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Not a good day today!

41 nut
Had to go to the VA hospital, its 230 miles from home, today to have my knee checked out. Appointment was for 2PM so I left early so I could visit a gunshop about 15 miles away from the hospital owned by a friend. I made it to within about 10 miles of the shop when suddenly my 03 GMC pickup quit. Just quit. Called my friend and he got a wrecker to come out and tow me to a garage. Danged fuel pump had shorted out. No fuel pump availiable so will have to wait until Monday for an ordered one to get there. At least the shop we took the pickup to was only about 6 miles from the hospital and the shop owner gave me a ride over to it. Had to call my wife to come down and pick me up. Now Monday or Tuesday my wife will have to take me back down to get the pickup. Had planned to take the boat to the lake this weekend, now thats out. [xx(] [:(!] [V]
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Comments

14 comments

Date Votes
  • aramisvi
    dude that sucks. and it's the one in the tank too. hope ya don't have to change the whole assembly.

    how's the knee?
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  • Locust Fork
    I may be getting my car back in the next few days. New motor didn't take as long as it could have to put in. I am lucky it broke down right in front of the store and not far out like that. Sorry for your troubles.....I feel your pain!
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  • hotshoot
    its all in the name GMC, Givme More Cash,

    sorry....

    now it on to plan "B" have a good weekend
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  • 41 nut
    Yep, its in the tank. They will either have to drop the tank or lift the body off. Usually the whole assembly has to be changed and they are around $400. plus the labor.

    Knee isn't good either. Too bad to walk far on and I don't dare walk in the woods much to hunt because it will slip out of place fairly easily especially on rough terrain. But not bad enough to operate on yet. Guess I'm stuck putting up with it the way it is for awhile longer untile it gets worse. I can still sit in the boat and fish though. After I get my pickup back that is.
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  • aramisvi
    41nut...if ya don't mind, what is wrong with your knee?
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  • 41 nut
    Injured the knee about 20 years ago and it has just deteriated to the point where it will slip out of place fairly easily and at times it just doesn't want to support me. Especially after sitting for awhile. I have problems with my ankle (ankle is military connected), knee, and lower back from a couple different injuries at work. The deteriation got to the point 4 years ago where the railroad I worked for operating heavy equipment forced me out on disability after 28 1/2 years working for them. I wanted to make 30 years and was upset for awhile until I got used to it and decided they done me a big favor.
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  • aramisvi
    ouch. but boss, get the replacement. or a really good brace. but the replacement would be better. you don't wanna get out on you boat and after 5 hours hit that big boy, reel him in, grab your net and go to stand up...if it goes out so will you, right into the drink.
    plus you'll be able to hunt again.
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  • 41 nut
    Problem is that at this point no one is willing to do the replacement. Brace may be an idea though. I've seen 3 different orthopedic surgons (two different ones not with the VA and then the VA one today) and non of them will operate nor have any of them mentioned a brace. All say basically the same thing "its not bad enough to warrent an operation or replacement yet - put up with it until it gets worse and you have to." Thats definatly worth checking out though. Wish I had thought of it and sooner.
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  • aramisvi
    too bad you don't live close by. my fiance works for a hospital in the DME department. Durable Home Medical, oxygen wheelchairs, beds, walkers that kinda stuff. She could help ya find a good brace.
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  • Fatstrat
    Not saying you didn't,and anything mechanical canbreak at any time. But for future reference a good rule of mechanic thunb is that fuel pumps last MUCH longer if the fuel filter is replaced on a regular (yearly) basis. It's amaing how many people change thier oil and air filters. And never even think of the fuel filter.
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  • gskyhawk
    sorry to hear of your troubles ,
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  • tobefree
    Take my word for any day this side of Hell is Good day!!! Granted some are better than others!!!
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  • HandLoad
    Another failure mode for fuel pumps: Many people run their fuel tanks nearly empty before refilling them...the new pumps use the fuel to keep cool, and when you run the tanks really low, they heat a lot, increasing failure rate...best to keep over 1/4 tank, except on the road just to make the next gas station...

    Further, the pumps and filters last a lot longer if they don't suck the dregs and trash off the bottom of the tank when it is nearly empty.
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  • 41 nut
    I agree Fatstrat. I do my own maintance and the filter was changed in May and back in Nov. I will usually change them in the fall and spring because of the cold weather and condensation up here in northern Maine. My last pickup - a 94 Chev went 230 thousand miles without a problem with the fuel pump. In fact out of 6 pickups and 5 or 6 cars we've had I have only had a problem with one other fuel pump. A 72 GMC the fuel pump started leaking. Took me about 15 minutes with my wife holding the flashlight to change it. Not now though. Pull the body or drop the tank.

    tobefree, you'r probably right. At least I'm still walking and talking. Wife was around and able to come get me so I guess it wasn't all that bad.

    On the brighter side the mechanic called this morning and said he had been able to get a fuel pump this morning and will get it in this afternoon or possibly have to finish the job in the morning. My son and I will go down and get it tomorrow. Fishing at the lake Sunday is a probability now. [:0]
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