Looks like I may be out of business..

[Tex Star Detail]

That`s the problem with running your mobile setup out of a cargo van. When it breaks, your business goes down with it..... Been in the shop for 3 days and no end in sight. None of the techs can figure out the timing issue on my 95 GMC Safari Cargo. Ran great until I put in a new distributor. Missed like crazy. Put the old one back in and no change. Bought a 2nd new one and nothing....
Numerous techs have been working on it with all the high-tech computers and scanners. They set the timing several times and no one can figure out why it won`t stay running right and not stutter and die. I canceled all my appointments. Some really pissed off. Lost too much money already this week. I have no good credit due to the ex wife and I buy everything cash, so I cannot get approved for another vehicle..... I have a car for a down payment, thats it. And they don`t think they will be able to look at it until mid to late afternoon tomorrow. I have been canceling and push appointments back as far as I could. Looks like my vacation in the 1st week of July is gone too.... Schedule book is full until the week after next. Every day I cancel someone and tell them sorry, nothing I can due... So far this week I`m out over a grand in lost work.....

Sooooo, looks like I am possibly shutting down unless my van gets a DEFINITE FIX tomorrow BY NOON, or I buy something and completely outfit it by tomorrow night. NO if`s, and`s, ir but`s......

Welcome to crappy credit and the business world huh?
Had to vent....

[GearHead_1]

Tex, I`m very sorry to hear that. I don`t even know what to say. I can`t believe a competent mechanic with the proper tools can`t run down the problem. Of course the first thing that comes to mind is the proper firing order. I`m sure they`ve been over that multiple times. Another thing I`ve seen happen when replacing a distributor is when one is assembled with the wrong reluctor. I`ve seen this happen multiple times where a six or eight cylinder reluctor ends up on the opposite distributor.

This of course should not carry over from one distributor to the next. I assume this could happen with a batch of distributors. I`ve also seen it happen where the ground strap on the spark control module is not tightened down. It obviously could be a ton of different things but you`ve got to start with the piece that made things go south.

If it were running well prior to the new parts chances are the problem is not mechanical in nature (i.e. valve train etc.). It can be very easy to over look the obvious. If you can get it running and can rev it up pull one wire at a time and find out which cylinder(s) are not contributing. This will give you a place to start. If you find two aren`t playing chances are it`s mis-wired. Pull the plugs again and double check to make sure you didn`t get one dirty during installation causing bridge fouling (no gap). If you dropped a plug look long and hard at the insulator. Double check and make sure the plug boot didn`t have the end of the wire pull back in the boot.

Did you run combustion chamber cleaner through it when doing the tune? Carbon lodged in the EGR valve can cause weird problems too.

Getting the base timing set should be a no brainer for any qualified technician. I know this all sounds too easy but it usually is something down these roads. I wish you a lot of luck and actually wish you were closer.

[atkinsonair]

Sorry Tex.....can u work out of your car at all? Dave has a warehouse in his.

[Mr. Clean]

Tex, sorry to hear of your current predicament. Hopefully there will be a quick resolution. Can you fall back on your dealership work? As for your current mobile customers, I think most people are understanding when an explanation is provided showing circumstances beyond your control and would be willing to wait until you are "mobile" again. For those who want the service now, maybe you could arrange for a drop-off service temporarily.

[Tex Star Detail]

Here is what was replaced on the van recently. Remember, the van had a very very very minor stumble at idle. Nothing to worry about. I mean the van has just rolled 170k miles.
Plugs and wires
Cap and Rotor
fuel filter
pcv valve
water pump
radiator
all hoses
egr cleaned and new gasket
new PS fluid
new brake fluid
new lower intake manifold gasket
new upper (plenum) gasket
valve cover gaskets
MAP sensor
Throttle body cleaned
fuel pressure regulator replaced
and I am sure some other things.

Distributor went back in fine.
still had the very weak stumble.

Got a wild hair to pull it and the drive gear was worn. Decided to buy a new distributor vs just a gear. put it in, forgot to mark the old one. Took a few to get it running. I brought the #1 cylinder to TDC on the compression stroke. Replaced distrib and it fired, but missed while driving. Took it to the shop and returned the new distrib to advance auto and picked one up from Autozone. Bought nother new cap and rotor. NOthing changed. Fuel pressure is holding steady and true. They re timed it over and over. Had it hooked up to everything. They said it`s sort of difficult to diagnose and OBD 1. (they changed to OBD2 in 96, and mine is a 95, my luck)

So.... other than that... I have no idea.

