SureTrack Users General Discussion

[Nick_Taylor]

Hey guys, I need to get a vintage car shipped from North East Washington State to San Diego, CA.

Any recommendations on shipping companies? Prefer enclosed and must be insured.

Thanks and Happy Holidays to everyone in SureTrack land.

Nick.

[dodge90]

Good job BOB, sometimes it takes some playing to find the "interminent" problems. Now that you said that I had a Taurus acting up at 60. Crank sensor fixed that one. We must have pissed our vendors off. Not even a cheap o meat tray this year. Used to be 3 or 4 dropped off. And a lot of our old customers that would drop off snacks are dying off. Lots of younger customers. Must be a dying tradition around here.
Nick did you try u-ship? lol

[Crusty]

YES !!!!! It's like an early Christmas present ! I got the 13 Tundra that was getting skippy at 80 MPH figured. It was the crank sensor. The Dealer couldn't get it. They say tranny, nope. I got no waves to show you, it's about impossible to back probe without damaging something. There is much to be said for the wiggle and tap test though.

I hope you're not talking about the Elvis wiggle and the Fred Astaire tap-?? LMAO

[greasybob]

Just the Fred Astaire part.

In a day with computers and scanners and scopes, sometimes it's easy to over think stuff. the Yoda dealer wanted to sell a $2 grand valve body. It's been being driven, just stopped in for another look. Only acts up when warm, that's a clue. They're using 22 gage and smaller wire. Back probing a tight connector like that is getting hard to do without damaging stuff.

[greasybob]

It's detective work around here, just had a 12 F550 towed in from a bodyshop. In reduced power mode and has codes for all 8 glow plugs. Low oil pressure and coolant temp is out of wack too. I dig around under the battery by the glow plug module to check resistance in the plugs. Ford has 2 harness connectors under there that are keyed the same and the body shop got them switched. Good thing the glow plug module didn't try to heat up the plugs, who knows what it would have fried. Ford has probably 100 different connectors but they put 2 the same right next to each other.

[greasybob]

Nick, we use U ship to get vehicles hauled in for our lot from allover the country. Most vehicles will fit in a standard dry van semi trailer. To get them off just call your local towing company to send out a roll back flat bed truck. They will usually raise to the level of the trailer, roll it over to the tow flat bed then roll it off of the flat bed (tilted).

[cruisinmiles]

On that F550 were the connector color coded or marked so assembly line workers get it right and how many pins in each one? You are always getting the tough ones greasy and always getting them fixed. 14 years ago we filled a bench with goodies at Christmas time but some have passed and the younger ones don't seem to do the same, vendors still send some things.

[greasybob]

They were both 12 pin connectors, one plugs into the glow plug module and the other is an engine harness to chassis harness by the looks of things. We have a little shop party afternoon tomorrow. Always a few different faces from last year. I've been here since about the beginning. " it is what it is" seems to be common phrase around here lately. I disagree. I always say "it is what you make it". We've had a few tough years but I think things have turned around a little this year and looking better.

[Crusty]

Right on Bob-!! The capabilities of today's electronics IS impressive but it's not infallible. Fundamentals need to be there first. Time, temperature, vibration, even very small wires and almost miniscule voltage drops, pin retention and contact. Then add to that the internal circuits of components themselves where the only thing we can rely upon is inferences pointing to the internals of a device which are either so small, or sealed in plastics and compounds that we can't get into.
It's been that way since the first transistor components started showing up on vehicles in the late 60's and early 70's. The number of components and the self diagnostic capabilities has expanded greatly but we use the scan tools and scopes and DVOM's and yes, at times even test lights (to create a load) to give us clues to drill down to the root cause of a problem.
The self diagnostic capabilities have greatly improved but they didn't peg the crank sensor on the yoda but they DID indicate an issue with the glow plugs on the Ford.
Everything we do is "investigative" apart from maintenance.
On the Ford, the self diagnostics probably self tests for a proper circuit continuity, much the same as back in the 80's when body shops would stuff in an 1157 bulb when the circuit was designed for a 2057 bulb. The bulb-out early body modules didn't see the correct resistance which was different between the 1157 and the 2057.
The more things change, the more they stay the same.

