My van amazes me...

Reply Subscribe

Thread Tools

Search this Thread

Mar 23, 2005 | 06:57 AM

Ian F

Thread Starter

Elder User

Joined: Oct 2004

Posts: 512

Likes: 0

My van amazes me...

As some of "van forum regulars" may remember, last year I had some throttle and tranny cable issues with my '90 E150. Well, I never did get them completely resolved and when the weather turned cold, I pretty much parked the van for the Winter.

This was back in late December. It's now mid-late March.

Since that time, I haven't driven it at all. Not even started it... very bad to do, I know.. but well.. it's not my primary vehicle and I just kept forgetting...

Yesterday, I happened to be off work and milling around my house and when a friend came over to de-Winterize a motorcycle I'm storing for her and she asked about the van, I said, "Ya know... I haven't even started it since I parked it back in December..." Then I hopped in and hit the key.

Started right up. Instantly. I'm not sure the engine made even a complete rotation before firing... Amazing...

Granted, after sitting for three months, there was quite a bit of smoke from oil leakign out of the valve covers onto the exhaust manifolds... and the tranny kick-down cable is still not quite right... but I drove it 20 miles or so from mine house to hers and back and it wasn't all that bad...

I do want a 4x4 truck something fierce right now, but maybe I'll keep the old girl a little longer...

Mar 24, 2005 | 04:35 AM

trike1946

Logistics Pro

Joined: Apr 2004

Posts: 4,292

Likes: 5

From: NJ where fun comes to die

What brand of battery are you using? If mine sits the battery needs to be jumped.

Mar 24, 2005 | 05:42 AM

Ian F

Thread Starter

Elder User

Joined: Oct 2004

Posts: 512

Likes: 0

Quote:

Originally Posted by trike1946

What brand of battery are you using? If mine sits the battery needs to be jumped.

Believe it or not - just a Walmart special I put in it 3 or 4 years ago when I needed a battery at 11PM...

Mar 24, 2005 | 01:46 PM

85e150

Super Moderator

Joined: Apr 2004

Posts: 34,530

Likes: 2,833

Quote:

Originally Posted by trike1946

What brand of battery are you using? If mine sits the battery needs to be jumped.

How long before you loose the battery? I had a stuck relay that drained it in a few days.

Mar 24, 2005 | 07:27 PM

trike1946

Logistics Pro

Joined: Apr 2004

Posts: 4,292

Likes: 5

From: NJ where fun comes to die

If i leave it sit for 3 weeks, I will need to jump it. Also if I am doing something to it and I leave a door open for a few hours, I have to jump it. The battery is only about a year old. Supposed to be 1000 amps at zero degrees.

Mar 25, 2005 | 06:21 AM

Ian F

Thread Starter

Elder User

Joined: Oct 2004

Posts: 512

Likes: 0

Quote:

Originally Posted by trike1946

Definitely sounds like you have an extra drain somewhere... I've left the side doors open for quite a while when camping as well as running the interior conversion lights (a lot of lights) and haven't had a problem.

Mar 25, 2005 | 06:23 AM

Ian F

Thread Starter

Elder User

Joined: Oct 2004

Posts: 512

Likes: 0

Quote:

Originally Posted by trike1946

Definitely sounds like you have an extra drain somewhere. When camping, I've left the side doors open for quite awhile as well as running the interior lights and haven't had a problem.