That time a transmission line blew on me at a rest stop near Flagstaff

I was about 150 miles from home on I-40 when I stopped for gas. Popped the hood to check things over like I always do, and BOOM, a transmission cooler line just burst. Hot fluid sprayed EVERYWHERE, all over my hands and the pavement. I had to crawl under there with a pair of pliers and a piece of hose I found in my truck bed to bypass the cooler just to limp it home. Has anyone else had a random highway failure ruin their whole day like that?

3 comments

3 Comments

wood.faith4d ago

Oh man, that's brutal! I read somewhere that those transmission cooler lines are basically a ticking time bomb on older trucks, especially if you do a lot of highway driving. The heat cycling just makes the rubber get brittle over time. I always keep a couple of those universal repair fittings in my glove box now, just in case. Sounds like you handled it like a champ though, bypassing the cooler with random parts is a real pro move.

miller.rowan5d ago

Got under there with a pair of channel locks and a short piece of rubber hose from my spare parts box. That bypass trick will get you home but watch your transmission temp like a hawk the whole way. I carry a roll of quality hose, extra clamps, and at least two quarts of fluid in every truck now. Saves you from being stranded or having to pay a mobile mechanic $400 for a five minute fix.

angela5874d ago

That bit about the mobile mechanic charging $400 for a five minute fix hits close to home. I once paid a guy $350 just to tell me my battery terminals were corroded, which I could have cleaned with a toothbrush and some baking soda. At least now I know to keep a little spare parts kit in the car, even if I end up looking like a greasy mess while using it.