Three hours after we left the campground at Finca Sommerwind we returned like conquering heroes with a broken van. The photo above was taken by our Belgian neighbor who could only ask, stupefied, what happened? Indeed.
We broke down and GANNET2 got to take the ride of shame. We were pootling along on our way to an Andean bear sanctuary for an afternoon drive at a pleasant low key 40 miles per hour when, half way there the engine died. I looked stupidly at the revolutions dropping rapidly to zero and quickly steered for the edge of Highway 35.
Latin American countries require drivers to carry emergency equipment and we have it all, triangles included. After I secured the scene I looked under the hood and smelled gasoline. It was dripping and pooling on the engine. Glad I was it only costs $2:47 a gallon in Ecuador! Layne meanwhile WhatsApp’ed Hans the owner of the campground and sent him our location on Google maps.
I had a suspicion the fuel leak was related to the recent oil cooler replacement we had done in Colombia. The fuel injector rail is the black rod behind the oil filler cap and it had had to come out to get the work done. Layne was filled with frustration but I was strangely calm so she set to cooking vegetables to relieve her stress and Rusty, no trouble at all put in some sunbathing time.
Patricio promised he would be with us in 90 minutes; in the event he arrived in 75 according to Layne’s WhatsApp records. He got us on the flatbed truck in minutes and made a freeway u-turn as you do in Ecuador.
Traffic rolled around us with no concerns. We both decided to wear our seatbelts for the elevated ride back to the campground.
Then there was the police checkpoint. In Ecuador they are serious business as the government is driving home a war with the cartels in the same way El Salvador recently destroyed its gangs by imprisoning thousands of people, some innocents swept up in the mass arrests but most richly deserving of being taken off the streets. We don’t photograph cops in this country so this is as close as I dared:
The officer peered up at me and I shrugged. Breakdown I said, and he waved us through. Cars buses and pick ups were being minutely inspected.
If you want to see a series of videos about driving a Promaster across South America a young couple calling themselves the Vandersons completed the journey with a dog and a cat. I found their videos frustratingly lacking in useful information for someone like me following in their tire tracks and they drive their Promaster beyond its limits with consequent breakdowns. And here we were on a thirty minute ride back to the campground. I recalled when the Vandersons spent a day on a flatbed crossing Chile she sat up on the bed in the van and said perkily “I’m not hating this” as someone else drove. I felt rather that same way watching Ecuador slide by.
I was strangely calm figuring where there is a problem there must be a solution even though we faced the logistical hassles of repairs, dealing with customs when importing parts and so forth. I sent the Jeep dealer a message wondering if they had a fuel rail in stock got the Pentastar engine we share with the Jeep. It was a long shot but you never know.
We past lovely countryside and sugar cane fields reminiscent of Florida, gloomy, resigned and hopeful by turns. We felt we deserved a break from too much sitting still and organizing repairs.
I wondered how we would ever fit back in the campground. I underestimated Patricio’s driving skills and I forgot about the huge expedition trucks that fit inside.
We made a scene when we came in of course but Patricio made it look easy.
Up the hill past the cabanas we drove.
He wiggled us into the right spot and with the help of the gardener rolled us off the truck exactly back into our spot. Just like that.
We were delighted to give him $150 for his work. We were secure and now could take our time to figure out our next move. What a relief.
Our neighbor a car mechanic from Germany got curious and with a mirror started poking around. “Could this be it?” he said holding a up hose connector completely unclipped. Bloody right it could be. Helped it in place until it clicked into the end of the fuel injector rail hose and GANNET2 putted like the kitten that got the milk.
Florian has been here five weeks waiting for parts for his 1998 Volkswagen Euro van (T5 in Europe).
His turbo charger blew up in Colombia and scattered metal through the engine. He replaced the turbo charger and got as far as Quito, the capital of Ecuador, before the engine blew up. He had a four hour ride in flat bed back here where he took the engine out and as soon as he can he will put his own engine back in. I bought him dinner for his help solving our modest problem.
We had planned a return visit to see the bears but it’s raining hard with low mist and low visibility. First breakfast and then we’ll see but at least our GANNET2 is back in perfect running order. For now.
What a day. What a day.
