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1) I picked up our Ex from our mechanic, who replaced - both diff covers, tranny cover, installed the Dorman manufactured 6.0 transmission cooler, and the transfer case drained, plus he swapped out the degaus bottle and filled everything with the fluids I requested.
2) Went and got it inspected and then filed for a new title in our name and paid the taxes on the Ex and for a Texas plate. So we are now completely legal.
3) I had already gotten the TRUCKVAULT lock back overnight on Tuesday. I installed it and now it is completely functional again. Steve from TRUCKVAULT even threw in a spare key for no charge.
4) I received my two lift supports from LIFT SUPPORTS for the rear glass that were 15.87" instead of the failing 14" ones that probably are original. I installed them this evening as the sun was setting. TOM, great call on the support - I used a 2x5 -7 feet tall and it did the trick - thanks. After I installed them, I raised the glass and MAN does that lift go up in a hurry. I won't hit my head on it now.
5) I installed our Sirius radio that uses FM freq to get the signal to the radio. As I have not completed my search for a viable NAV system. I am using this as an interim device. The wife used in her Subaru for quite some time. Then I used it for about ten months in the Magnum. So it will be used in the Ex until I figure out WHAT we are going to do.
All this talk about Colorado gets me itchn' to move. We actually flew out a few years back and checked out Loveland/Fort Collins area. I fell in love with a horse property neighborhood there Even though we hit the coldest snap of the year! I learned to drive in the Midwest in snow so hopefully I would not be one of the stereotypical "Cali" drivers.
thats a nice looking ex. i use a front reciever mounted winch, so it doesnt have to suffer in the weather all the time and i can use it on multipul vehicles.
Well, it looks like our Colorado trip is on a temporary hold.
Logan, our Flat Coated Retriever has epilepsy. And he has not had a seizure in over 80 days. The longest he's ever gone.
But he had seizures this morning at 3am - three of them. Then as we sat down for T-day dinner, he had a second seizure - only one this time. Then about 6:45 p this evening he had another set of three.
So this may go on for two or three days and then we will wait two or three more days and then we should be able to go on up to Colorado. As we are retired, this is but a tiny bump in the road.
Once he's fit again, we will go on up to Colorado and start looking for our retirement property. Maybe we get lucky. Maybe we don't and have to keep looking.
But not this next week. Time to rest and relax and just enjoy life while Logan gets 'back on center' as it were.
Well, Logan has once again made it through the three days of seizures and has started being a normal dog once again.
We will probably head up to Colorado either Wednesday or Thursday this week, if he keeps being normal.
I got the time to take pictures up under the truck to see the MAG-HYTEC covers in place.
Front diff cover
Transmission cover
Rear diff cover
Rancho RS5000 shocks
Rear glass new lift shocks, these are almost 3" taller than stock. I no longer bump my head on the rear glass lift gate
The TRUCKVAULT with the repaired lock plus I got a key to use the smaller keyed lock on top plus the push button lock now also works
All the fluids have been changed. All of the MAG-HYTEC covers have been installed. The Dorman 6.0L front tranny cooler is installed (sorry no picture of it installed). The new degaus bottle for the radiator overflow has been replaced.
I also pulled the winch cable all the way out and then rewound it a wee bit tighter than it had been - it works great.
Basically everything that needed to be serviced has been serviced. Almost everything that needed to be fixed has been fixed.
Except for the two hanging brackets under the truck - drivers side running board and the weight attached to the transmission support sub frame member. Those will both be replaced after we get back.
Well, I appreciate the offer. Let me see what tomorrow brings.
I had the check engine light come on this morning. I drove over to my mechanic, he checked for codes. He told me what they were too (but I can't remember them now) but basically one was a MAF error code and the other one was for the throttle positioning sensor.
The MAF error, while not good won't cause the vehicle to stop running.
The Throttle Position sensor if it causes errors, it CAN put the computer in safe or 'limp home' mode. Given we are about to take a 2000 mile round trip in the next ten days, kinda want that fixed.
Plus I asked my mechanic if he had found me a bracket locally and he said, "Kinda, I got you another running board with all the brackets. Given how that one took a beating, I told him to let me know how much that will cost (came out of a local Ford yard here), I'll let you know. I might just take you up on that. If you look at that running board, it's been whacked pretty hard. I'll know more tomorrow and I'll tell you as soon as I hear anything. THANKS for that offer.
I would just have the bracket shipped down rather than buy a whole new running board with bracket, I'd imagine the price for the board with all brackets will not be cheap..
While I do understand the sentiment, take a close look at the running board with the twisted hanger. IT PULLED the bolt out of the bottom of the board, leaving a large gaping hole where the mounting bolt should connect to.
Moving it's location means a lot of extra work for drilling and fitting etc. And then it will never be stock again. So I'll just bite the bullet and get the used running board. Yeah, inexpensive parts and Excursion do not seem to go together very often, do they?
Plus, the Ex has started throwing two codes as of yesterday morning. I took it back to my mechanic and he said it was two codes that has to do with the Throttle body. He showed me the codes and what they were. The first was for a Mass Air Sensor error and the other was for a Throttle Positioning Sensor error.
At the very least, it means I have to clean the whole throttle body. He says that works about 50% of the time. The other is to have him replace the throttle body.
12 year old truck, 94k on the clock. Everything else has looked and worked great.
On every used car I've ever purchased, there has always been one thing that was needing fixing and once I fixed what ever the problem was, no matter the cost, the vehicle would run for 10 years or so without any other major problems. Plus the vehicle would receive timely maintenance from that point on.
So I'm replacing the throttle body. Not cheap but does keep this from becoming a reoccurring problem and we are trying to take a road trip to Colorado at the end of the week. I'd rather KNOW that the truck has been properly repaired than end up on the side of the road 500 miles from home. Can we say 'middle of nowhere' because we pass through there on the way to Colorado.
It's a take off. I have not asked, but most of them at the local yards around here in W. Texas seem to run about $100 per side. And generally they just remove them from the truck, hangers attached. It's the quickest way to remove them.
But the truth is, unless he says something like $300, I'm ok with my guy using take off parts as long as they are in good shape.
It's a take off. I have not asked, but most of them at the local yards around here in W. Texas seem to run about $100 per side. And generally they just remove them from the truck, hangers attached. It's the quickest way to remove them.
But the truth is, unless he says something like $300, I'm ok with my guy using take off parts as long as they are in good shape.
That's a reasonable price yea-
Last edited by Stewart_H; Nov 29, 2016 at 06:46 PM.
Reason: Edited
, but it didn't work for my more mobility challenged passengers
, so found another on CL.
