Home » Public Forums » GMCnet » Great trip or expensive adventure?
| Great trip or expensive adventure? [message #264818] |
Sat, 25 October 2014 19:30  |
Darryl
Messages: 144
Registered: December 2011
Location: Northern California
Karma: 0
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We're in Durango, Colorado, 2000 miles into a 3,500 mile trip through the Southwest. Mostly a great trip. Visit with granddaughters (and son), two nights at Mesa Verde and two more at Chaco Canyon. In Western Wyoming a truck threw up a rock that starred my new windshield. If he'd got the other (beginning to fog) side I might have thanked him but he got the new one. Oh, well.
Coming across southern Colorado we climbed Wolf Creek Pass (10,857 feet, 6.8%) at 30mph in first gear (3.07 FD). No problems. 5,600 miles on the S&J engine and running great. Uses a quart of oil about every 12-1400 miles. According to my calculations (I'm pretty sure there's a mistake somewhere) I got almost 12 mpg running across Nevada, Utah and Wyoming at 65-70 mph. It's dropped a little below ten with slower speeds on secondary roads but with a lot of generator use recharging the batteries after 35 and 36 degree nights (Yes, Jack and Doug, I got new batteries before I left). We'll see what we end up with after 3,500 miles.
The glitch (maybe) is that I've been experiencing some transmission problems. Shifting into gear from neutral it sometimes has trouble engaging. Started happening only when cold and only occasionally but has recently been happening frequently, hot or cold, and, when it happens, it is taking longer to engage. When it engages, after running the engine up to 1,000-1,200 rpm or so and shifting from D to R (and first and second) it is usually with a slight "thunk". Checked the fluid level and it looked OK but a PO has recalibrated the dip stick with the new "ADD" mark about a half inch above the OEM "FULL" mark. Warm (not hot) the fluid was just below the new "ADD" mark which is where the manual says it should be. I had the transmission serviced at a local transmission shop about 500 miles before we left. Shortly thereafter I noticed a pretty good leak so I took it back. They torqued the bolts a little tighter and got most of it but I noticed a small spot at Treasure Island. So. . . I babied it into Durango this morning (rolling through "Stop" signs and otherwise stopping as seldom as possible) and called Manny (who else). I expected him to tell me to start looking for a shop to do an R&R but after asking a lot of questions he said, "add a half quart of fluid". So I did. So far I've only tested it in the RV park (If I'm going to get stuck and have to be towed I want it to be after a good nights sleep with a whole day to deal with it, if possible) but it has engaged properly every time I've tried it. We'll see how it works on the road tomorrow. We've got a 265 mile run tomorrow on secondary roads from Durango to Cameron, Arizona. If it's working properly I'll probably head up to the North Rim of the Grand Canyon (weather permitting) after dropping Susan in Cameron and maybe do Zion after that before coming back to pick up Susan next weekend and head home. If it's not working right I'll be on the phone with Manny and hoping to baby it into a shop in Flagstaff or looking for a tow along the way somewhere. We'll know tomorrow.
Darryl Meyers
1978 Eleganza II
El Dorado Hills, CA
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| Re: Great trip or expensive adventure? [message #264862 is a reply to message #264818] |
Sun, 26 October 2014 15:38  |
George Beckman
Messages: 1085
Registered: October 2008
Location: Colfax, CA
Karma: 11
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Senior Member |
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Darryl wrote on Sat, 25 October 2014 17:30We're in Durango, Colorado, 2000 miles into a 3,500 mile trip through the Southwest. Mostly a great trip. Visit with granddaughters (and son), two nights at Mesa Verde and two more at Chaco Canyon. In Western Wyoming a truck threw up a rock that starred my new windshield. If he'd got the other (beginning to fog) side I might have thanked him but he got the new one. Oh, well.
signs and otherwise stopping as seldom as possible) and called Manny (who else). I expected him to tell me to start looking for a shop to do an R&R but after asking a lot of questions he said, "add a half quart of fluid". So I did. So far I've only tested it in the RV park (If I'm going to get stuck and have to be towed I want it to be after a good nights sleep with a whole day to deal with it, if possible) but it has engaged properly every time I've tried it. . We'll know tomorrow.
Sorry to hear about the windshield.
