We are back from driving the Oregon Coast roads, gone over Reno, drove Mono Lake, Death Valley to Las Vegas.
Here I paste some days of our travels and doings ...
October 9
The Fall Rally ended today, and we went towards Hood River.
First stop, right out of the campground was the gas station, had to check the tires. They all needed a bit.
Many other GMC'ers came to fill their tanks ...
We drove first with some rain up the way along the Hood River. And stopped at that nice place, with the same name and made a morning walk, still a lot
of nice shops around ...
Also later on a stop to do some shopping and Armand had to fill the propane tank. No problem, TFD waited patiently on his buddy Sunny
They both drove further along the Columbia River, TFD was allowed to ride upfront, Sunny, with his powerful German build Diesel, could easily keep
up.
They stopped at Mulltnomah Falls and it was amazing, while the people went and took a look. That Fall was really high !!
Now it was around 3.20 pm and if they drove now to Portland they could be there before the real rush hour usually started.
And yes they made it, just a tiny bit of slow traffic .... Pffff.
Again they drove along the 26, took a right turn at the 47 and ended up, exactly where Marjon had planned, at the L.L. Stub Steward SP. Self checkin
and found two wonderfull places. It was dry and not cold, jet ....
October 10
This morning at the LL Stub Steward State Park Campground was quite cold and foggy. That foggy travelled along with us and just before Cannon Beach it
went away, well only some places over the sea it was present. It made that morning drive really cold since our dash, AC, vent nor heater worked.
We found a nice little parking for also RVs and could park near the beach. There we went to see the Haystack Rock and on the way the various houses
along that beach line. And on the way the sun could warm us a bit, up.
A short break and we went on to Cape Kiwanda well almost since Sunny had a little diesel cough in his exhaust pipe and we went back downhill. Sunny
felt weak .... TFD was really worried. He hope his friend didn't got the pneumonia....
On the 101 we went to a little town, to a restaurant along the way and had some fish and chips. Meanwhile TFD was doing breathing exercises with
Sunny, the poor guy was still coughing but it was less.
Our hunger was gone, we still had to go to Newport, and ended at the South Beach State Park, were the Campground was. There were still nice places
available ...
While I went changing the throttle cable and spring setup of the FiTech, the snapped AC, heater and vent switch had to wait. the others went for a
short walk. The beach was nearby ....
The ground problem on the dash I am trying to solve by adding a new ground cable ... It seemed today much better as before, but still not optimal.
The voltage meter now reads sometimes even > 13 volts.
The total mileage counter that is digital, now is readable again, and the flash indicator lights, work much better, but still not at maximum. Bought
some electrical stuff so we will not fail ....
October 11
Well today, Thursday morning we left at 9 am and drove from the South Beach State Park towards, Florence,
OR.on the way we could all the way admire
the wonderful scenery and the very nice Coastal Highway 101.
We went up and down, some steep hills, and downshifting was necessary to keep up. Well TFD was driving upfront, leading the way, but again, Sunny was
pushing his limits slowly climbing and stayed far behind. TFD waited patiently and after some resetting, it went on, but again and again, Sunny had to
push his limits to keep up and the Diesel engine went time on time in the low-rev mode.
No this was enough and some calls had to be made, and luckily Gene (Fischer) who lived nearby in Rhododendron, came to the rescue, he knew some
addresses and again a diesel specialist looked at the problem.
This time they found a service bulletin in which Mercedes mentioned a possible fault in the wiring could give this problem, but also injectors could
be bad, the EPGR Filter could be clothe .... etc ...
This problem couldn't be solved in one day, it took at least two and the weekend was coming so possibly it could even take till Monday, Tuesday...
The decided, Carol an Armand and of course Sunny, stayed in Florence, and Gene was helping them, and we, Marjon and I went slowly south visiting
several State Parks. Perhaps we could rejoin later on ...
After hours of waiting, TFD went on, alone and they ended up, around 5 pm at the Bullards Beach State Park, a big and very nice campground, in the
forest, situated at the coast and the beach a walk of about 25 minutes, walking through the dunes ...
