Trip With Issues

[rocket1lf]

I just got back from a 1900 mile trip, it was cut short, from AZ up through Sequoia NP, Yosemite NP and a few days in Lake Tahoe. While in Lake Tahoe, we were taking a trip around the lake and going to go over Mt Rose on our way to Virginia City. On the way up Mt Rose, the Stallion started overheating. I pulled over and found some antifreeze coming out the overflow. I did the best I could on the side of the road in the middle of nowhere with it and found that the fan was not turning on. I nursed it back down the hill to Incline Village and went to 4 different shops to try to get someone to look at it. Either they were too busy or didn't want to touch it. We set off going down the east side of the lake to South Lake Tahoe. I got lucky and it didn't get too hot.

I went to one shop there that was recommended and he was rude and didn't want to touch it. I finally found a local guy that worked on hot rods and other stuff. He agreed to get into it. Four hours of troubleshooting and he found the circuit breaker that goes to the fan relay to feed the fan failed. He had a heck of a time finding it as it's buried in the wiring below the radio head in the engine compartment. So now the fan is turning on, but not shutting off. The last time it was overheating, the fan and A/C control relay's both failed at the same time. At that time, the mechanic replaced the fan temperature switch too. The problem was that he installed a 180 on, 165 off switch, so the engine never got hot enough to run correctly and never cooled off enough to shut the fan off.

After some research, I found that the Ranger engine should have a 192 degree thermostat in it. I have the original fan switch and it is a 205 on and 195 off. I will be ordering a new switch and replacing the one that's in there now. That may be why the fuel mileage is down as the computer is showing that the engine is not up to temperature and it's running rich. I guess I'll find out when I replace the switch. The good news is that I made it back to AZ without any more problems. Oh well, with 70,000 miles on it now, I guess you will find some problems. I still love it. Rick

 

[pwhoever]

It's not a true road trip if Mr Murphy doesn't show up, LOL! You can't always account for every possible scenario until you head out. As you found out, sometimes getting help isn't always easy and you have to address the problems yourself. But when you are miles away on the road, it gets harder. Now that you're home, it sound like you are getting it figured out.

But you will also find out that a bad day out on the road still beats a good day just sitting around the house. It will give you memories and things to talk about.

 

[Gorilla]

Been down that road a couple of times. If I can find the fan switch number I'll let you know. I also suggest that you install a manual fan switch for those times your out away and need to get the fan on.

 

[rocket1lf]

Been down that road a couple of times. If I can find the fan switch number I'll let you know. I also suggest that you install a manual fan switch for those times your out away and need to get the fan on.

Thanks Ted. The original switch came from Vintage Air, but they don't have good reviews. I'll be calling Painless Performance on Tuesday to see if they have one. They are the ones that the guy that found the problem suggested as he said that they have good ones. I was trying to get someone to just hot wire the fan to see if it was still working, and if it was to install a switch for it. No luck finding someone to do it. The fan relay was working, just no power going to it for the fan. Rick