Van died stuck in Mt. Shasta California

[frostback]

Hi there, We were on our way to to visit Grandpa in So Cal for Christmas and our 2003 Sprinter died. There are no local shops who can diagnose what is wrong with it. Does anyone know of any shops in North California who will work on a Sprinter? I'm really in a bind with 3 kids and 2 dogs and all our Christmas presents I don't even know if I can find a rental big enough to carry us all. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,

Derek

[nebep]

so how dead is it?

What did it do before it died?

sudden temp. spike?

any warnings?

[frostback]

Yes, the temp was rising but shut down before it got elevated. I was suspecting a head gasket leak as it just started losing coolant with no sign of a leak. No sign of coolant in the oil and no loud noises prior to shutdown. It was hard to tell if we were losing power prior to breakdown or if it was a headwind but we had been working pretty hard coming through the mountains.

[sikwan]

Try this...

http://sprinter-source.com/forum/showthread.php?t=8176

When you're losing coolant, did the low coolant light come on? How fast is it losing coolant?

It's a pretty substantial leak if you're losing coolant fast enough to go from the MAX line to below the MIN.

[frostback]

Then I would say it was a substantial leak. It took about a week to go from topped up to low warning lamp.

[Aqua Puttana]

You sound like a person that needs to call Doktor A, Andy Bittenbinder. 412-366-6165 I hope it turns out to be something reasonable to overcome. vic

From my Stoopid Things Thread

"This is definitely not a Stoopid Thing. Everyone should remember this, and keep a copy of the number somewhere in their Sprinter. I have it written in grease pencil on the underside of my hood.

"Call my Sprinter Hot Line 412-366-6165. Doktor A".

Andy Bittenbinder (abittenbinder here on Sprinter-source) has been a great contributor to Sprinter-source and also is a moderator at Yahoo Sprintervan. He is located in the Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania area which is the Northeast USA/North American Eastern Time Zone. If you own a Sprinter and you didn't have this information up to now, I know this does some good."

http://sprinter-source.com/forum/showpost.php?p=73501&postcount=52

[avid]

Lithia Dodge in Medford is a Five Star Dodge dealer and has sold a lot of Sprinters in the Rogue Valley. Call the Service department and ask for Travis.

[mendonsy]

Lithia Dodge in Medford is a Five Star Dodge dealer and has sold a lot of Sprinters in the Rogue Valley. Call the Service department and ask for Travis.
A quick search got me this if it helps:
Lithia Chrysler Jeep Dodge of Medford
4540 Grumman Drive (DA0828)
Medford, Oregon 97504
Phone: 866-681-7741
Fax: 541-776-6419

[jdcaples]

... I have it written in grease pencil on the underside of my hood.

"Call my Sprinter Hot Line 412-366-6165. Doktor A".



Everyone should do that. Decades from now, it'll be as ubiquitous as "Kilroy was here."

-Jon

[elysium]

1) I'd call Dr. A and see if there's anything he can talk you through to do a road side fix.

2) I know they're not that close, but perhaps upscale auto (the sprinter store people) may know of help in the Mt. Shasta area.

Upscale Automotive, Inc.
19460 SW 89th Ave.
Tualatin, OR 97062
503-692-0846

3) here's the list of california dodge dealers that service sprinters (which are not in So. Cal). I don't know if any are that close to your location.

AUTOWEST CHRYSLER JEEP DODGE 230 AUTOMALL DR ROSEVILLE CA 95661 916-781-8100
FRAHM DODGE 1983 HAMNER NORCO CA 92860 951-272-3110
AUTOWORLD 1370 AUTO CENTER DR PETALUMA CA 94952 707-762-2712
VICTORVILLE MOTORS INC 14617 CIVIC DR VICTORVILLE CA 92394 760-245-7991

Here are the one's in Oregon.

