Hey guys! Got quite a tale.

Jimmeh · 11-29-2008, 10:44 PM

For all wondering, I have officially fallen off the face of the earth. Work has got me completely swallowed, so the time on the internet has been limited to my normal Ranger forums browsing. Only updates to the Dodge are that I hit a deer. It's ok. It'll live. Only messed up the front bumper.

Updates to the Ranger include a CB, antenna, and, possibly, a bad motor. Here is the story in full for you WITH pictures at the bottom.

Decided to make a seperate post so you can all enjoy my misery. This is a long story, so be ready for a read.

As some know, I was heading over for a Meet with the guys over in WA. I left here at about 7:15 AM, and I was making fantastic time. I took I-90 most of the way over, averaging about 70 MPH, and getting about 17 MPG's, which was fine with me. I stopped a total of three times thus far, and the trip so far was only costing me about $35 in gas and food. Rice cakes are definitely FTW!

So, I just got off of I-90 at....Ellensburg, I believe, and was getting on Highway 97 heading north towards Highway 2.

Heading up Bluet Pass, I was making really good time. Got stuck behind a slow truck, and tried to pass, when I heard a loud clang, and the truck started running terrible. I pull over, and start messing with stuff, but the truck is still ******** out. So I shut it off, and start thinking of options. No cell service, so I start radioing truckers. Nobody answers. Well, the only other option other then to continue on to Levanworth was to hitchhike, and I wasn't about to leave my truck in BFE, so I went on.

Got off Bluet, and got on Highway 2, pulled over at a Park and Ride, and started phoning my parents and sis. Dad says it might be my brake booster line, because my brake assist wasn't working for ****. Started playing with vacuum hoses, and noticed that it was sputtering against my hand.

Well, with the truck running, I realized that I shut the door. My passenger side is always locked, and lately, my drivers side randomly locks. No big deal, I had a hide a key on the truck. So I unlocked the truck, and set my hide a key down on the console, took the door unlock key off my keyring, and started fiddling with stuff.

I can't think of **** on what may be the cause other then possibly throwing a rod due to the clanging sound. So, I call the sister, and ask if she knows of mechanics. She finds one in Levanworth (4 miles from the current location), so I head out there.

First guy I go to was a complete tool. My guess, ex- or current crackhead. Hooked a scan tool up to my truck, and since it wasn't throwing codes (yeah, imagine that, the truck is running APPARENTLY on 2 cylinders, and it's not throwing a code!), so he didn't know what it could be. He told me the soonest he could get to my truck was Wednesday. Referred me to another mechanic, so off I was yet again down the road.

Turns out this "mechanic" was a Quick Lube grease monkey. Got the truck in their shop, and they immediately thought "Bad Wires". On a spark test, it showed all the drivers side cylinders dead, and one on the pass side dead.

So, the guy takes out one plug, looks at it thouroughly, smells it, then puts it back in. Does it twice more, and then he moves on to a compression test.

HE TESTED ONE MOTHER ****ING CYLINDER! ONE! It was 110. He said it was fine.

Moving on, he decides to fiddle dick some more. This is when the shop manager comes up and starts discussing prices. $78 an hour for the guys to do nothing but tell me what it COULD be, and not do anything else. I asked when was the soonest they could start to actually work on it, and they said Monday. So, I paid $70 for them to say that it could be my valve train, and moved on.

Went to the closest gas station, and called the sister asking to come get me. They planned on getting a trailer, but the guy wasn't home. This is when I just started calling people, Shane included, to pass the time.

After the phone call with Shane, I was sitting in my truck listening to tunes and keeping warm. All of a sudden, BANG! Immediate thought: "Some dude just got his *** capped!". Then, another. Investigation was in order. So, I grab the keys out of the ignition, lock the door, and walk down to the street.

Turns out, it was just some sort of celebration.

Now, if you guys are paying attention, you'll realize my mistake here.

Walking back to the truck, realization hit me square in the face. I just locked myself out of my truck. The door key was off my key ring, and my hide a key was in the center console.

So, I walk to the front of the building. And guess who is there? The quick lube guy. In a tow truck.

