What went wrong?

Zeta · 05-07-2012, 07:30 PM

Okay, we all love our SMB's, but you have to admit they are, shall we say, high maintenance. I started this thread for anyone--everyone?--to post what went wrong with their rig on their latest outing.

I shall start: 2500 miles round trip to the Big Sur coast and central California netted me a leaking pinion seal so I got to check the rear diff level every morning. It was never more than a couple of squirts low, but this is kind of a bore before coffee.

Extreme-Aire is an extreme POS. I've had nothing but trouble with it, but now it's finally histoire. The smoke came out. No more worky. Gonna replace it with something else.

My cheap Skyjacker dual steering damper had one of the dampers spew it's juice. Alas I didn't exactly follow the installation instructions to the letter: first step, according to Skyjacker, is to accept Jesus Christ as my lord and savior. So maybe it's my fault. Gonna try to see if a Bilstein one will fit.

If you want to share your rig's, ahem, idiosyncrasies, feel free to post them here.

Otherwise, it was a great trip, and I still love the SMB.

Z

**daveb** · 05-07-2012, 10:05 PM

Wow.

None of those problems as of yet Tom, but I did find out that when I engage my air locker it pumps out oil...a seal? Lovely. We will see. I also plan to make another post about my new motion detector light. Seems CJ was right on when he posted about trouble. Mine is doing the same. I'll post soon

Roonie · 05-07-2012, 10:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zeta

My cheap Skyjacker dual steering damper had one of the dampers spew it's juice. Alas I didn't exactly follow the installation instructions to the letter: first step, according to Skyjacker, is to declare Jesus Christ my lord and savior. So maybe it's my fault. Gonna try to see if a Bilstein one will fit.
Z

Post up if they fit. I have the cheap skyjacker ones too but no problems yet on them. I think the Bilstein would be the way to go if they fit.

UJOINT · 05-08-2012, 05:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zeta

My cheap Skyjacker dual steering damper had one of the dampers spew it's juice. Alas I didn't exactly follow the installation instructions to the letter: first step, according to Skyjacker, is to declare Jesus Christ my lord and savior. So maybe it's my fault. Gonna try to see if a Bilstein one will fit.

Totally your fault!!!!

twogone · 05-08-2012, 08:07 AM

2170 miles roundtrippin' to Palo Dura a couple of weeks back:

1. Took SMB to fabdude to work on a few touchups and new rear bumper build before leaving. Van has been in dude's shop for about a week when, quite suddenly, the contents of my gray water holding tank (about a pint of old coffee and toothpaste water) just ran out on the floor. Fabdude had to fix a big crack that opened up at a pipe connection for no apparent reason.

2. Another week goes by, and I noticed 2 or 3 drips of goo on his shop floor. My van has been wonderfully dry underneath since early fixups. Tranny fluid slow leak from the little cap at the very end where the universal joint thingy goes in to the rear of the tranny thingy. Fabdude fixed that.

3. Everything all buttoned up tight for the trip. On the way home our Alternator Ordeal begins. Video will be posted on that particular issue next week. Palo Dura Main Attraction video will post today or tomorrow under "TGTBT"

Trip was a blast! Waaaay love our ol' SMB. Fabdude loves the ol' jalopy too. We can't wait to fix more stuff, pull out more cabinets and crap and go on another trip.

**Gooseberry** · 05-08-2012, 08:24 AM

my last trip to Colorado and Utah netted me a few different screws in the back I cant place and I'm pretty sure new motor mounts. I wheeled the van when we firts picked it up and the fan never hit the shroud but the trip before it did it a couple times and now in four low under load it was real bad. I moved the shroud up a 3/8 inch on the trail and it helped but still just touched under heavy crawling in 4 low. The shroud only had less then 1/8 inch between the fan and shroud top passanger side.

So wednesday its being dropped off for a look at all mounts.

Chrise what do you think?

Ford_6L_E350 · 05-08-2012, 09:16 AM

On my way to Death Valley my Check Engine Light came on.

ScanGauge (original reason I bought one was to read codes) checked codes and P0000. WTF??

Cleared code and CEL came back with a code for EGR problem. Cleared that.

CEL came back with code for 'Underboost'. Would not clear that code. Finally cleared the CEL when I got off the highway in Death Valley. Several days driving in DV with no codes. As I left the park, CEL came back on, again for 'Underboost'. Hmmm, is it time for some turbo money? Got the CEL cleared in Baker and drove the rest of the way home CEL free.

I'm starting to think the van just doesn't like to sit. It wants to be driven daily.

I really don't like that little light. My last trip to the midwest I actually covered it up so I didn't have to look at it.

Mike

Jeffrey · 05-08-2012, 10:31 AM

Sorry to hear about the ailments. I've had minor ones, but have generally been lucky.

I will not do business with anyone that spews jesus crap at me. Even if they go for that stuff, they should keep their mouths shut if they want my money or time.

Tapatio · 05-08-2012, 10:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zeta

Extreme-Aire is an extreme POS. I've had nothing but trouble with it, but now it's finally histoire. The smoke came out. No more worky. Gonna replace it with something else.

Z

I don't think any compressor will last long underneath the van, especially in the type of climate you live in Tom. They suck in moisture and then rust/corrode. That's why I installed mine inside the van...

BIGVANS · 05-08-2012, 01:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gooseberry

my last trip to Colorado and Utah netted me a few different screws in the back I cant place and I'm pretty sure new motor mounts. I wheeled the van when we firts picked it up and the fan never hit the shroud but the trip before it did it a couple times and now in four low under load it was real bad. I moved the shroud up a 3/8 inch on the trail and it helped but still just touched under heavy crawling in 4 low. The shroud only had less then 1/8 inch between the fan and shroud top passanger side.

So wednesday its being dropped off for a look at all mounts.

Chrise what do you think?

That is a common problem with the transmission cross member. It is probably sagging. You need to reinforce it or put a shim under the transmission mount. Pay attention to your drive line angle, raising the back of the transmission may change it!