Car Breakdown: Lessons Learned

[Christopher R.]

Lessons Learned:

1. Downloading an app is actually a good idea. But not at the side of the road in an emergency via an unreliable
2. AAA covers your civilian car and borrowed cars. Hagerty only covers the antique car.
3. AAA sends you a text confirming your call. That text has a link that tells you who is coming for you; when they are expected to arrive; and, a link that shows you a graphic the progress of the tow truck coming to you. Little truck moves down the road to you - just like Uber. Very comforting.

[Mark F.]

Re: Car Breakdown: Lessons Learned

Hi Christopher,

Thanks for the heads up and advice!

I don't have Hagerty, but I think I'll give the "emergency road assistance" number a call on the back of my Corvette insurance card in advance of my next drive...just to see what phone tree hell I might have to go like you had to endure.

PS - was your problem vapor lock?

[Michael J.]

Re: Car Breakdown: Lessons Learned

I have never used anyone but AAA. The best there is.

[Chuck G.]

Re: Car Breakdown: Lessons Learned

I've been a AAA member for 45+ years. I have only used them once for an antique car tow when the ignition module in my 56 Chevy fried at a car cruise about 20 miles from home. They came quickly, and I was on their rollback within 30 minutes. I have never used the "free towing" feature with any antique policy I've had, and I used to be with American Collectors years ago, then Hagerty, and now with the Corvette Museum.

[Mark E.]

Re: Car Breakdown: Lessons Learned

Unfortunately, I'm experienced with this. I've been in a disabled Corvette during a road trip twice in the past five years. See my "I cant' believe I'm doing this" thread for the latest adventure a few weeks ago. I"m glad AAA worked for you, but both times when I called AAA (we're 30+ year, premium level members) I gave up on them after waiting for a couple of hours with no apparent progress. The first time was in the DFW Metroplex (my hometown), the second time was in the middle of nowhere in northern PA. My impression is AAA contracts with local tow companies who don't necessarily have the best service level.

My recommendation: Using your smart phone, find and hire a local tow company who says they can come out immediately with the right equipment (i.e. they can load a Corvette with out damaging it). Then later submit the expense to NCM Insurance for reimbursement (their tow benefit is to reimburse you; they don't require you to use a specific company selected by them).

I echo your frustration with the ever declining level of customer service across most industries. It seems technology has made it worse, not better.

[Michael J.]

Re: Car Breakdown: Lessons Learned

I've used them to transport my C2 Corvettes to the shop I use for service too, when I don't want to drive them or trailer the 80 miles each way. Very handy and you get 100 miles free towing several times a year when you have the Premier membership level.

[Paul H.]

Re: Car Breakdown: Lessons Learned

The last time I needed a tow, I was on the side of the road in my 61 with a bad fuel pump. I had been a AAA member for a while. It took almost 3 hours to get a tow and what do they send: a hook, not a flatbed even after I had explained to them that it had to be a rollback. That was the end of my AAA membership.
Now I have a friend that operates a tow company with rollbacks. He won't do AAA tows any more because they either won't pay or pay a fraction of what the tow should be. IMO, the best thing you can do is be familiar with someone that tows in your area, where you are most likely to break down. Good luck on a road trip. Maybe a data base for every area would be nice, for a reliable tow company.

[Joe L.]

Re: Car Breakdown: Lessons Learned

My 1962 Corvette broke down the other day. Shut it off at a gas station after a long hot drive, and it wouldn’t restart. I won’t bore you with all the things I tried to restart it. Suffice it to say, it needed a tow.

Christopher------

If your "no-restart" problem involved no or very weak engine cranking in hot conditions after a short engine shut down, I think I know what your problem is. I used to experience it on my 1969 from practically when the car was new. Over the years, I tried everything I could think of to correct it with no success but the conditions when it happened were infrequent so I lived with it. On the advice of a REAL automotive expert (FAR MORE knowledgeable than I will ever be), I installed a slave (remote) solenoid. That solved the problem completely and I never had the problem again.

[Wes S.]

Re: Car Breakdown: Lessons Learned

I've used AAA on two occasions once when the fuel pump crapped out, second about 100 miles from home when my truck laid down. Bot situations ended on a positive note for me.

[Bob I.]

[Michael J.]

Re: Car Breakdown: Lessons Learned

I agree with that, so has my experience. I always tell them what kind of car needs the tow, I have never had anything but a tilt-platform truck show up, usually within an hour.

[Mark E.]

Re: Car Breakdown: Lessons Learned

My experience with AAA, would rate five stars. I’ve used it once to even tow a friends car, with that said. I often wonder which type of tow truck (flatbed or wheel lift) I would request for towing my C3. I'm concerned about damage to the undercarriage or the body.
Bob

That's a valid concern. The first time my '70 needed a tow, the flatbed that showed up could not pull the car onboard without the cable pushing up on the front valance. He said he does this all the time and this does not harm the fiberglass. So I had to fire him (he was either an idiot, or thought I was).

The next truck that showed up had the same issue. So I asked if he had a block to place below the frame extension to prevent the cable from touching. He did, and this trick worked. (BTW, while the car was being pulled onboard, I had to point out to the driver when the the cable was about to touch the body, and I had to suggest using the blocks. The driver wasn't watching for this issue even though he said he towed sports cars "all the time".)

In a later incident, the truck that showed up was able to extend its bed far enough to achieve a sufficiently shallow angle so the cable didn't touch the body. This driver said not all flatbeds can do this.

So be vigilant while your car is loaded. My impression is many drivers either don't know what they're doing or just don't care.

I wouldn't use a wheel lift truck, period. Especially the way most of those guys drive (too fast). The owners manual specifies a maximum speed (30 mph?) and a few miles if towed on the driven wheels. Good luck with that being followed.

[Mark E.]

Re: Car Breakdown: Lessons Learned

Here's a photo of my '93 being pulled onto a flatbed during my "I can't believe I'm doing this" adventure (see thread with that title). The driver initially hooked up without the board and the chain started to push up on the valance. I was carefully watching this happen because I had the impression the driver didn't even think to watch for this. When I stopped the driver and asked if he had a board he could use as a spacer, he said he does this all the time and it's okay if the chain pushed the valance a bit. When he realized I wasn't going to allow this to happen, he reluctantly placed a board under the frame extension as shown.

Be an active participant while your car is loaded!

Tow cable interference.jpg

[Joe R.]

Re: Car Breakdown: Lessons Learned

Used AAA several times and would give them a 10 for quick and hassle free service.

JR

[Thomas S.]