D'oh!! Homer isn't well!!

FatBoy · **Reply #30: February 27, 2015, 08:03:05**

Yes, Homer is two bigger!!

PhireSideZA · **Reply #31: February 28, 2015, 06:11:10**

Glad to hear Homer is doing well again

beerman · **Reply #32: March 01, 2015, 00:57:01**

Is anyone going to mention the elephant in the room.........

Wouldn't happen in a Hyundai

I'll have this one please....

FatBoy · **Reply #33: March 02, 2015, 13:20:23**

I wish to make the sound of a Queensland crow. Faaaaaaaaaaaaaark!!!!

On the way to the Foo Fighters' concert tonight, Homer did it again. He spat the top radiator hose, again; and got put on the back of a flatbed truck, again; and is now at Motors Hobart, again. This time they can have him for two weeks, as that is when I get back from Broome. I want more than a change of hose, clamp, pressure test and refill of coolant. This time they can tell me why it did it, twice!! Methinks this time they should change the thermostat as well.

Oh, the Foo Fighters were excellent.

rustynutz · **Reply #34: March 02, 2015, 13:25:25**

Not good, Jamie....Shoulda bought a Hyundai...

FatBoy · **Reply #35: March 02, 2015, 13:27:53**

Quote from: rustynutz on March 02, 2015, 13:25:25

Not good, Jamie....Shoulda bought a Hyundai...

I know, Rusty. If I'd wanted sympathy from you I can find it in the dictionary between "sh1t" and "syphilis".

rustynutz · **Reply #36: March 02, 2015, 13:31:13**

Doggie 1 · **Reply #37: March 02, 2015, 14:56:02**

Gee, I wouldn't be happy either.
I hope they find the ~~sauce~~ source.

Wingerdave · **Reply #38: March 02, 2015, 16:37:23**

Quote from: FatBoy on March 02, 2015, 13:20:23

I wish to make the sound of a Queensland crow. Faaaaaaaaaaaaaark!!!!

On the way to the Foo Fighters' concert tonight, Homer did it again. He spat the top radiator hose, again; and got put on the back of a flatbed truck, again; and is now at Motors Hobart, again. This time they can have him for two weeks, as that is when I get back from Broome. I want more than a change of hose, clamp, pressure test and refill of coolant. This time they can tell me why it did it, twice!! Methinks this time they should change the thermostat as well.

Oh, the Foo Fighters were excellent.

They always are. They really kick ass

PhireSideZA · **Reply #39: March 02, 2015, 17:26:47**

Quote from: FatBoy on March 02, 2015, 13:20:23

I wish to make the sound of a Queensland crow. Faaaaaaaaaaaaaark!!!!

On the way to the Foo Fighters' concert tonight, Homer did it again. He spat the top radiator hose, again; and got put on the back of a flatbed truck, again; and is now at Motors Hobart, again. This time they can have him for two weeks, as that is when I get back from Broome. I want more than a change of hose, clamp, pressure test and refill of coolant. This time they can tell me why it did it, twice!! Methinks this time they should change the thermostat as well.

Oh, the Foo Fighters were excellent.

Ag shite, that's really bad luck! Don't accept him back until they are 100% sure it won't happen again.

Best of luck

cruiserfied · **Reply #40: March 02, 2015, 19:55:22**

Time for a compression test me thinks.

Surferdude · **Reply #41: March 02, 2015, 19:55:53**

That's bad luck , Jamie.
Sounds like he's the right colour though.

Dazzler · **Reply #42: March 02, 2015, 20:45:31**

Bugger! How did you get to the concert ? (in the tow truck?)

Glad I got the V6

FatBoy · **Reply #43: March 02, 2015, 22:20:27**

I called Mrs FatBoy who came and picked us up from the Holden dealer and took us to the concert. I'm now in the Qantas Club on my way to work. Haven't been called by Holden yet. Funny thing is that both times it let go was in slow moving traffic.

Dazz, you know you want a V8. I just want a reliable V8!

cruiserfied · **Reply #44: March 02, 2015, 23:04:47**

Quote from: FatBoy on March 02, 2015, 22:20:27

Dazz, you know you want a V8. I just want a reliable V8!

I know I sure do

Dazzler · **Reply #45: March 02, 2015, 23:23:09**

Mrs Fatboy wouldn't have been amused! Next car might be a small V8 with turbos :Evil:

FatBoy · **Reply #46: March 03, 2015, 01:20:25**

Apparently it is a faulty radiator cap that is allowing too much pressure to build in the system. After that is fixed it is off to the body shop to have the front bumper fixed from where it was damaged putting it on the truck.

Surferdude · **Reply #47: March 03, 2015, 01:44:22**

Phil №❶ · **Reply #48: March 03, 2015, 01:52:39**

Slow moving traffic. Did the engine display excess heat on the temp guage b4 the hose let go. Do you have electric cooling fans & do you know if the started or not. Sounds like she might have got too hot and boiled. But I hope it didn't. As I mentioned b4, if there is any fine sediment anywhere in the system and it dries out due to heat, it will solidify and turn into stone, particularly in the radiator core, so although the coolant may look clean, the capillary tubes may be blocked creating your problem. The whole thing needs a flow test, both motor and radiator, compression test & thermostat test / replacement.

They've got 2 weeks, so that should be enough time.

