Question about crossing with expired 10yr permit

[Lou_Morris]

We haven't driven across the border in the RV for a few years, and our 10 yr permit expired in November. But we're planning to cross the border this Friday (Jan 6) at Nogales. I'm hoping we can do whatever we have to do to process the expired permit at the same time we apply for the new one, but I expect it might not be that easy. So I'm hoping someone can shed some light on what we might expect.

Also, I have a different passport (and number) than the one we used to for the original (now expired) permit. I don't have the old passport, but I have a copy of my application for the new passport that matches me to the old number as well. Hoping that will be enough proof.

I did search and found a record of our old permit on that SHCP site someone posted a few months ago. So we're in the database.

Anyone have experience with this scenario?

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[sprinterlady]

Hey everyone, I'll be happy to share with you the address of the great Sprinter Shop in California Los Angeles area. Great location next to the major freeways Hwy 405/110/91 area of LA/ Orange Cty, they are at 17120 South Figueroa street, Gardena CA 90248 Call them at 310.324.4004, www.fixmysprinter.com

[moisheh]

Mexico has had those Mercedes vans for a long time. Way before Canada and the USA so at least you can get service. Helping a customer and not charging for a simple procedure is very common. That's Mexico.

Moisheh

[navegator]

On the new vehicles when one bulb goes out a light comes on the dash board, and actually two bulbs ahould be replaced, one on the right and one on the left, the reason is the new bulb will have a diferent resistance from the old bulb and that difference will triger all sort of mesages for the computer, that can and will shut engines down, or as this case lead the computer to shift out of drive into neutral, we experienced this with the new fire aparatus units when the firemen were replacing light bulbs burnt out, it took a time for them to understand that both sides had to be replaced.

Word of caution chinese light bulbs have different resistance even for brand new units and the problems will continue, American, German, Japanese light bulbs have the same resistance by wattage.

navegator

[qtla9111]

LouMorris, great to hear that everything worked out great and that the Mexican mechanics took good care of you.

Sometimes it's that simple. I wonder if AutoZone could have done a similar scan and corrected the problem as well for those that may not be so lucky and not pass a larger city that has a MB dealer?

Anyway, I'm glad it all turned out well and it is good info for others. Thanks for sharing.

[Lou_Morris]

qtla9111 wrote:

Lou Morris wrote:
Update: we crossed the border yesterday morning and submitted the ten-year permit application with my new passport as advised. We received it without any issues, then scraped off the old one (saved it just in case) stuck on the new one, and off we went.

That was a relief! Wasn't looking forward to having to retreat back to Arizona. (Almost had to go back later anyway due to what appeared to be some serious transmission issues with the Sprinter that left us periodically with no power and holding up traffic on those no-shoulder highways, but some quick diagnostic work at the Hermosillo Mercedes dealer sorted that out.)

Thanks for the good advice about the permit.

That was good news Lou. Could you share with us your transmission issue, how long it took and possibly the cost?

Sure. It might actually save Sprinter owners grief someday.

Sprinters like ours have 5 speed auto transmissions with tiptronic manual control that allows you to up and down shift with a tap of the gear stick. Handy for dealing with steep hills. But a few days ago we noticed that our auto trans would get stuck in drive and not allow us to downshift. Then we'd shut down and restart the engine and it would be OK. We hoped it was a temporary thing, and as we do software dev it reminded us of how a computer behaves sometimes. We decided to roll with it. Hah!

After getting our 10 year permit yesterday and setting off toward Santa Ana, the transmission suddenly disengaged entirely. Not good. Though we had the gearshift in Drive and were crusing along at about 60 mph, it went into neutral spontaneously while still in Drive and left us with no power. We were forced to pull over as best we could (not much room on those highways) and shut down. We'd start up and it would be OK for a while, and then it happened again. And again. We pulled into a Pemex to regroup, go online to research and consider our options. Worst case, we'd have to turn back.

