Jaleo 2- Building a 2012 E-350 4x4-Third time is the charm

[Raul]

After Glaciers, we went to Yellowstone. I love this old entrance.



Being at the right place, at the right time.






On the "gadget" side. Two great additions. Starlink and an Airfyer. Starlink allowed us to be in touch for work. Placed against the inside wall and with the connection on the roof rack, I'm able to set it up in 15 seconds. The router is mounted on the fridge cabinet.




I saw a $30 air fryer at Walmart and decided to give it a shot for the van. We use it all the time. Reheating leftovers, doing fried eggs,... The 100Ah LiFePo battery was able to keep up.



The transmission keeps running like crap. Fortunately didn't leave us stranded and we made it home, but the torque converter screams like crazy on some climbs and keeps getting this P0713 code (Internal transmission sensor failure). I have an aftermarket temp sensor for the trans so I was able to verify the temps and never got too high. All of this after last year being ripped off $3000 home for a new rebuild that failed after three months in Utah. $4000 to rebuild it again in Utah. Since I have to empty the transmission for the temp sensor, I'll be changing the torque converter for a Ford reman and adding a really oversized cooler. I hate automatics. I should have converted this thing to manual from the beguinning.

 

[marret]

Looks like a great trip and awesome photos. Sorry to hear about your trans woes. Glad you made it home.

I broke down in NC in the spring and ended up with a new engine. I have now rebuilt the rear end, rebuilt the trans, rebuilt the TC, installed a new Jasper reman engine, etc. I am not happy with the ring and pinion (loud whine about 65-70) so will probably replace that again soon. Also, the shop didn't set the ring and pinion quite right, not deep enough. I had that fixed at Quigley.

Broke down on my recent trip, misfire maybe 3k miles after new engine with all new coils, middle of nowhere ND. I was able to diagnose and replace the coil. Then I needed a new ujoint on the rear drive shaft. Started getting fuel filling issues and intermittent HVAC vent air speed. Made it home and have now addressed those issues.

Anyway, wish you the best. I feel your frustration, right there with you. So hard to find good shops these days especially while traveling. I know you do more work yourself than I do.

 

[Fork-N-Road]

"The transmission keeps running like crap. Fortunately didn't leave us stranded and we made it home, but the torque converter screams like crazy on some climbs and keeps getting this P0713 code (Internal transmission sensor failure). I have an aftermarket temp sensor for the trans so I was able to verify the temps and never got too high."

Make sure to take a good look at your transmission harness when you are in there. Mine went bad and it made the transmission act more and more wonky until I figured out what was going on.

 

[Raul]

I removed the transmission cover to replace the temps sensor and I found this on the magnet. some pieces the size of a small grain of rice.
Transmission is out and back to a re-builder I can trust. Am I over-reacting?
The torque converter that was installed is a Recon FM69. Stall torque 1900 to 2200 rpm.





As an added bonus, my rear shackle broke and took one of the rear AC lines and ding the floor of the van

 

[RVflyfish]

Man I feel for you. Third expensive rebuild. Ouch.

 

[Raul]

*** UPDATE*** Took the transmission to a trusted shop and they opened it and checked. Tranny is OK. The metal shavings most likely came from the Torque Converter. TC that was the wrong one with the high stall.

 

[marret]

Good to hear that. Hope this gets you on the right track.

 

[RVflyfish]

Woohoo, that’s about a tenth of what you were looking at.

 

[Raul]

Hopefully, this is the end of the transmission saga. The transmission was fine, torque converter was shot. The genius that scammed me in UTAH with the rebuild used a high stall torque converter. Got an Original Rebuild from Ford. Hopefully, I'm set for a little bit.

The adapter was broken too. That explained the constant leak I was having. I got a new one and it's clearly beefier than the one I had. I'm adding the picture with the part number fro reference. it may help someone.


I didn't care for cleaning the trans cooler (it was small anyway) so I got the biggest cooler I found. Amazon Cooler. This thing is ridiculous. Hopefully overheating will never be an issue.


Of course, this cannot be the end of my issues. At some point, the rear driver-side shackle broke and the spring ended up resting against the trunk floor bursting the rear AC return line and the relocated evap canister lines.



I'm trying to fix the line with a coupler. So far, unsuccessfully. I'm afraid I had to cut close to the 90 deg. elbow. I tested the system under vacuum and it was fine, but when I filled it, it leaked. I may try to find the complete line on a salvage yard (part number is different prior to 2009 so I need a newer van)



On the good news, I was able to go to play in the dirt at Hidden Falls Off-road park in Marble Falls, TX.

 

[Raul]

Well, This is it. I'm done with the CNG tanks. After almost two years of having the possibility of running on gasoline or Compressed Natural Gas, I may have only used CNG a grand total of 6 times, and more than half of the times it was by getting out of my way to find a station. It was a good concept, but the infrastructure is not there.

I was expecting to lose more weight. They are probably about 300 lbs. total, but still, what is the point of carrying that much dead weight? Now I have a lot of room under the van for On-board air, maybe a fuel tank, water tank, under trunk box,...






In other news, it looks like when I broke the shackle, the leaves over-extended and the smaller leaf broke. This was one of the hi-arched ones I got from an F350 set that I frankenstained. I was able to replace the leaf but now that side sits a bit lower. I may have to replace the other side.

 

[svo_jon]

At first I thought maybe you could use one of those tanks for an on board air tank but looking at them again maybe they are too big?

Jonathan

 

[86scotty]

At first I thought maybe you could use one of those tanks for an on board air tank but looking at them again maybe they are too big?

Jonathan

No such thing as too big! Lol. I got a 9 gallon from a commercial truck. I love it.

 

[Raul]

At first I thought maybe you could use one of those tanks for an on board air tank but looking at them again maybe they are too big?

Jonathan

I consider it too, but they are too heavy, and large (probably about 25 gl. each). They are rated for 3600psi. Air compressors go to 150 psi. I have an old 10 Gal. compressor that I'll repurpose the tank and install using the CNG tanks brackets.

 

[Raul]

Another trip to Hidden Falls Off-road park. This time I went with my daughter and she drove a little bit.


I guess I'm not the best teacher.

 

[svo_jon]

Looks fun, nicely done!! Thats a big vehicle to learn offloading in, I think your daughter did just fine.

Jonathan