and dry roads ... no spray from all the trucks. Soon arrived at Digbeth B'Ham with the wheels etc. No hurry.. should be ready in about a week and will ring when done. :~

On the way back, pulled up in a lay by and put some rubbish in a waste bin. Left engine running. About to get back in the car then heard a muffled explosion under the bonnet. Then lots of steam ... Lifting the bonnet revealed this. Another top hose bites the dust :~

That's the third 1.8t Top Hose to wear out in three years. The rubber felt like it no longer had any strength. Very soft to the touch. Obviously cannot drive with no coolant so what to do. I thought about phoning my son and getting him to bring the 620ti and A-Frame or even the rigid tow bar. Then I remembered I had an AA Relay card in my wallet. Never called the AA in over fifty years of motoring. My wife added me to her AA cover on the off chance I might need it some day. That day was today. The helpful AA receptionist lady was very helpful on the phone. Someone will be there in less than an hour. Got a text message apologising for a delay ... will be another half hour. So after 90 minutes, the AA Guy arrived with a brand new Van and some impressive recovery kit. Obvious roadside repair not possible and car needs to be recovered home. He had no objection if I took some pictures of the operation. :~

All set for the return home.

Got talking to the AA Rescue guy who had been with them for eleven years. Local to B'Ham. Previously, ex-Longbridge and Land Rover. Had some nice jobs with them including visits to Death Valley for testing vehicles in the heat etc. He explained that they would switch off the engines after driving in the heat up steep hills and see what gives ... heat sink scenario .. literally. Pressure in the cooling system in the stationary cars' hot engines will show up any problems. Bit like the stopped engine in my car revealed a worn out hose .. bit of irony there.

So mixed fortunes today but, no real harm done.

Rather than negotiate the tighter corners with the Towing Dolly near my home, we pulled up about 200 yards from my home to unhitch the Dolly. With a stone cold engine, no harm driving that short distance and parking up. :~

Car safely back home and should be an easy fix. I'm going to make up a Top Hose ( or two ) from better quality more durable material.

The BAD Luck:~ Having a Top Hose give way.

The GOOD Luck :~ Having the hose let go in a safe lay by. Better that than on the Motorway in the overtaking lane. Plus, the hose problem occurred on the homeward trip having safely dropped off the wheels.

On balance, the good outweighed the bad.

Finally, was impressed with the overall service provided by the AA's Relay Service. The only time I've ever used the AA and on this first experience... recommended.

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An Eventful Day. Some good and bad luck. Mainly Bad.