j-d
Sunny Florida USA
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Joined: 09/04/2003
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Guess I should've read this thread before I saw the spare tire question and assumed you were running free!
My daughter had a Subaru. They use a rather large diameter crankcase drain plug which in turn calls for a washer pretty much nobody but Subaru has. I was changing oil at an Air Force base and noticed no washer when I took the plug out. It was not leaking. When the hobby shop crew checked their supplies and didn't have a washer or new plug/washer kit, I simply put it back as I found it and it didn't leak. By next change we'd gone to Subaru and gotten a two-pack of washers.
I'm thinking it might not leak. Can you get that shop to correct it? If not (and I'm sure you'd prefer not after all this!) I'm thinking get some of the packing "string" used in old faucets. Plumbing aisle should have it. Loosen plug, take a turn or two around the threads, under the head, hold ends taught, tighten. That'd serve as your gasket till you get somewhere safe.
God Bless, jd
2003 Jayco Escapade 31A on 2002 Ford E450 V10 4R100
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03 Cobra sb
Colorado
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Joined: 07/07/2010
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I assume that the tranny is a Dodge product not MB. This has been going on for years with them in there truck and van series. I've talked to many people over the years that have had failures around 70-80 thousand mileage mark. I will never own any Chrysler product. IMO
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JDMopar
Asheville,NC
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Joined: 07/31/2010
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The NAG1 transmissions in Sprinters are Mercedes Benz. The 545RFE transmissions that are in Dodge trucks are Chrysler transmissions,and give no trouble like the transmsissions in the 90's did.
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Salvo
California
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Joined: 06/01/2008
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That's real scary finding the loose transmission drain plug. It's a good idea to carry a transmission dipstick. Especially now, not knowing how much fluid dripped out.
$50 at europarts-sd.
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Flarpswitch
Salem, Oregon
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Joined: 04/14/2003
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Yogi Berra said, "It ain't over til it's over." We made it as far as Tallahassee, Florida before the 'Check Engine' light came on and the engine went into limping mode. If you all remember, when I was towed in the first time, the repair shop went about screwing around with the engine even before focusing on the the transmission. When the transmission blew up the second time, the engine also started to fail. The engine never has a problem until they messed with it. The transmission seems to be holding together for now, although I have doubts of it's long term viability. Now we are stuck 300 miles from where we started out this morning and staying in a park down the road from the shop. Still have 3,000 more miles to go. The repair shop is very busy and at best we could be here several days. Will we make it home for Christmas? I would not bet on it.
Steve
'09 Navion iQ
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mavapa
Rome, Ga, USA
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Joined: 11/08/2002
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Wow. I think now is the time for everyone else to take a long RV trip, because it looks like you have sucked up all the bad luck out there for a while.
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clayway
Florida
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Joined: 04/17/2006
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Sorry about your problems, thanks for keeping us updated, lots of thos motors on this site
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Flarpswitch
Salem, Oregon
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One month stuck in Florida and still counting. Tried to get on the road again this afternoon. Got 35 miles west of Tallahassee and check engine light comes on again. Loss of engine power, transmission torque converter lock and unlock and shifting up and down. This morning technicians retrieved codes indicating this problem. They reset the adaptive system that learns driving conditions. Did not do much good. This repair shop is pretty busy and they say I better be prepared for a two week turnaround. If I was two hours from home, I might be able to limp in staying off of the Interstate. I am pretty much resigned to leaving the RV here and renting a car to return home. That does it for me. Adding up all the things big and small that I have had trouble with the Navion and the RoadTrek previously, I am just going to walk away from all this and find another way to spend my time. I still have my boat. I'll just get an old pickup and take it to the lake. What could possibly go wrong? Knock on wood.
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Flarpswitch
Salem, Oregon
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The dealer in Tallahassee determined that there was something bad happening in the transmission and torque converter. They could not guarantee that we would make the next 3,000 miles to home without incident and they would have to open the transmission again. Rather than spend the next two weeks there, they said that we could likely limp back 300 miles to where we were staying with friends and take it to a local dealer. Sure enough, about 40 minutes East of Tallahasse on I-10 keeping to 55mph or so, the engine light came on and the transmission acted up. I managed to keep it going until I stopped for fuel just South of Gainesville (Scene of the Crime). The check engine light went out and the transmission worked a little better. However, watching the tachometer, you can see variations in speed as the torque converter was slipping. We got the RV to the Dodge dealer in Sarasota, Florida. With another complaint open with Chrysler Customer Care, I expected nothing less than a factory re-manufactured transmission and torque converter. In fact, a new transmission and torque converter was installed. The later was invoiced as Re-man, but a new one was substituted due to availablility. After driving from the dealer I can see how awful the twice re-built transmission was. It drives just like it did prior to the sudden failure. As the old transmission was being sent intact for re-manufacture, I was told that we may never know what the cause for the original and subsequent failures. They did say that some debris was flushed out of the transmission cooling lines. Without pointing fingers, they could only speculate what went on in the shop in Gainesville. In contrast to the dealer in Gainesville, the folks in Tallahassee and in Sarasota made me feel more confident. I did speak to the mechanics in both locations and I could tell they know their stuff. I also observed other Sprinter RV and vans being serviced at those locations.
What was supposed to be a two or three day visit, turned into a Thanksgiving and Christmas Holiday. Some family had to change plans and fly to Florida instead of Oregon. We are hoping to get on the road again just after New Year's Day. This whole thing has me thinking of making a more detailed "What If?" plan.
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Snowman9000
IL
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Joined: 01/07/2009
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Life is what happens to you while you're busy making other plans.
-John Lennon
Sorry to hear about it though.
2004 Chevy D/A 2WD Crew Cab. Reese 15K slider hitch.
2004 Crossroads Cruiser 28RL 5er. Honda EU2000i.
1993 Jayco Eagle RKS 265 5er
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