@Deleted User while that is possible in the past I've never had those symptoms because of a worn cam lobe. Not saying it may not be the cause but if it is it is very interesting.
It was actually a pretty simple fix once I found the problem. The low idle screw was worn down. All it needed was a few turns and it runs good as new. Took me awhile to figure that out though.
First tire picked up a nail and went flat. Put on the spare (that nobody inflates on a regular schedule) which was at 15 psi, drove it at 65 mph on the highway to the next exit and unsurprisingly, the sidewall failed due to the pressure and speed.
For future reference, if you have a damaged car, you can drive like 35mph on the highway with your flashers on. So much easier of a load on the vehicle than 65 mph.
Also check your spare every time you check the rest of your tires. You should be checking your tire pressure monthly at the very least. Just take an extra second at the gas station and check them everytime you fill. It can end up saving you money on fuel and it might even save your life. One of my coworkers had a blowout like this while taking his daughter to kindergarten. He said it was the scariest moment in his life. Sometimes a blowout is unavoidable but no little white girls should be put at risk because you couldn't be bothered to do regular preventative maintenance.
Cool mechanic story:
Belt snapped at 2AM in route to Disney. Guy drove over an hour with zipties running his water pump.
“This is on my 04 Grand Cherokee I6. Idler pulley locked up and shredded my belt over an hour away from our hotel. Being stubborn and too cheap to pay for a towtruck. I bought every pack of zip ties the nearby gas station had and made it work.”
<http://reddit.com/r/Justrolledintotheshop/comments/8naype/belt_snapped_at_2am_in_route_to_disney_i_drove/>
@Tanner - SC I’ve done that with belts and shoe strings to make it back to camp while out fourwheeling. I can tell all kinds of haggered things we have rigged while in the woods.
Tried heating it, using a punch, tried putting it on a stud and shaking, and the other guy did all this and more, moral of the story is that lug nuts become ”swollen” and also fuck Ford
