12/9/2011
FRIDAY
ONE OF MY DEAREST FRIENDS AND MY MENTOR, THE GUY I CALL MY SECOND DAD,
BILL RICHARDSON, HAD A BIRTHDAY TODAY, GOD BLESS HIM!
DRIVING THROUGH THE COLORFUL MOUNTAINS AT 7,500 FEET - SPECTACULAR
FINDING THE ROOT CAUSE OF THE TURBO CHARGER HOSE BLOWING OFF - PRICELESS
TODAY I CALLED THE NAVISTAR DEALERSHIP IN PORTLAND OR. FOR AN UPDATE ON THE COACH AND THE TURBO CHARGER PROBLEM [EXPLAINED EARLIER].
TO ME THIS IS WHAT SERVICE, PRODUCT KNOWLEDGE AND AN ALERT TECHNICIAN IS ALL ABOUT.
HERE IS WHAT PAUL AT THE DEALERSHIP TOLD ME, OR AT LEAST AS CLOSE AS I REMEMBER.
I WAS DRIVING THROUGH THE MOUNTAINS AT 82 MPH [I LOVE THOSE 75 MPH SPEED LIMITS PLUS 9%]. HANDS FREE FOR SURE.
HE SAID THE ENGINE TECH FINISHED THE TURBO REPAIR BUT DID NOT DRIVE THE COACH AS IT WAS READY TO GO TO THE ALIGNMENT SHOP.
IF HE HAD DRIVEN IT, THE SAME PROBLEM WOULD HAVE HAPPENED AGAIN - SO.....
PLEASE UNDERSTAND THAT ALL OF THE WORK ON THE TURBO IS AT THE VERY REAR OF THE COACH'S ENGINE COMPARTMENT WHICH IS IN THE TAIL END OF THE COACH. HE SAID, THAT PART OF THE JOB ALL LOOKED GOOD, I HEARD THAT 3 TIMES ALREADY AND IT WAS NOT GOOD.
I AM NOT SURE IF THE TECH REALLY LOOKED FOR THE ROOT CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM OR JUST REPLACED PARTS THINKING IT WOULD SOLVE THE PROLEM.
IT WENT OVER TO THE ALIGNMENT SHOP, THIS TYPE OF CHASSIS REQUIRES ALL 4 CORNERS TO BE CHECKED WHEN AN ALIGNMENT IS PERFORMED.
AS THE ALIGNMENT TECH WAS CHECKING THE SUSPENSION FOR PROBLEMS HE NOTICED THAT ONE OF THE ENGINE MOUNTS WAS NEVER BOLTED DOWN AT THE FACTORY.
THAT WOULD ALLOW THIS EXTREMELY POWERFUL ENGINE [1150 '#s OF TORQUE] TO LIFT UP WHEN POWER WAS NEEDED, LIKE CLIMBING A HILL OR POSSIBLY A MOUNTAIN AND WHEN THE 2 TURBOS WOULD KICK IN, THE ENGINE WOULD LIFT AND PUSH THE TUBE OFF THE TURBO PIPE.
THEY ARE NOW WAITING FOR PARTS, TOMORROW WE HOPE.
I AM ANXIOUS TO HEAR ABOUT THE ALIGNMENT ISSUE AND WHAT WAS FOUND THERE AND FINALLY THE ULTIMATE ROAD TEST REPORT.
WE ARE SPENDING THE NIGHT IN ROCK SPRINGS WY.
A & S
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