Tried to use a zip tie to fix a fuel line in a parking lot in Reno, bad call

Last Tuesday I had a customer's old F-150 die in the Walmart parking lot and I thought a zip tie would hold the cracked vacuum line for the drive back. It made it 2 blocks before the engine started screaming and I got sprayed with coolant from the overflow. Anyone else ever rigged something on the spot that turned into a 3 hour nightmare?

2 comments

2 Comments

taylor30526d ago

Skip the zip tie, grab a roll of hose tape and a real clamp from the parts store next time.

torres.jason25d ago

And honestly, @taylor305 is right, that zip tie will get you home but it won't last the week. I've seen those things crack and fall off at the worst time, usually when you're stuck in traffic and the hose starts leaking coolant all over the manifold. A proper clamp costs like three bucks and takes the same amount of time to put on. Plus hose tape actually seals the small cracks instead of just squishing them flat. Do it once, do it right, and you won't be back under the hood next Saturday.