Ho Van Go...

The day before grandson Oliver's visit here last month, the old green van's transmission lost its seals and dumped all its fluid. I happened to see the smoke and fluid buildup on the rear window and stopped it before it totally gagged. We ended up tracking down a place that would fix it for only $350 so we went ahead and put 5 quarts of tranny fluid in it and drove it there. Toward the end of Oliver's visit, we got it back and it seemed OK. At the same time though, the exhaust system started leaking and sounded worse by the day.

Then, a couple of days later, it overheated. It was out of coolant and had a split hose. I finally tracked down the hose that had one end cracked at the connector. The other end extended down and back into the top of the engine and back under the hood. Anyway, I fixed the top of the hose and drove it around. It seemed better since it wasn't spraying water and steam all over, but was still leaking. I thought it was residual fluid from the spray issue. It kept leaking so I got some new heater hose and returned home. On the way, it got real hot and started a knock when I arrived here. So, I let it cool down and replaced the hose. I now remember why I quit working on old and dirty cars years ago, again...

So, all was fine, the leak was totally fixed and all was well again in VanLand. That night I took it to the pool league and about 2 miles away, it started making some really nasty knocking sounds and kept getting worse. I made it there and had a friend follow me home incase it gagged. I made it here, but the knock had come back again. Its really weird. Most engine knocks are consistent and methodical. This one isn't, but it sounds like a hammer hitting the engine block sound - Not good. It was obvious to me that it was done and too dangerous to drive again without serious engine work.

Its amazing how so many things can go wrong with a car - all at one time. The van has had no problems since we moved here, except being what it is and that I have to drive it...

All you past van riders and lovers out there, take a moment to mentally say good riddance, er good by, to the old green Ford van, its done.

Now, the challenge is to find a car for Pam to love and drive, and for trips, and for me to get my Jeep back full time...