I scanned several Sprinter forums and found a few folks who'd ran into similar problems over the years. On one forum a Sprinter mechanic explained how Sprinter transmissions can easily be affected by even a mismatched brake bulb, or a poorly wired trailer, which can cause chaos with the system computer and as a result affect the transmission. This reminded me that I'd recently replaced a brake bulb with one I had laying around. Could it be that simple? I yanked that one out, and even unplugged our tow car plug, and we set off again. Made it through Hermosillo, started to feel maybe it was indeed an electrical problem,and then the engine light came on and we lost power again, nearly getting bumped by a big truck. Bummer.

We finally located a Mercedes dealer with Sprinter mechanics in Hermosillo and rushed there (it was the end of the day on Friday) hoping not to break down again. They kindly plugged in their diagnostic device, which communicated with the Sprinter computer and up came a list of system errors. The device then auto-rebooted our system computer and all the errors went away, and the mechanic then said all was OK. No problems he could find. We're good.

We were thrilled, if a little disbelieving, and then we foolishly drove on to San Carlos in the dark. But the Sprinter performed flawlessly. No more transmission issues.

So apparently it was just a computer issue. Maybe the problems were caused by installing the wrong brake bulb, but I don't know that for sure yet. The mechanic printed out the error code report for us but it is all in Spanish. We'll translate it all at some point and try to sort it all out. In the meantime, the problem has so far not happened again.

Amazingly, the service manager said there would be no charge, just tip the mechanic, which we happily did. Wow. Such is Mexico. (I can guarantee our Denver Mercedes dealer, after hitting us for a few hundred, would have been trying to upsell us on a new transmission about then.)

Tomorrow we embark on the 10 hour drive from San Carlos to Mazatlan. Hopefully our transmission cooperates.

[navegator]

The difference in this csae is that the vehicle was outside of Mexico and not in Mexico, therefore the vehicle was not ilegal in Mexican territory when the 10 year permit expiered, it is different when the vehicle is in the Mexican Territory and has an expiered import permit, that can get messy they are getting wise.

navegator

[qtla9111]

Lou Morris wrote:
Update: we crossed the border yesterday morning and submitted the ten-year permit application with my new passport as advised. We received it without any issues, then scraped off the old one (saved it just in case) stuck on the new one, and off we went.

That was a relief! Wasn't looking forward to having to retreat back to Arizona. (Almost had to go back later anyway due to what appeared to be some serious transmission issues with the Sprinter that left us periodically with no power and holding up traffic on those no-shoulder highways, but some quick diagnostic work at the Hermosillo Mercedes dealer sorted that out.)

Thanks for the good advice about the permit.

That was good news Lou. Could you share with us your transmission issue, how long it took and possibly the cost?

[Lou_Morris]

Update: we crossed the border yesterday morning and submitted the ten-year permit application with my new passport as advised. We received it without any issues, then scraped off the old one (saved it just in case) stuck on the new one, and off we went.

That was a relief! Wasn't looking forward to having to retreat back to Arizona. (Almost had to go back later anyway due to what appeared to be some serious transmission issues with the Sprinter that left us periodically with no power and holding up traffic on those no-shoulder highways, but some quick diagnostic work at the Hermosillo Mercedes dealer sorted that out.)

Thanks for the good advice about the permit.

[playaboy]

Lou should have crossed the border yesterday. Did he try to cheat the computer system? Did he get fined? Did he find the easy, correct process? Let wait for his post to see how it went.

[Talleyho69]

When in doubt, take the guaranteed easy way.
Peel off the old sticker.
Apply for a new one, preferably on line.
Have fun in Mexico!!!

[Canadian_Rainbi]

playaboy wrote:

Canadian Rainbirds wrote:

playaboy wrote:

Lou Morris wrote:
We haven't driven across the border in the RV for a few years, and our 10 yr permit expired in November. But we're planning to cross the border this Friday (Jan 6) at Nogales. I'm hoping we can do whatever we have to do to process the expired permit at the same time we apply for the new one, but I expect it might not be that easy. So I'm hoping someone can shed some light on what we might expect.

Also, I have a different passport (and number) than the one we used to for the original (now expired) permit. I don't have the old passport, but I have a copy of my application for the new passport that matches me to the old number as well. Hoping that will be enough proof.

