I decided to drive my Mini more than 200 miles to California's Gold Country to attend Nevada City Adventure at Mini Mania's new location. My plan was to leave work Friday night, go visit Mustang Plus's Car Show in Stockton Saturday morning, drive the backroads to Sacramento, drive by Folsom Lake to Auburn that afternoon, then visit Mini Mania on Sunday morning.
Mini-SS Stranded on Hwy 5 as a Big Rig Zooms By The Mini shook from wind turbulences caused by passing trucks
All was well until I was on Highway 5 a few miles from Lodi when I spotted an object in the middle of the freeway. Not knowing what it was, I try to drive over it and suddenly heard loud metallic clunks... ouch! I decided to pull over immediately to check my Mini, and what do you know, it was leaking coolant. By stroke of luck, I was able to coast to a Callbox which was about 100 yards from where the Mini struck the object.
The Object That Caused the Coolant Leak Note the leaking coolant behind the tire
The object happened to be two metal plates joined by a long stud (see above). My Mini knocked it to the shoulder so I was able to pick it up, look at it, and curse it. It had sheared off a hose clamp for the coolant lines for my Mini's custom rear-mounted radiator, causing the leak. Using the Callbox, I called for a AAA tow truck which took me and my Mini to Lodi's Pep Boys where I bought another hose clamp and repaired the leak. In less than 2 hours, I was on the road again.
