I have to be honest here, gcvt. I inherited a 26 year old '88 E150 that sat for years and needed everything done to it. My journey seems like a cakewalk in comparison to your adventure. My advantage was I did all the work myself and I'm retired so it was more like a hobby.

I'm still pulling for you to get it all sorted out. My '88 has had a total makeover and is now a fun to drive ride.

jim

 

Yeah, this is just like a bad dream. I think JWA is right - I must have done something in a past life.

Shop called this morning. Need a new master cylinder. Can't even get it until 4:00pm today which means our camping trip is off. Just to add insult to injury, I went online to cancel our campsite reservation and they'll be keeping my $52 but want to charge an extra $7.50 to cancel. We're just not going to show up or cancel.

Unbelievable.

 

I think most of us are emotionally invested in GCVT's plight by now. Gosh apart from my POS Volvo heading to the scrap yard 3/15/2015 my stuff is running okay, for the moment anyway.

Of course with our recent cold snap and me relying on another E250 with wrong t'stat in the cooling loop I'm regretting not changing that this past summer. If I keep it another year that'll be rectified without fail this summer.

GCVT your BMW code could be "manufacturer specific" things that require a dealer to read. Using an Actron CP9580 handheld scanner I get two of those codes on my Volvo, "consult repair manual" is the only definition I can find.

See if this site is any help: https://actron.com/code-lookup

 

Oh my, you weren't kidding when you commented about shared bad luck in my thread, lol.

My wife called me yesterday from work and said her car won't run again. Misfiring on cylinder #1 now. I actually bought a mini truck Mazda for my son to commute to school in yesterday while I get his van smog legal again. And I'm still back to being a taxi.

After reading this complete thread I gotta say I hope my '06 E150 never has this problem.

Hang in there, we'll get 'em done! And JWA, your karma bank account is earning big interest! Mucho respect brother.

 

Thank ya Sir---nice to hear, I appreciate the comment. GVCT has far, far exceeded my own patience level---I've have called the scrap yard truck by now.

If he was withing 150 miles of me I'd have seriously paid a visit, on my own dime---hate seeing someone with this much trouble from just one stinkin' vehicle.

If there's an upside GCVT is amassing working knowledge in quantum leaps.

 

LOL! Hey, guess what?! More good news! Left front brake is still smoking with the new master cylinder AND someone tagged my van last night.

VannerDude - yeah, I certainly wasn’t kidding. I can’t believe you went back and read this whole thread! If I was a new member and clicked on this thread, I would think it was a joke. Sorry to hear about your wife’s car…again. Sounds like you’ve got it somewhat figured out temporarily but it sucks being the taxi driver. Funny, my Dad used to say that when I was a kid.

JWA - BMW code is cleared and she’s running fine. Still need to get a front tire on it. I think once the new battery went in it just needed a “moment”. Thanks again for all your help and well wishes. Van goes back to my shop Saturday morning. With new calipers, rotors, pads and master cylinder, it’s up to them to fix it now. They told me they spent last Friday night and Saturday morning testing everything until they realized it was the master cylinder. We’ll see if they try to come up with something else that they “missed” or just do the right thing. I don’t have time to inspect anything before I take it back on Saturday morning, so I’m going to insist on being there when they tear it apart so I can visually inspect everything myself.

Anyone got any tips on removing white spray paint from the grey plastic and chrome bumper?

 

OMG----Dude you gots some bad Karma going on there---hope it clears up soon!

If the spray paint is still fresh that Goo Gone stuff is said to work fairly well to remove graffiti. If not automotive rubbing compound in a fine grit removes its on the chrome or hard metal surfaces. If its the fascia or step pads the same thing might also work there too.

HTH

 

I second the run of bad luck, Good Grief, Charlie Brown!

I had a right front disc glowing red, the phenolic piston got jammed sideways and would not release. The pads were worn, though.

Brasso works good on chrome/polished surfaces without damaging the shine. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brasso

It may be time to call the exorcist on this one. Too many demons! LOL

jim

 

Replace the rubber hose to the caliper, if you haven't. They can deterioate internally and act as a check valve.

 

I did not know that. Maybe I should try that before taking it back to the shop. Only a $20 part.

 

I experienced it first hand, as well as a friend of mine.

 

Actually, I'm not going to touch it before I take it back. This is their problem to solve and if I replace anything, they won't want to touch it. Third weekend in a row that it's been in the shop just or the brakes

 

Beware of a "$20 flexible brake line......."----would be Chinese at best.

Not really loving to spend money for no good reason I bought OEM for about $70 each when upgrading to the '08 brakes. Had found the $20 versions but they where pathetically thin and much lighter duty looking than the OEM stuff.

 

I bought US made brake hoses on ebay for a decent price.

 

Goo be gone works on the paint . What it won't take away, use soft scrub and a sponge, with plenty of clean rinse water
Man you have had your hands full with this van.