I can work out of my car, sorta. No way I can do any detail, as my extractor will not fit. NO one has power either to plug into at many of the places I go to.... I went to day to do an el camino... lol, what fun that was..

[Tex Star Detail]

Most of my work is about 45 minutes away, so the drop offs are rare. (used to live in the other town, until I moved away from the ex wife, lol) No dealership work. Most of the appointments I have lined up are the ones that are moving, selling the car, going on vacation, etc..... No one wants to wait these days.... my busiest time and my van craps on me.... If I didn`t have bad luck, I wouldn`t have any at all! Hahaha. I tried sticking my extractor in the back seat and it was not going in at all! lol

[mrclean81]

Man your luck is alot like mine..ex`s, bad credit, vehicals tearing up, moving away from your clients, the whole thing. It sucks like no other. I hope things work out for you and definatly hope you dont loose your business. Ive got the hook up on cargo vans if you wanna drive to Southeast Missouri lol.

[Tex Star Detail]

I am scheduled to drive to Missouri July 1st through the 8th or 9th actually. Drive up through Dallas on 35, hit Oklahoma on 69/75 all the way up to Big Cabin, OK. Then I get on I-44 and head east through Joplin to central Missouri.

[tuscarora dave]

Dang Tex, I am really sorry that you`re having this trouble. I assume you have been all over Astro/Safari with this issue? Couldn`t you use a wet dry Vac and some extra elbow grease until you get your van straightened out? How big is your generator? There`s got to be a way you can keep your business from crashing. I pray that you can get this mess all figured out very soon.

[Tex Star Detail]

Generator is bolted to the van. LOL It`s a big Coleman powermate 6000 Watt puppy. Not on the frame anymore. Astrosafari really isn`t helping too much at this point. Hahaha. Since I don`t have the van here at the house, really nothing I can do. I am the point right now where it needs to be fixed BY NOON tomorrow. Has to be, only option. That or I can try to squeeze water out of a rock and try to get SOME sort of loan from somewhere/someone to get another van.

[tuscarora dave]

What about a rental van? Man If I were there you would have a van to use. I just brought mine here from where it was stored. It`s going in for inspection and I ain`t letting them get anywhere that distributor.

[trhland]

That`s the problem with running your mobile setup out of a cargo van. When it breaks, your business goes down with it..... Been in the shop for 3 days and no end in sight. None of the techs can figure out the timing issue on my 95 GMC Safari Cargo. Ran great until I put in a new distributor. Missed like crazy. Put the old one back in and no change. Bought a 2nd new one and nothing....
Numerous techs have been working on it with all the high-tech computers and scanners. They set the timing several times and no one can figure out why it won`t stay running right and not stutter and die. I canceled all my appointments. Some really pissed off. Lost too much money already this week. I have no good credit due to the ex wife and I buy everything cash, so I cannot get approved for another vehicle..... I have a car for a down payment, thats it. And they don`t think they will be able to look at it until mid to late afternoon tomorrow. I have been canceling and push appointments back as far as I could. Looks like my vacation in the 1st week of July is gone too.... Schedule book is full until the week after next. Every day I cancel someone and tell them sorry, nothing I can due... So far this week I`m out over a grand in lost work.....

Sooooo, looks like I am possibly shutting down unless my van gets a DEFINITE FIX tomorrow BY NOON, or I buy something and completely outfit it by tomorrow night. NO if`s, and`s, ir but`s......

Welcome to crappy credit and the business world huh?
Had to vent....

im in the same boat.. if my truck brakes im screwed....

[trhland]

some one mention rental.. home depot has them but not sure how much..

[njcarting1]

Sorry to here about the Business troubles Tex. I attended a class yesterday and saw about 25 guys in the same boat as you are in. The EPA is changing the rules on "LEAD PAINT" and anyone having contact with the stuff in anyway must comply. I heard the vehicle,ex wife,rental,insurance,lack of work woes from many that attended.

Can ya get a trailer and pull that behind another vehicle? It might not be great but it can be used in this circumstance to get ya by. Its tough trying to stay afloat nowadays, ya either are mortgaged to the hilt and have new stuff. Or ya run older stuff and lay under the iron every night fixin it for the next day.

I hope ya get things underway soon...

[atkinsonair]

I had a miss or stumble after my intake gasket went out on my 96 gmc safari, we did plugs,wires and the whole nine yards. Mine ended up being caused by a vaccum leak on some type of heater valve that was made of plastic, the housing had cracked, it got cracked during repair. After that it ran like a top.