This morning I had an appointment to get our van looked at for a third time. (bumber because with no school, I wanted to sleep in!) Let me explain our van's problem a little first, or should I say problems?
- the reverse lights don't work
- neither driver nor passenger windows roll down or up (luckily at the moment they are up)
- there's a hole in the muffler (the boy's all think the noise it creates is pretty cool)
- both front tires wheel bearing are making noise (yes again!!!)
- tires desperately need rotating (even better would be to put new winter studded tires on)
- when it's cold outside it will not go out of park (needs warmed up for 20-30 min first)
- driver's door is always locked
- oil still needs changed from last summer
- when you go down hill or turn right the 'check gages' light dings on and the oil pressure completely drops down to nothing.
- engine light is always on
- the heater blower is about ready to die (it makes the most unusual crude noises)
- for nearly 4 weeks now we have been driving at a speed of 10-30 mph (no power)
Personally, I think we should dig a big hole and bury it!!!
Can't happen though--it's winter, and the ground is completely frozen. So anyway, we are most concerned about the no power issue--I might as well be driving a horse and buggy around......lol. (I always thought it would be pretty neat to be Amish!) We have tried different places and have gotten different opinions. One said fuel pump, one didn't' know, and the third today said it was the catalytic converter and the oxygen sensors. (Only $2000 to fix that one problem) That ain't happening!!! (Sorry about my Grammar Middie!)
So, to fix a few of the problems, John decided to take it over to a friend's house who has a nice, big (will easily fit our gigantic van in) , warm garage. Our plan is to cut off the converter, take a big metal rod and clean it out; leaving a big hole that can no longer become blocked. Then he is going to weld it all back together, along with the new muffler. He will also change the oil, and hopefully rotate the tires, and fix the reverse lights. Then once again, we will take it to our mechanic, and have him figure out just which oxygen sensors really need place. (as to not have to buy all 4) Sounds like a great plan, huh? Won't pass the emissions test after this, but because it has a truck frame we don't have to do that anyway. Whoo-hoo I am so excited to be able to drive a little faster next week!!!
I told him if he got that done and there was time, he could stop at the Backshed for a while and play his banjo with the group. So I suppose I will see him tomorrow.....lol
2 comments:
When Mike's car had no power- the catalytic converter was melted. I don't know if I would cut it off- they took ours out of the burb and it runs fine- but we have to replace it in order for it to pass emissions next year. Sorry bout your troubles- I have a nice warm drivway if you want to drive here to fix. :) We could have fun while the boys fix it!!! Luv Ya!!!
Just to go against what Kristy says- Im going with the oxygen sensors. BECAUSE when we go up bear river hill by our house on very windy day, ours does the same thing. We can be flooring the pedal and the dumb thing only goes like 20 mph. Once we turn the van off and start it again- it clears the 'codes' and its fine again. We have taken our van in 3 times for that thing, but he said its no big deal- because it just happens on very windy days. Yours on the other hand, sounds like they need to be replaced. Dont you love our big vans! Yours has lasted quite a while though, 8 years??!
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