Aww my poor babies !! But once again....Zach saves the day in his normal humble manner. Thank God you guys keep your van serviced and checked and are RESPONSIBLE for the maintenance of your travelling home. Shit happens, right ! Stay safe guys !!! ❤❤
Zach always knows what to do!! I am so grateful for him! We have a hard time trusting mechanics to work on our van! My dad (Ally’s dad) has been a mechanic for about 40 years! He taught me a lot about vehicles, but I think my anxiety gets the best of me! I love how calm, cool, and collected Zach is about it all! Shit does happen, lol. Especially when we rely on this van for so much, we have to expect it will break every now and then!
Great Vid, nothing like spending hours on UA-cam with your hood open trying to diagnose a problem. Been there, do that. But the feeling of satisfaction when you actually diagnose and fix it yourself, its a rush!!
Yup! For sure! That’s why we eased our way to a certain point where there was a little bit of service to look things up then we waited it out until the temps outside started dropping! After that we kept a good eye on it while we slowly made our way to a town with an auto parts store.
When you rely on a vehicle to the extent that you do, and you take your van to remote locations, maintenance and servicing need to be 'on point' (a priority). Like many 'van lifers' focus is 99% on tech and interior design BS and 1% on the important stuff!
We maintain our vehicle very well! Regular oil changes (every 3500 miles), regular service checks, rotating tires (just put new tires on it a month or so ago), and we’ve repaired and replaced a lot under the hood too! But like you said, we rely on it heavily as our daily transportation and home! Sometimes sh*t happens that we can’t help every now and then!
I didnt realize the promasters had electric fans on them. Looked like a pretty straightforward fix, glad you're back up and running. We use a wifi OBD reader and an iphone app on the bus so I can monitor the coolant and transmission oil temps at all times, especially up mountains. The factory gauges aren't too accurate. $20 peace of mind.
😅 I was trying to keep cool the entire time. But when I realized how far up this pass was.. I had a mini breakdown myself 😂😂 Per usual, Zach thought it was hysterical! Lol
What an amazing drive, so sorry you were not able to enjoy it. Ally I feel for you, I could see the stress was really getting the best of you. Glad you guys are both ok and made it. Devils Tower is such a cool place, I (Kyle) got a chance to visit there back in the 1980's on a family rv trip across the country. Zach is so handy what a blessing.
Devils Tower was absolutely amazing! We ended up staying there another few days to calm our nerves and reset before our trek east! That drive totally got the best of me! Kyle, how awesome you got to do a cross country RV trip with your family! I bet that hold loads of precious memories!! Also, it is such a blessing that Zach knows how to work on this van the way he does! 😅 that part was over $400! I can only imagine what they would have charged us if we took it to a shop!
I think our year had a recall on our fan but no fix for it yet… don’t quote me on that, though. This is the second time we’ve fixed this fan. But our fan is the only issue we’ve had with it in the past 5 years!
to help you along if your van is not from ca. your can install a 160deg thermostat to cool the engine better, you will lose 1 mpg for the cooler engine, and you ll still pass the smog test ., next time your in a fix for the over heating , turn on the heat , but to the cool side , it will act like a second radiator to help with cooling, and on your trips , damage to the radiator JB WELD 2PART MIX IS TEMPORAY BUT BETTER THEN BEING ON THE ROAD .
I am always worried about overheating. Just replaced the thermostat in our 1995 E-150. I might have waited for night to climb that mountain. In California we burned out our front brakes coming down a 10,000 foot mountain. Glad that you made it afterall.
Ohhhh, that is scary! I’m terrified of burning our breaks out! Especially cause Daisy is a heavy vehicle going downhill 😅 We were gonna wait till nightfall, but we wouldn’t have been able to get the part for the van the next day if we had waited! It was one of those, either get towed, or slowly push forward 😅 so happy we made it without anymore major hiccups though!!
Yes, thank you!! Why is it always so stressful to run into car issues! 🙌🏽 so glad we were able to get it fixed! Luckily Zach has taken this part of the van apart before, so we knew exactly what to do!
In order to use the heater core as a radiator you need to ensure recirculate is turned off for optimum performance. I would consider some way to monitor fluid temperatures through the OBD port.
@@NomadicHabits Two summers ago we were dragging our Promaster up the Bighorns and it highlighted the importance of watching transmission temps. It was holding 220F on transmission temps. Holding same load and same gear with same grade. Then the trans temp just stared climbing. I pulled over at 232. Which is hot.... really really hot for a transmission. Warning light comes on at 250 which is super high. Without watching temps you would have no way to know. I wonder if some of the transmission issues are related to running it hot and not knowing it. Combine that with ignoring the 60k transmission fluid change interval it could be tough on a sensitive transmission. Excessive heat breaks down the fluid.
@@MyGoogleUA-camphew 😅 Yeah. That is hot! Glad you were able to pull over and get off the road! I’ve always kept a close eye on it! Usually I’m able to catch it before the light cuts on.. but that’s just by using the gage! Even when I think the engine is hot from the smell, sometimes the gage still won’t budge. That’s why I joked about our gage being a dummy gage in the beginning! We have been looking into a Bluetooth monitor for the future! We’ve only ever had the light come on once, though! That was the first time. The resistor fell off and was flung into the radiator busting the hole in it! We’ve had a few issues with the fan and the resistors! It’s something that we have to check often, and even more often now that this has happened to us twice!
Oh gosh!! We talked about that at one point on this drive! It’s no wonder people, cattle, and their animals died! These climbs on hot days are no joke! I also imagine what this climb would be like in the snow.. 😳
just recently had a very similar problem with my car took it in and they couldn't find anything had to bring it back in and they said they would have to rebuild the motor glad it wasn't that serious for you guys
Oh my gosh!!! That is terrifying!! I hope you got things fixed up and they didn’t charge you an arm and a leg to do so 😅 I am so glad it was just our fan!
we ended up trading the car in and instead of paying for the motor we used that money to put a down payment on a newer car to my Suprise we still got 2500 dollars for the trade@@NomadicHabits
lol, that’s what we did! Luckily, we know how to diagnose and work on the van to get it up and running when we have issues like this! Just helps to have a little service to be able to look up an auto parts store nearby!
I saw your steering wheel and knew exactly what when wrong, you bought a dodge, the parts are made in china assembled elsewhere, and the metal used is, china's "mostly" the tech in it, china. You see? So to fix it, you have to sell it, get an older dodge, ford or really old chevy. 80's-early 90's and 70's-80's for chevy. Or just buy Toyota, problem solved. Safe travels to you.
😂😂 Zach says the same thing! Every time we have to buy a new part or fix something he mutters to himself “stupid Chinese parts” 😂😂 we’re both Chevy people usually! It was odd how this van seemed to just fall in our lap all those years ago, though! Thank you! ❤️
@@NomadicHabits Yeah most cars, trucks & vans etc.. today are made with a short shelf life, been that way for years. I know I was being a little cheeky, but do feel the same way Zach does. Maybe see what it would take to fit an old dodge/mopar motor? Again be safe, and careful online as people are nuts today, and get jealous easy.
@@branchesofYAH Hopefully, by taking care of her the way we do, she’ll last a while! We’ve upgraded most of the parts under the hood (the ones that we can, at least), but anything we can do to keep her running and in good shape, we’ll try!! Then again, you just never know what's going to happen next! I'm not sure if a Dodge motor would fit… 🤔 is definitely a good thought, though! I'll have to mention it to my husband! He's the big car guy! 😆 And thank you so much! We enjoy posting about our lives; it's just a hobby, and hopefully, people will recognize that. It does seem many people would rather complain about us or leave rude remarks these days! Luckily, we have a good sense of humor 🤭 We’ll try and stay as safe as possible. You do the same! It’s a wild world sometimes, then sometimes, you meet all the best people! ☺️
Yes 🙌🏽🙌🏽 definitely don’t wanna get caught out there not knowing how to fix your van! Luckily we’ve taken this big girl apart many of times in the past. So it was more of an issue of getting to where they had the part so we could sit still and fix it! We travel with more tools than (I’m gonna say most) probably do. And this is exactly why!!
Aww my poor babies !! But once again....Zach saves the day in his normal humble manner. Thank God you guys keep your van serviced and checked and are RESPONSIBLE for the maintenance of your travelling home. Shit happens, right ! Stay safe guys !!! ❤❤
Zach always knows what to do!! I am so grateful for him! We have a hard time trusting mechanics to work on our van! My dad (Ally’s dad) has been a mechanic for about 40 years! He taught me a lot about vehicles, but I think my anxiety gets the best of me! I love how calm, cool, and collected Zach is about it all!
