Monday morning and am setting off towards Coffs Harbour in tandem with Billeee & Jules and the van problems started up again. The red alternator light lit up again so I went to the guys who fixed it up last Tuesday but they couldnt do all the tests neither would they have the parts. They phoned a the nearest auto electrician who was in Pittsworth 43kms in the opposite direction who said that there was an 80% of fixing it immediately and 100% chance of having it done by lunch time. Billeee came to Pittsworth with me and the job was done and completed straight away. It turned out to be the regulator and it was lucky that I had the workshop manual because he couldnt find it, it was lurking behind the glove box and 2 bolts had to be undone to gain access. All is well and off we go towards Warwick but between there and Stanthorpe the van started to miss and lose power up the hills. At one time I had to drop to 1st and then turn the engine off before it would build up enough revs to continue. So I had to find a mechanic in Stanthorpe to go over the fuel process and check everything, he found that the fuel filter needed replacing, I had cleaned it out a couple of months ago and must have run the petrol too low and sucked in sediment from the bottom. From then on the van performed well and we made it to the free camp where we had originally planned to get to and arrived at dusk, Lollback Rest Area Camps6 #251 43kms west of Grafton on the Gwydir Highway. A very satisfactory day if somewhat stressful. John
Happywanderer said
04:50 PM Oct 9, 2012
John, you certainly are having no end of problems with the van. I would have given up and be walking by now. If you get to Echuca and are having problems go to Sam at Wharfside Motors. He worked on Myrtle. His phone number is 03 54823281
Good luck for the rest of the trip and hope nothing else goes wrong.
jetj said
11:15 PM Oct 9, 2012
Gee I hope the van is fixed now after all those problems.
John is there a time limit there? It looks like a wonderful spot.
Gerty Dancer said
12:39 AM Oct 10, 2012
Geez it was pouring with rain when we went through there... it looks glorious in the sunshine! Surely your van has to be properly fixed now, John... nothing else left to go wrong.
yeoeleven said
04:46 AM Oct 10, 2012
Set off Tesday morning towards Coffs Harbour and had no car troubles but only 130kms.
The plan was to see Billeee's sister in the morning and visit Dusty+D in the afternoon. That all worked out and we fitted in lunch at a seafood place near the Yacht Club and a walk round the sea front.
Had lots of laughs at Dusty's place and discussed the forthcoming Tassie trip, the shepherd's pie was very well received and we camped the night in her front garden.
All in all an excellent day.
John
jules47 said
02:45 PM Oct 10, 2012
Love your photos John - of course you got up early to get them, and you know we don't do "early" - and yes hope the problems are fixed now.
Monday morning and am setting off towards Coffs Harbour in tandem with Billeee & Jules and the van problems started up again. The red alternator light lit up again so I went to the guys who fixed it up last Tuesday but they couldnt do all the tests neither would they have the parts. They phoned a the nearest auto electrician who was in Pittsworth 43kms in the opposite direction who said that there was an 80% of fixing it immediately and 100% chance of having it done by lunch time.
Billeee came to Pittsworth with me and the job was done and completed straight away. It turned out to be the regulator and it was lucky that I had the workshop manual because he couldnt find it, it was lurking behind the glove box and 2 bolts had to be undone to gain access.
All is well and off we go towards Warwick but between there and Stanthorpe the van started to miss and lose power up the hills. At one time I had to drop to 1st and then turn the engine off before it would build up enough revs to continue. So I had to find a mechanic in Stanthorpe to go over the fuel process and check everything, he found that the fuel filter needed replacing, I had cleaned it out a couple of months ago and must have run the petrol too low and sucked in sediment from the bottom.
From then on the van performed well and we made it to the free camp where we had originally planned to get to and arrived at dusk, Lollback Rest Area Camps6 #251 43kms west of Grafton on the Gwydir Highway. A very satisfactory day if somewhat stressful. John
If you get to Echuca and are having problems go to Sam at Wharfside Motors. He worked on Myrtle. His phone number is 03 54823281
Good luck for the rest of the trip and hope nothing else goes wrong.
Gee I hope the van is fixed now after all those problems.
John is there a time limit there? It looks like a wonderful spot.
Set off Tesday morning towards Coffs Harbour and had no car troubles but only 130kms.
The plan was to see Billeee's sister in the morning and visit Dusty+D in the afternoon. That all worked out and we fitted in lunch at a seafood place near the Yacht Club and a walk round the sea front.
Had lots of laughs at Dusty's place and discussed the forthcoming Tassie trip, the shepherd's pie was very well received and we camped the night in her front garden.
All in all an excellent day.
John