I did search and found a record of our old permit on that SHCP site someone posted a few months ago. So we're in the database.

Anyone have experience with this scenario?

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You are stressing over nothing.

Here is what you do; drive past the INM/Banjercito at the old 20km checkpoint. Make a u-turn and drive up to the vehicle cancellation kiosks, on the right side of the road, opposite the checkpoint. Cancel the old TIP there, they don't care that it is expired. Make sure you have the original paperwork. Keep the receipt.

Now drive north and again make a u-turn. Pull into the large lot, get your FMM, make copies outside the office, then walk to the Banjercito window and apply for the new TIP.

That is all you have to do.

VERY BAD ADVICE

There is a VERY LARGE PENALTY for driving a vehicle with an expired TIP in Mexico. Including CONFISCATION of the vehicle. Just get a new one as has been mentioned several times above BY PEOPLE WHO HAVE DONE THAT. DO NOT mention that the old one expired without being cancelled. You will be safe with the new passport number.

The way I read this, the OP is coming from the States with an RV that has an expired TIP. There is no penalty for driving a foreign plated vehicle or cancelling an expired TIP, in the border zone or the Sonora Hassle Free Zone. The expired TIP needs to be cancelled and a new one issued. This can be done just like I posted above.

So rainbird, am I misunderstanding the OP? What am I missing?

BTW, I have cancelled over 20 TIP's, most of the cars illegal with expired TIP's, in just the last 2 1/2 years, not one of those cars or permits were in my name. I know the system well.

My understanding was that an expired TIP can only be cancelled through Mexico City and that driving with one in Mexico is a big fine. I was told this by one of the Aduana officers at Caborca when inquiring for a friend who was in this same position. His rig had been Canada for several years and would be expired before he returned.

[playaboy]

Canadian Rainbirds wrote:

playaboy wrote:

Lou Morris wrote:
We haven't driven across the border in the RV for a few years, and our 10 yr permit expired in November. But we're planning to cross the border this Friday (Jan 6) at Nogales. I'm hoping we can do whatever we have to do to process the expired permit at the same time we apply for the new one, but I expect it might not be that easy. So I'm hoping someone can shed some light on what we might expect.

Also, I have a different passport (and number) than the one we used to for the original (now expired) permit. I don't have the old passport, but I have a copy of my application for the new passport that matches me to the old number as well. Hoping that will be enough proof.

I did search and found a record of our old permit on that SHCP site someone posted a few months ago. So we're in the database.

Anyone have experience with this scenario?

-
-

You are stressing over nothing.

Here is what you do; drive past the INM/Banjercito at the old 20km checkpoint. Make a u-turn and drive up to the vehicle cancellation kiosks, on the right side of the road, opposite the checkpoint. Cancel the old TIP there, they don't care that it is expired. Make sure you have the original paperwork. Keep the receipt.

Now drive north and again make a u-turn. Pull into the large lot, get your FMM, make copies outside the office, then walk to the Banjercito window and apply for the new TIP.

That is all you have to do.

VERY BAD ADVICE

There is a VERY LARGE PENALTY for driving a vehicle with an expired TIP in Mexico. Including CONFISCATION of the vehicle. Just get a new one as has been mentioned several times above BY PEOPLE WHO HAVE DONE THAT. DO NOT mention that the old one expired without being cancelled. You will be safe with the new passport number.

The way I read this, the OP is coming from the States with an RV that has an expired TIP. There is no penalty for driving a foreign plated vehicle or cancelling an expired TIP, in the border zone or the Sonora Hassle Free Zone. The expired TIP needs to be cancelled and a new one issued. This can be done just like I posted above.

So rainbird, am I misunderstanding the OP? What am I missing?

BTW, I have cancelled over 20 TIP's, most of the cars illegal with expired TIP's, in just the last 2 1/2 years, not one of those cars or permits were in my name. I know the system well.

[Talleyho69]

Definitely listen to Canadian Rainbirds advice. They know!

[moisheh]

So will playaaboy pay the fine if required? I agree with Rainbirds. Very bad advice.

Moisheh