The End

[oldginger]

Hi, the saga of my voyager is over because all those car techies advertising their wonderful talents for fixing all things electrical cant reset my ecu so my voyager has been scraped. I shall never own a modern computerised piece of junk again. The lap top I am using now is constantly updating resulting in having to reset all sorts of things. I have been putting up with B.S. Britain since that idiot Blair became  chief idiot. I have two good classic cars that run well and are easy to fix, so happy days on the transport front. I just need to go retro in other ways. The stow-n-go is a very good design  and  a good practical car with good road manners. Its let down like all modern cars is computerised technology that's sort of ok in an office but totally useless in a metal box that's subject to all kinds of weather and temperature conditions, add to that wires that are only suitable for a model railway and there's the recipe for endless problems. You don't have to agree with me just check out the amount of fairly new cars for sale with electrical problems on line and on the forums. I just remembered  that I am just 6ft away from a 1959 radiogram identical to the one my wife and I sat and played records on when we where courting, still have big collection of vinyl. The Voyager packed just before she died. Omen maybe, Thanks to you all for your help and suggestions, stay safe and I wish you well for the future, take care regards Roy.

 

 

[RichardM]

Whilst I love the space and comfort of my GV I totally sympathise and understand your decision. I have owned my GV around 13 months now and for nine of those I suffered from the dreaded won't start 'cause I don't feel like it syndrome. My local garage finally traced it to a faulty fuel filter housing which has been replaced with an in line BMW 3 litre fuel filter. Now starts every time regardless (am I tempting fate.. hope not) 

But back to the theme. Has anyone contemplated replacing the engine (and drive train) with something more robust i.e. older ? Ford Transit 1st edition FWD or something else (Americano with auto box ?). I cannot imagine it would be easy and would require an awful lot of ancillary work (cutting out half a ton of wiring and CPU's.. Fuel consumption may turn our to be lousy but reliability would surely increase along with peace of mind and the ability to get it running again with a screwdriver and hammer.

I've also dug out my old vinyl and the sounds of Cat Stevens, Hawkwind and Pink Floyd now reverberate around the house (when my other half is out the house).

Bye the bye, I did own a 'classic', a Jensen GT, restored it from rust then found I didn't fit in it...... My old Merc, W124 estate is sittoing doing nothing in the drive due to steel worm in the wings, must do something to it when the weather improves (also need to inject another dose of enthusiasm!)

Good luck for the future. - Richard                               (still love the GV but know when the grmlins return no doubt the scrapyard will call.)

[bignev]

I'm so sorry that it's ended up this way for you pal. And I agree with you on modern electronics, ok when they're new (mostly - but that's a whole other story) but garbage on a lot of stuff after only a few years. Never mind, the manufacturer made their big money and it met all the lovely environmental requirements hey.

[gordy]

Mine went to scrappy with All electricals working too. Engine was a puller. It's just I ain't got the go go with this copd that I've got to repair the MOT faults.

Good Luck is all I can say.. 

[maxcaddy]

In the past if you stuck something in a garage/barn for 40 years it would suddenly become rare and valuable, if it were actually worth something in the first place, it could then be worth quite a lot , and receive rose coloured praises from writers who actually never drove one in the first place. That said, I'm not sure how vehicles of today will fair in the future especially if say in another 40 years there's no such thing as petrol/diesel, or that if there is, it would be absolutely horrendous cost per litre.

 

A while ago I bought a Ford Explorer and had it converted to LPG, it drove superbly was extremely reliable and did everything and more that a full size 4x4 could be expected to do. After 9 years and 80,000 the timing chain broke and ruined the engine (and people worry about timing belts). I could of rebuilt the engine, but at that age and mileage it really wasn't worth it, so it went to the great recycler in the sky, mainly because there were many 4x4 alternatives around, most giving as much performance and better economy that an old 'exploder'. 

 

However for me the point is that I'm unaware of any suitable replacement for my Stow n Go (as and when it gives up the ghost), hence I will keep mine going as long as is practicable. When it does die I'm not sure what its replacement will be, and I can't really think of any new or vintage which could even come close to it. What else can be used as a large comfortable car one minute, a van the next, and take a full load on a 600 mile trip at 80mph and still touch 30mpg ? 

