Gloria is worn out
Posted: 28 Aug 2012, 20:50
Hi all,
I just got back from my big drive down to Gibraltar in Gloria. She got me there and back with no major problems. But there were some minor issues that occurred on route:
Problem 1. When Gloria was checked out before the trip she came back ok but they did mention about there being a little play on the wheel bearing so assumed this was the cause of a noise I was hearing from under the driver side. When I set out on day 2 of the return, the noise was a lot worse. When doing 0-20mph you don’t hear it. As you then increase speed you hear a repeated “sssh, sssh, sssh” coming from below. The sound repeats more the faster the van gets. Eventually the van gets to such a speed that you don’t hear the noise any more but this is more likely due to the fact that the overall noise of driving drowns out this sound. As you slow down the sound slows down. I thought perhaps the brakes were rubbing but when you apply the brakes the noise does not go away. I spent the last two days driving and waiting for the wheel to fall off.
Problem 2. She is her reluctance to start first time when hot. When she is cold she starts first time, every time with no delay. But when she is hot the engine has to turn over a few times before it catches and starts. During the past 2 days this took longer and longer to achieve and I really started to think she would not start. Then at the last fuel stop, when I turned the ignition, she made a funny noise like an old man coughing “acker”. I stopped straight away, waited and tried again. She started.
Problem 3. Again on the last fuel stop, when she was finally started she did not sound the same while she was idling. There seemed to be a louder than normal “tap, tap, tapping” coming from the engine. Not bad but different than before.
Problem 4. When I pulled up at home I rather unceremoniously fell out of the cab onto the drive. I think it was a mix of relief, exhaustion and giddy excitement. Anyway, while on all fours I notice she smelt ever so slightly different. I cant put my finger on it and am still new to all this but she did not quite smell the same. I love the smell she makes from the engine but this time the smell was stronger.
Anyway, add all this together and the drive home felt longer and my nerves were a little more on edge than usual.
I am going to let her rest for a few days before I start investigating. Any ideas where to start?
I just got back from my big drive down to Gibraltar in Gloria. She got me there and back with no major problems. But there were some minor issues that occurred on route:
Problem 1. When Gloria was checked out before the trip she came back ok but they did mention about there being a little play on the wheel bearing so assumed this was the cause of a noise I was hearing from under the driver side. When I set out on day 2 of the return, the noise was a lot worse. When doing 0-20mph you don’t hear it. As you then increase speed you hear a repeated “sssh, sssh, sssh” coming from below. The sound repeats more the faster the van gets. Eventually the van gets to such a speed that you don’t hear the noise any more but this is more likely due to the fact that the overall noise of driving drowns out this sound. As you slow down the sound slows down. I thought perhaps the brakes were rubbing but when you apply the brakes the noise does not go away. I spent the last two days driving and waiting for the wheel to fall off.
Problem 2. She is her reluctance to start first time when hot. When she is cold she starts first time, every time with no delay. But when she is hot the engine has to turn over a few times before it catches and starts. During the past 2 days this took longer and longer to achieve and I really started to think she would not start. Then at the last fuel stop, when I turned the ignition, she made a funny noise like an old man coughing “acker”. I stopped straight away, waited and tried again. She started.
Problem 3. Again on the last fuel stop, when she was finally started she did not sound the same while she was idling. There seemed to be a louder than normal “tap, tap, tapping” coming from the engine. Not bad but different than before.
Problem 4. When I pulled up at home I rather unceremoniously fell out of the cab onto the drive. I think it was a mix of relief, exhaustion and giddy excitement. Anyway, while on all fours I notice she smelt ever so slightly different. I cant put my finger on it and am still new to all this but she did not quite smell the same. I love the smell she makes from the engine but this time the smell was stronger.
Anyway, add all this together and the drive home felt longer and my nerves were a little more on edge than usual.
I am going to let her rest for a few days before I start investigating. Any ideas where to start?
