2000 GMT400 CREW CAB SFA SWAP-The Warden: Fuel leak fixed and awaiting surgery…

[GWeakland620]

So today we adventured down to the Cottonwood Falls/Cedar Point area for a fun half-day adventure. 200 miles total on this trip and not a single hiccup from The Warden. Other than the need of properly valved shocks, the truck ran and drove great. The family had fun and it was a great success.

The trip started with a scenic drive down to Cedar Point to check out an old stone arch bridge from the late 1800’s. The bridge is walkable, but no longer accessible to vehicles so we had to park, but as you can see you can drive right up to it.

 

[GWeakland620]

After the bridge we took a short drive back towards Cottonwood Falls to the Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve. We took longer than we wanted at the bridge, so we were short on time to check out the Tallgrass park. The park started as a ranch, so there are tons of buildings from the late 1800’s all over the place begging to be explored. All of the buildings and one mansion are all open to the public for exploring. We quickly made it through the barn and mansion before they kicked us out, but we will be returning later this summer for a full day of exploration.







After they closed, we finished our drive back home along with a stop at DQ’s for some ice cream.

We wife has more pictures I’ll add later tonight.

 

[campfire]

Yay exploring!

 

[GWeakland620]

Yay exploring!

Much overdue. The wife and I made a decision for this year to just get out and go. No more waiting for things to be perfect. Going when things aren't perfect, is part of the adventure. So you've been right all alone. Imagine that lol.

 

[campfire]

. So you've been right all along. Imagine that lol.

Hahaha.

I already knew I was right... but thanks for the reminder.

 

[campfire]

Speaking of which... I need to get outta my chair and start planning the summer adventures.

We're surprisingly undecided at this point...

 

[noJeepshere]

Sometimes (almost all of the time) the misadventures are far more fun than if things had gone perfectly.

 

[GWeakland620]

Speaking of which... I need to get outta my chair and start planning the summer adventures.

We're surprisingly undecided at this point...

Still planning on using the Suburban for all the trips? Or are there going to be any tiny car trips?

Sometimes (almost all of the time) the misadventures are far more fun than if things had gone perfectly.

I have also found this to be very true. As long as I can learn to accept it and laugh instead of getting worked up.

 

[ZooMad75]

It can't be an adventure without a little adversity. That's where the memories are made.

I've broken an stub shaft in the middle of nowhere Utah and still had a couple of hours of trail time to get out in 2wd. That was fun. Dealt with a fuel pump that didn't like heat and spend a lot of time on the shoulder letting stuff cool off to keep going. I could go on and on, but that's the stuff that sticks in my brain in a good way. We always laughed about it. Thank goodness we had one or more other trucks with us for support. If I waited for perfection myself stuff would still be in the driveway and I would have never left.

Prepare the best you can before heading out. Keep spares that you could need with you and a good tool kit to fix with. Load up and head out. Have fun.

 

[campfire]

Sometimes (almost all of the time) the misadventures are far more fun than if things had gone perfectly.

It can't be an adventure without a little adversity. That's where the memories are made.

I've broken an stub shaft in the middle of nowhere Utah and still had a couple of hours of trail time to get out in 2wd. That was fun. Dealt with a fuel pump that didn't like heat and spend a lot of time on the shoulder letting stuff cool off to keep going. I could go on and on, but that's the stuff that sticks in my brain in a good way. We always laughed about it. Thank goodness we had one or more other trucks with us for support. If I waited for perfection myself stuff would still be in the driveway and I would have never left.

Prepare the best you can before heading out. Keep spares that you could need with you and a good tool kit to fix with. Load up and head out. Have fun.

I agree with this. Even after 2 horrible tow truck rides last year. Those were 100% not-fun. And you know what else sucked? Having 2 back-to-back wheeling trips aborted due to catastrophic engine failure.

But overall, those are balanced out by a myriad of positive adventure trips. Amazing things we have seen. This wasn't my goal:

,

And getting stranded a few times has made me really appreciate the value of having a friendly tow strap.



But, more importantly, it made me realize that things like this are just minor interruptions. Really, we just spent an extra half hour on a previously-scheduled bathroom break. No biggie, it's all part of the adventure. Break out the tools, change a caliper, pack it all back up. We kept trucking afterwards like nothing had happened. And that's the way it should be.



Was it worth it? Yes. So much yes. Adventure is a worthy goal.

 

[ZooMad75]

It's funny though, the more you drive it and dial things in and fix the little things as they come up the reliability gets to be rock solid and more confidence inspiring. On the week long desert trip last year I didn't have an issue at all until the campsite at the beach on lake Powell. Snapped another front axle u-joint in the sand. We had intended to spend another night somewhere on the way back, but without 4wd we just said screw it and cannonballed back home a day early. But after fixing the front shaft I took 4 more weekend trips after that and didn't have an issue at all.

