Woke up at 0530 yesterday morning to catch the 0720 flight to Orlando via ATL. Problem was the flight was 0700. Missed the boarding by a few minutes. Which sucked cause I was there like 20 mins prior to takeoff but Airtran does not have anyone working the desk that early. They close it and go upstairs to do the boarding. So I go by krispy kreme and then home. I make the 1138 flight and get bumped to first class for being Active Duty. The lady behind me spills her drink on the descent so it rolls all over my bag. I get to Orlando no problem and meet up with Marty and his family. We get to the truck and all is well. I was glad to see her since it has been 5 months.
So I take off for the 6 hour trip back home. Man this truck is awesome with 700+ TRQ, but I keep hearing a weird noise. Sounds like coolant, check the gauges but no problems. I stop and get some gas. I do a visual under the hood and everything is fine, the sound is not constant so I continue. Marty calls to check in and I advise him of the problem. Now temp is up on the engine and oil and it is getting hard to steer. It's about 2100 EST and I stop at a truck stop. Wheel barely turns due to the pump. I open the hood and fluid is everywhere. I trouble shoot off and on with Marty. I call my wife (who is pissed BTW) and put some more fluid in the reservoir. I start it up and it is spraying so bad even the windshield gets covered. I'm 300 miles from home and call to see about a tow. The want $4.00 a mile. WTF!!!!!!!!! So I call USAA and explain that the truck has a viper engine and the only VIPER tech is in Pensacola. They said OK and arrange to have it towed. Meanwhile Marty has been calling me. He is going to his shop, meeting up with one of his guys and grabbing every piece to the viper engine he can fit into his van. I cancel the tow and wait 3 hours for Marty to arrive. I spent the extra time at the Super walmart and Waffle house. Since I was having such a bad day I tipped the waitress 100%. Figure someone should have a good day. Marty shows up at 0100 and gets to work. 90 minutes later the truck is fixed with a new (spare) power steering pump. I leave about 0200 and drive back home. As I enter town my watch alarm goes off from when I set it to catch the plane. What a Efan day!!!!!!!!!!!
Huge thanks to Marty for driving 3 hours with tools and parts to help me out. :congrats: :congrats: :congrats:
So I take off for the 6 hour trip back home. Man this truck is awesome with 700+ TRQ, but I keep hearing a weird noise. Sounds like coolant, check the gauges but no problems. I stop and get some gas. I do a visual under the hood and everything is fine, the sound is not constant so I continue. Marty calls to check in and I advise him of the problem. Now temp is up on the engine and oil and it is getting hard to steer. It's about 2100 EST and I stop at a truck stop. Wheel barely turns due to the pump. I open the hood and fluid is everywhere. I trouble shoot off and on with Marty. I call my wife (who is pissed BTW) and put some more fluid in the reservoir. I start it up and it is spraying so bad even the windshield gets covered. I'm 300 miles from home and call to see about a tow. The want $4.00 a mile. WTF!!!!!!!!! So I call USAA and explain that the truck has a viper engine and the only VIPER tech is in Pensacola. They said OK and arrange to have it towed. Meanwhile Marty has been calling me. He is going to his shop, meeting up with one of his guys and grabbing every piece to the viper engine he can fit into his van. I cancel the tow and wait 3 hours for Marty to arrive. I spent the extra time at the Super walmart and Waffle house. Since I was having such a bad day I tipped the waitress 100%. Figure someone should have a good day. Marty shows up at 0100 and gets to work. 90 minutes later the truck is fixed with a new (spare) power steering pump. I leave about 0200 and drive back home. As I enter town my watch alarm goes off from when I set it to catch the plane. What a Efan day!!!!!!!!!!!
Huge thanks to Marty for driving 3 hours with tools and parts to help me out. :congrats: :congrats: :congrats:
