Home » Public Forums » GMCnet » Well, that didn't last long...
| Well, that didn't last long... [message #204653] |
Sun, 14 April 2013 14:16  |
Joe Weir
Messages: 769
Registered: February 2013
Location: Columbia, SC
Karma: 7
|
Senior Member |
|
|
We find new and interesting places to camp...
I was determined not to let AC and generator woes get me down. With the dash blower fixed (bad blower resistor & changed the relay for good measure), I decided to take it for a spin around the beltway last night to make sure we were good before heading to Monroe Sunday to see about picking up some seats from Joe.
I made the mistake of inviting the boss for the ride.
10 miles from home, the engine starts "rattling". I pull over to check it out at a truckstop. There is a some squealing as well. Can't find anything loose - I had been struggling with the alternator belt and had replaced the alternator too, and thought it was wonky again. It was maybe a qt low on oil, so I add some and motor on.
Just past the last exit for the busiest section of I-20 before the Saluda River Bridge (long grade down and then back up to the next exit) with no safe place to pull over the ruckus under the floor changes from an annoying rattle to a symphony of rattling pans. It sounded like we were dragging pots under the engine. I pull over and check it out. I find the bolt to the cruise control bracket backed out. Ah-ha?? Hard to believe it could cause that much racket, but I can find nothing else loose on the outside. Inside would be bad.
It was now dark and we were not in a safe spot, so I got it to the next exit, up a decent grade. The pots turned into a hammer by the time I hit the exit and safe harbor at a well-lit gas station. Pulling that last hill was agony listening to it.
It sounds like a rod. The engine has had two oil changes since January. One when I brought it home, and another to 20w50 when the rattle first started. While changing the oil, I found a loose bolt on the PS bracket which caused the PS assembly to wobble. Ah-Ha. When I started it back up the rattle was gone. Had gotten it up to temp a dozen times (but hadn't driven it) and could not get it to rattle in the driveway. When the rattle started this time, I was sure it was another loose something.
The good news is the coach camps pretty well. The PO had some unconventional ideas about seating, but it works for now. The entertainment center in place of the original refreshment center helped (my handiwork - It still needs staining to match).
http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b395/DarkJethro/Birchaven/photo4.jpg
http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b395/DarkJethro/Birchaven/photo3.jpg
My daughter models the u-shaped couch/bed while waiting for the tow truck:
http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b395/DarkJethro/Birchaven/photo5.jpg
Thankfully, because the tow truck could not take me home until this morning. The coach is in the driveway - I will not be able to dig into it until next weekend.
My brother, the mechanic, says He can fix it for $150 (he is good, but not particularly familiar with Oldsmobile beyond installing the radiator in the coach). Can I be safe in assuming this will be a short term fix and I need to be lining up a Jim Bounds special?
Considering the noises - belt squealing - etc, what are the chances it is the harmonic balancer? Were these an issue?
This thing has more miles on the hook than with me behind the wheel...and yes, that was two "that's what she said" setups in one post.
76 Birchaven - "Wicked Mistress" - New engine, trans, alum radiator, brakes, Sully airbags, fuel lines, seats, adult beverage center... those Coachmen guys were really thinking about us second hand owners by including that beverage center...
Columbia, SC.
|
|
|
|
| Re: Well, that didn't last long... [message #204656 is a reply to message #204653] |
Sun, 14 April 2013 15:00  |
kerry pinkerton
Messages: 2565
Registered: July 2012
Location: Harvest, Al
Karma: 15
|
Senior Member |
|
|
FIRST thing is to send an oil sample to Blackstone Labs. That will be the cheapest diagnois you will ever find. No metal in the test equals no bad bearings and the noise is elsewhere.. You can send them a cold oil sample...just mark it as cold on the form.
Kerry Pinkerton - North Alabama
Had 5 over the years. Currently have a '06 Fleetwood Discovery 39L
|
|
|
|
| Re: [GMCnet] Well, that didn't last long... [message #204657 is a reply to message #204656] |
Sun, 14 April 2013 15:26 |
Mr ERFisher
Messages: 7117
Registered: August 2005
Karma: 2
|
Senior Member |
|
|
So how is your engine going???
