SureTrack Users General Discussion

[Dr.Jake]

Dr.Ti, Greasybee, or anyone

Why does Sara Palin keep emailing me..? Me no have any special napkins, or spray... And a nother thing. She's wanting to borrow 20 dollars..She outta fruit?

[Witsend]

How do you do AC service ? If the vehicle comes in with no charge in the system and it holds vacuum well do you charge it and hunt around with a sniffer ? Send the customer on their way and tell them to "keep an eye on it" and charge for parts and labour and some dye ? Charge the system and put dye in and leave it run for half the day then check with a UV light ? This picture is from an 03 (I think) Town and country. I left it run a couple of hours after charging and putting dye in, then let it sit over night. The UV light tells the tale, front evaporator leaking. I got the what at the time was the latest and greatest AC sniffer, I don't think it could find the leak that sank the Titanic.
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I charge it with dye and refrigerant and after the customer advises me after the week end that newly wed couple had a certain glow about them at the wedding reception , I'll slam a new evaporator

[Crossland Auto]

Well a week has passed since Dr. Jake posted on this general discussion and he was the one that started the GD on Ondemand5 many years ago. Nick said once that up to 300 posts a month were normal but gave him lots of work to do! I wonder why there is no way to bring back that same participation in a forum that once was? I guess some things just die quite and no way to replace them. I sure do miss the old GD and was hoping this one would take off.

Yeah, I feel the same. I miss the old days. Unfortunately, I have not had a good run in a while. If I were to post on a daily basis, would be not much more than depressing. I am still dealing with the synchronizer issue a few months back on the 4.0 Ranger. One of the new lifters just failed, have to tear down to a head off to replace it. At least the parts supplier have been on it, process is slow, pay for labor is almost non existent.

X

[Crossland Auto]

How do you do AC service ? If the vehicle comes in with no charge in the system and it holds vacuum well do you charge it and hunt around with a sniffer ? Send the customer on their way and tell them to "keep an eye on it" and charge for parts and labour and some dye ? Charge the system and put dye in and leave it run for half the day then check with a UV light ? This picture is from an 03 (I think) Town and country. I left it run a couple of hours after charging and putting dye in, then let it sit over night. The UV light tells the tale, front evaporator leaking. I got the what at the time was the latest and greatest AC sniffer, I don't think it could find the leak that sank the Titanic.

Greasy, I found out about 8 years ago, Sniffers are useless to me. I can hold an end 6 inches away from my hand in the middle of the shop. It will go off. I only use dye. I also always show a customer how it holds vacuum, but explain the difference of vacuum sealing a leak (sucking it closed) and pressure showing the leak.

X

[Crossland Auto]

Now that I have posted twice, I am kind of laughing at myself. Yes, this forum may go stagnant for a bit. Just takes one post to start it back up for a little bit. Some will join in, then it will die off for a bit. I wish I had more to keep things going. I log on every day and lurk.

X

[greasybob]

Why does Sara Palin keep emailing me..? Me no have any special napkins, or spray... And a nother thing. She's wanting to borrow 20 dollars..She outta fruit?

Why did you give your Email ? If you give them (politicians) money they will only be back for more. You must help break their cycle of dependency.

[Witsend]

hope there's no synchronizer metallic slurry in lifter oil galley

Yeah, I feel the same. I miss the old days. Unfortunately, I have not had a good run in a while. If I were to post on a daily basis, would be not much more than depressing. I am still dealing with the synchronizer issue a few months back on the 4.0 Ranger. One of the new lifters just failed, have to tear down to a head off to replace it. At least the parts supplier have been on it, process is slow, pay for labor is almost non existent.

Not so fast, push rods and rockers had wear issues on those motors that would cause valve train noise like a bad lifter.

[Crossland Auto]

Not so fast, push rods and rockers had wear issues on those motors that would cause valve train noise like a bad lifter.

I wish, will check it out when I get the chance to tear into it. From the get go; If truck sat for 2 days, would have a clatter for about 10 seconds then go away. Progressively got worse to now constant clatter.

