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Ragman

Veteran Expediter
Retired Expediter
I just took 9-10 days off at home. I was back in-service last night, then went out of service. Last week my fantasic vent fan started to only work on low speed, which pretty much doesn't suck in any air through the window. Problem is I have never had the remote for it and that's the only way to control it. It was last set to suck air out the roof on high, which worked fine when you opened the vent. But that changed last week, unless it's broke, it switched to low speed for some reason.

I was looking into replacement options when I thought to see if I could order a new remote for it. Sure enough, there was one on Amazon for my model and it would be delivered today. So ordered it and went back out of service to wait for it.

It would be "fantasic" if it actually worked. Can't believe I never thought to look. There looks to be something missing from my fan that has a piece of tape over it. Don't know what that's about, but I hope it doesn't interfer with the remote working.

A side from that, I spent a lot of my time off researching trucking companys, for a last ditch effort to get back into semi driving. For my situation and with a dog, finding the right fit has been difficult to say the least. My short list keeps getting shorter. Pretty much down to a 10% chance anything will change.

Oh, after all my long driving I did in July, I ended up with a pain between shoulder blades right over my spine. I have to believe this was just from some really bad posture driving as I don't remember doing anything to cause it. If it doesn't improve over the next couple of weeks, I'll get it checked out. It seems to very slowly be improving and much better then when it started. I seem to hurt myself on every road trip without knowing how I did it. And healing seems to take a long time. Last time I hurt my leg and back, it took over a month for that to heal.
I really hope everything works out for you...
 

brokcanadian

Veteran Expediter
Owner/Operator
Well I dropped off for awhile. Gasoline E250, and it broke at 487,000

Not like my 2002 or 2003 diesel. The '02 went 1 million miles without me so much as cracking a valve cover. Second one, I stopped driving at a million KMS (600,000 mi) cause natural gas was $1.06 a gal, then the sprinter I still have with 931,000 kms but diesel is more than gasoline now....

Anyway without writing a book here, plastic intake. I definitely could write a book on 30 years of 4.6 engines and the wisdom of using a plastic intake but I'm restraining myself. Most would think 487,000 on a van I spent 9800 usd on is already good but I see it as a complete betrayal. Not to mention the transmission at 450,000 but I fixed that with a $1000 used unit and 4 hours with friends in February...

So. For a secret reason known only to myself related to paying $1 a gal in 2025 for fuel, I have 16 injectors 8 fuel lines and 2 rails. It was not straightforward and just obtaining a new part plumbed properly took about a week and a half

I rented a vehicle and continued to work, solving my unanswered question - yes it was more profitable by $200. And dispatch had zero cover calls to worry about. 2 solid weeks of rental at my driving mileage, $1800. Parts, $1000

August sucked, and for somebody that has about 3 million miles in vans and never needed a mechanic (because vans used to not be made out of plastic) a real life changing soul searching event

Couple pics. One of the wiring and fueling mess I had to remove and replace because a plastic sandwich subjected to coolant and engine temps over time, and one of the result of me working in the sun for 2 days as I battled inacessible engine areas balanced upside down between the front seats

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The camera didn't do the purple heatstroke face justice. It was in the 90s throughout in direct sun


Added a couple pics cause believe it or not one was partially disassembled. The neat looking one with zip ties is completed job even if the pic displays first
 

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RoadTime

Veteran Expediter
Owner/Operator
Got my new remote for the fantastic vent fan...

Good News- it seems to work.
Bad News - Nothing changed. Still runs on slow speed. I reversed the fan direction and that didn't sound good at all. So probably a motor issue going on. Lid up down doesn't work, so rain sensor doesn't work. This is probably the original fan from 2016. Unless the motor or whatever can be fixed, probably time for a new fan.
 
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brokcanadian

Veteran Expediter
Owner/Operator
Got my new remote for the fantastic vent fan...

Good News- it seems to work.
Bad News - Nothing changed. Still runs on slow speed. I reversed the fan direction and that didn't sound good at all. So probably a motor issue going on. Lid up down doesn't work, so rain sensor doesn't work. This is probably the original fan from 2016. Unless the motor or whatever can be fixed, probably time for a new fan.
Mine is still ok after 9 summers on the pavement in Ohio. But like everything else it was probably cheapened by 2016. If it is time, maybe try another brand

I know I've been using Bilstein for 20 years but the last set lasted as long as any other shock, so I switched to $40 Sachs/TRW. Can buy 10 of them for the same price
 

RoadTime

Veteran Expediter
Owner/Operator
I'm back haha. I've been off work for a month after my truck was hit by a run away forklift. Yeah, you read that right. Was dealing with some back and neck pain as a result. Due to possible litigation I don't want to discuss it more. In a unrelated event, I just dropped $8,600 to get my turbo replaced and a oil pressure sensor. Labor and 2 days of diagnostics were the real killer, coupled with installation issues. I came in just to have a engine light checked out. So a perfect storm of misfortune. Trying not to panic, but the Bankruptcy meter is rising.
 

Ragman

Veteran Expediter
Retired Expediter
I’ve been away from this forum for over 10 years, glad to see it’s still around!!!
Wow.... well look who popped in. 10 years!

Yeah, the site is still hanging on, but thats being generous. It's mostly deserted.

How about an update on your travels.
 
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Dakota

Veteran Expediter
Not much traveling anymore. I worked at Costco for 5 years and then had some medical issues I had to address, took a job as a merchandiser for Yerba Mate and did travel a bit for them, Texas, Utah, Missouri etc. but that job ended unfortunately. I am back delivering office supplies locally in Fort Wayne, Indiana. I’ll probably do that for 5 more years. I’ll be 60 then. We have considered getting an RV and traveling the country while working at campgrounds. I still love to travel and drive, it’s in my blood!!!
 

brokcanadian

Veteran Expediter
Owner/Operator
I'm back haha. I've been off work for a month after my truck was hit by a run away forklift. Yeah, you read that right. Was dealing with some back and neck pain as a result. Due to possible litigation I don't want to discuss it more. In a unrelated event, I just dropped $8,600 to get my turbo replaced and a oil pressure sensor. Labor and 2 days of diagnostics were the real killer, coupled with installation issues. I came in just to have a engine light checked out. So a perfect storm of misfortune. Trying not to panic, but the Bankruptcy meter is rising.
I deleted 2 long rambling posts in answer

You have my sympathies, we've all been there.

The only thing left is what are YOU going to do, nothing else is important. Make some good choices where you are the one that benefits the most
 
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