October 12
Left late this morning Bullards Beach SP 2 miles north of Brandon. We did some cleaning, aired the tires with the new compressor, they all needed
some, so that gas station air fill was not good ... a few days ago. Marjon cleaned the windshields and of we went, to the downtown of Bandon, for a
walk.
Then only a mile south visited the viewpoint at Face Rock State Scenic Viewpoint ... wonderful and that sun makes the water shining. Kronenberg County
Park was second in line.
After a third stop at the Nappa where I got a nice battery charger, some electrical stuff, since the radio did not work anymore. Or the be precise,
only when the shifter was at Park or in Reverse ... hummmmmm ... yes, what the heck. Never heard of that possibility ever ....
Early we arrived at the nice Harris Beach State Park, found still several places available and checked in. Made a nice walk en talked with several
people asking us about TFD.
About the radio, I found that the normal 12v feed was good, the D+ connection some weird was going on, long story short, I connected the thin 12v lead
from the cigaret lighter, since this thin wire was dangerous ... and the radio was working again.
Since the radio has a removable front, disconnecting it should also protect for some unnecessary battery drainage.
The total wiring of that cigarette lighter, I altered, really thick plus and minus wiring, all direct to battery connection, and a 30amp in line fuse,
directly at the battery. Now I can simultaneously connect, GPS, Fan and charge my phone or MiFi.
And I tried to make the ground connection on the dash better, and saw today at first 13,5 volts while the engine was idling .... after that it
fluctuates again, but never below 12.5 volts ... that's what the meter said ... on the battery it was way more. The flashers still do their own thing,
slow, fast, good and bad, but there is progress. And the alarm flash function works again.
Good news from our friends, Carol and Armand. Their Sprinter, based MH should sprint again
The faulty wiring harness has been replaced. Mercedes knew about this problem. Several computer contacts has been cleaned. And hopefully they make it
to Harris Beach State Park, where we are waiting for them.
We have to discuss our traveling plan tomorrow, because effectively almost two days we lost and are behind schedule.
But we will find a solution for that ...
October 13
Left Harris Beach SP this morning and drove south and east on the 197 then 199 and at Grand Pass the I5,
Had to take a break, since my cold and coughing did not let me sleep that well at all last night. A short nap ... and at 4.30 pm we stopped at McCloud
RV Resort.
October 14
Today we drove from McCloud, over the Scenic Routes and ended up in Reno, as planned, after a 4-5 Hour drive.
Our destination was the Harrah's Automuseum, at the Museum Dr. after two hours we got back in the RV's, the ladies already had made their Reno
downtown Walk.
From there we ended up on the Comstock Country RV Resort in. Carson City, south of Reno
Oil consumption seems about 1 qt on 600 miles.
Mileage during learning period of FiTech was 1 Gallon on 7 miles. Last times it improves towards 1:9 even 1:10.
The only disadvantage, cause of my cold, i am having it hot or cold and that all randomly. Since the heater, nor AC or vent works that's a little
annoying.....
October 15
We left Comstock Country RV Resort, in Carson City, and went right away to a Walmart, we needed another little ceramic heater. The old one's
thermostat was no thrust worthy anymore, the fan would not or to often kick in and the body heated up to much, and it did make the breaker trip
several times. It ended up right away in the dumpster. Safety First.
And of they went together, TFD followed by Sunny, his Diesel-Pal, they drove towards Bishop, their next destination, and on their way a stop at the
overlook by the Mono Lake was planned. After some pictures that had to be taken, coffee was made, enjoyed and finally after a last view at the nice
scenery, they went down that long and winding road they had to climb, to get here .... wait ... a .... minute ...
TFD was really embarrassed, he could not start his engine anymore. And Sunny with the last weeks of troubles, freshly embedded in his computer-mind
felt the same pain, ohhhh it's not working, how it should .... !!