I walk over to him and ask him if he's got a slim jim. He says, yeah, but I have to charge for that. I was trying to talk him into doing it for free, but there was no chance: the guy was a dick. So, I asked how much. He replied with "$100".

I replied with a one finger salute.

So, right at this point, I want to ****ing shoot myself. I am in a town I know nothing about, my wallet is in the truck, my phone is in the truck, I only had on my stocking hat and a sweater, and I was ****ing thirsty. However, I did have the keys to my tool box, which led me to start thinking of breaking into my truck.

I unlock the box, and start looking it over. "I could break a window with my Mag Lite, or my drill". Then, I remember, I have a sliding glass window.

So there it is, in my tool box tray: a flathead screw driver. A quick second, and the back window was opened. But, by swearing and kicking ****, I attracted a crowd of onlookers. They all watched as I crawled through the back window to get into my truck, which I immediately shut the window, and turned the truck on with the heater full blast, and the truck still running like absolute dog ****. All I could do was laugh at myself.

Sister finally showed up, her boyfriend looked over my truck, and he said we could start working on it tomorrow. So, we went and got some grub, and then my dad calls and says he is on his way. I tried telling him we could work on it, but he said he already got a dolly, so he would be there soon.

You all want to know the kicker of this entire story? I was 75 MILES FROM MY SISTERS HOUSE! So, I stayed the night there, and met up with the fam this morning (mom came along).

Anyway, here are some pictures I took of the truck. Just out of sheer boredom.

And, since everybody loves flex shots:

Why is there a plumber working on my truck?

One of the straps was loose, so when we were about to fix it, the truck decided it didn't want to be dollied anymore. As soon as tension came off of the strap, the truck rolled. Nobody was injured, but my dads butt crack did split my side.

I'm starting tomorrow on finding an issue with my valve train. If it's nothing visible, I will be taking the truck to a mechanic my dad uses for analyzing, and HOPEFULLY it's just injectors. If it's something more serious, I have no idea what I am going to do.

animalsrule · 11-30-2008, 03:55 PM

sure that is your dad?.......lmao....could be my hubby from the looks of it

gmctrucks · 11-30-2008, 08:08 PM

I'm sure you took off the drive shaft right? Or else your transmission could be burnt up the engine turns the trans pump and if it was on bad sorry.
Good luck! GMC

gmctrucks · 12-03-2008, 02:47 AM

Say buddy any luck on that nice looking Ford I love the color and the height?

Limited · 12-05-2008, 11:59 AM

I have that very Yota in my drive way right now!

gmctrucks · 12-06-2008, 06:22 PM

Jimmeh where are you what's the deal on your truck we have been hanging here waiting to hear from you?

gmctrucks · 12-23-2008, 09:44 AM

I wonder if our buddy is do ok has anyone heard from him? Or I haven't heard from him since his Ranger broke down.
Be good! GMC

Jimmeh · 12-23-2008, 03:32 PM

Hey everybody! Long time no post. HAHAHA!

I actually haven't even touched the Ranger since I brought it home, other then taking the valve covers off. Bent exhaust valve. ended up floating them.

I've been putting money in my Dodge lately. I have a Flowmaster 40 series with dual exits now, and have 285/75-16's.

Next up for it is a posi lock, then a rear end swap, and after that, a cap.

The Ranger is going to be put on the back burner for now, but don't worry, I will be back on it come spring time.

Quote:

Originally Posted by gmctrucks

I'm sure you took off the drive shaft right? Or else your transmission could be burnt up the engine turns the trans pump and if it was on bad sorry.
Good luck! GMC

Oh yeah, the drive shaft was coming off right after we loaded it up on the truck.

gmctrucks · 12-23-2008, 04:39 PM

Jimmeh im so glad your doing ok I was beginning to worry about you being out there in that beautiful country all alone I was thinking maybe a bear ate him just kidding but im glad your fine. My daughters girl friend bought a 2003 Dodge truck it has some type of mufflers on it that when she comes over to my house it makes my truck alarm chirp like saying hey I have an alarm step back. Also look on www.craigslist.org for a cap for your truck I have seen some around my area super cheap you might also want to view areas around you meaning other cities.
Good luck! GMC
PS-And if your engine is dead on the Ranger you might find one there as well.

bradrhale · 12-23-2008, 05:03 PM

ever find out what ultimately is wrong with the ranger??

