By the time I got to Brisbane the van was pre igniting so after a night with friends I took off to the Gold Coast to attempt to fix the problem.
I parked in the Repco car park in Nerang and allowed it to cool off then removed the distributor cap, leads and plugs. I cleaned off any buildup on the connections in the cap, shined up all the metal on the rotor button and replaced the plugs and leads. Drove off hoping for a result but no the problem was just as bad. This is Saturday afternoon and as last Saturday I as stuck for the weekend with car problems and no one was working Saturday afternoon, Sunday or the Monday holiday.
I phoned up the auto elec who prepared the van for the trip and he was pleased to hear from me and came out on Sunday morning removed the distributor, reset the timing, replaced the points and condensor and checked out the carburetor. All good and I took it for a test run and drove up a hill in 3rd which earlier needed 1st.
Saw my last contact on the Gold Coast and set off to Gatton where Kayley is staying, got petrol and found the charging light on. Just got the van ok and now this... phoned the auto elec who said if I took it to his place he would check it out. Apparently the alternator is not charging and if I drove to Gatton the battery would probably last half way because of the electric fan on the cooling system.
So here I am staying with one of my friends on the Gold Coast for another 2 nights. To say that I am a little annoyed about the van would be an understatement the past week has been a costly frustrating time. So I will have to see how this latest hassle works itself out. I am also trying to get to Millmerran early to link up Billeee & Jules,
That is bad news John. Had hoped you had got it all sorted out. Slounds like you might have to replace the alternator. I had to replace mine back in Echuca, haven't had a problem with it since.
It must be so frustrating with these mechanical issues. I hope a new alternator is all it takes to get you going again and no more issues for a long time.
Hope you get things sorted out soon. I also had to replace my alternator a while back. It is a costly exercise on an Isuzu. Good luck with the repairs, hope it doesn't hit the hip pocket too hard.
Frustrating, disappointing and expensive yes, but... What good friends you have who come to your aid on a Sunday, work on your car at home,... give you accommodation at the Gold Coast (normally very expensive!). I'd say very good timing John, and a good outcome will be assured with all these helpful vibes!
Frustrating, disappointing and expensive yes, but... What good friends you have who come to your aid on a Sunday, work on your car at home,... give you accommodation at the Gold Coast (normally very expensive!). I'd say very good timing John, and a good outcome will be assured with all these helpful vibes!
How true Gerty, The auto elec came round on Monday Public Holiday and I had removed the passenger seat and the support before he arrived so he had good access and the engine was cold.
There was a plug with three wires too close to the exhaust manifold it had melted and the wires were bare, probably causing my recent fuse problems. Anyway Stuart was able to replace the plug and wires, found that it was now charging and when starting up the van the light had gone out. So all is now well and I am on my way to Millmerran.
Anyone needing an auto electrician on the Gold Coast should call Stuart on 0449158447 to receive excellent service and a reasonable price.
Frustrating, disappointing and expensive yes, but... What good friends you have who come to your aid on a Sunday, work on your car at home,... give you accommodation at the Gold Coast (normally very expensive!). I'd say very good timing John, and a good outcome will be assured with all these helpful vibes!
How true Gerty, The auto elec came round on Monday Public Holiday and I had removed the passenger seat and the support before he arrived so he had good access and the engine was cold.
There was a plug with three wires too close to the exhaust manifold it had melted and the wires were bare, probably causing my recent fuse problems. Anyway Stuart was able to replace the plug and wires, found that it was now charging and when starting up the van the light had gone out. So all is now well and I am on my way to Millmerran.
Anyone needing an auto electrician on the Gold Coast should call Stuart on 0449158447 to receive excellent service and a reasonable price.
Sounds like what we were talking about at my place, with wires shorting on the exhaust manifold.
You are not going to believe this, the van was performing very well until the Toowoomba Range and after getting stuck behind several trucks and using 2nd gear for most of the climb the dreaded charging light came on again. The van was overheating again, not boiling but very hot so I cruised to Millmerran 90kms away and checked the battery levels for the deep cycle and found 11.97 volts clearly the alternator had not been working.
I was able to contact a local mechanic and I took the van to him, I told him what had been done and how the light came on so he had a guide on what to check. The new cable put on yesterday had melted being close to the exhaust extractor. he removed it and made up a longer one whilst I ran the van back to the showgrounds and removed the seat again whilst it cooled. He came back and found me in the showground s and replaced the cable this time routing it back under the alternator. $125 later I was good again. I still have the float that I set off with after spending $333 for Tassie and by now $1000 on the van so it shows how one can live on the pension and save especially if the van doesn't break down.
Millmerran Showgrounds is filling up as campers arrive for the Camp Oven Festival, there is still plenty of room but probably booked as there are three days before the proceedings. Linked up with Billeeee & Jules, I have been preoccupied with the van but we have plenty of time together over the next week.
