It’s experiences like this that make me hate driving

Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share
1

We were at a wedding reception with some friends and family and to some it was such an exciting occasion that when it came time to leave some people found themselves driving different vehicles home due to the owners being unable to walk straight. That’s how I found myself driving the Smith’s minivan.

I don’t really enjoy driving that much. I wasn’t able to get my license until I was 23 (medical reasons, not criminal) so I never went through the “Woo hoo I can drive! Let’s get out of here!” phase. I especially don’t like driving other people’s vehicles, on the highway, late on a Saturday night.

When the can didn’t go anywhere my brother-in-law Brandon had to point out the parking brake was on. :rolleyes: I started to look around for it. Hmm . . . not sure what that lever did, but it didn’t release the brake. That one there is the fuel tank . . . tail gate . . . I finally found the disengage pedal.

By that point the people we were supposed to follow to the Smith’s house had left, but I knew about where the lived so we took off. Did I mention I hate driving? Getting on the highway is nerve-wracking for me. A semi truck suddenly appeared in front of us. I cautiously maneuvered to change lanes to get around him. I was (like a good driver) checking my mirrors when . . .

WHAM!
:eek:
“Shit!”

It seems the level I pulled that didn’t do anything when I was looking for the brake, was in fact the hood release. Oops. I guess the second latch that is supposed to keep the hood down in case the first release is pulled doesn’t work at 65+ mph on a 10 year old minivan.

I am still impressed by my nerves of steel while under pressure. With cat like reflexes I ducked enough to see through the gap under the still-open hood while checking that Brandon hadn’t suffered a heart attack. I waited for the lane to clear (damn drivers with their full view of the road! Learn how to drive!) before stopping the Car of Death on the side of the highway, right next to the Safelite AutoGlass building.

Instead of waiting 45 minutes for an un-named but Almost Always Alphabetically-first company to tow us we manage to get it to the Smith’s house. You never know what kind of friendship you have with someone until you see how they react to you causing a few hundred dollars of damage to their car. I guess ours is pretty solid.

Fortunately they were able to convince the insurance company that it should be covered under the flying-roadway-object clause (hey, the hood was coming through the air) so I don’t owe anything.

My wife and I bought a minivan last weekend. While we were showing it to the Smiths, he was sure to point out where the parking brake and hood release are.

I hate driving. Anyone want to be a chauffeur?

2

Unless its a stick shift, (which would be a possible problem for a non-driver) why the hell was the parking brake engaged? (ok I suppose if you are parked on a steep hill, it might make sense.)

Sounds like another case of “volunteer’s lament”!

3

Umm… because it was parked?

4

I’ve had the experience of the hood coming up when driving on a busy expressway, and survived it. The story was that my daughter met me at the airport after having a collision on the way which left the car still drivable. However, she was shaken by the experience, so she asked me to drive. It was only after I reached about 100 kph on the expressway that the damaged hood decided that it had suffered enough wind pressure and came up. Fortunately, I was able to slow down and stop without being able to see much of anything around me except for the lane lines that I could see through the side window. I tied the hood down with a small piece of ribbon that I found, and decided to leave the expressway as soon as possible to take the old scenic route – which I’d driven on many times before the expressway was built – on the rest of the 160 km journey home.

5

About a year ago I passed a car sitting on the side of the road with the hood folded back over the windshield. I remember thinking to myself that that was probably about a pucker factor 8 experience for the driver.

Glad you’re okay.

6

I had the hood of a U-Haul fly up on me on the freeway the last time we moved. I can also drive while looking through the small crack between the hood and the rest of the car.

Then the cargo bay doors on the replacement they delivered wouldn’t stay shut (fortunately empty as we drove back for the second load). Sure, I should have had a padlock or something on it - but I was a little miffed when I mentioned the problem to the U-Haul guy when we dropped it off, and he said “Huh - same thing happened to me when I was bringing it to you”. Didn’t think to mention that for some reason.

Joe
will never use U-Haul again

7

I know someone very close to me who ALWAYS engages the parking brake, even when parked on a flat surface. I don’t get it.

8

Makes no sense to me, but whatever floats your (their) boat!

9

Why bother? The only time I’ve ever pulled the parking brake was on my road test, then never again. If you put the car in Park, it stays there. I don’t know anyone who actually uses the brake.

I’ve driven my parents car 20 minutes round trip with the parking brake engaged without even noticing, which should give you an idea of how effective it is in that car.

10

I’ve had to on occasion drive their car and I bitch about it (mildly) every time I get in. He never has an answer.

11

Here’s an old GQ thread about whether or not the parking brake should be used every time you park (with at least one knowledgeable Doper making the case for “Yes, you should”).

12

Interesting. Sorry for the hijack!

13

When you pulled all those levers, did you think nothing was happening until you hit the one you wanted? You have a fuel door, lift gate, and the engine compartment. They should all be marked in English. I consider it irresponsible not to have checked everything before you pulled off. Yes, that secondary latch should have saved you as you said. The vehicle must be poorly maintained causing that spring lever to bind just enough for the hood to bypass it at speed. I cut you a break based on the background you describe and the fact you were helping a friend somewhat reluctantly. Honestly though, you should consider not driving at all if you could arrange your life to do so. You would be under less stress and others would be safer.
Congrats on bringing it to a safe ending.

PS. When I am asked to drive a strange vehicle, I do a walk-around inspection and check the under hood fluid levels. I want brake fluid and oil for sure.

14

I refuse to drive a strange vehicle unless my personal mechanic can come and check it out for me first. I keep him on retainer for just this sort of circumstance. You can never be too safe.

15

This thread is making think I should actually try to use my e-brake, not just know where it is. It does make a very good ponytail holder, however.

16

I gotta agree with this. You pulled all those levers, and didn’t check to see what happened when you did?

17

+2. Levers do things, you know?

18

On what planet? Every car I know of has these these things marked in hieroglyphics, not English.

19

To be honest I didn’t pull the fuel and lift gate, I could see those (and they were marked with little pictures, not English :D). I thought the one I pulled (hood) was the brake, and I guess in the continued search I forgot about it.

If it makes you feel better I will do a better inspection next time I drive another person’s car, including checking the sticker on the windshield to see if the oil needs changed.

20

Tire pressures. Don’t forget to check tire pressures on all tires and the spare before you drive someone’s car three miles.

So what damage occurred?