11-29-2008, 10:44 PM	#1
Jimmeh Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Columbia Falls, Montana Posts: 94	Hey guys! Got quite a tale. For all wondering, I have officially fallen off the face of the earth. Work has got me completely swallowed, so the time on the internet has been limited to my normal Ranger forums browsing. Only updates to the Dodge are that I hit a deer. It's ok. It'll live. Only messed up the front bumper. Updates to the Ranger include a CB, antenna, and, possibly, a bad motor. Here is the story in full for you WITH pictures at the bottom. Decided to make a seperate post so you can all enjoy my misery. This is a long story, so be ready for a read. As some know, I was heading over for a Meet with the guys over in WA. I left here at about 7:15 AM, and I was making fantastic time. I took I-90 most of the way over, averaging about 70 MPH, and getting about 17 MPG's, which was fine with me. I stopped a total of three times thus far, and the trip so far was only costing me about $35 in gas and food. Rice cakes are definitely FTW! So, I just got off of I-90 at....Ellensburg, I believe, and was getting on Highway 97 heading north towards Highway 2. Heading up Bluet Pass, I was making really good time. Got stuck behind a slow truck, and tried to pass, when I heard a loud clang, and the truck started running terrible. I pull over, and start messing with stuff, but the truck is still ****** out. So I shut it off, and start thinking of options. No cell service, so I start radioing truckers. Nobody answers. Well, the only other option other then to continue on to Levanworth was to hitchhike, and I wasn't about to leave my truck in BFE, so I went on. Got off Bluet, and got on Highway 2, pulled over at a Park and Ride, and started phoning my parents and sis. Dad says it might be my brake booster line, because my brake assist wasn't working for . Started playing with vacuum hoses, and noticed that it was sputtering against my hand. Well, with the truck running, I realized that I shut the door. My passenger side is always locked, and lately, my drivers side randomly locks. No big deal, I had a hide a key on the truck. So I unlocked the truck, and set my hide a key down on the console, took the door unlock key off my keyring, and started fiddling with stuff. I can't think of on what may be the cause other then possibly throwing a rod due to the clanging sound. So, I call the sister, and ask if she knows of mechanics. She finds one in Levanworth (4 miles from the current location), so I head out there. First guy I go to was a complete tool. My guess, ex- or current crackhead. Hooked a scan tool up to my truck, and since it wasn't throwing codes (yeah, imagine that, the truck is running APPARENTLY on 2 cylinders, and it's not throwing a code!), so he didn't know what it could be. He told me the soonest he could get to my truck was Wednesday. Referred me to another mechanic, so off I was yet again down the road. Turns out this "mechanic" was a Quick Lube grease monkey. Got the truck in their shop, and they immediately thought "Bad Wires". On a spark test, it showed all the drivers side cylinders dead, and one on the pass side dead. So, the guy takes out one plug, looks at it thouroughly, smells it, then puts it back in. Does it twice more, and then he moves on to a compression test. HE TESTED ONE MOTHER ING CYLINDER! ONE! It was 110. He said it was fine. Moving on, he decides to fiddle dick some more. This is when the shop manager comes up and starts discussing prices. $78 an hour for the guys to do nothing but tell me what it COULD be, and not do anything else. I asked when was the soonest they could start to actually work on it, and they said Monday. So, I paid $70 for them to say that it could be my valve train, and moved on. Went to the closest gas station, and called the sister asking to come get me. They planned on getting a trailer, but the guy wasn't home. This is when I just started calling people, Shane included, to pass the time. After the phone call with Shane, I was sitting in my truck listening to tunes and keeping warm. All of a sudden, BANG! Immediate thought: "Some dude just got his * capped!". Then, another. Investigation was in order. So, I grab the keys out of the ignition, lock the door, and walk down to the street. Turns out, it was just some sort of celebration. Now, if you guys are paying attention, you'll realize my mistake here. Walking back to the truck, realization hit me square in the face. I just locked myself out of my truck. The door key was off my key ring, and my hide a key was in the center console. So, I walk to the front of the building. And guess who is there? The quick lube guy. In a tow truck. I walk over to him and ask him if he's got a slim jim. He says, yeah, but I have to charge for that. I was trying to talk him into doing it for free, but there was no chance: the guy was a dick. So, I asked how much. He replied with "$100". I replied with a one finger salute. So, right at this point, I want to **ing shoot myself. I am in a town I know nothing about, my wallet is in the truck, my phone is in the truck, I only had on my stocking hat and a sweater, and I was ing thirsty. However, I did have the keys to my tool box, which led me to start thinking of breaking into my truck. I unlock the box, and start looking it over. "I could break a window with my Mag Lite, or my drill". Then, I remember, I have a sliding glass window. So there it is, in my tool box tray: a flathead screw driver. A quick second, and the back window was opened. But, by swearing and kicking , I attracted a crowd of onlookers. They all watched as I crawled through the back window to get into my truck, which I immediately shut the window, and turned the truck on with the heater full blast, and the truck still running like absolute dog **. All I could do was laugh at myself. Sister finally showed up, her boyfriend looked over my truck, and he said we could start working on it tomorrow. So, we went and got some grub, and then my dad calls and says he is on his way. I tried telling him we could work on it, but he said he already got a dolly, so he would be there soon. You all want to know the kicker of this entire story? I was 75 MILES FROM MY SISTERS HOUSE! So, I stayed the night there, and met up with the fam this morning (mom came along). Anyway, here are some pictures I took of the truck. Just out of sheer boredom. And, since everybody loves flex shots: Why is there a plumber working on my truck? One of the straps was loose, so when we were about to fix it, the truck decided it didn't want to be dollied anymore. As soon as tension came off of the strap, the truck rolled. Nobody was injured, but my dads butt crack did split my side. I'm starting tomorrow on finding an issue with my valve train. If it's nothing visible, I will be taking the truck to a mechanic my dad uses for analyzing, and HOPEFULLY it's just injectors. If it's something more serious, I have no idea what I am going to do. __________________ 1992 Ford Ranger 4.0 XLT super cab 4X4 auto. A few mods, but it's not finished yet. 1995 Dodge Ram 1500 single cab short box 318 5 speed manual. The work rig.

