Real time help: Broken down on interstate near OKC

[Woogy]

Today on my way to school from Norman up to OKC my water pump bit the dust. It is aftermarket and only three year old but the shaft on it or the bearing broke releasing the fan, fan clutch, and pulley into the radiator. My question is how long can I leave my cruiser parked on the interstate before it gets towed? And my other question is does anyone know where to get a waterpump that can get hear fairly quickly. The dealership says 3-4 weeks for a $500 waterpump and NAPA says 3-5 days. Any help would be great as I am trying to decide if I need to find someone to help me tow it home or leave it over night and fix it on sight.
Thanks,
Brian

 

[RockDoc]

If it's anything like around here, I get it off the interstate. I see lots of broken-down vehicles with smashed windows sitting along the highway.....

 

[iaintscared1969]

Try NAPA? Anything but get it off the interstate. It is a target for wanna be hood rats to tear up. Also State Patrol usually gives it 3 or 4 days. Depending on location.

 

[Woogy]

That does not sound to good. Looks like I will have to call in some favors.

 

[Elbert]

get it off the interstate....you may not have any windows left. I know Dan at American Toyota could certainly get a water pump faster than 3-4 weeks.

 

[FJ60Cam]

They're only $75 at Cruiser Outfitters. Could probably get it overnighted and only be out $100-125

 

[fidel]

jtoutfitters sells 60 series water pumps with oil coolers for 50 bucks and could probly ship fast

 

[Texx]

For future reference, if you have a gasoline credit card, most offer limited roadside assistance for five or six bucks a month that allows up to a 100 mile tow. Cheap piece of mind, I know my company wishes I'd buy some new cars!

 

[Zack1978]

With any older car/truck you should always have AAA Plus, so that you can get free 100 miles tows. It will pay for itself in one tow.


Zack

 

[lowtideride]

C-dan or Kurt will help you out big time.....good people.

 

[mkaustin]

Don't forget John Hocker at Sierra Toyota either. John just got me a water pump for our FJ62 and it only to a week to get to my door. (had to wait over the weekend or it would have been sooner)
The price was about a qtr of what the stealership is trying to charge you.
Fixing it on site is not really good an option w/ that engine. Too much stuff has to be moved and too many bolts for a side of the road fix. IMO It's do-able in a parking lot, but I'd hate to try it on the side of the Interstate.

 

[Eporter]

X2 on the AAA plus or gold, whichever comes with the long range tow. My friend "A" borrowed a roommates car, drove 80 miles out of town. The car broke down. Friend B called AAA, and had the car towed the 80 miles back. Without friend B in the tow truck. SO, friend A got a ride back to town, to the driveway, with the car, on friend B's AAA card.

Apparently it's hard to pull off, but friend B has gotten good at sweet-talking AAA. (He owns a '69 Land Rover that spends a lot of time breaking down!)

Very cool service.

 

[Woogy]

Thanks for all the replies. Sorry I did not repost sooner my family came into town and I got distracted. Anyway I got the cruiser towed home for about ninety bucks and my insurance will cover it. Got a new water pump and fan blade from Autozone. They had it here in two day. Replaced the water pump, fan clutch, and blade and all new belts. I then got to looking at the radiator and found that it had three or four holes in it. The shaft broke on the water pump sending the old blade and clutch into the radiator. The thing that sucks was I replaced everything about three years ago and now I am doing it again. Still can't figure out why the shaft broke on the water pump. So where is a good place to buy a cheap but efficient radiator? After the radiator goes in the cruiser is going up for sale. I am in dental school and I need a car that is better for driving from Norman to OKC and I do not want a third car so I will be cruiserless for a few years until done with school.

 

[grant5127]

The thing that sucks was I replaced everything about three years ago and now I am doing it again. Still can't figure out why the shaft broke on the water pump. So where is a good place to buy a cheap but efficient radiator?

Over tension on belts leads to such premature failures.....I use CSF radiators---> http://www.csfimports.com/home.asp and buy them here----> Four Seasons Radiator -- Brands my local store has them in stock for 40s & 60s.........