You're right. Sometimes things are "over thought" instead of stepping back and looking at the bigger picture.
Fundamentals and common sense with an understanding of the system we're working on go a very long way to fixing those FUN ones you come up with. And they truly ARE fun, as long as information isn't intentionally withheld or missing.
When I say intentionally withheld, that goes all the way back to the 70's when the first ALDL connectors showed up and the engineers didn't think we, on the bench with the dirty hands, could understand or use the information available at that ALDL. Look how far we have come with that vehicle connection now. It's called the OBD-port under the dash. Manufacturers who withhold information should be hanged, drawn and quartered-!!
When I say missing, pids missing in ANY data group on a scan tool is cause for Tar-and-Feathering. The same as missing voltage specs for circuits which the engineers already know and have on file. Missing information of any kind is a problem. Even something such as the clearance dimensions for the in and out, or up and down clearances for rear axle shaft bearings.

Bob, please keep up with your posts and information you pass along. I always enjoy reading your posts.

MERRY CHRISTMAS and Happy Holidays to all, regardless of race, creed or culture.

[Crusty]

Customers have been dropping in with a cup of coffee, or a box of donuts, or a bottle of wine, or a new coffee mug, or a box of chocolates. Just yesterday a young couple expressed their gratitude when the wife pushed the baby carriage, with 2 youngsters and the family dog, 300 yards down the side of the road through the gravel and sand to bring us a card and a dozen fresh eggs from their own chickens.
They all appreciate the honesty, quality of workmanship, empathy for the costs and doing things the same way we would as if we owned the vehicles.
Some have dropped by just to say thanks and shoot the breeze (and bull LOL) for a few minutes.

I'm not sure who coined the phrase but
"Quality is doing thing right when nobody is watching".

[dodge90]

Merry Christmas Guys. Enjoy the day And wishing for good health this year.

[cruisinmiles]

Merry Christmas to all in this great forum, may the new year be the best!

[greasybob]

Christmas TIP

Subject: 2010 Chevy Suburban 5.3

Symptoms: The "Service Charging System" message in the cluster as well as battery light on.

Diagnosis: No codes found in any modules and the charging voltage is with in spec. I suspected maybe a faulty battery current sensor so back probed it. The signal looked normal but I noticed that the sensor stays alive even after the ignition is turned off. The strange thing was that the signal looked about the same (same pulse width) engine running or engine off. So I checked for battery draw. Sure enough about a 1 amp constant draw with ignition off. Found the blower motor controller (auto temp) to be the source of the draw.

Remedy: Replaced the blower motor controller to solve the battery draw and the battery light and "Service Charging System" message went out at also. 2 birds, one stone.

Synopsis: I'm not sure but maybe if the BCM doesn't see a difference in the signal from the battery current sensor from key off to engine running it assumes there is a problem with the charging system ???? Or a low battery caused the warning and after disconnecting the battery a number of times the warning reset ?

[dodge90]

got to love it

How many got this today. Opened shop at 8am. ph. ringing, answer to customer asking if we looked at his car yet? Explained we just opened up, will be looking at it later. Replied with "well it's been there 5 days now". Car was towed in Christmas eve night. closed 1 thurs at noon, 2 Christmas 3 sat. 4 sun. 5 today. Explained and apologized that we were closed and will look at it asap.
Checked messages, Customer called 8 am fri. to let us know was towed in, 3 more times that day asking whats wrong with car, same sat & sun. Checked car out, found simple bad starter, replaced, called customer by 11 to say car was done. Answer, "ok out of town until jan 5th, will pick up then." WHAT??? Had to ask replied with "Oh ok we'll hold the car, When did you leave town" Response, Thurs. night . WTF

[DoctorD907]

Christmas TIP

Subject: 2010 Chevy Suburban 5.3

Remedy: Replaced the blower motor controller to solve the battery draw and the battery light and "Service Charging System" message went out at also. 2 birds, one stone.

I have found these blower modules filled with water from leaking windshield running down a-pillar and wiring harness causing this just a month or so ago. Thank you for sharing this most interesting case study.

DrD