March 3rd, 2005
Fixed some broken links and some missing images on the site. It’s pretty annoying
when you click on something and you don’t get anything. Still missing an image for the
fuel rail sensor. I’ll get it soon.
February 18th, 2005 (Post #58)
February 18th, 2005
Recovery hooks on, trailer wiring problems, relays buzzing, water found, relocated power steering reservior, prep for second battery
I have the recovery hooks on. I have a page for them on the Tech Tips page. The bolts I first
bought were very ambitious. I got carried away with the bolt diameter. I pulled the air dam off again.
I wired the trailer lights with the matching wire colors. I have some issues to resolve with that. I will have to experiment with the harness to find out if it is even working properly. Otherwise I will by pass it and try to wire to the 7 pin plug.
The relays buzzing under the dash on the passenger side are annoying me. I pulled the relay for the air condition fans. There has to be a wiring problem with them. I bet I will need to rewire the whole thing. There is another relay under there that is buzzing. I have not isolated which one.
The water that soaks the carpet on the passenger side is coming down the wall in the foot well. As I suspected a leak in the windshield seal. More about this later.
I purchased a Disco power steering bracket to move the reservoir for the second battery. I had to move all the things on the fender to make room for the second battery.
Check it out on the Tech Tips page.
January 31st, 2005 (Post #57)
January 31st, 2005
New tires on
The Bridgestone Dueler A/T Revo II’s are on the Rover. And I have noticed a rougher ride than I expected. 8 ply tires are much stiffer than the Yokohamas I had before. I notice this most when the CD player skips on the concrete seems of the highways. To have that quality of tire, I am learning to live with it.
One of the heater supply hoses failed. So as you do you replace them all. Well all included just two this time. Check out the replacement on the Heater Supply Hose Page.
After I finished the repair I got a Check Engine Light. The corresponding code was a 14.
More on that at on the Error Code 14.
BWB’s air conditioning cooling fans have always run. I never really thought about it until this latest episode. Upon reflection I realized that I am probably wasting a bit of fuel economy running them when they are not necessary, like when the air temp is below 20 degrees and I’m going 70mph on the highway. I found the problem with the help of the guys at Atlantic British. I sent them a picture of the sensors I tested and new had failed and they told me which sensor had failed that caused the Error 14 I was having. Their tech helped me make sense of the many temperature sensors.
I had asked for help on several boards with no responses. Either everyone already knew this info and didn’t feel like sharing or no one really understands it. Now I have a good idea of the sensors what happens when they fail. My meager understanding of these is found on Temp Sensors Page.
January 10th, 2005 (Post #56)
January 10th, 2005
New tires on, Throttle Position Sensor Image Uploaded, Lense covers re-installed
The Bridgestone Dueler A/T Revo II’s are on the Rover. They look good and ride high. The wet roads have been no challenge so far and snow is expected for later this week so I’m all prepared.
I had a request for an image of the Throttle Position Sensor. So I uploaded an image so I have a quick reference image ready when asked again. Check it out here, TPS location.
Lense covers are now re-installed. As you may (or may not) recall the Norman Sanitation truck knocked one of them off a couple of Thanksgivings ago. Since then I have been redesigning how they go back on the BWB or carrying them around. You can read about that at the Lens Guards Page.
I’m still working on the sun roof cover. I will investigate the problem with the AM radio stations while I have the headliner out. I might even replace my speakers in the rear to match the front speakers.
January 4th, 2005 (Post #56)
January 4th, 2005
New tires ordered
I ordered the new tires. My Yokohama Geolanders are now 3+ years old and need to be replaced. After extensive research I did indeed order the Bridgestone Dueler A/T Revo II’s. I couldn’t put a lift kit on just now so I ordered 225 75R16s in load range D. I am hoping they will be great. All the press on them tells me they will be great, but when your spending $750 (US) for tires you want to be right. I’ll post some pics when they come in and are on the BWB.
December 27th, 2004 (Post #55)
December 27th, 2004
Head liner, New tires, Recovery points, Got stuck, FTP down, Lense project, Transmission service
Head liner
I pulled the fabric off the moon roof cover this past Sunday. It seems the cover is made of fiberglass. The fabric came off faily easy. I was surprised by the noises you normally don’t hear when the head liner is removed. I will try to refit a new liner cover on the moon roof cover hopefully this weekend if the weather holds.
