Back on the road again ....almost? - Diesel Forum

AMMODYTE · 03-29-2005, 09:32 PM

And you thought you had heard the last of "Purple Faye" (my 7.3L Ambulance). HAH!

At the close of last season (Autumn) the engine gave up the ghost ...at barely over 200,000 miles! Obviously, the previous owner did not maintain it very well!

Attached as I was to the Ambulance, and lacking in all but the most basic mechanical skills, I opted for a rebuilt (Jasper) engine. It was installed by one of their recommended installers. Only recently having bailed her out, I am not confident of certain aspects of the job ...

1) The coolant they used was a pre-mixed concoction from CASTROL. It is PURPLE in color, and allegedly has SCA's already added. Should I insist on IH?

2) The "ALT" light remains lit solidly on the dashboard, while real meters (Volts, Amps) read within parameters.

3) The transmission overdrive light blinks, first with a code that required replacement of the TPS, then with a mysterious reference to Lean operating when throttle is wide open, and now with one that indicates slippage in overdrive.

4) At highway speeds, there is an up and down oscillation that is SO bad, I'm afraid the ceiling will cave in. Mechanic diagnosed this on the telephone, assuring me it was a tire that had a flat spot. Meanwhile, they had replaced a universal joint, and felt the driveshaft didn't require rebalancing. "If it were the driveshaft, the vibration would be much faster, it would feel like a back vibrator". Is this true?

Thanks in advance ...

AMMO

cdnsarguy · 03-29-2005, 11:43 PM

Due to the fact your starting with a clean engine I think your OK, read the Castrol web page.

Sounds like the FIPL/TPS needs some tweaking ..........

Driveshafts are not normally balanced after the change of a universal, however check the universal they changed and see if there are alignment marks. Sometimes they don't mark them a reinstall 180* out of phase which can cause a vibration. Post back which universal they did OK.

Can't help with Alt light, do you have Leece Neville alternator(s).

AMMODYTE · 03-30-2005, 06:24 PM

Will ask them which universal next time I talk to them. I need two tires anyway, and will carefully examine the balancing/roundness of the others. Admittedly, it sounds like the expensive way of investigating the problem, but the remaining (rear) tires are way overdue.

Now to read the Castrol homepage!

Allen

PS: Leece-Neville, YES. Says "140 A" but load test measured max as 106A.