Gene
FREE WIFI @ Mickey D
On Apr 14, 2013, at 1:00 PM, Kerry Pinkerton <Pinkertonk@MCHSI.com> wrote:
>
>
> FIRST thing is to send an oil sample to Blackstone Labs. That will be the cheapest diagnois you will ever find. No metal in the test equals no bad bearings and the noise is elsewhere.. You can send them a cold oil sample...just mark it as cold on the form.
> --
> Kerry Pinkerton
>
> North Alabama, near Huntsville,
>
> 77 Eleganza II, "The Lady", 403CI, also a 76 Eleganza being re-bodied as an Art Deco car hauler
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
> http://temp.gmcnet.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/gmclist
_______________________________________________
GMCnet mailing list
Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
http://temp.gmcnet.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/gmclist
|
|
|
|
| Re: [GMCnet] Well, that didn't last long... [message #204674 is a reply to message #204657] |
Sun, 14 April 2013 18:10 |
mojoe
Messages: 319
Registered: November 2012
Location: Monroe, NC
Karma: 0
|
Senior Member |
|
|
Just curious what choice words the Boss had?
Joe Kemenczky..
1975 Eleganza ll " Odie " 75,000 miles..
"When I was younger, I could remember anything, whether it had happened or not." - Mark Twain.
.
|
|
|
|
| Re: Well, that didn't last long... [message #204676 is a reply to message #204653] |
Sun, 14 April 2013 18:28 |
JohnL455
Messages: 4447
Registered: October 2006
Location: Woodstock, IL
Karma: 12
|
Senior Member |
|
|
Someone with a good ear should be able to narrow down serious internal problems from driven accessory noise. If it sounds like a banging at engine speed, it could be a rod bearing allowing the piston to slap the head. This really makes a racket. Mine was quiet at idle and knocking above 1500 RPM. Hope its external.
John Lebetski
Woodstock, IL
77 Eleganza II
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Re: Well, that didn't last long... [message #204699 is a reply to message #204682] |
Sun, 14 April 2013 22:14 |
Joe Weir
Messages: 769
Registered: February 2013
Location: Columbia, SC
Karma: 7
|
Senior Member |
|
|
| JoeC wrote on Sun, 14 April 2013 20:00 |
Is this one of the proper methods of having the GMC motorhome towed? What other steps did you take before towing?
Again, this will help me when my time comes to tow. Thanks.
|
I was half joking on the towing, as this was only the second time. The first time was towing it home when I bought it as it had no brakes. However, the new rigs can pick up the coach by the front wheels, which is what usually carries the weight of the coach anyway. This negates all the block, tackle, lumber and McGiver fabrication in the manual. You still need to pump up the rear bags, per the factory instructions, so the rear does not scrape.
The hardest part is arguing with the tow truck companies on the phone about the charge for removing the driveshaft... 
Both tow drivers were impressed with the coach and the chassis. One tow truck owner lost a bet about the coach not needing a driveshaft removed, or so I was told.
76 Birchaven - "Wicked Mistress" - New engine, trans, alum radiator, brakes, Sully airbags, fuel lines, seats, adult beverage center... those Coachmen guys were really thinking about us second hand owners by including that beverage center...
Columbia, SC.
|
|
|
|
| Re: Well, that didn't last long... [message #204700 is a reply to message #204676] |
Sun, 14 April 2013 22:23 |
Joe Weir
Messages: 769
Registered: February 2013
Location: Columbia, SC
Karma: 7
|
Senior Member |
|
|
| JohnL455 wrote on Sun, 14 April 2013 18:28 |
If it sounds like a banging at engine speed, it could be a rod bearing allowing the piston to slap the head. This really makes a racket. Mine was quiet at idle and knocking above 1500 RPM. Hope its external.
|
.
It started as a rattle that only manifested when the engine was revved. It is now a rapping even at idle. My brother thinks my oil pump went south. It had pressure and the gauge appeared to work normally the dozen or so times I warmed it up in the driveway, but it would not show an appreciable difference under load or when the engine revved on the road.
76 Birchaven - "Wicked Mistress" - New engine, trans, alum radiator, brakes, Sully airbags, fuel lines, seats, adult beverage center... those Coachmen guys were really thinking about us second hand owners by including that beverage center...
Columbia, SC.
|
|
|
|
Goto Forum:
Current Time: Wed Sep 25 02:25:33 CDT 2024
Total time taken to generate the page: 0.02267 seconds
|
GMCforum
Search
Help
Register
Login
Home
