Kittamaru

x2 on the A/C condenser - mine was blocked and it took me days to figure it out - finally noticed this little tube that was there, so (go figure) I decided to poke something into it... freaked me out when a crapload of water came pouring out... thought I broke something XD Typical guy reaction right? See a hole, poke it with something.

huh, go figure... she's doin it again. Turn the key and nothin... I do have the new battery to put into her, and when I turn the key to just "on" it's only showing 8 on the battery, so here's hopin once and for all

/\ was my thought on this - does the lamp work on your EA-T Power/Auto Switch? If not, then you may be just too heavy on the gas and it will play with the shift points until it pops out of "power" mode. If the light is working, well, then you know for sure if it goes into "power" mode because it turns on

Go figure... went down to the truck today with the toolkit and dressed warmly (24 degrees with 20-30 mph winds... ugh). Before I did ANYTHING else, I figured what the hell, I'd give her a shot. Started up first crank of the first turn of the key... lol... I didn't do ANYTHING. It was colder today than the first time it didn't want to start, though I did notice the battery seemed to sit a little lower than normal - it's going on 4-5 years old (battery) so I plan to get an Optima ASAP, but the old thing still has the charge to start it (I tried a few times since then to start her with no trouble, just to be sure) Nothing was done to the truck to 'fix' anything since the first night, and nothing we did that first night helped at all... The truck hasn't been moved/towed/pushed at all. Sat in the same place since Monday. The only thing I can fathom is that water got into the starter while I was driving to work and froze solid during the 6 hours I was in at work, holding it fast. We had one day here where it was around 40 ish (thursday I think?) so it could have melted and dripped out... but that seems like a serious long-shot to me... I'm going to replace the battery and have my mech take a look at the truck ASAP to get his opinion on it... I might have to buy a spare starter and keep a kit in the truck from now on just in case, lol... but yeah, she's home safe and sound in my driveway right now. Go figure, eh?

Aighty, sorry for the delay in replies. I have off work tomorrow, so I plan to take some cardboard and a shovel with me, dig out around the pathy, and see if I can get her started one last time so I can get her home. I'm hoping tapping on the starter will work... but if it fails. Is it possible to "push start" an automatic? I didn't think it was, but if you guys know any tricks... I was wondering if the residual compression in the cylinders would be enough to crank it over when I turn the key... but somehow that sounds too simple and not likely to work *shrugs* Worst comes to worst, my wife has AAA, but if we have them tow it to a residential address, they will not tow it from there to a shop... which leaves me up @!*% creak without a paddle if I can't do the starter on my own. Without a heated garage to work in, much less any real toolset, I don't know if I can manage it on my own... thoughts?

Ah, yeah, then the fusible links are good Miles... uhm... a little over 170k miles? I've been fairly lucky with original parts lasting far beyond design specs I guess... seems my luck just gave out. I had planned to tap the starter a few times today and try to get her home... but I wake up and find a deep pillow of snow everywhere... ugh. Lol.

Uhm, ya know, I dont' know - I had a friend check it for me since he was on the spot (this was the morning after and he worked am shift at my store) and he said it had power all the way thru and that it seemed the starter was the culprit... though I might want to double check. Anything in particular I should look for? I would assume there should only be power to the solonoid when I turn to engage the starter, correct? Battery connections are good (first thing I checked when it wouldn't start since I figured my battery had died, but then realized everything else worked fine (and also jump starting didn't work)) Fusable links I'm not even sure what exactly you mean by that - I'm assuming you mean inline fuses? Grounds - I'm assuming you mean the ground to frame? When I looked it seemed pretty good, anything in particular to look for? I'm going to try tonight or tomorrow to crawl underneath and hit the starter once or twice and see if I can't get my baby home - I hate having her sit out in the parking lot like this Sorry if I seem slower(er) than usual... just been a bad week between the truck troubles, money issues, and multiple small personal injuries on strange items (like a getting a deep cut on the roof of my mouth while eating an oreo cookie...)

Aighty, well, what's a fair price for a new one then? I'm seeing everything from 120 to 200 on the 'net 0o' I'm probably going to have my mechanic do it anyway (since a, I dont' have the time to do it anytime this month and b, it's cold as balls and doing this on my driveway right now would suck terribly) so would I be better off just letting him get one?

Well, I have full power all the way thru to the starter solonoid... even tried bypassing the solonoid to see if we could get her up and running, but no dice. Gonna assume it's a dead spot on the starter coil? I might try banging on it with a hammer to see if I can get one last start out of it (so we dont' have to tow it) but I doubt I'll be able to with my luck. I was quoted $140 for a new starter minus $50 if I bring back the old one for the core... sound about right?

She's an auto I'm pretty sure the switches are working right (when I turn the key the radio + clock goes out as it has always done since I owned the truck) just the starter doesn't turn Though, where is the relay at? I never even thought of that... dear god if that's all it is I'd be SO very happy!