Shit does happen, lol. Especially when we rely on this van for so much, we have to expect it will break every now and then!
Great Vid, nothing like spending hours on UA-cam with your hood open trying to diagnose a problem. Been there, do that. But the feeling of satisfaction when you actually diagnose and fix it yourself, its a rush!!
Couldn’t agree more!! There is something about doing it yourself that is so rewarding! Not to mention cheaper… much cheaper 😅 thank you!
It would make the most sense to travel at dusk rather than forcing it in the hot temp
Yup! For sure! That’s why we eased our way to a certain point where there was a little bit of service to look things up then we waited it out until the temps outside started dropping! After that we kept a good eye on it while we slowly made our way to a town with an auto parts store.
When you rely on a vehicle to the extent that you do, and you take your van to remote locations, maintenance and servicing need to be 'on point' (a priority). Like many 'van lifers' focus is 99% on tech and interior design BS and 1% on the important stuff!
We maintain our vehicle very well! Regular oil changes (every 3500 miles), regular service checks, rotating tires (just put new tires on it a month or so ago), and we’ve repaired and replaced a lot under the hood too!
But like you said, we rely on it heavily as our daily transportation and home! Sometimes sh*t happens that we can’t help every now and then!
I didnt realize the promasters had electric fans on them. Looked like a pretty straightforward fix, glad you're back up and running. We use a wifi OBD reader and an iphone app on the bus so I can monitor the coolant and transmission oil temps at all times, especially up mountains. The factory gauges aren't too accurate. $20 peace of mind.
Ohhh $20?! Yes! I want that peace of mind, which one do you have?! I don’t think our gauges are too accurate either!
Well that was nerve wracking. I felt that mental breakdown lol
😅 I was trying to keep cool the entire time. But when I realized how far up this pass was.. I had a mini breakdown myself 😂😂 Per usual, Zach thought it was hysterical! Lol
What an amazing drive, so sorry you were not able to enjoy it. Ally I feel for you, I could see the stress was really getting the best of you. Glad you guys are both ok and made it. Devils Tower is such a cool place, I (Kyle) got a chance to visit there back in the 1980's on a family rv trip across the country. Zach is so handy what a blessing.
Devils Tower was absolutely amazing! We ended up staying there another few days to calm our nerves and reset before our trek east! That drive totally got the best of me!
Kyle, how awesome you got to do a cross country RV trip with your family! I bet that hold loads of precious memories!!
Also, it is such a blessing that Zach knows how to work on this van the way he does! 😅 that part was over $400! I can only imagine what they would have charged us if we took it to a shop!
So many of the Promaster channels I watch are having problems with their vans.
I think our year had a recall on our fan but no fix for it yet… don’t quote me on that, though. This is the second time we’ve fixed this fan. But our fan is the only issue we’ve had with it in the past 5 years!
to help you along if your van is not from ca. your can install a 160deg thermostat to cool the engine better, you will lose 1 mpg for the cooler engine, and you ll still pass the smog test ., next time your in a fix for the over heating , turn on the heat , but to the cool side , it will act like a second radiator to help with cooling, and on your trips , damage to the radiator JB WELD 2PART MIX IS TEMPORAY BUT BETTER THEN BEING ON THE ROAD .
Thanks for the tips and feedback!! It is greatly appreciated! ❤️
I am always worried about overheating. Just replaced the thermostat in our 1995 E-150. I might have waited for night to climb that mountain. In California we burned out our front brakes coming down a 10,000 foot mountain. Glad that you made it afterall.
Ohhhh, that is scary! I’m terrified of burning our breaks out! Especially cause Daisy is a heavy vehicle going downhill 😅
We were gonna wait till nightfall, but we wouldn’t have been able to get the part for the van the next day if we had waited! It was one of those, either get towed, or slowly push forward 😅 so happy we made it without anymore major hiccups though!!
Vehicle troubles are always stressful. Glad everything ended up working out and you all are back on the road.
Yes, thank you!! Why is it always so stressful to run into car issues! 🙌🏽 so glad we were able to get it fixed! Luckily Zach has taken this part of the van apart before, so we knew exactly what to do!
You two are amazing❤️❤️❤️❤️🐾🐾🐾🐾
❤️❤️ you’re too kind!!
Aren't they !!!
In order to use the heater core as a radiator you need to ensure recirculate is turned off for optimum performance.
