SureTrack Users General Discussion

[Witsend]

If that TSB works ,I Think I would just Rube Goldberg a fused wire from the battery to the distribution box temporarily to get the monitor to complete and get it through the test lane for a pass and remove the wire afterwards.

[greasybob]

07 F150 5.4 with codes P0345 and P0349, bank2 cam code errors, signal missing or intermittent. I check the sensor signal at the sensor and at the PCM, all good. I could see that the aluminum on the heads look kinda shiny and the gaskets looked new. Maybe the timings not right? Kind odd though that the fuel trims don't look that bad. Well nothings gonna get done if you tear into it. There it was, the links was coloured but not matched on the crank sprocket. I thought it a little strange that even with cam actuators if the cam signal doesn't appear in a certain time frame, the PCM will think that it's absent. There was no data in the actuator list that indicated a timing problem either, it just defaulted to zeros.

[Witsend]

07 F150 5.4 with codes P0345 and P0349, bank2 cam code errors, signal missing or intermittent. I check the sensor signal at the sensor and at the PCM, all good. I could see that the aluminum on the heads look kinda shiny and the gaskets looked new. Maybe the timings not right? Kind odd though that the fuel trims don't look that bad. Well nothings gonna get done if you tear into it. There it was, the links was coloured but not matched on the crank sprocket. I thought it a little strange that even with cam actuators if the cam signal doesn't appear in a certain time frame, the PCM will think that it's absent. There was no data in the actuator list that indicated a timing problem either, it just defaulted to zeros.

Looks like the truck owner is either going to have to pay you several hours for the diagnosis and dropping the pan and get it towed back to the other shop or pay another 12hours of labor and seek refund of the work done at the other shop. Glad it wasn't me that F'ed that up.

[dodge90]

So I get a car that oops, didn't think the water was that high, after a heavy rain flooded a road. cleaned, checked all fluids, Ins. wanted all abs sensors changed even though they weren't bad again, but what ever, had air bag lite on, needed occ. seat module. sent to dealer figuring they can so the seat reset pro. that I have no clue about plus busy and just don't want to deal with it. they called saying it needs this seat module and the air bag module at a cost of $975. Oked by ins. 2 weeks later and 3 yea it will be done calls, they inform me that "Please keep in mind sir that this car went through a flooded road and this still might not fix the problem." Not nocking dealers, but how can they get away with this since they are the "experts" that only work on that brand, factory trained, and we work on everything and our customers expect their cars to be done asap, god forbid they might have to leave it over night, or why are you having a problem figuring it out, don't you know what your doing?? sorry just a rant

[greasybob]

Why would you think that a dealer mechanic is any better than you ( or thorough) on any particular vehicle. They often have to play the same games with time constraints, pushy service writers and flat rate BS. The only thing they might have is access to is better info and a tech hot line to the OEM.

[dodge90]

Guess I'm just looking at it a different way. I would think the dealers "top teck ", factory trained vrs. me self trained, in these areas, would be better at problem solving than me not knowing hardly anything about a system. anyway was promised the car today and again, no car. Was told factory was not giving them the "as built" info they need to program the air bag mod. . Was told the teck was on it all day since 8am. Again, I under stand they run into problems to but with factory backing one would think this shouldn't be a problem like this. Maybe I should have went with my gut feeling and tried it myself. Just keep thinking of a GM teck asking me for a price to put a heater core in his 88 f150. Asked why he just doesn't do it since its only 6 bolts and easy to do? answer, I'm a gm teck, not a ford, looks hard to do. reply, Yea they are kinda hard to do, give you a break at $150 you get heater core. Drop it off tomorrow.

[Witsend]

Yeah, but that same GM tech probably has a Cadillac Rotisserie in his garage and can reseal a oil purging North Star's bottom end in less than a day and you'll be happy to hand him $1500 when that time comes.

[dodge90]

so another slow day here, 2 insp. and 1 ofl. I know the" economy is the best it's ever been" as they say but wtf. Cars are built better and don't break down as much. How is everybody else?

[greasybob]

So busy got no time to pee as dR. Jake used to say.

[greasybob]

This Happened to Me ...or... You Make the Call


06 4.2 Trailblazer comes in chewing up belts. A close look and the alternator pulley is not lined up. I can see fresh marks on the bolts around the alternator. I took the pulley off, seems ok. suggested they replace the alternator, it could be the wrong one or maybe the wrong pulley, until I compare it to a good part I really have no way of knowing. I got the OK to replace with a used alternator. I start removing the alternator. Top bolts first. What the **** ? The bottom bolt is M.I.A. ? That explains the alignment problem. Now I have a used alternator that I can't return. Install it any ways and keep shut about the missing bolt ? Harass the customer about the low life (maybe they did it them selves) that just replaced the alternator (obviously) and neglected to put the bottom bolt in after they probably installed the top ones first and discovered you can't get the bottom bolt after the top ones are tight because of clearance issues ? Take the blame myself for not properly diagnosing the issue before ordering the used alternator ? Quit agreeing to install used parts ?

[Witsend]

Think I would go back under that hood and Moon the hidden Action Jackson Channel 7 news team camera and tell us you love us.

[dodge90]

Personally I wouldn't use a used alt. unless I had a good one on the shelf and it's a clunker just to get by. As for the situation on hand, reinstall the original the right way and as long as it worked right and not chewed belts, most likely would say found broken bolt on bottom and charge a wee bit extra for the time spent looking for a new bolt and doing it right.
As for being slow, glad I opened my mouth, 2 t-belt jobs towed in, 1 eng came in blown, another for a bad oil leak, Taurus for a t-chain cover gasket. when it rains it pours on me.

[greasybob]

Tried posting from new camera, gotta work on this

[greasybob]

selfie ?

Gotta work on resizing these

[Witsend]

Well Bob, your body temperature is still high enough that you would probably be spared from being shot during a Zombie Apocalypse.