I think the 1/2 quart in the trans will do the trick. Have fun.
'74 Eleganza, SE, Howell + EBL
Best Wishes,
George
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| Re: Great trip or expensive adventure? [message #264869 is a reply to message #264818] |
Sun, 26 October 2014 18:35 |
Darryl
Messages: 144
Registered: December 2011
Location: Northern California
Karma: 0
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Senior Member |
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The half quart did the trick. I suspected low fluid but I watched the technician check it when I took it back for them to fix a small leak after it was serviced and he said it was fine. No real leaks since (just a little seep that left a small spot on my cardboard at Treasure Island. Then I checked it Friday and it appeared to be just below the recalibrated add mark while warm but not hot. According to the manual that should be full. I was reluctant to add any because of all the warnings I have seen not to overfill an automatic transmission. I just checked the fluid level while hot after the 235 mile run from Durango, Colorado to Cameron, Arizona today and it appears to be just below the recalibrated full mark. Obviously, I will keep a close eye on it until we get home and I'll try to have Manny take a look at it next month at the Calistoga rally if he is there.
Thank you, Manny. I'll leave Susan here in Cameron next week for her program on the Navaho Reservation and I'll wander up to the North Rim of the Grand Canyon and maybe over to Zion and then come back to pick her up next weekend and head home. Without his advice I would probably be heading to Flagstaff tomorrow (assuming we made it this far) looking for a transmission shop which might have had the same advice as Manny or might have convinced me I needed a new transmission.
Darryl Meyers
1978 Eleganza II
El Dorado Hills, CA
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| Re: [GMCnet] Great trip or expensive adventure? [message #264877 is a reply to message #264869] |
Sun, 26 October 2014 21:18 |
Ken Henderson
Messages: 8726
Registered: March 2004
Location: Americus, GA
Karma: 9
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Senior Member |
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Darryl,
I presume you're planning to visit the usual "North Rim" of the Grand
Canyon -- which is, to me, a real disappointment. Instead of turning
turning south on Rt. 67 off of 89A, continue west on 89A and 389 to Pipe
Spring National Monument, a very interesting short stop. Then, visit
Toroweap Overlook, to REALLY see the Grand Canyon. The two times we've
been there (last in June 2013), the gravel road from 389 down to Toroweap
has been almost as good as a paved road, but I definitely would not attempt
it in wet weather.
http://www.nps.gov/grca/planyourvisit/tuweep.htm
Even if you choose not to go down to Toroweap, be sure to stop at Pipe
Spring on your way to Zion.
Ken H.
Americus, GA
'76 X-Birchaven w/Cad500/Howell EFI & EBL,
Manny Brakes & 1-Ton, etc., etc.
www.gmcwipersetc.com
On Sun, Oct 26, 2014 at 7:35 PM, Darryl Meyers wrote:
> ...
>
> Thank you, Manny. I'll leave Susan here in Cameron next week for her
> program on the Navaho Reservation and I'll wander up to the North Rim of the
> Grand Canyon and maybe over to Zion and then come back to pick her up next
> weekend and head home.
...
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Ken Henderson
Americus, GA
www.gmcwipersetc.com
Large Wiring Diagrams
76 X-Birchaven
76 X-Palm Beach
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| Re: [GMCnet] Great trip or expensive adventure? [message #264904 is a reply to message #264877] |
Mon, 27 October 2014 10:34 |
Carl S.
Messages: 4186
Registered: January 2009
Location: Tucson, AZ.
Karma: 13
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Senior Member |
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Darryl,
You might want to check the Grand Canyon web page to find out the open season there. I believe they close the facilities there on Oct 15 and the road remains open through December or until it gets snowed in. I don't know if that means you can't stay there between those dates or not. The website says there are places to camp in Kaibab National Forrest nearby though.
http://www.nps.gov/grca/planyourvisit/hours.htm
Carl Stouffer
'75 ex Palm Beach
Tucson, AZ.
Chuck Aulgur Reaction Arm Disc Brakes, Quadrabags, 3.70 LSD final drive, Lenzi knuckles/hubs, Dodge Truck 16" X 8" front wheels, Rear American Eagles, Solar battery charging. GMCSJ and GMCMI member
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