Dazzler · **Reply #49: March 03, 2015, 09:14:59**

Quote from: FatBoy on March 03, 2015, 01:20:25

Apparently it is a faulty radiator cap that is allowing too much pressure to build in the system. After that is fixed it is off to the body shop to have the front bumper fixed from where it was damaged putting it on the truck.

Dazzler · **Reply #50: March 13, 2015, 20:38:58**

Did you pick Homer up yet Jamie?

FatBoy · **Reply #51: March 13, 2015, 21:51:58**

I picked up Homer at the airport yesterday. So far so good.

I did have a "WTF" moment at the KFC drive-thru on the way home (we had KFC because I had KFC days). I had the window down and could smell a very strong smell of coolant!! It must have been when the coolant was running to the overflow tank (which doesn't have a tight seal) because the temp gauge didn't move on the way home (another 40 km). They did put a "worm drive" clamp on the hose this time.

Phil №❶ · **Reply #52: March 13, 2015, 22:09:56**

Quote from: FatBoy on March 13, 2015, 21:51:58

They did put a "worm drive" clamp on the hose this time.

Good luck, I hope it doesn't break somewhere more expensive.

FatBoy · **Reply #53: March 13, 2015, 22:10:52**

Quote from: Phil №❶ on March 13, 2015, 22:09:56

Quote from: FatBoy on March 13, 2015, 21:51:58
They did put a "worm drive" clamp on the hose this time.

Good luck, I hope it doesn't break somewhere more expensive.

My concern too!!

The Gonz · **Reply #54: March 13, 2015, 22:14:29**

Maybe rig up a vapour reservoir for your coolant overflow bottle. Eventually you'll re-engineer the holdin' to an acceptable level of sophisitication.

Shambles · **Reply #55: March 13, 2015, 23:06:51**

Quote from: FatBoy

They did put a "worm drive" clamp on the hose this time.

A jubilee clip?

Dazzler · **Reply #56: March 14, 2015, 06:21:57**

Quote from: FatBoy on March 13, 2015, 21:51:58

I picked up Homer at the airport yesterday. So far so good.

I did have a "WTF" moment at the KFC drive-thru on the way home (we had KFC because I had KFC days). I had the window down and could smell a very strong smell of coolant!! It must have been when the coolant was running to the overflow tank (which doesn't have a tight seal) because the temp gauge didn't move on the way home (another 40 km). They did put a "worm drive" clamp on the hose this time.

cruiserfied · **Reply #57: March 14, 2015, 07:35:28**

They should never have reinstalled the spring clamp

FatBoy · **Reply #58: September 14, 2015, 07:25:54**

Well, Homer has been for a minor checkup again.

As most of you know, I do what we in Australia call FIFO work, that is I work for two weeks away from home, and then spend two weeks at home. I leave Homer at the airport long term car park for those two weeks, so far without incident.

After our one week trip to Hong Kong (where Homer was left at home in the garage), I went down to the car to drive to town. The remote unlocking wouldn't work so I assumed it was a flat remote battery. I changed keys and still the same result, nothing. Bugger, the car battery must have gone flat. I opened the car with the key, and put the key in the ignition. Nothing, zilch, not even a click from the starter motor solenoid. Totally dead battery after one week idle (remember it usually sits for two weeks).

I jump started it in accordance with the owners manual (the battery is behind the passenger's seat, so it utilises "poles" in the engine bay), and was able to get the car started. After about one minute of idling, a chime sounded with the dreaded "Check Engine" light coming on. I attempted a shut down and restart, just like a Windows computer, which sometimes clears the codes. The car started fine on its own battery too, but the light came back on. I rang the local Holden dealer and booked it in for a check up, also asking them was it alright to drive. They assured me that if it wasn't running rough then it was okay to drive. I thought the light might be caused by a low voltage in the system. The radio and climate control also wasn't working, that is, the whole centre console was dark, with no controls. I read on another car forum that the console can go into "power save mode" and can be reset by disconnecting the battery for about an hour. I did this and the radio and climate control came back to life. Still it had a "Check Engine" light though.

Anyhoos, I took the car down to the local garage to see if he could get any codes, and see if they would clear. It came up with two codes, one for High Voltage on Fuel Sensor, the next for Low Voltage on the Fuel Sensor. The High Voltage code would clear but not the Low Voltage. My guess is that jump starting it caused the Fuel Sensor to spike and fail.

Well, I took the car to the airport, and told the staff there of the issues. After two weeks at work I came back and asked the staff if the car started okay. Well, it did!!

I took the car into Holden today, for a check, and they have ordered in a Fuel Sensor, as that is the faulty part. The Fuel Sensor is to check the type of fuel that is being used, as my car is capable of running on up to 85% ethanol blend (E85). If it doesn't work, it reverts to normal fuel mode. As E85 isn't available in Tasmania, I'm not that concerned. They will call me when it arrives so I can take the car in so that the Fuel Sensor can be replaced. All under warranty.

My surprise was that either something stayed on to drain the battery, or that I left something on. I am sure that the car was dark when I left it. It also started straight away on its own power not long after the jump start.

Oh well, it works now. I'll keep you up to date with the next issue when it happens (not if).

The Gonz · **Reply #59: September 14, 2015, 07:31:17**

Good storytelling, Tolstoy!