Any ideas on how to get my TT from Wisconsin to Florida?

[drsolo]

I have pulled a teardrop and a 1975 13' Shasta behind my 1992 GMC G2500 V8 with no problem. But I bought a used 1996 Wildwood click here and I was having a hard time with the pedal to the medal keeping it at 55 mph. I turned back. So now I either sell it or is there some kinds of services will drive it down without charging an arm and a leg?

[drsolo]

smkettner wrote:
Does the van downshift and rev up a bit when climbing those hills at 50 mph?
Have the transmission shop drive it with the trailer.

No, in cruise it just slows down until I press down on the gas and at least it does stop slowing down, but not accelerating and I dont think it downshifts at all. If I have my foot really down on the accelerator I can gradually pick up some speed but it doesnt downshift that I am aware of. I havent tried it without the trailer behind it. Now I dont jack rabbit from stop signs, but with the Mazda protege when I step down, like if I was going to pass someone it would really snap my head back. I will have to get the van out onto cleared roads and see if it still has any oomph without the trailer.

[time2roll]

Does the van downshift and rev up a bit when climbing those hills at 50 mph?
Have the transmission shop drive it with the trailer.

[drsolo]

So as long as I got some expertise on here maybe get help with another problem. That is, the cruise control has been linked the check engine light coming on, in the past the cruise would just slow down gradually but randomly, no set pattern. That seemed to have been fixed at some point. But when I have the cruise on it just doesnt accelerate to keep it up to the set speed. So if I wanted to go 60 I would have to set it to 65 so the "low end" was 60. And when it dips down I tap the gas and then it accelerates. I asked my original mechanic if there was a problem with it and to replace the cruise "arm" assembly and whatever but evidently he couldnt locate parts?
I know it may seem silly to put all this work and money into an old van, but I got it set up inside exactly how I want it and I really like driving it.

[Walaby]

drsolo wrote:
So then I press the gas pedal to the floor but the engine does not even drop into a lower gear like it did before and on the day I dropped the transmission. On that day I could stomp the gas pedal and it would drop down and accelerate

Does it not downshift only when towing, or same symptoms when driving without a trailer?

This, to me, points to problem with the new/rebuilt transmission. I don't know if you have a 3 spd (turbo 350/400) or a 4 spd (700-R4) tranny. If 700-R4, then it could be the TV (throttle valve) cable is not adjusted properly. If the 3spd, it could be as "simple" as the cable not connected in the pan. I would take it back to the transmission shop FIRST, and tell them that it is not downshifting into passing gear.

That is where I would start before looking at clogged exhaust, clogged fuel line etc.... If it is not downshifting, that would explain your symptoms.

Mike

[drsolo]

Walaby wrote:
Given the only variable that has changed (other than the trailer), is the transmission, that's my bet.
I suppose another option to get it home. Mike

The van, trailer and I are all home in Milwaukee. I am so fortunate that the transmission went on I-94 a mere 45 minutes from home. And a month earlier I had signed up for Good Sam platinum who sent a truck that loaded my van up on it and hooked my trailer behind it while I road home with my husband. And I still have AAA so I had them take the van to the transmission place while a dear neighbor with a truck dragged my trailer to the storage place. I would still like to know who could diagnose my van/trailer problem in the Milwaukee area.

[Walaby]

Any suggestions you get are hit or miss. Hard to troubleshoot something via words without seeing or feeling it first hand.

Given the only variable that has changed (other than the trailer), is the transmission, that's my bet. Sure, it was done by a reputable shop, but they can mess up too. Nobody is perfect.

I suppose another option to get it home could be to rent a truck and haul it home, then fly back up and get your van. Still doesn't fix the van, but gets your trailer to Florida.

Mike

[drsolo]

AJR wrote:
It really sounds like the rebuilt transmission is not right. Could be a program or a linkage problem. Then again, how does your emergency brake work?