I have decided NOT to take the moon roof cover out of the truck to put the fabric on. I have several reasons for this but the biggest is: I don’t know if the cover will come out of the moon roof assembly. I will have pictures in the write up but it is not easily assertainable how this would be accomplished. So I will cut the fabric just short of the edge and glue it in place while the roof is still in the truck.
As the glue is “spray glue” this shouldn’t be too much trouble to get the glue on there but the potential for mess is high. So I will treat it like a painting project and use a drop cloth just in case. Check the head liner page for more details soon.
New tires
I have been researching new tires. I originally wanted to put 235s on the Big White Bus but after asking several friends it seems a body lift and lift kit would be advisable. So I would need to also replace my springs and probably do my break lines while I was at it. So I will wait a bit and see if I can get off-road instead. While I would love to do all this I just can’t justify it right now
and will put Bridgestone Dueler A/T Revo (235/70R16) on the BWB. They seem to score really high. I’d love to put Michelin XZLs on the BWB the pocket book and their availability due to the war in Iraq and Afghanistan prohibit me from pursuing that option. Some boards say I could get a used set from Canada but I will wait.
Recovery points
A recent episode of getting stuck reminded me that I have no recovery points on the front of my Rover. This is a major problem. So I did some asking on several message boards and decided to get a couple of simple hooks from one of the many domestic trucks available in the U.S. I went down to Del City Pickup Parts salvage yard in Del City, Oklahoma (405)677-2431. They had a few hooks on a display but did not have two of a kind. So I asked about a Ford F-250 and he directed me to the yard where I found an F-250. It had a closed loop “hook” on the truck and the base of the hook was too wide for the mounting point I was hoping to use. Right next to
it was a Suburban. It’s too hooks were easy to see and were very long on the attach side of the hook. That would give me enough distance to clear my brush guard. I believe I will have to drill a hole in the hook to match up with my connection point but that shouldn’t be too much of a problem.
I had considered J.A.T.E. rings available from OKRovers and other sites. They have a ‘cool factor’ of 10 but I would have needed to manufacture a connection point and I would have to remove my air damn permanently. I am not ready for that as I like the look of the truck with the air dam on it. I know the air dam will need to go if I am off-roading. It only gathered a bit of mud in my recent incident getting stuck.
I am planning a quick release method for quickly removing the air dam. I already have the lamps wired with plugs so they can be disconnected.
Getting stuck
Many of you have probably read my posts titled “NOT AS FUN AS IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN”
and “Dumbassery”. Dumbassery is my new catch phrase and I hope I can get it registered as a trademark. Sorta like Trump and “you’re fired”. Just kidding. You all are free to use the word as much as you like.
I wish I could say I had fun doing this but it was just pure and simple stupidity. When I had nearly given up hope I found a tow truck driver with some moxey and with his 100 foot of cable and my newly purchased 70 foot of tow strap and 30 foot of chain we got it out.
I was doing pretty good until I hit the giant red sandstone rock. Then all my progress was going down instead of forward.
I know now my tires must be replaced. And my transfer case wouldn’t go into low range. I have an appointment about the transfer case and the tires are coming pretty soon.
Check out the Got Stuck page for pics and more text describing my recent episode of dumbassery.
FTP service down
My host CRT Online has been having FTP problems as of late and I haven’t been able to update. Hopefully each of you have been busy with projects and toys Santa brought you to miss any writings I may or may not have been putting up.
Lens problem
My right turn signal indicator lens fell out of it’s position a couple of weeks ago. As you know my truck was wrecked way back before I bought it and this was a simple problem that finally failed. I have a write up about the lense repair you can check out on the Lens repair page. Getting the right materials was the key.
Transmission service
My recent episode of getting the center console back in the Rover and my getting stuck pointed out that my transfer case would not go into low range. I am having Cottman’s do a transmission service on the BWB on Wednesday of this week. I asked them investigate why the transfer case was also stuck. Cottman’s rebuilt my transmission a few years ago and I so far have trusted them with fast service and have had no problems with the rebuild. So again they will get my business to do a service on the fluid that is now approximately 2 years old.