So, went to work, had a nice day, went back to the truck at the end of the night, turned the key and nothing. At all. Not even a click. Dash lights are good, all other electronics work... just no starter click or noise. I'm going to guess starter solonoid? It's too dark and cold to try tapping on the starter now, so I'm going back in the morning. Going to attempt to get her home if we can, but... Is that supposition correct do ya think? I don't hear it click, and neither did my friend when he was looking under the hood... but yeah. *shrugs* bad timing on all this... if it isn't the starter and is, instead, something more comprehensive... I don't know if I can afford to get it fixed... and that scares me to be frank...

Or just rip it out and do an e-fan mod It's what I'm hoping to do

Hm... aighty, maybe that was my problem - i was trying to center it. I heard some people used zip ties to mount them... seems a little... uhm... insecure? How did you do yours? I was thinking of making a bracket to mount to something, haven't decided what yet.

My tank is the 21 3/5s gallons tank. Strange size, lol. Hm, aighty. I'll give it a shot. How did you go up from underneat though? I have a plate in the way... I don't think it's a skid but I don't know what else it is... damn, I need to get some pictures up. Maybe I'm mistaken (was almost 5 months ago I last tried to figure it out)

BFG's do wear different... and since it's the odd tire out AND the one that's wearing... logic says Swap it around and see what happens

Oh? Did not know that... hm.... btw - nice quote under your avatar. Love that song... just wish some old man would leave me a million bucks... hell, I'd settle for a few hundred at this point 0o'

Hm, aighty, so planning for a t-stat + rad flush: Coolant Rad Cap T-Stat Gasket What do I use to flush? I don't want to use tap water (minerals and @!*% around here)... would I want to acid-flush the radiator? It would probably also be a good time to finally install the aftermarket tranny cooler I have sitting around... my big holdup with that is I can't get the front grille off without breaking the last few snap-tabs holding it on, and even then I dont' think I have enough room to get it in there

I guess it could be possible - my advice would be to slow down around the U-Turn - I'm not 100% certain how, mechanically, LSD's work, but I'd reckon it has to do with tire rotation compared between wheels. It probably kicks in when the rotation of one wheel compared to another exceeds a certain threshold... Then again, I could be completely wrong That's how I'd want it to work, so as not to interfere with normal steering

Tungsten, if anything, it's the opposite - I'm running on the cool side. On days when it's really cold, the t-stat doesn't seem to move at all, but when I feel the upper hose it's warm. The engine seems to run fine, though MPG is down. The heater is nowhere near as hot as it used to be (used to be so warm it'd almost burn you when you put your hand right next to it), now it's just lukewarm. I have an original cat though, so I figure it could be plugged anyway... Damnit... I wish I had some money... I still have to do my christmas shopping (got $43 to do it with) and while I get paid tomorrow, it won't be much more than two hundred if I'm lucky... ugh. How much does a cat cost anyway... I don't think I WANT to know...

More info: 19 gallons 270 miles 14.2 mpg... No WAY WinterMix fuel alone is doing that... Thing is, with the temps up a little today (43 degrees) a brief run on the highway and I hit the 1/3rd mark (which used to be normal)... so yeah, now I'm confused. Things I've checked: Plugs/Wires/Cap/Rotor (all checked out) Tires - properly inflated, though one has a broken radial belt (will replace when I can afford to, doesnt' seem to have any real effect) Things to check: Codes (though no CEL) Fan Clutch Cat (how would I check this) Muffler (again, how would I check) Things to change: Oil + Filter (moving to 5w30 for winter) Fuel Filter (last changed start of summer) Coolant (needs flushed + filled) Known issueS: Exhaust Manifold Leak (ticking and the like) Slight valve cover gasket oil leak (only under high RPM, currently not leaking) Any other ideas on what to check?

Nah, doesn't have to be three days I'd like it done RIGHT is the thing, but I'd like to do as much as possible on my own

Reserved for additional info Anyone have anything they could/would add? I finish my finals this week, so after that I can start my own research as well

Reserved - Links, Posts, Etc. Point 1 - Lifter Swap Thread:

Ok, so, for summer break, I'm hoping to go thru and revamp my engine... I'd love to go so far as to port and polish, but I HIGHLY doubt I'd have the time, money, or ability to do that (or have it done). If possible, and needed, I'd like to hone the cylinder walls and such, and do the rockers, lifters, and camshaft if it needs it. What I want to know is this: Having already done the basic tune-up (Plugs, Wires, Dizzy Cap, Rotor, etc) what is the next step in an "advanced" engine tune up? Things I'm thinking so far: Lifters Rockers Camshaft All Gaskets (I know I have a few leaks here and there anyway, mostly valve cover) This is going to be a long thread as I find and compare information - I want to be 100% sure I'm going to be able to do this before I dig in... she IS my daily driver. This is also something I HAVE to be able to do within 2-3 days, as I dont' know how long I can get off work to do this I have some research to do, but any tips/tricks/updates you guys have, please let me know Also - how accurate/useful is a Haynes manual in this? Can I follow it step by step and not get lost, or will it skip steps / have bad pictures, etc?

*nods* I haven't gotten into any of the transmission classes yet (hell, I can't afford to take any of the auto mechanic classes atm... you have to buy all your own tools here, cruddy funding and @!*%) and I still don't exactly know how a Torque Converter even works... all I know is, once locked in, it's almost like direct power from engine to wheels...