After some searching, thinking and acting, they concluded their must be a clogged filter, and after exchanging it for a new one, they luckily had with
them, it took still some cranking, but the V8 came to life and it ran without any problems till Bishop, ran those few miles after a gas station they
needed to visit, and at the German Bakery Erick Schatz (although TFD thought "Schatz" was more of a Dutch name)
parked for an hour.
Back from that Bakery, still some 61 miles to drive till the next stop, the Boulder Creek RV Resort at Lone Pine, CA.
TFD could not even crank anymore, it was as if he had to hold his breath and be frozen, at the same time ...
Again, there was searching, thinking .... a lot of .... and then the Hood was raised, the air cleaner removed and there was the problem .... That
damned FiTech !!!
The injectors did not worked the way they should. Only one was working, and so hard it flooded everything with gasoline!
So that was the spare one we had from FiTech directly, exchanged by me and Nick, after our search of trying to solve the problem of the very stiff gas
pedal ...
So that one we took off, put "the old one" on, also already been through FiTech's customers and repairs department ...
Had to struggle again in adjusting the springs, so it just was usable and the FiTech came back to idle position on its own ...
Well it started right up after getting rid of that excess of gasoline still there from first failure. After that it ran for hours at 65+ without any
problems ... till we were at the campground .... Pfffff .... Knock on wood ... wait till tomorrow....
But still it was beside this FiTech Troubles, a really nice day, with dear friends who helped us all the way. Thanks !
October 16
Sunny was feeling happy, sitting in the sun, his windshield was freshly polished, all hoses cleaned, put away and saw, his pal TFD, got his facial
treatment also. Nice he thought, so now we can go for that long ride through Death Valley and we hope to arrive in the afternoon at the KOA, at Sam's
Town, in Las Vegas.
He was still thinking about all those nice days, they drove together, meanwhile trying to erase those bad memories about wrong OSB Codes, that made
him having a constant headache, mechanic that didn't know what they were doing, charging his boss with Gigantic Bills and making him feeling weak. He
was born as a strong German and at one point that old GMC could outran him easily, while he was struggling up hill. Pfffff .... luckily they found the
right person in Florence. OR, who had done his home work, knew about the service bulletin of Mercedes and ordered the right cables, cleaning contacts
and restarted his Computer Memory.
Now he felt super strong and confident after several days, of driving without any problems. That's why he was so concerned about his pal, that could
not fly ... but also relieved the problem was found, and yes, it was again a computer in the FiTech again what caused that.
Leaving Lone Pine this morning, it was already nice weather.
They drove with TFD on top and Sunny backing him up, towards Stovepipe Wells, what a weird landscape .... really that's why people called it Death
Valley.
After Stovepipe Wells, on they went after a short intermezzo, the Neutral Safety Switch was not working that good anymore so, no starting, but after
some steering wheel tilting, fiddling with the shifter, it worked again ...
Another point to attend to, because this could be very inconvenient in busy traffic!
A short gas stop, a coffee was combined and on their way they went, coming at 2.30 pm in the heavy traffic of Vegas, found without a problem exit 70
on the 95S and turned a few minutes later on Boulder Hwy towards Sam's Town, where a line of rentals was parked in front of the office. Since we came
from the opposite direction, and could not block the road we pulled up to the front and parked in front of that line .... well elderly coaches are
allowed to do that, I guess and since Sunny had to hold my back, he followed, TFD.
Inside there were arrangements made, they got even a nice discount and a coupon for the Buffet, Hurra
A short moment that Neutral Safety Switch was again annoying TFD, and believe it or not, a guy from the security came and told us, he had been working
for almost 30 years at a GM dealership, he instantly recognized the problem we were encountering, gave some extra tips and on we went to the nice back
in campsites.
Another nice day, we enjoyed traveling.
Some relaxing was done, and we go to the Buffet this evening, while Sunny and TFD are resting after hard work, driving hills of more the 8% up and
down ....
Their engines still were ticking some time while cooling of ....