11-30-2008, 03:55 PM	#2
animalsrule Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Kentucky Posts: 307	sure that is your dad?.......lmao....could be my hubby from the looks of it __________________ looks are cosmetic.....its whats under the hood that counts

12-05-2008, 11:59 AM	#5
Limited Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Anchorage, Alaska Posts: 276	I have that very Yota in my drive way right now! __________________ Danny-Explorer Limited V8 Now: 245HP(air intake, TMH headers, exhaust) Soon: 260HP(tune)

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11-30-2008, 08:08 PM	#3
gmctrucks Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Houston,Texas Posts: 4,033	I'm sure you took off the drive shaft right? Or else your transmission could be burnt up the engine turns the trans pump and if it was on bad sorry. Good luck! GMC

12-03-2008, 02:47 AM	#4
gmctrucks Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Houston,Texas Posts: 4,033	Say buddy any luck on that nice looking Ford I love the color and the height?

12-06-2008, 06:22 PM	#6
gmctrucks Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Houston,Texas Posts: 4,033	Jimmeh where are you what's the deal on your truck we have been hanging here waiting to hear from you?

12-23-2008, 09:44 AM	#7
gmctrucks Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Houston,Texas Posts: 4,033	I wonder if our buddy is do ok has anyone heard from him? Or I haven't heard from him since his Ranger broke down. Be good! GMC

12-23-2008, 04:39 PM	#9
gmctrucks Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Houston,Texas Posts: 4,033	Jimmeh im so glad your doing ok I was beginning to worry about you being out there in that beautiful country all alone I was thinking maybe a bear ate him just kidding but im glad your fine. My daughters girl friend bought a 2003 Dodge truck it has some type of mufflers on it that when she comes over to my house it makes my truck alarm chirp like saying hey I have an alarm step back. Also look on www.craigslist.org for a cap for your truck I have seen some around my area super cheap you might also want to view areas around you meaning other cities. Good luck! GMC PS-And if your engine is dead on the Ranger you might find one there as well.

12-23-2008, 05:03 PM	#10
bradrhale Senior Moderator Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Texas Posts: 8,025	ever find out what ultimately is wrong with the ranger??