Out on my lunch break, ran to Trader Joe's for some odd groceries. On my way back to my work I see a guy and a girl (both probably ~25) walking on the shoulder of a separated highway with a gas can.
I drove up and yelled "get in". Then they told me they had been walking for 5 miles trying to find a station that had diesel. I quickly told them there were only two stations around that had diesel and they'd managed to walk in the opposite direction.
They described their truck as an "old military ambulance" and I figured it was one of the Chevy K5 Blazers the Army used to buy. So we get to the station, they only want to buy 1 gallon. I tell them I have a 5 gallon Jerrycan in the back and I think they'd want more than one gallon if the fuel system is completely dry. They insist they only need one gallon because it's only 10 miles to the station once we get it started.
We get back and I'm trying to call my friend who owns one of these trucks to ask if there's a bleeder valve or if it's a self-priming system. We finally get him on the phone and he tells me the bleeder is on the fuel filter, but I forget to ask where the fuel filter is. So while trying to get him back on the phone I ask the guy who was driving the truck "hey, can you pop the hood?" He replies "uh... I don't know how to do that..."
Grr.... I can just tell this guy is not going to be much of help in trying to get this thing started.
"It's the handle near the parking brake that says "Hood" on it"
"Oh, okay."
"You pull on it"
"Okay."
"Harder"
So now I'm still trying to get my friend back on the phone and I'm half thinking out loud and half asking the question to the guy and the girl standing around the engine bay. "Do you see anything that looks like a fuel filter?"
And I'll never forget it, the guy answers "dude, I know where the front of the truck is.... that's about it."
I found the bleeder valve and have him start bumping the starter to bleed the sucker. A minute later he keeps the starter going a bit longer than I wanted and the engine fires up. I tell him "keep the revs up for a bit, don't let it idle. We don't want it to die."
He ignores me and jumps out of the truck and slams the hood shut.
The engine dies. Ugh......
So we start it all over again and finally it's bled enough that I'm happy. I tell him to start it and lo and behold....he's waiting for it to pre-glow. It's freakin 70° F outside, we've had the engine running and we've drained plenty from the batteries! STOP IT! Turn the dang key!
I tailed them to the gas station and sent them on their way.
I'm glad I was there to help. But who in their mind sends two employees who have no clue how to deal with a 25+ year old military surplus vehicle out on their own? And really? The Jerrycans strapped to the side of the truck aren't supposed to be used in a situation like this? (They said it was against the rules) The 1 gallon fill-my-lawnmower can is all you're letting them have?
Grrrrr.......
But.... I've really got to try their BBQ now. (It was a restaurant catering vehicle)