Winter Embarrassment...

In the almost 3 decades I have been driving, I have been driving full size rear wheel drive V8 sedans.  I know how to drive them in winter.  I have been stuck in snow less than a handful of times.

AND SO it is with some embarrassment that I type up this post!

The other day, it was in the upper 40s and sunny here in Massachusetts.  That meant snow was melting BUT still hiding ICE underneath.  I pulled into a dirt lot to take a photo of an unusual locomotive.  It never came (assumed it stopped down the tracks to work) and what ended up happening?  I decided to leave... 

Now, even though Vic 1.0 has been gone for a while, I STILL can't get used to the larger turning radius of Vic 3.0 (due to the wider track).  I misjudged a 3-point turn and the front wheels pushed into a berm of snow just before the side of the road.  I had to stop to make sure no cars were coming.  And that was what did me in.  Normally it would be no big deal, BUT Vic had enough time to sink through the watery snow and onto the ice hiding under it!

It took:

• about a half hour of time
• a bunch of sand
• a cheap emergency shovel
• an old pair of plastic get-me-unstuck mats (one of which disintegrated)
• much embarrassment 

... to get the car free.  I couldn't even rock the thing, as the snow tires simply had nothing to rock against!  Sand did NOTHING.  A slight push would have helped but I was alone and few cars drove by.  

OH, and while I was stuck there... the locomotive stopped RIGHT next to me.  I took a break and nonchalantly took my photos. 

In the end, basically, once I saw that the rear tires were burning through the ice, I knew EVENTUALLY I'd hit dirt and that would help.  FINALLY I was able to get free in reverse (unusual, especially with directional snow tires).  I stood there, looking at the aftermath, thankful the road in front of me is lightly traveled, and hoping the train crew didn't notice I was stuck.

Chalk it up to "experience".  Also chalk it up to "ice is NOT snow"!

At least I got a photo... not the best BUT I got it...

138,999 Mile Update: Get Your Snow Blowers Runnin'...

Long time, no update!  Some quick little things to share... 

138,999 - 2/3/21

10/17/20 - Vic visits the Welch's corporate office in Concord MA... those are indeed Concord Grape vines!

11/23/20 - Changed license plate bulbs

1/6/21 - Just what to do after getting the car washed... park in a muddy parking lot... snows are on...

RWD + Snow Tires = gets to park closer to the store entrance

132,509 Mile Update: It Will Now Snow...

Yesterday, Mystery Mechanic and I noticed Vic 3.0 was riding pretty badly on the highways and byways of Massachusetts.  We've been keeping an eye on one snow tire that he picked up at a junk yard (not something I myself trust).  The tire must have sat for a long time in one position, possibly low on air, because one patch of tread has a roundy-softy-wornish-rotted look.  It made it feel like an out of balance tire, probably bouncing off the pavement ever so slightly over and over.  After yesterday's trip, we said "BAH!  Might as well put the RS-A's back on".  It's March and we have had pretty much NO snow in the Boston area all season.

Which means we will get whacked with a major Nor-easta' next week.

Once all the snows were off, we also noticed another one for the junk-pile... that one has cracks on the rear sidewall that look scary.  So next season I will have to do some shopping!

On the 9th, Vic finally got it's oil change, after 9 months and about 3,500 miles.  The mechanic pointed out that there were traces of "animal activity" under the hood.  Sure enough, while we had the air compressor going today, I took a peek myself and there were piles of nuts and birdseed on the intake manifold.  It took a while to blow it all out. 

The exhaust leak is still there but hasn't changed much.  Still need to source that issue out.

Doesn't look like much, but this patch was enough to make the car ride badly.

Warren MA PD Far From Home...

Warren MA Interceptor Utility about 47 miles from home, in Acton MA in a snow squall...

2017 Snow Tire Swap

Today was the day, SNOW TIRE DAY.  Off came the Goodyear RS-As, on went the speed rated Goodyear Ultra Grips.  That only leaves Todd's Interceptor to do.  Vic has hit the 181,000 mile mark (didn't get a photo this time!).

Well, THAT explains the slow leak......................

10/14/17 - Boxboro MA

Snow Vic - 2/6/16 Edition

UPDATE: Snow, Coil Packs, and Bad Wires...

The winter of 2015 has dumped a LOT of snow on New England so far, and the Boston area has been particularly hard hit.  I've lost track of the actual amounts.  Let's just say my father's decision a few years ago to buy a snow blower was a VERY good one!

Vic hasn't moved much this season.  Right now, it is sidelined due to what I am hoping is the same offending wire in the harness by the radiator.  Hard to put into words what it is doing, or rather NOT doing, but basically there is some issue causing the car to crank just fine, but the car won't actually start most of the time.  When I turn the key half way, the engine light flickers... sometimes it stays on like normal, and when it does, the car will start.  BUT, it won't say on.  This reminds me of what happened years ago, and that was a bad wire.  I hope to get this looked at soon, as I am starting to experience CABIN FEVER!!!!!!!!

Todd's Vic has also been under the weather.  Last month we hit the road for the day and it was running real rough.  It was behaving like it had bad gas, or water in the tank, which with all this snow wouldn't be surprising.  We got some dry gas, put it in the tank, and it didn't work.  As we headed for home, it was decided that it could be a bad spark plug or coil pack.  It was a Saturday, but Taxi Guy was still open and we got some A1 service, as usual.  It took him no time at all to figure out one coil was weak.  Less than 15 minutes later, Todd's car had a new plug and coil pack.  The old one was actually steaming when it came out.  It didn't smell like coolant, but now we need to keep track of the intake, as it has not been replaced yet in the car.

One GOOD thing to share.  I picked up 2 headlights for Vic.  One NOS OEM, one OEM used but in great condition.  Nothing I do will keep mine shiny, so I took the plunge and got some on Ebay.  I spent less for 2 nice original Ford ones than what Ford wants for ONE new one!  Hopefully someday they can get installed.........

UPDATE: Snow Tires Off

May 10th saw Vic's snow tires come off, and alloys with Goodyear RS-A's go on.  The spring ritual resulted in the revelation that I now need front brake pads.  Those got ordered today.  The day also included starting up Todd's '04 Mustang after it's winter slumber, getting an inspection sticker for it, and the mass murder of a huge flock of what looked like winged ants that had infested his garage.  As of this second, Vic is outside with a car-cover on, due to trees dumping "propellers" and general shmoo all over the place.   

Vic Sees First Real Snow of Season

UPDATE: Snow Tires On

Originally, the weather forcast said snow this week.  Now it looks like less of a chance, but Todd and I figured it was a good idea to initiate the annual Snow Tire Blitz. 

We started off taking off my alloys and Goodyear RS-A's, and put on steels and Goodyear Ultra Grip Ice's... The two front ones may have to be junked after this winter, but the rears are still good.

Next, we had to plug one Firestone snow tire, move the cars around, and swap the Firestone with a police spec Goodyear Ultra Grip from Todd's mother's car that was originally his.

Next, we moved cars again, sifted through Todd's collection of tires and rims, and installed two Goodyear Ultra Grips on Todd's car. 

THEN we tried to make heads-or-tails out of all those tires laying around the place... some junk, some good, some on rims, some not. 

Lastly, back in my own driveway, I managed for the first time to get all 4 center caps on my wheels all by myself!  The key seems to be a rubber mallet and no fear of denting them. 

I hope you followed all that!