The AC compressor on my '94 F150 gave out last Tuesday in the middle of a heat wave in Spokane.

Had to drive 45 minutes with the windows down and a wet towel on my neck just to get home. Anyone else ever have a part fail at the absolute worst possible time?

3 comments

3 Comments

kelly_coleman611mo ago

A wet towel on your neck is some next level MacGyver stuff right there. I once had my alternator go out on I-5 in July near Redding, and I was stuck for two hours with no ac and a phone that was about to die. That 45 minute drive must have felt like a lifetime with no AC and a heat wave hitting you. I honestly don't know how you made it without passing out from the heat. Major props for keeping your cool, even if it was literally with a wet towel.

the_robert1mo ago

Next level MacGyver stuff" is a stretch, honestly. It's a towel with water on it. Not exactly defusing a bomb with a paperclip. @kelly_coleman61 I think the real issue here is bad planning. If you live somewhere that hits 110 degrees, why wouldn't you have a cooler with ice and backup water in your car? That's just common sense. The alternator going out is bad luck, but being stuck for two hours without basic supplies is on you. The wet towel trick worked, but it's a last resort, not a genius hack. People act like surviving basic discomfort is some kind of achievement.

the_derek1mo ago

Tbh, a little preparation goes a long way in situations like that. I always keep a small cooler in my trunk with a couple bottles of water and a few frozen wet washcloths in a ziplock bag. @kelly_coleman61 those washcloths double as a cold pack and then a wet towel once they thaw out, so you're covered either way. The alternator thing is rough, but having that backup stuff ready means you're not just relying on a last-minute hack. It's not about being a survival expert, it's just thinking ahead for five minutes.