Discussion Topic |
|
This thread has been locked |
Jon Beck
Trad climber
Oceanside
|
|
|
Jul 30, 2018 - 09:30am PT
|
and don't want to add the cost of a tow.
You going to tell us you do not have AAA? Anyone that drives an old car needs tow insurance.
|
|
fear
Ice climber
hartford, ct
|
|
|
Jul 30, 2018 - 09:35am PT
|
If you can get a loooong handled screwdriver from the center of the suspected pulley to your ear it'll help narrow down the noise.
If it is the tensioner pulley, squirt some good 'ol wd-40 right into the pulley bearing. If it lessens or goes away, there's your bad bearing that needs replacement.
|
|
JLP
Social climber
The internet
|
|
|
Jul 30, 2018 - 09:37am PT
|
Sure sounds like bearings and thus a new alternator. No brainer to replace the belt at the same time.
There are 2 zones on a transmission dipstick - cold and hot - and they are a ways away from each other. Always use hot, 30+ mins of driving around should do it. If it's low, the fluid is not just disappearing, it's a warning sign. The question for your mechanic is to tell you where it went. However, if it was recently serviced, they may have botched the refill. If so, never go back there. If it's a slow leak through a bearing seal, it's probably not worth fixing, you'll just be adding fluid for the rest of that rigs days.
EDIT: AAA is a ripoff. A towing adder [aka roadside hazard] on your insurance policy is usually a tiny fraction of the cost. Actually hiring a towtruck once every 10-20 years is probably even cheaper yet.
|
|
Jon Beck
Trad climber
Oceanside
|
|
|
Jul 30, 2018 - 10:08am PT
|
The AAA might not be good value for you, but the basic membership alone is worth the price just to avoid going to the DMV, average wait here without appointment is 3 hours. Not all transactions can be done online. The towing insurance policies provide is not very reliable in the boonies. I get the Premier towing (107 year), up to 200 miles on one tow, 100 miles on the other. Broke down 12 miles north of Kramer Junction on 395 2 years ago, timing belt broke at IC last year.
|
|
Brandon-
climber
The Granite State.
|
|
|
Jul 30, 2018 - 10:22am PT
|
4’ of garden hose helps to isolate noise as well.
|
|
Happiegrrrl2
Trad climber
|
|
|
Topic Author's Reply - Jul 30, 2018 - 11:50am PT
|
My EAR has isolated the noise. It really seems that clearly to be coming from either the joint that holds the pulley in front of the alternator on, or directly behind it.
No, I do not have AAA. When I looked into it, it seemed like the cost would be the same as if I used it for an actual tow. Plus, I heard that voice in my head say "If you get tow insurance, you're going to need a two...."
|
|
blahblah
Gym climber
Boulder
|
|
|
Jul 30, 2018 - 11:59am PT
|
Plus, I heard that voice in my head say "If you get tow insurance, you're going to need a two...."
Interesting, I'm not especially superstitious, but the the voice in my head is somewhat the opposite (if I don't get tow insurance, I'll need a tow).
|
|
JLP
Social climber
The internet
|
|
|
Jul 30, 2018 - 12:04pm PT
|
My towing adder is like $3 per 6 months. Long ago I got a 4x4 off road tow out of the bowels of the Moab desert back to downtown Moab, then to Grand Junction in the morning, switch trucks then to the front range as it was technically the closest place capable of making the repair, so I argued. ~1200 total towing bills, all covered, State Farm.
|
|
Happiegrrrl2
Trad climber
|
|
|
Topic Author's Reply - Jul 30, 2018 - 12:53pm PT
|
I've never checked with my insurer - just AAA. Will give them a call, but have the feeling your price is not based on a 1990 vintage vehicle...
And the voice in my head just said "If you even MAKE THAT call, you're going to need a tow!" Maybe I had better wait until after my appointment on Thursday to call....
|
|
divad
Trad climber
wmass
|
|
|
Jul 30, 2018 - 02:37pm PT
|
Driving a 28 yr. old vehicle cross-country on a limited budget is a risky venture for sure. An adequate tool box and some mechanical expertise would, in my estimation, be a must. Two years ago, I flew out to Reno to meet my climbing partner for a western road trip. Jack had driven his well-worn Tacoma from Ct. Midway through the adventure we realized that a front brake job was in order. After purchasing the parts we pulled into the Mammoth Lakes Post Office to use a quiet side parking lot to do the job. The wheels seemed to be welded on and even loosening the lug nuts and driving over some bumps didn't do the trick. There was a hardware store across the street and Jack bought a sledge hammer and a 2x4x8. We had one wheel off when the head honcho of the Post Office came out and confronted us. "You're not changing your oil on my brand new million dollar parking lot are you?", sounding as if he paid for it personally instead of us taxpayers. I said "no, just doing a brake job." He was still rather livid so we assured him we would move on before he would call the cops. So off we went and stopped at the first rest area off the highway. We just completed the job when a Harley guy who was taking a break and watched our work, came over and said: "That was impressive, not everyone carries a sledge hammer and a 2x4x8 in their toolbox."
|
|
fear
Ice climber
hartford, ct
|
|
|
Jul 30, 2018 - 07:57pm PT
|
I had a 1978 dodge pickup with a 383 hemi in it as a kid. Aside from the 4 gallons per mile epa rating (it was never that good) it had only one significant flaw. The starter motor was nestled right up against the exhaust manifolds and would cook itself to death every few months despite numerous attempts at Nasa level heat shielding.