Soon after I bought the van in 2011 I took it to a transmission place just to check it out make sure no problems, they dropped the pan and checked everything out and said it was fine at that time. A couple weeks before I set out with the trailer the first time (Dec. 13) I took it to a little transmission place close to my home and asked him to check the trans for me cause of course I was worried. He told me the trans was like new, in great shape for so old a van. But he just drove it around nothing more (also didnt charge me). And the place that I did have the transmission rebuilt is the best rated in Milwaukee, has the best warranty, in fact where other garages have their transmission rebuilt for them. I didnt get my van back until Dec. 20th.
I have never used my emergency brake. Wouldnt a stuck emergency cause brake wear? They check my brakes, were good, topped up the fluid a bit. What else?

[drsolo]

westend wrote:
Your catalytic converter may be suspect and that will rob power. I'd also suggest to take it out of cruise control and operate manually. You do have the van loaded up with weight. Have you packed that much in previously?
I'd also suggest to take the rig to a garage (not the slow idle guy) and have them test drive it. You have too many variables to this problem to diagnose any other way.

Tomorrow I am going to take it in and have the whole fuel line checked including the filter in the gas tank and have the cat tested for back pressure. Engine idle has been a problem for a while. I had trouble with the remote start so the mechanic set it high, too high so I asked it be lowered, then it was too low (450 rpm) and when cold the engine would die as I braked and coasted to a stop. It also would do this strange "surging" at times, this started right after I had the 8 pin brake controller installed, probably unrelated. This last week mechanic #2 set the idle to 800 rpm, the remote start still doesnt work first 3 or 4 times (it isnt that cold out here) and cold engine still dies when I am backing up, creeping along, brake and coast.
I really LOVE cruise control... I think my foot would spasm if I had to keep my food down pedal to the metal for even an hour and frankly it would worry me that it was just too hard on the van.
I dont load my van up in general, I like room to move around. I am taking it back to the truck scales all by itself to see what it really weighs. OK, so I am in Milwaukee where do I take this to be tested?

[drsolo]

W5CI wrote:
If you plan your route to Fl, you can get there without having any major hills to pull

Oh yes, I thought of that right away and changed my route.

[AJR]

It really sounds like the rebuilt transmission is not right. Could be a program or a linkage problem. Then again, how does your emergency brake work?

[westend]

Your catalytic converter may be suspect and that will rob power. I'd also suggest to take it out of cruise control and operate manually. You do have the van loaded up with weight. Have you packed that much in previously?
I'd also suggest to take the rig to a garage (not the slow idle guy) and have them test drive it. You have too many variables to this problem to diagnose any otherway.

[W5CI]

If you plan your route to Fl, you can get there without having any major hills to pull

[drsolo]

dodge guy wrote:
Are you saying it`s only giving you issues on hills or inclines? how is it on flat highways?
Even with a 3.42 gear you should still not have any issue towing it!
When you had the tune up done did they replace the fuel filter? it could be partially plugged and not delivering enough fuel under load!
Are you letting the engine rev on the hills or are you backing off because your worried about it revving to high?!

On the flat I have the gas pedal all the way down and it will not get over 60 for a long time, going downhill I can get it going a little faster and the cruise will hold. Any kind of incline and in cruise it just slows down. So then I press the gas pedal to the floor but the engine does not even drop into a lower gear like it did before and on the day I dropped the transmission. On that day I could stomp the gas pedal and it would drop down and accelerate.
I asked the first mechanic to check all filters, belts, fluids and replace if needed. The second mechanic said he checked, they were all good. The only problem I seem to have is even tho the second one set the rpm to 800, but when cold the engine dies if I brake and coast when I start out. Once engine is hot it doesnt do this and not at higher speeds.

[dodge_guy]

Are you saying it`s only giving you issues on hills or inclines? how is it on flat highways?
Even with a 3.42 gear you should still not have any issue towing it!
When you had the tune up done did they replace the fuel filter? it could be partially plugged and not delivering enough fuel under load!
Are you letting the engine rev on the hills or are you backing off because your worried about it reving to high?!

[drsolo]

smkettner wrote:
That small wildwood should not be any issue for the van.
Get the van in the shop and find what is wrong. Bring the trailer for the mechanic to do a test drive. Could be the timing chain or converter mentioned above or something else.

I stopped by an RV place on the way out to have the service guy check my connections, the weight distribution setup, my electrical harness and chains. I told him my concerns and he said "well it is a heavy trailer". I am not sure where else to take it. The van really is zippy without the trailer.