I towed the T-Bird to the painter’s house without any major events (other than locking up my brakes once when the car in front of me unexpectedly stopped at a green light!).
I met the painter’s neighbor. Very friendly guy. In fact, he even helped us (my wife and youngest daughter had followed me in the SuperCrew) push the car into position.
He asked how much I wanted for my old (1979!) F-150 as he had a brother that was looking for an old workhorse truck.
“$1200. It’s a great truck. I’ve had it for 10 years. In fact, I just towed this T-Bird from California with it. Pump the gas pedal a few times and it starts right up in the morning.”
“I’m going to tell my brother about it.”
I then jumped into the truck…
AND IT WOULDN’T START!
I tried every little trick that had worked for me in the past (the thing is 30 years old!) and nothing. We then pushed it out of the driveway and onto the street to try to kick start it since there was downhill.
Nothin’! I mean nothin’! I’ve never, and I mean NEVER, had this truck act like this…and I drove it to work every day for nearly 10 years! I mean it is almost like this truck has a mind of its own and it is determined to stay with me for the rest of my life!
We pushed it off the street onto someone’s side yard and I sat under a tree in their front yard waiting for the engine to cool down. They weren’t home.
After 30 minutes, I tried to start it. It cranked. The battery was fine but nothing even close to starting.
We then drove 20 minutes to our apartment and got out the phone book to find a mechanic near our apartment. Why is that so important? Because my son is at a wrestling camp and my wife is leaving for California tonight so I will have to walk to wherever I have it towed to!
After finding a shop in the Yellow Pages, we called AAA and then drove 20 minutes back to the truck so they would tow it.
We then drove 20 minutes back to the shop and gave them the keys.
The mechanic got in the truck…
AND IT STARTED RIGHT UP!!! Unbelievable!
Am I being secretly filmed for some new television show that features cruel pranks?
I left it at the shop to get it tuned up and they are going to try to figure out why it wouldn’t start.