BTW The only thing TFD did not like, the BLINDFOLDED him ... now he could not look that good around ... well on the other hand it kept the heat from
the sun effectively outside, so he resigned and he took a long nap .....
October 17
Armand looked up the instructions for adjusting the "Park/Neutral Safety Switch" - After blocking the coach and making sure the shifter linkage and
bushings are in the detents correctly, turn the key on without engine running and put transmission lever in reverse. Adjust switch by loosening 2
screws and moving sideways till backup lights are on solidly and then tighten screws. Check for starting in neutral and park only.
So I went in horizontal, diving position, while searching with a light, and bingo, there was number one on the left side under on the column.... after
some moving wires away, number 2 to the almost right appeared.
Imitating an Olympic Gymnast, wrestling my left arm up, around and on the back side of the big breaking pedal, whilst turning my head, adjusting my PC
glasses I put on out of precaution, otherwise looking so close was impossible, I managed with the help of my instructor, Armand, to loosen, the
quarter inch screws (with a bolt head) while shifting that little "Device" Armand went up and down looking for the backup lights to come on solidly
... and after moving it for about, 1 centimeter, less then an half inch, that happened, that should be the correct position of the Neutral Safety
Switch, like GMC called it then a days.
After fastening it again, testing it and it worked, cranking was only possible in P and N, in the other positions no starting of the engine was
possible.
No hesitation or refusal anymore to crank .....
After getting all my body parts in the right position again, crawling out underneath and trying to loosen some cramped muscles, the job was done.
Later that afternoon I installed that BlazeCutUSA Fire Extinguish System.
Put it around the air cleaner and made a fixation with the ty-raps they supplied.
Another item on the list was done.
October 18
Today we had no tight schedule.
We did that Neutral Safety Switch Thing, and succeeded.
Went with the free bus, from Sam's Town to the Strip. They brought us in about 20 minutes to the backside of Harrah's.
It was almost 12 pm. We went right away to a box office and since the show of O was not available anymore, to say it more precise the places we
wanted, we decided to book for tomorrow evening the show of Michael Jackson's - ONE.
At 7 pm at the Mandaly Bay Hotel.
We made a walk up and down the Strip, looked around in the Bellagio and went back for a lunch in Harrah's.
Back with that same free bus, at 3.05 pm. Were we took some rest, before we had to go for a short light and laser show in Sam's Town Hotel. Amazingly
nice!
But the day wasn't over, after a quick dinner we had to go to the movies, yes there are several Movie Theater Halls over here!
At 7.20 pm it started with, previews, previews and previews ... I think by now we saw in advance all new movies till 2030 ....
A Star was Born .... with Lady Gaga.
That's finally the movie we saw .... and I must say, it was really a very nice movie, I can recommend everyone, especially they who love music.
At 10 pm we went back to the, now dark RV Park and it was a very nice day !
October 19
Thanks to the investigations, studying the schematics and his hands on, of Armand, we got the AC-Vent-Heater unit working again.
It seemed there was, after that "snapping" no voltage on the fan anymore. So then all seems to stop working, even if it's partially vacuum operated.
We took after measuring that turning switch, all apart, sanded lightly all contacts, did some dielectric grease on all moving parts, contacts etc.
Used a flat headed bolt, some washers in between, to press the round contacts firmly against its counterparts, again, another washer, a bolt and yes
it worked, fiddled all together and tested it ... yes, engine running, cold air was coming.
Hallelujah.... after days of driving in cold or hot weather, this is a blessing .... technology, especially from the 70ths is more repairable then al
that new electronics ... you bet !
With just some left over bolts, nuts and washers ....
Tonight we visit a show and tomorrow we continue our travels in the direction of Arizona ....
Bye Daniel
--
Daniel Jacobs, NL-USA 1977 GMC Eleganza II, 455 newer Tranny+3.55 FD. FiTech and FCC, new Hoses, Selector Valve and Electric Pump, insulated Tanks,
APC, McDash, Dash AC to Enviro Safe. Schräder V+extern Fills, Ceramic Film TPMS FlexSteel Seats
