Procrastination

[f6john]

Cost me $1,000 yesterday. I had traveled 250 miles to my previous hometown to pick up a load of furniture my wife wanted to buy from a family member. On the return trip, about 150 miles from home, the truck started bucking and knocking and at first I thought was oh no I’ve lost a u joint. But I was loosing power and had to start coasting to the side of the road and ended up at the bottom of a exit ramp. By that time the engine had died, so I attempted to put the truck in park, and that’s when I knew what had happened. When the truck wouldn’t go into park I knew my exhaust going over the rear axle had blown out and melted the wiring harness again which causes things to short out and blow fuses, including the brake lights which powers the shifter interlock.

This time, it also got the wiring going to guess what, the fuel pump! So I knew I wasn’t going anywhere anytime soon. I had a trailer load of furniture and a dead truck. Google to the rescue, there was a Uhaul dealer about two miles away and they had a 12’ truck that I could use to pull my trailer home. So I hoofed it over there and upon arrival, she informed me that the truck in question had been reserved for the next day so it wasn’t really available. But there was another issue, walking pass the truck on the way inside, I noticed it had a 2” ball and my trailer is a 2 5/16”. She also informed me all there trucks have the 2” ball. So I was out in the parking lot contemplating my next move when I noticed that the 15’ trucks had a square hole in the bumper next to the fixed 2” ball, an opening the 12’ truck did have. Could it be that the hole is a 2” receiver? Sure enough it was as I got down on my knees to ensure there was a hole for the pin, and it was there! One problem solved. $200 later I was backing down the exit ramp to hook up the truck to pull it far enough forward to get the Uhaul in front of the trailer. Then it was on to how to get the truck home. After numerous calls, I found someone with a rollback willing to come and take the truck to Richmond for me. $665 later the truck is loaded and on its way.

The driver was excellent, he was able to back up to my garage door in the basement and unload the truck right into the garage which was no easy feat. With the rain in the forecast, that is the only way I am going to be able to lay under the truck and repair the wiring. Then to put on a new exhaust system

[Jess from VA]

Everyone needs some excitement in their lives.  Some is better than others.

Sorry for your troubles. 

Stainless exhaust?

[f6john]

I don’t think so, but it is made out of some very thick metal that has lasted 16 years and 192,000 miles. The weak point is they put a joint behind the muffler where the tailpipe attaches as it starts to go over the axle. The pipe is as solid as a rock but the flanges that bolt the two sections together is not as substantial.

[Jess from VA]

My mention of stainless was a recommendation for replacement.  Few vehicles come with stainless (as far as I know).

Also, if you're keeping it, putting in some cobbled up heat shield for the wiring harness there might be a good idea.

[old2soon]

     And as a Suggestion-REROUTE that particular wiring loom. So now u iz a couple bucks poorer BUT now actually couple bucks poorer!  Well I Tried!  RIDE SAFE.

[cookiedough]

and here I thought I was the only one with vehicle troubles on the road recently.  glad you got it worked out although very expensive furniture outing.  I am still waiting on hyundai to call me am sure will not be today but hoping for tomorrow but they said 3-5 days to get a case mgr. to call me.  GEE whiz, that is NUTS should be assigned to someone in 1-2 days tops especially involving a factory recall that can kill someone.

I expect to sock it to Hyundai with a towing bill of 60 bucks and about 190 bucks in rental car fees.  I should add on another 100 bucks for pain and suffering.   Or how about giving me DOUBLE of what my car is worth in a buyout since obviously there are a few 100,000 out there easily with the same issue.

[Rams]

John,
All I'm gonna say is you should have called.
Would have been happy to help out.   Would have taken a bit longer but.......

Rams 

[Avanti]

That’s where stainless steel comes in handy.

[f6john]

Ordered stainless exhaust today. Also had to order a complete new chassis harness. It really cooked the wires this time. The plastic wire loom covering completely melted into the the harness wires. I could work a couple of days trying to get them apart and it still might not work. The is no slack to speak of to help with the process either. $200 harness will be a much less complicated process and more reliable.

[f6john]

Exhaust is supposed to be here tomorrow but I have spent the last two days routing a new wiring harness from just behind the right front wheel all the way back to the rear corner, across to the left side , then back up to the fuel tank. When the factory did this job there was no cab or bed on the frame and I’m sure the whole process didn’t take 5 minutes. My experience was a little more arduous and time consuming.

I have the scrapes, cuts, and bruises worthy of going a few rounds with an angry mongoose. Not from putting in the new harness so much as wrestling out the old, damaged harness. I had to take off 3 of the wheels to gain access to wheel well close off panels, remove the spare tire and drop the gas tank to be able to reach all the termination plugs.

Needless to say, once I had all the new harness connections made and before putting everything back together, I had to try to fire her back up. I had to wait a few seconds for the fuel pump to cycle back on and build pressure and then she hit on the second try. Once I knew she would run and shift in and out of gear, I still had a few hours of work buttoning everything back up. Anxious to get the new exhaust installed, I’ve got other work to do!


PS,   I only had one bolt break off and was able to drill it out with no problems, gotta get a replacement tomorrow.

[Jess from VA]

Well, overall, that sounds like just a terrible experience.   

Well done. 

[Rams]

What, no left over extra and obviously un-necessary parts?  Hmm..............

Rams 

[f6john]

What, no left over extra and obviously un-necessary parts?  Hmm..............

Rams  

Not a ton of fasteners involved. I only had to look for one of four fasteners that held the skid plate for the gas tank. Finally found it in my shirt pocket. Already been out this morning and sourced the fastener that broke and got some new push pin fasteners for the front wheel well liner. Unnecessary parts limited to a burnt wiring harness, rusted out muffler and a questionable tailpipe. Exhaust supposed to arrive by 8:00 PM today.

The damage that cost me the $grand.


All this was a one piece harness.