My car doesn't like Pistachio ice cream (Page 1/1)
williegoat AUG 14, 02:48 PM
A customer came into an auto repair shop and told the mechanic that whenever he bought Pistachio or rocky road ice cream, his car would refuse to start. He went on to explain that if he bought vanilla or chocolate he had no problem.

The mechanic chuckled, but agreed to take a look. He cleaned the battery terminals, sprayed down the carburetor and sent the man of his way.

A week later, the man returned with the same complaint.

The mechanic replaced the plugs, adjusted the points and again handed the customer a bill sent him home.

When the man returned the third time, the mechanic told him that what he claimed could not be possible. “The car does not know what kind of ice cream you bought.”

But the customer insisted.

So, an older, more experienced mechanic intervened and ask the customer to take him along, the next time he went for ice cream. After a couple of trips to the store, the graybeard discovered that the customer was absolutely right.

I have told this story before. Does anyone know what the problem was? It is a valuable lesson.

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"Ain't no rest for the whiskers."

34.45260465579319, -112.53790558034461

ray b AUG 14, 09:46 PM
my boss on the survey gig
use to fix combat aircraft el bits during nam
by freezing with a spray to test

williegoat AUG 14, 09:54 PM

quote
Originally posted by ray b:

my boss on the survey gig
use to fix combat aircraft el bits during nam
by freezing with a spray to test


That is an old trick for diagnosing heat related intermittent failures in electronics. Every 13 year old geek has done it.
But it has nothing to do with my story.
williegoat AUG 14, 10:09 PM
I had an experience much like the customer in my story above, but it was a brand new L9000 Ford and a very early N14. I have also told that story here.
Larryinkc AUG 14, 10:35 PM
Maybe vapor lock ??????????????????????????????
williegoat AUG 14, 10:38 PM

quote
Originally posted by Larryinkc:

Maybe vapor lock ??????????????????????????????


That is what the problem was with the car, but what was the problem with the first mechanic? Why did the ice cream make a difference?

This story is not about trouble shooting, but wisdom.
williegoat AUG 14, 10:43 PM
The chocolate and vanilla were at the front of the store, right beside the register. The more unusual flavors were all the way in the back. The additional time it took to get the Pistachio ice cream was enough time for the heat to get to the fuel lines.

The first mechanic just assumed he already knew everything. He dismissed the customer's complaint, out of hand. He was not wise.
williegoat AUG 14, 11:10 PM

quote
Originally posted by williegoat:

I had an experience much like the customer in my story above, but it was a brand new L9000 Ford and a very early N14. I have also told that story here.


Right from the start, that N14 was low on power, high on fuel consumption, low manifold pressure and high exhaust temps.

Every time I brought it in, they told me I didn’t know how to drive, I was used to my R-model Mack, I needed to let it break in, etc, etc, etc.

Finally they got tired of listening to me and decided to put it on the dyno to prove to me that I was just an idiot.

When I picked it up, they showed me the numbers. Everything was perfect, horsepower, torque, rail pressure, manifold pressure, EGT, everything. I hung my head and walked out to the truck.

When I opened the hood, there was a brand new turbo. I asked them and they would not admit it. They said “We just clean them up when we dyno them.”

Some people will stick to their ignorance if it kills them.