Near Disaster

I took Nell to the muffler shop this morning.  The passenger side muffler has a huge hole blown out of the top, just under the floor!  No wonder the exhaust noise was so loud!  Muffler Guy ordered a replacement, and I'll have it installed on Friday.

I came home and pulled into the garage, opened the hood to disconnect the battery like I always do when I leave the car for any length of time, and then noticed that the fuel pump looked a little funny. As I reached down to wipe the wetness off the fuel pump, my hand brushed against the flexible fuel line that goes between the frame and the pump.  The line cracked open a little at this slight touch, and fuel started spilling out!  I had just filled the car up with gas, and the fuel leak was below the level of the gas tank!

Thank God that this happened in my garage, and not on the road somewhere!  I quickly jacked up the front of the car, elevating the leak above the level of the gas tank, and removed the damaged hose.  Here's what it looks like... it came apart as I was taking it out:

I'll be picking up a replacement hose (or two) from Ford Guy this afternoon.  He claims that the mandatory ethanol in our gasoline has significantly shortened the life and increased the failure rate of rubber parts like this, and there is really no effective substitute yet.  Looks like I may have to stock up on these little guys, and be ready to replace one every year!  Bummer...

But of course, things could be worse.  At least Nell didn't go up in a fireball as we were driving down some mountain road, and my family and I are very much alive and healthy!

Update: I got two replacement flex fuel lines from Ford Guy.  After this experience, I think I will always want to carry a spare!  Here is the victory shot.  Nell is running again:

It seems that my experience with Nell is transitioning from "restoration" to "maintenance".  That sounds a lot less fun, and a lot less predictable.  Things break when they want to, and I have no control of that.  I still greatly enjoy driving this car, and really feel blessed in doing so, but I'm also starting to realize how unpredictable my life is, and how tenuous is my hold on it.  There may be another unforeseen 'rotten fuel line' somewhere else in my life, on the verge of bursting!

Well, the best I can do is to take life one day at a time.  At least the future should be exciting!