TIMBERLINE CHRYSLER JEEP DODGE 2406 N E SANDY BLVD PORTLAND OR 97232 503-234-0771
RON TONKIN DODGE INC 19300 MCLOUGHLIN BLVD GLADSTONE OR 97027 503-657-1910
DICK'S COUNTRY CHRYSLER JEEP DODGE 767 S W BASELINE HILLSBORO OR 97123 503-640-1050
WITHNELL DODGE 2650 COMMERCIAL SE SALEM OR 97302 503-364-0184
LITHIA CHRYSLER JEEP DODGE 324 E 5TH ST MEDFORD OR 97501 541-776-6490

[frostback]

That is very helpful and only 70 miles away. Thanks

[avid]

A quick search got me this if it helps:
Lithia Chrysler Jeep Dodge of Medford
4540 Grumman Drive (DA0828)
Medford, Oregon 97504
Phone: 866-681-7741
Fax: 541-776-6419

That's the place.

Here is Travis's number: 541-776-6466

[frostback]

I'll be getting the van towed to Lithia Dodge in Medford tomorrow, picking up a rental minivan and trying to figure out how to fit everything and everybody into it.

Thanks for all the help, I'll let you all know how it turns out.

Derek

[elysium]

I'll be getting the van towed to Lithia Dodge in Medford tomorrow, picking up a rental minivan and trying to figure out how to fit everything and everybody into it.


Two words: rooftop box.:thumbup: Or hitch box.

Also, you may want to consider a large SUV instead of a minivan. Most minivan's don't come with load bars for mounting a rooftop box (Honda minivans do not), whereas a lot of SUV's do come with them. In case you want to go the rooftop box route...the SUV may also come with a hitch, in case you want to go with the hitch mount box (I see there's a walmart and costco in medford).

Just something to consider when you're at the car rental place. Good luck. I'm sure you'll be able to work things out for a happy holiday.

[nebep]

all in all though - do your best to realize this is all happening for a purpose.

I was in a similar scenario once - about 150 miles from home - tensioner went out. This was my first experience with this. The nearest sprinter dealer was 150 miles southwest of where I was or 150 miles to home. So, either way the tow bill was gonna stink real bad.

Lost an hour or two getting the towing orchestrated - Ironically, the towing company only had a heavy duty truck with a sleeper available - which worked out well because I had someone with me - so, we needed room for him anyway. On top of that, a medium wheelbase T1N behind a triple axle kenworth really looks like the Titanic pulling a thimble around....

Low and behold, about an hour and a half up the road, we hit a traffic jam at a location where it was really strange to see. There was an accident there, and it didn't look good at all. Apparently two people died in it, and, it seemed like had my tensioner not crapped out, the chances were good that I wouldn't have been far from this.

All this to say, there's a reason you're not driving your Sprinter right now. There's a reason you're going to be "forced" into a different vehicle. I remember being SO mad and uptight over the situation when all this took place. At that accident scene, I started thinking a LOT differently about how I should have felt.

[ECU]

Last summer I heard a noise on a trip from PDX to OC. I thought it might be the water pump or something, but I didn't want to stay in Shasta. I closed my ears and made it to OC before the main pulley fell off. Good Luck and Merry Christmas.

[frostback]

So after 3 days of diagnostics the techs were thinking it was the ECU but wanted to be sure before ordering a new one. They cleaned up the crankshaft position sensor and managed to get the van to fire this morning. Apparently after some loud noises my engine is blown. They are quoting me $11,000 for a crate engine plus a new starter and any other parts needing replacement. I'm not sure how to proceed from here.

I did end up getting a Ford Econoline rental which we got rearended in outside of Palm Springs by an especially inattentive Dodge Dakota driver. Not much damage to the rental van but the Dakota was pretty messed up. He couldn't even get his passenger door open.

Will the fun ever stop?

[sikwan]

Sorry to hear about your misfortune. :frown:

[mackconsult]

That is a bummer dude. I have looked around on the internet and you can usually get a motor for around $8k, of course getting it installed is another thing.

I am a mechanical engineer and do this stuff myself on my property.

http://www.qualitysprinter.com/sprinter_engines.shtml

[Douglas Hicks]

Dr A had a recent post about the availability of rebuilt engines from his shop.

[autostaretx]

Wait a minute... they "cleaned up" the crankshaft position detector and then -they- started the motor which proceeded to self-destruct?

And -you- are expected to pay the entire cost of a new engine for -their- faulty diagnostic procedure?

If it wasn't making "bang, clunk, rattle" sounds when you brought it on the lot, it shouldn't be -entirely- your wallet that gets it back out.

good luck
--dick