X

[greasybob]

Jeez X, I hope you get some gravy to go with the lemons.

[greasybob]

Anyone ever work on a 2001 Sterling SC7000 ? It's a mid size truck with an asphalt sealer/applicator on the back. It has a 5.9 Cummins ISB but has the round DLC. The problem is the "engine protect", "stop engine" light comes on intermittently, and shuts down on it's own occasionally. It has a check engine light but it doesn't come on when the problem arises. All gages and fluid levels are in range. I might have to borrow a Pro IQ.

[Crusty]

Hey Crossland, Maybe Witsend has a point. Perhaps he's seen a few of these.

The thoughts about lifters vs push rods and rockers makes me think... what about the oil that is being used.

Have you ever "trimmed" the ends of the push rods before-?? Or "trimmed" the flats where the rockers contact the valves-?? Old school stuff we used to do in the engine rebuild shop I worked at before I started my apprenticeship. Nothing aggressive. Just taking the sharp corners off the push rod end holes and making sure the entire flat of the rocker contacts the valve stem.

I know you're not a hack using the cheapest crud you can find but what about "different" brand or viscosity of oil as a test to see if it helps. Sometimes a "different" brand of oil has some characteristics that are different than another. 5-W-30 from one manufacturer isn't the same as 5-W-30 from another.

[Crossland Auto]

Believe me, I am going to check everything during teardown. Would be nice to just pull upper, and valve cover and find an issue. I originally had 5w30. Tried straight 30w, and now 5w20.

Greasy, wish we were closer. When I bought my Modis, was originally a demo unit. Came already loaded for heavy truck with the round connector.

X

[Crossland Auto]

As far as the lifters, all 12 are Sealed Power. All 12 boxes said, made in China. When I opened 1 box, the lifter was in the box in pieces. I had them order an extra. Same brand, same part number. Box said made in Germany. I know that one went into the right side bank. The noisy one sounds to be left bank front. Cylinder 4. I hope it is exhaust. I may be able to remove the plastic push rod guide and fish the lifter out.

All the wishing and hopeing don't add up to squat. I would rather spend my spare time working on a current project truck.

'69 Chevy cst/10. Remove str8 6, 3 on the tree. Install '89 year v8 T.B.I. injected, T400, re gear the Dana 44, Vintage Air it. This project just gets bigger as it goes. I have authorization for what is already listed. Just received an o.k. to remove the stock fuel tank from inside the cab and add a rear tank. Next will most likely eliminate 4 wheel drum brakes non boosted.

Bad part: I have been chasing my tail on everything else, customer sees very little progress on '69. Now he is getting upset.

I am getting tired of working 7 days a week to please everyone. I am only 1 person, I can only do so much with a certain amount of time.

This kind of work load (without the warrantee issues) used to be fun. I still wake up every morning with a plan of how to tackle it.

Seems by 10:00, I loose it. Maybe I have hit that age....

X

[Crusty]

Sounds like you're doing things as right as you can.

Only thing I can say is slow down. One at a time. Get 'em off the plate. Whittle the list down. Hopefully in a week or two you'll be able to enjoy a summer weekend to rejuvenate.... (and then it starts all over again-!! LMAO) (JK)

Hang in there.

[dodge90]

How do you do AC service ? If the vehicle comes in with no charge in the system and it holds vacuum well do you charge it and hunt around with a sniffer ? Send the customer on their way and tell them to "keep an eye on it" and charge for parts and labour and some dye ? Charge the system and put dye in and leave it run for half the day then check with a UV light ? This picture is from an 03 (I think) Town and country. I left it run a couple of hours after charging and putting dye in, then let it sit over night. The UV light tells the tale, front evaporator leaking. I got the what at the time was the latest and greatest AC sniffer, I don't think it could find the leak that sank the Titanic.

SNIFFERS ARE a waste of money, I charge, add dye charge the customer and tell them to return with in 1 week. but I also offer a free recharge/ recheck with that service. Dye is the only way to go.