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My Mountaineers obituary RIP

my pos mounty

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City, State
Land of Corruption
Year, Model & Trim Level
06 F-350
Wife was driving the Mountaineer while I was ahead of her in the F-250 diesel that we are on the way to return to the dealership. The 250 is a total POS that the dealer embellished shamelessly in his advertisement on E-bay, I bought it, realized what the truck really was, and got them to agree to refund my money.
Wife calls me 20 minutes into the journey and tells me that the "check gauges" light is on. I tell her to pull over and shut it off. I pull over behind her, go to the Mounty and check the gauges. The temp gauge is PEGGED! :eek:
I say a prayer to the 5.0 gods, get wife into the F-250 and go for tools.
I get the dead thermostat out in record time, button it back up and try to crank her over.
No dice, shes seized up solid. The only thing you hear is the starter bendix shoot out. Nothing more.
For the first time since I bought her, she was loaded onto a wrecker.
Towed her to the nearest spot I could (my brothers business), took the license plates off her for the last time, patted her on the hood and thanked her for the years of service she gave me.

I will miss her :dead:
 



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WOW...that's too bad...

You can get a 5.0L for $500-$700 from a wrecked Explorer...

Ryan
 






Bummer man. Now what?
 






sorry to hear RIP
 






I considered swapping in a junkyard engine, but I am getting ready to uproot from New Hampshire to New York City. I really don't have much time and more or less need a bigger truck for upcoming plans anyway. That explains the F-250 purchase (but thats been returned, the search continues).
 






ahh man that blows. good luck on the uproot though. :salute:
 






Towed her to the nearest spot I could (my brothers business), took the license plates off her for the last time, patted her on the hood and thanked her for the years of service she gave me.

I will miss her :dead:

is this simply advice for people needing to dispose of used cars? On the casino funded Indian reservation here people actually do just pull over and leave a car that breaks down, some of the guys will even leave a phone number in it so somebody can call and get the title from them.

Why did you pull the plates off? In MN the plates stay on the car for seven years, I'm sure in some states the plates belong to the owner, I see the wisdom in this. simply curious as this is not something that I would consider doing in any circumstance.

So, is the Mountaineer for sale? or is it ready to just be picked up and taken since it has no tags on it?
 






That stinks. Poor truck probably thought you were taking it to the dealership. Like a dog going to the vet... It wasn't an overheat- that was suicide! :)
 






is this simply advice for people needing to dispose of used cars? On the casino funded Indian reservation here people actually do just pull over and leave a car that breaks down, some of the guys will even leave a phone number in it so somebody can call and get the title from them.

Why did you pull the plates off? In MN the plates stay on the car for seven years, I'm sure in some states the plates belong to the owner, I see the wisdom in this. simply curious as this is not something that I would consider doing in any circumstance.

So, is the Mountaineer for sale? or is it ready to just be picked up and taken since it has no tags on it?

First off, in Massachusetts (I am registered in New Hampshire) you can not just get out of the car and leave it where it sits. The State Police will have it towed, then they will track you down if you leave the vehicle in the tow yard. You will have to pay for the tow and all the daily storage fees that the tow company can hit you with. EVEN if they end up junking your truck, you are still on the hook (as it were) for the tow bill and storage fees. They can take you to court to make you pay it off.
I pulled the plates off ...well this is a long story really. Heres the short version:
That was for the tow truck driver who was stupid enough to not write it down before he towed it, then proceeded to DEMAND my name..phone number..address..license number. He threatened to call the police to have them force them to tell him. I basically told him to go "fornicate yourself" and get off the property. He left with only a description of the truck on his paperwork. Can not understand why he wanted all of that, since it was a CASH transaction I see no valid reason for it. I removed the front plate with a quick swipe of the workboot, and covered the VIN number on the dash before I left. I wished the driver good luck in finding out who I am. (really do not understand what the hell his problem was, and frankly do not care). OK, so maybe I over reacted, but I am a very private type of person and am suspicious of alot of people out there. There is no need to know where I live, my name or my phone number if the bill is paid in full...with CASH. I refuse to even give my zipcode at those stores that ask. Its really none of their business what town I live in.

As far as plans for the Mounty...I really haven't decided yet. Really depends on how long my brother allows it to sit there, and If he will let me push it into the garage (he never uses) on the property.
 






