Hi, After planning and saving for 2 months for our first valentines together as husband and wife we decided to take a weekend to chester. After 3 nights frantically fitting twin fans and checking all other possible problems for our over heating, at 4:30 'friday 13th' we set off. Trundling along at 80-90kmph fans going we were having no problems she was doing great, we began to relax, look at the scenery, and watch the mood setting sun go down. We were chuffed with all our hard work. It was paying off....ooh my husband say 'the temperature is creeping up, better pull over and take a look (not bad as we were over half way there!)'I don't think the fans are going' sure enough they weren't...Simple solution......fuse blown........luckily earlier that day we'd stocked up! Hey ho and off we go again.........Temperature is doing too well started to cool engine right down.....we were so impressed we might actually get to chester before 8:30 in time to settle in hotel and head off to the movies........traffic was going along at 55mph so we weren't being hurried by these impatient drivers who don't appreciate there motors! so we were going great..not far west of stoke, a stone was thrown off a foot bridge above us and hit us, 'bugger' i thought thats our head light......we carried on till there as there was nowhere really to stop.........on we keep going....for about 5 mile(were about 35 mile away now and getting excited)......'eh what the 'ell is going on now' most of the warning lights have come on! Luckily we find parking place, we've brought fully charged torch and an array of tools! me thinking head light had gone and was shorting out, gets hubby to check (I stay in warm!)....No thats ok????? ok then have a root about check fan belt all fuses etc........All looks ok??? So we carry on for about another 5 miles......uh oh, lights are fading what's going on??? we pull over again.........batterrrrrrrrryyyyyyyyyy deaaaaaaaddddd....Why though, fan belt tight and ok?.....fuses?? wire shorting somewhere??? againg giving her the once over we notice that the hand brake cable is resting on the cowling of one of the fans and with the heat is now catching and labouring quite hard....ah maybe it's that that has drained the battery..........so we un plug that one and hope we can get a jump start... but it still didn't explain those bloody lights! after waiting in the dark for about 30mins a 4x4 pulls in the lay-by to let her dog out for a run, .we're saved! we ask for a jump start and she says ok. now with torch battery failinggggggg we use mobile phone light to connect plugs and off she goes again...........it's now about 9:20ish and the hotel staff are warned and are staying awake waiting for us..........so on we limp, the temprature of the car is fine......not so much ours tho..........5 miles further on and the l i g h t s a r e g e t t i n g d i m m e r! we have to pull over and conceed defeat......we're dead in the lay-by (right near a level crossing too, a busy one at that!) Thank heavens I'm an RAC Member and oddly enough the renewal card arrived that very morning, should have seen the signs really.......but it wasn't over heating! After finding that our contract mobile phones wouldn't let us call the RAC (load of cop they were)and having to ask dad to phone, not knowing where the 'ell we were, getting the RAC guy lost we were in for about a 2 hour wait....champgne, large bottle of wine, and half a whiskey bottle in the boot, it was very tempting! but we still might be saved and carry on!!!! Needing a wee and parked by this housing estate with no name.......and lights every bloody where i had to hold on to my h'penny (Wee)......by now it's cold and that doesn't help us ladies needing to go.........the guy is on his way and gives us a dismal prognosis.......the alternator.........after kicking myself several times i was unfortunately inclined to agree, and the one piece of vital equipment i had forgotten was my multi-meter........bloody women........but at least i remembered the alcohol! Doh.....another hour later and a very confused and fustrated RAC guy arrives..........we give him the info...again and he tests the batteryyyyyy who doesn't want to keep it's charge..........no lights.......no heat......bugger.......now if it was only daylight???? We could have limped those extra 25 mile! So close but yet so far! Any way after leaving us the parting words, 'looks like your heads gaskets gone!'with gritted teeth we smile sweetly and bid him farewell (he was really very nice tho..but it was still not what we wanted to hear!) But she hadn't over heated tho! Knowing we had anoth long wait till the tow truck would arrive, and desperate still for a wee, we changed the seats round for a kip(now 00:15).....it was no good i had to go.luckily we had a curtain (Don't ask.....i Don't know) however it did the job of masking the deed, much releived, fed-up, tired and hotel now paid for but cancelled... We settled down with the huge bottle of wine(not as if we're going to be driving anywhere!) and our Valentines cards. It's now about 01:15 the old man is snoring, i'm bloody frozen there's a train going by every 10 mins (orr so it seemed) and i'm just nodding off..............ring bloody ring...........should have been music to my ears.but hungry (no food since 12.as we were going to get tea in chester!), tired mentally and physically i wanted to be in bed and the news wasn't that encouraging! 'just a courtesy call, we haven't got anyone available in your area at the moment but we'll get a driver there as soon as we can' 'How long do you think that's going to be then???' 'Sorry i don't know' marvelous, at least i can try to get back to sleep again.......there goes another bloody train........No it's no use it's too coldddddddd, i just start to drift and the phone goes again, this time it seems to be good news 'there's a driver on his way, he'll be with you in about 30 mins(time now 01:44) Phew were saved, after the poor driver still getting lost and another 2 calls he arrives at 02:45, he'd been dragged out of bed and had to travel over 40 miles out of his catchment area....how bad were we feeling. Poor girl winched on the loader, warm cab and the offer to stop for food and a WEE brake (too late now!) we were on our way.....luckily the driver was great and us being us (kids not with us too....phew), we saw the funny side of it. Arriving home at 07.00, bidding the driver farewell. The first thing we did is come in and on to this site to see how to change the alternator.........he haed gasket is another matter.......got to creap round dad for that one! He wants us to get rid, but after all we've been thro together in such a short time and the fondness my little family have gotten for her, how can we give up on her she never really gave up on us............and she never over heated once!!!

- (#8524) Val Andrews, 14 Feb 04 06:14

See the excitement you get from these Aces's?
I had a similar trip with the children on New Years Eve, a few years back, camping by the side of the M4 in light snow fall, not my idea of fun.
Any normal car would have had you in the hotel spending money, getting drunk and who knows what. Instead you had a day out that you can talk about for years!
Hope the repair is a cheap one.
You could have second go at a Valentine night at an Ace Jam. Now if you want a tent that has no overheating problems, no alternator but does have flat batteries I'm your man.

- (#8524) Clive (Bristol), 14 Feb 04 07:08

I, fortunatly haven't had any moments like that, and one could get quite envious. On second thoughts no I wouldn't. But I enjoyed reading about yours and well put. Good luck with your repairs. Keep us informed.

- (#8524) Dick Bolton, 14 Feb 04 15:28