 

40 years ago you didn't worry much about car electrics as the bodywork was going to rust away long before that ever become a problem   

[maxcaddy]

I think mine's now going to join Gingers down the scrappy .

After this year's motoring whereby for the cost of 4 tyres and an Alternator, I've managed to do about 5,000 and 7 months use, including a 2 month/ 2,000 mile holiday in France, the Autobox is now throwing a wobbly.

It started yesterday whereby after a jaunt up to London the return trip to Southsea resulted in 2 or 3 times when there was no drive when pulling away from a junction. The usual little thump when engaging drive isn't there anymore, and it needed a bootfull of revs to get it to engage a gear.

Today it struggled to do anything in 'D' but did move after revving it a few times, but then struggled to do anything in 'R' to get it back onto the drive.

Checked the Autobox oil which was fine, and other than some mysterious easily curable gearbox fault, it's now unfortunately finished its useful life. 

Any meaningful suggestions to fix the Autobox and give it a few miles would be welcomed, otherwise any call for parts that would leave it still towable will be considered.

Thoughts ?

 

 

 

[bignev]

Hi pal,

Can you hear any buzz, or indeed anything, from the solenoid pack on top, front, of the gearbox? If it went quite suddenly and the fluid looks and smells good it's a thought....

[maxcaddy]

Cheers Nev,

There's a gentle buzzing when you listen carefully under the bonnet, but without stripping lots out its very difficult to be exact as to where its coming from.

Unfortunately without the full diagnostic its going to be difficult to confirm what's wrong, there are no local places that want to touch it (neighbour had a similar problem with his Chrysler PT and couldn't find anyone to help, ended up scrapping it), and I'm very wary of pursuing a lost cause. After 9 years ownership (it's a 2007) and 133,000 (70,000 by me), with a few dents and scratches its value is at best £500, hence diminishing returns. 

A further test this morning gives drive after a few revs, so I might keep it for a while for emergency as living on an island (IOW) there's only 20 miles max and then your in the sea .

I did swap the Autobox relay, but that didn't do anything. Only hope is for someone on here who has had exactly the same issue, to confirm what was needed to cure it (i.e. Solenoid pack). 

Otherwise, time has come, the Walrus said................

 

[bignev]

Ah yes, I just thought of it, yours may have a drive by wire throttle and that would buzz, mines cable.

Its a bit of a gamble, and not so simple on these, but maybe a fluid change? And as massive longevity isn't a consideration use cheaper normal ATF instead of the Mopar expensive stuff? 

[maxcaddy]

Having booked a holiday which started last Sunday, it all went wrong at the wrong time. When I get back I may have a little go at it, but it's been warned that any serious misbehaving would be the end, and that's what its doing .

Sad really as I'm in the US and there's still a shed load of them running around even quite old ones. Probably cos they've got the V6, and not an old oil burner .

 

 

 

[bignev]

OOH NOW - how cheaply could you pick up a shift solenoid pack while you're there?????

 

Part Number - 05015646AB

 

 

[maxcaddy]

Seemed a good idea, but they're not exactly giving them away.

I could have saved $10 on a cheaper one, but the $40 surcharge until I took my old one back could have been expensive .

[bignev]

Ooh heck that's not at all cheap!!!!!!

 

They've gone up dramatically since I did mine a few years ago, including shipping from the States, from Rockauto, was around £80 I think I remember.

[maxcaddy]

Gone up you say !!!. I bought a tin of matching spray paint for my Cub Cadet from a dealer here, and was charged $29.22 .

On the GV front, got to say I'm of the mind that repairing it even if its only the Solenoid Pack, is just a few weeks grace from the next thing going wrong, and it's looking like it's more trouble than it's worth to want to invest any more  .

 

[bignev]

The world's gone blooming bananas on everything.  The Baxi boiler I frequently fit has gone from a grand to £1320 in less than 2 years. Disgusting. How the heck can any normal person survive this? 

It's sad on the car, but I also think ours may not be too long for this world. Its got several tinkling clanking noises, and a very rusty suspension top mount under the bonnet. And I'm not very inclined to tackle a oair of front struts. They're only 6 years old anyway, brand new complete units. Humbug. And an exhaust blow, again, and it's still drinking coolant. Hey ho.