not such a burbarific day :(

[Longhorn Man]

I've been noticing a whine every time I start the 'ole girl up... like a PTO pump at high RPM before the fluid gets warm... a high pitched, almost electric whine... it has been going away after a few moments, so it's all good right?
I kinda figured it was the power steering... I mean, what else is gonna make a hydraulic type noise?
Well.... Wedensday after work, I found out what it was.
The noise didn't stop like it normally did, so i grab the shifter and head to the bank (pay day). I notice it wasn't shifting quite right.
This can't be good.
At least the noise is getting quieter. The noise can't be related to the tranny.... right? I mean it does have a small tranny drip, it's probably just low on oil... right?
I noticed, the less noise I heard, the more slipping I noticed. Sittin at the stop light by wall mart, the noise stopped.
Good... it was getting annoying.
The light turned green.... wouldn't move. I reved it, and the noise kicked in, and the burb slowly pulled into the lot.
Anyways, I thought I'd try doing the manly thing, and drive it home anywyas. So after checking the fluid, I noticed it was WAY high.... but then the whine started again, so i checked it again.... it was right at the full mark now.
That seems odd.
Yeah... I didn't make it home. After thinking about it, the pump is going out. The lever raises when the engine is off on any auto tranny... or, when the pump isn't working. If I fire it up now, if it whines, I can move it... but only a mile or two.
I made it 4 miles out of the 7 miles to get home.
I gotta say though... I do love owning my own tow bar. It has saved me hundreads of dollars.... if not well over a grand. (towed from tx to ohio instead of a rental trailer... same thing from eastern PA to central ohio instead of renting a trailer... lotsa little around town jobs... and, as of Wedensday... it saved me a tow bill.
Pardon the low quality photos... I didn't have my nice camera... just my phone that is in worse shape than ever (yet the phone insurance guys told me to get bent when i trid making a claim???)




I gotta say... I forgot how nice this Longhorn tows... untill it is time to stop anyways.

This happened at the best time possible though. just that morning, I had to take my grandmother to the airport at O'dark thirty in the morning... and then scoot back across town to be at work by 6:30... made that no problem.
And on thursday (thanksgiving) I had planned on hauling my son, one of my sisters, and her husband, my other sister... and me... 80 miles away for the family thing.
So I ain't complaining. I'll probably let it sit till January, then drap the tranny and have it rebuilt. Got a local cat that does a REAL good job, for $250 complete with converter carry out.

Coulda been worse... but it still sucks though.