I eventually had it down to a 15 minute job i could do in the dark, snow, rain, etc... didnt matter. Also replaced the heads in that thing in under two hours with a fellow engineering buff.
You've got to learn to fix old vehicles yourself... it's really not that hard, esp with that vintage van. You'll save a ton of $$ over paying someone else and the quality of work is almost always way better since you're not on the clock. Youtube is a godsend these days...
|
|
Winemaker
Sport climber
Yakima, WA
|
|
|
Jul 30, 2018 - 07:59pm PT
|
hey there say, st00pid Americans... the voice in my head says, it's all the Jews' fault.
What's that about? Weird.
Happie, good luck with the mechanic, hope things are resolved. Usually towing coverage with insurance is a pretty minor add-on. Mine last time was $7.60 for 6 months, 200 miles towing. I doubt it's vehicle age related.
|
|
Happiegrrrl2
Trad climber
|
|
|
Topic Author's Reply - Aug 2, 2018 - 10:19am PT
|
So I have an update.
1)Replacing the Serpentine Belt
2) Tune Up
I had neglected to tell him about "the oil leak," and was reminded when he said the air filter was filthy. The leak causes oil to get into the air filter. He said something about some other filter, which on this engine, sometimes gets clogged, and causes oil to come out through the path of least resistance.
The belt will get fixed today, but I have to reschedule for the tune up as parts not on hand until tomorrow, and then I have work days so can't do it.
|
|
tradmanclimbs
Ice climber
Pomfert VT
|
|
Sweet! the old girl just needs a bit of Love:)
AAA is totally worth it. the towing insurance from your car insurance is next to useless. you must pay for the tow up front and then remember to submit the claim with all the hassel that entails. AAA rocks, you can use it for just about anything. does not even need to be your own vehicle. I have the platinum plan which allows tows up to 200 miles.. . 2016 was a rough year for the Astro had at least 4 tows which pays for at least 5 years of Platnum AAA. you can even use it to get your new old van from the place you buy it to home or the mechanic without the usual fake plate running the gauntlet routine. Buy a new wreck, call AAA and have them take it home for you. Good stuff!
|
|
JLP
Social climber
The internet
|
|
If you have oil getting to your air filter, it basically means pressure inside your engine block is high and it's blowing oil and gasses backwards through the PCV system faster than the PCV valve can remove it. The PCV filter may be saturated with oil, the engine air filter too.
Pretty much all older cars will see this, it's just a matter of degree. As the piston rings wear, more gets past them and increases pressure inside the crank case. Seeing how much oil and soot is inside the air cleaner assembly in these older beasts is a good indicator of how the engine is aging.
Make sure they replace the PCV valve and possibly the hose leading to it, the PCV filter as well.
Eventually the PCV system gets overwhelmed and there is nothing you can do except replace the PCV filter and valve much more frequently. At some point you're burning too much oil, it's visible out the tail pipe, the catalytic converter is rendered useless, your O2 sensor no longer regulates the fuel injector right, you fail emissions, etc. It's a slow downhill slide.
Thus - keep an eye on that air cleaner.
|
|
Happiegrrrl2
Trad climber
|
|
|
Topic Author's Reply - Aug 6, 2018 - 11:52am PT
|
Part 1 complete, and next Monday is the tune up.
It already sounds SO much better.
|
|
jaredg
climber
california
|
|
If the shudder continues after the tune up you may consider a transmission fluid additive. I recently had some transmission shudder and tried lube gard, less than 10 bucks. Might be some scam long term but it has helped so far.
|
|
tradmanclimbs
Ice climber
Pomfert VT
|
|
Cool. Glad the doctors visit helped :) I am getting soo close. should turn 200k tomorrow or wed.....
|
|
rottingjohnny
Sport climber
Sands Motel , Las Vegas
|
|
If you want to stop the blow-by , use STP instead of regular motor oil at the next oil change...it increased my compression and got rid of the piston slap , main bearing noise and noisy tappets...
|
|
Wayno
Big Wall climber
Seattle, WA
|
|
I can live with blow-by but I'm a smoker so my opinion doesn't count. Older cars tend to do that and you can spend a bunch to stop it or just drive it and don't care and still get a lot of messy oily miles and oil checks until you get another old beater.
Don't get me wrong, I love old beaters and they were kind of a hobby at one point but it just becomes increasingly difficult and costly to do this without some kind of mechanical expertise. Good luck and happy trails.
|
|
|
SuperTopo on the Web
|
Let us know!