Vacatious Interuptus

[h2odrx]

WOW!!!!

 

[TLBREWER]

I was explaining to the wife and kids just how futile it would be to try and manage the electrical system on a newer truck. I can just imagine what it would be like with a Silverado. Sure glad I can still decide when to turn the lights on and off.

Mel

I open the hood on my new Chevy just to make sure nothing is leaking, then shut it. I've found the glow plug controller... have no idea where the plugs are hiding.
First thing I do after starting it is manually turn off the the automatic DDL's and as soon as I put it in gear and start rolling I unlock the automatic locking doors. All that automatic stuff bugs the crap out of me. If a person doesn't know when to turn on the lights and lock their doors, maybe they shouldn't be driving.

Tom

 

[h2odrx]

does it have an hour meter on it? i understand some of the new trucks have this by pressing the trip button? i know you can check mileage with truck off by pressing the trip.

 

[TLBREWER]

does it have an hour meter on it? i understand some of the new trucks have this by pressing the trip button? i know you can check mileage with truck off by pressing the trip.

Yes it does. You are correct. Press the trip button and it gives trip mileage. Hold it to reset. Push again for engine hours-no reset that I know of. Kinda cool.

Tom

 

[The Warden]

tim-
there's one nice thing about mbz that our fords lack. mbz diesels have vac IP shutoff. so as long as you have it fired up, its going to run until it runs out of feul. i've even isolated my ford's IP solenoid to a jumpack after firing it up so I can be making it home with no sweat but a little blind.

I was thinking the exact same thing; the vacuum shutoff saved my tail that day. And, now you've given me an additional reason to invest in one of those jumper packs...have to find one with enough juice to light off an IDI

My old Scout had a cable-operated shutoff lever. I remember one of my first posts on STD way-back when was asking if the IDI pump could be adapted to something like that. The consensus at the time was a firm "no"...and, unless there's a replacement for the top part of the IP that has a lever instead of the solenoid, I highly doubt that it can be done.

The cable shutoff on my Scout was a similar design to the engine throttle on a Cessna, and one can buy a mechanism that goes around the Cessna throttle and locks it at idle (url=http://www.ground-support.com/throttlelock.html]looks like this[/url]). I wanted to try this on the Scout's shutoff cable as a theft-deterrent, but never had the $$. OTOH, who in their right mind would have wanted to steal that rustbucket?

 

[Michael Fowler]

Warden, I was going tp make the same comment, but its already been done.

Mel, FWIW, the fuel solenoid needs only around 4-5 volts to stay energized, and open. I lost the alternator some years ago while commutinmg fron Bel Air to Reading PA. The alternator died on the home-bound trip, but with the lousy factory gauges, I did not notice. After getting started the next morning, I noticed the headlights not being as bright, and then the radio quit ( somewhere around 11 volts). I picked up a new alternator on my way to the job site, and only turned it off after arriving. My voltmeter showed about 5 volts IIFC. I was able to sandwhich the alternator replacement in my day's activities. If it had been a computer-controlled vehicle, I would have been on the side of the road.