That stinks. Poor truck probably thought you were taking it to the dealership. Like a dog going to the vet... It wasn't an overheat- that was suicide! :)

LOL Joe, the truck had been to that dealership before and survived quite well.
 






Damn. Sorry to hear. :(
 






Sorry to hear man, good luck on your future vehicle endeavors!
 






Individual identification

Individuals have been known to be dropped off where a car is left by the side of the road and then call a tow truck to have it towed to another location. The tow truck driver obtains vehicle and individual information is case the vehicle is later reported as stolen.
 






Individuals have been known to be dropped off where a car is left by the side of the road and then call a tow truck to have it towed to another location. The tow truck driver obtains vehicle and individual information is case the vehicle is later reported as stolen.

True. However, I didn't exactly tell the whole tale. It would have been a rather lengthy post.
The ONLY reason why a wrecker was called was that a not very helpful, nor patient, representative of the Mass State Police showed up just as I had the gooseneck removed and in my hand. His very first words to me were "Sir, the Massachusetts Highway system is not a repair facility." :rolleyes: "I will need to call a tow truck to remove this vehicle."
Once I explained my situation, the oh so helpful and informative representative of the wonderful Mass State Police gave me EXACTLY 5 minutes in which to complete my repair.
I finished in time, however once I turned the key and it did not spring to life, he was on the radio before I could dial my phone to call a friend that has a large flatbed trailer to pick it up. (I probably should have called him when it first happened, but I was being optimistic that I could fix it quickly.)

Mind you that my truck was:
A) more than 10 feet off the pavement (4 lane road in each direction, plus generous breakdown lane, then grass). Truck was parked more than 35 feet away from traffic, which is 25 feet further than the very same agency parks their cars out there (empty at times).
B) You could clearly see my truck for more than one mile on approach
C) There was a gaurdrail just before where my wife stopped the truck. The chances of someone being able to hit it, without clearing out the gaurdrail, was 0.
I am sure that that very informative, patient and helpful representative had already run the plates on my truck and had a record of it.
 






marvel mystery oil saved my 85 oldsmobile after it overheated and seized pour a cap ful in each cylinder let it sit a few hours put a wrench on the crank and turn it a few times fire it back up oh yeah also worked on my 84 ranger sorry to hear about your mounty
 






marvel mystery oil saved my 85 oldsmobile after it overheated and seized pour a cap ful in each cylinder let it sit a few hours put a wrench on the crank and turn it a few times fire it back up oh yeah also worked on my 84 ranger sorry to hear about your mounty

This trick was actually the first thing that went through my mind. It has worked for me in the past as well, however the engines did not last very long afterwards. Its worth a try though, if only to get my truck to my garage so I can tear into it.
 






Two questions

1. How long ago did you replace that thermostat?

2. Knowing what you know now, would you have used a fail safe thermostat instead?

Good to know MA troopers are so Johnny on the Spot.
 






Towed her to the nearest spot I could (my brothers business), took the license plates off her for the last time, patted her on the hood and thanked her for the years of service she gave me.


Its worth a try though, if only to get my truck to my garage so I can tear into it.


I knew you couldn't just walk away from 'er... :D
 






I knew you couldn't just walk away from 'er... :D

LOL, busted
Well to be honest, If I can get the truck I have my eye on, she will be parted out or donated to a worthy cause.

1. How long ago did you replace that thermostat?

2. Knowing what you know now, would you have used a fail safe thermostat instead?

Good to know MA troopers are so Johnny on the Spot.

1: 2 years ago (shame on me)
2: I was told that it was a failsafe when I bought it, apparently it was not
3: Yeah, a real friendly, helpful bunch. I swear they (the individual cop) get a cut of the tow bills they create.
 



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Well, she may not be back on the road again unless it is an easy fix. Even if it is an easy fix, she will probably end up being sold or given to someone else.
I just got finished putting together a deal for my "new to me" DD.
Here it is:

picture.php


2006 F-350, 6.0 Powerstroke. I really do not need the 350, but the price was right (turned out cheaper than a comparable 250). A few mods will follow. I won't be towing with it often, maybe twice a year. I have an enclosed trailer that fits 3-4 motorcycles.
Have yet to decide which tuner I will go with.
Has anyone done the EGR delete?
ARP head studs?
Propane or H20/meth injection?
Upgrade the intercooler?
I am open to hear your ideas/suggestions for worthy mods. I am looking to add fuel economy and engine longevity more than pavement ripping power.
 






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