I would consider some way to monitor fluid temperatures through the OBD port.
Noted! Thanks for the tip.
@@NomadicHabits
Two summers ago we were dragging our Promaster up the Bighorns and it highlighted the importance of watching transmission temps.
It was holding 220F on transmission temps. Holding same load and same gear with same grade. Then the trans temp just stared climbing. I pulled over at 232. Which is hot.... really really hot for a transmission. Warning light comes on at 250 which is super high. Without watching temps you would have no way to know.
I wonder if some of the transmission issues are related to running it hot and not knowing it. Combine that with ignoring the 60k transmission fluid change interval it could be tough on a sensitive transmission. Excessive heat breaks down the fluid.
@@MyGoogleUA-camphew 😅 Yeah. That is hot! Glad you were able to pull over and get off the road!
I’ve always kept a close eye on it! Usually I’m able to catch it before the light cuts on.. but that’s just by using the gage! Even when I think the engine is hot from the smell, sometimes the gage still won’t budge. That’s why I joked about our gage being a dummy gage in the beginning!
We have been looking into a Bluetooth monitor for the future!
We’ve only ever had the light come on once, though! That was the first time. The resistor fell off and was flung into the radiator busting the hole in it!
We’ve had a few issues with the fan and the resistors! It’s something that we have to check often, and even more often now that this has happened to us twice!
Imagine this same trip years ago on a horse-drawn wagon.
Oh gosh!! We talked about that at one point on this drive! It’s no wonder people, cattle, and their animals died! These climbs on hot days are no joke! I also imagine what this climb would be like in the snow.. 😳
just recently had a very similar problem with my car took it in and they couldn't find anything had to bring it back in and they said they would have to rebuild the motor glad it wasn't that serious for you guys
Oh my gosh!!! That is terrifying!! I hope you got things fixed up and they didn’t charge you an arm and a leg to do so 😅 I am so glad it was just our fan!
we ended up trading the car in and instead of paying for the motor we used that money to put a down payment on a newer car to my Suprise we still got 2500 dollars for the trade@@NomadicHabits
go back down the hill..... turn the heater on with the windows open. Not that big a deal.
lol, that’s what we did! Luckily, we know how to diagnose and work on the van to get it up and running when we have issues like this! Just helps to have a little service to be able to look up an auto parts store nearby!
I saw your steering wheel and knew exactly what when wrong, you bought a dodge, the parts are made in china assembled elsewhere, and the metal used is, china's "mostly" the tech in it, china. You see? So to fix it, you have to sell it, get an older dodge, ford or really old chevy. 80's-early 90's and 70's-80's for chevy. Or just buy Toyota, problem solved. Safe travels to you.
😂😂 Zach says the same thing! Every time we have to buy a new part or fix something he mutters to himself “stupid Chinese parts” 😂😂 we’re both Chevy people usually! It was odd how this van seemed to just fall in our lap all those years ago, though! Thank you! ❤️
@@NomadicHabits Yeah most cars, trucks & vans etc.. today are made with a short shelf life, been that way for years. I know I was being a little cheeky, but do feel the same way Zach does. Maybe see what it would take to fit an old dodge/mopar motor? Again be safe, and careful online as people are nuts today, and get jealous easy.
@@branchesofYAH Hopefully, by taking care of her the way we do, she’ll last a while! We’ve upgraded most of the parts under the hood (the ones that we can, at least), but anything we can do to keep her running and in good shape, we’ll try!! Then again, you just never know what's going to happen next! I'm not sure if a Dodge motor would fit… 🤔 is definitely a good thought, though! I'll have to mention it to my husband! He's the big car guy! 😆
And thank you so much! We enjoy posting about our lives; it's just a hobby, and hopefully, people will recognize that. It does seem many people would rather complain about us or leave rude remarks these days! Luckily, we have a good sense of humor 🤭
We’ll try and stay as safe as possible. You do the same! It’s a wild world sometimes, then sometimes, you meet all the best people! ☺️
This shows how important it is to know how to fix an engine if you're going to make van life work.
Yes 🙌🏽🙌🏽 definitely don’t wanna get caught out there not knowing how to fix your van! Luckily we’ve taken this big girl apart many of times in the past. So it was more of an issue of getting to where they had the part so we could sit still and fix it!
We travel with more tools than (I’m gonna say most) probably do. And this is exactly why!!