Hello all,

Found out last week that my paycheck will be reduced sometime between now and May 17th, to the tune of $1.50 an hour (-$120 a paycheck). The computer company that hired us to provide tech support has decided not to renew their contract. So we will be shifted to other accounts, which do not pay as well. So I am currently filling out job applications in the hopes of making the same wage I did before or maybe slightly less. No takers so far, so I may end up working for minimum wage for awhile until something comes along.

I know that is not Ford truck related, however this is a Nor Cal forum, and we are family. I do have some Ford truck related news, and that is that I took the Ranger out on the freeway today to see how well it would do after getting the front caliper unstuck.

It performed pretty well considering I have not driven it much. It starts shaking at 55mph, which is ok for now since I don't plan on going above that just yet. Not sure if the shaking is due to worn suspension parts, or just the off road tires that are on it It will not win any drag races but I did not buy it for that. Right now, just want to use it as a daily driver so I can park the Buick and get the head gasket problem fixed.

 

Two things Jim - first, check with the unemployment office as sometimes a reduction in salary can be claimed.

Second, Fresno sucks for wages in the technical trades - I quadrupled my income by going to Silicon Valley. They wouldn't accept me in engineering, but even a technical writer payed much better. I worked part time, and stayed in a motel - but still made much better than I did here.

 

Jim... Sorry about the job situation. That sucks. As for your truck, it is going to be a pretty sweet little daily driver once you get it up and running. Does it have AC?

 

if you work less than full time and are willing and able to work full time you can apply for unemployment benefits.

just wanting to put in my .02

but most of all best of luck to you in all your endouvers/endeviously
of what ever you do.

 

Interesting, I did not know I could apply for unemployment just by taking a decrease in pay. I am currently working full time, and will remain at full time, the only difference is I will be making $8 an hour instead of $9.50.

Clint, I have heard that Fresno is too saturated with techs. Even when I went to the trade school the very first thing they tell you is that you have to move out of Fresno in order to make any money.

Even the instructor at my current job, left for a 300 percent increase in pay, basically doing the same thing we do here. He moved to Colorado to do it though.

I see this as a temporary setback, and will continue to put out applications, and wait for something better. I am grateful it is only a pay cut, and not a layoff.

Karl, no, the Ranger does not have AC. It will have eventually, but that is like the last thing I want to do to it. Other mods come first. brakes, synthetics in the drive line, turbo 2.3, paint, interior, etc. Eventually, I want to be able to sell the Buick, and just keep the Ranger as my do everything vehicle.

 

I am not sure that is correct - you may be able to quit and draw unemplyment, but if you continue to work I just don't know - best to talk to the employment office.

you can read the requirements at:Unemployment Insurance - Meeting Eligibility Requirements

 

Hey Jim -

Glad to see you are driving the truck already.
As far as that shaking goes, that old rubber in the front end is probably pretty toasted, and those tires are OLD. Be careful driving around on those things. Have you taken a shot at the emissions test yet?

 

I was thinking it might be the tires, since they have been in the sun for a few years, and could be stiffer than usual. I put 60 miles on the truck today, and it ran great. I am still getting used to driving a stick, and only killed it twice trying to take off from a light.

No water leaks, no oil leaks, and the engine runs smooth. It does idle pretty low when at rest, but I checked the IAC and it is within limits. I noticed the after market water temp gauge does not work, but the factory one does. However, it barely moves. Did you take out the thermostat? Both oil pressure gauges work although the factory one reads very low after about 30 mins of driving where the after market one continues to read 40 psi.

The tire shaking starts at 45 mph and continues on up to 60 mph. That is the highest I have had the truck so far. No, I have not taken it in for a smog test yet. That will have to wait until next payday as this one is almost gone (rent sucks).

The tires seem ok as far as holding air, and the do have good tread on them. No sidewall cracks Except the one that was on the passenger side rear. That one could not be repaired, so I had the tire shop mount the M & S tire that was on the white spoked rim on that gold one.

Haven't checked the mileage I am getting yet, that too will have to wait until next payday when I can fill it up. Oh, and I noticed the smell of coolant when driving, yet I see no leaks. Once on Sunday, when I was helping a neighbor jump start his Taurus, I parked it, and noticed some water/coolant leaking from the bottom of the heater in the engine bay. No leaking in the cab though. This morning when I had the heater on, I noticed steam/condensation coming out of the vents, and a strong coolant odor.

Picked up an owners manual for it on ebay. for $7.00 It is pretty ragged, but all the pages are there. Now if I can find a service manual for it......

 

Jim...probably needs a heater core, only took me about 20 minutes to change the one on my 94 Explorer, should be similar to yours?

Cheap too, about 30 bucks.

 

195 degree thermostat - should still be in there.

 

Cool, thanks. Will add heater core to the list of items to get. That is good that the thermostat is still in there. I hear it is a PITA to replace.

 

Hey Jim,
I have one of those too, you want me to throw that in with the rest of the goodies? It might have sand in it but it doesn't look like it leaked.

Rich

 

Yeah that would be cool, also, do you have an alternator and/or voltage regulator? Drove the truck to work yesterday with no problems, but this morning, went to drive it, and it would not start. battery dead. Had the battery checked 2 weeks ago, and they said it was good, but needed charging. Since the ammeter gauge does not work, I suspect either the alternator or voltage regulator.

 

As old as that battery is, Jim, I would be skeptical of it's being good. That truck's been sitting 2001, and the battery is probably 9 years old. I had a solar "trickle" charger on it and started it often, but even so, I don't see how it could be very good. Hate to see you buy an alternator if it's not needed.
Just as a side note, I don't know how they could say the battery is good but needs a charge. They could not have load tested it unless it was fully charged.

 

On my next day off, I plan on taking the battery and the alternator to Autozone to be tested. The battery seems to be ok. I mean after they charged it up last time, it lasted two weeks, and I started it up and put just over 100 miles on it in that time. Only yesterday did it not start. I agree with you though, I have not heard of any battery lasting 9 years. However, if it is the alternator, then that means I have been running solely on the batter for those 100 miles, and in that case I would have to say the battery is still good.