I think a key part of shaking the truck down was driving mine to work once or twice a week and the odd weekend run to Denver to visit my folks. It proved I had the fuel problem sorted out and really allowed me to be really confident in hopping in and taking it anywhere I needed to. Plus I feel the idea seems to work for me if I have stuff on hand to fix, I probably won't need it. But even if it does happen I know I'll have what I need to take care of just about anything.

 

[campfire]

Still planning on using the Suburban for all the trips? Or are there going to be any tiny car trips?

Well, as I already said...I haven't solidified any plans yet. I have a partial punchlist. But we haven't agreed on timing or duration for any trips yet. I know there will be an early summer wheeling trip with Chad (whenever the weather breaks). August will be the big trip. My brother's gonna sneak in a wheeling trip at some point. But he's even less prone to planning than I am (surprise, surprise ). I'd like to do more wheeling, but I'm not willing to do solo trips this year. It's not even reliability worries, I just don't enjoy the prospect of getting stuck 200 miles from the nearest tow strap. Lessons hard learned are hard to forget.

There will be TinyCar trips. We'd like to hit up Omaha or St. Louis with family. Maybe both? We did decide we don't feel like doing any long trips this summer. Too much going on here. As long as the car remains more comfy than the burb, car temptation will always be there.

We'll be figuring this out soon, as work needs to know our availability ahead of time. Until then we're just daydreaming.

 

[TerryD]

As long as I can learn to accept it and laugh instead of getting worked up.

This is the part that always gets me. The days of throwing caution to the wind seem to be over. Now it's a struggle with anxiety to get anything done and that usually leaves me scrambling to get ready since I wait till the last possible minute to decide to do anything....

 

[campfire]

This is the part that always gets me. The days of throwing caution to the wind seem to be over. Now it's a struggle with anxiety to get anything done and that usually leaves me scrambling to get ready since I wait till the last possible minute to decide to do anything....

There is a middle ground between caution and recklessness, between minutely scheduling your trip and winging the whole thing off the cuff.

Find that middle ground. Embrace it. Moderation avoids the mental baggage that clings to anxiety and recklessness.

 

[ZooMad75]

There is a middle ground between caution and recklessness, between minutely scheduling your trip and winging the whole thing off the cuff.

Find that middle ground. Embrace it. Moderation avoids the mental baggage that clings to anxiety and recklessness.

I think part of it is the dedicated adventure vehicle. It can be used for anything if needed, but primarily ready to go if you do want to take off for the weekend. Mine is set where most of the gear is already stowed in the truck. All I have to do is load a cooler, duffel bag (remember to bring it too, that was fun when I forgot it) and the propane tank and I'm out. 15 minutes tops.

When the crap hits the fan just stop and look it over. Easy to say not to get pissed or angry, but taking a few minutes to let the situation soak in does wonders. Have a soda or a snack and then evaluate the problem and form an attack plan.

As an example last year Larry and I did a mountain run with another buddy and his wife. Larry bonked his tie rod in a nasty section of loose rocks. Tore the stabilizer shock off and taco'd the bar. We pulled the shock off and wheeled it to the camp spot. Next day we had a 15 mile ride to town Larry could only do 40 before the death wobble came on so I ran ahead and located the parts store and broke out the tools to be ready. We got the new shock on in a few minutes in the parking lot and didn't try to bend the bar back straight at all. We did mosquito pass that afternoon and drove home 3 hours the next day.

Nobody got wound up. We all laughed that it happened in the first place. We each just did our part to get it done.

 

[AugustDiesel]

Being able to build a rig ready for adventure, and subsequently fix it on the fly on the trail is all a very satisfying part of the story.

I remember when I first started getting into wrenching and wheeling, I was out in my TJ night wheeling with some other Jeeps, guy got stuck, no one could get him out (turns out he was hung up on a tree stump buried in the mud) so a buddy and I left to go get help. Racing down the washboard dirt roads, the vibrations were too much and snapped the shaft in my fan clutch. Made it to a gas station and had to park it and leave it overnight while I hopped in my buddy’s XJ and carried on to find help for the first guy. He eventually got out, and we returned to my TJ the next morning with new parts and replaced the fan clutch there in the gas station parking lot.

That feeling of accomplishment is probably the bug that bit me and pulled me into this lifestyle for life.

My suburban has had its fair share of misadventures. Everywhere from a belt snapping on the drive home purchase weekend:




To overheating while pulling a boat through the lower Appalachians and having to stop 3-4 times to let it cool off:



Yes that’s the same truck. Fresh off a cheapo rattle can paint job that’s already looking worse for wear.

Very little Offroad adventure experiences as of yet. It has spent probably 90% of its time in my hands being rehabilitated from the neglectful abuse of POs, but has taught me more than I ever could have dreamed of about caring for, repairing, maintaining, and modifying an adventure rig.

It’s very easy to get frustrated and angry when things go wrong. But you learn from them, grow in the experience, adapt, and walk away knowing God’s given you an ability most people don’t have. I consider the near-permanent great stains in my knuckles to be a badge of honor.

 

[GWeakland620]

Crawling in my K5, I have had more than my fare share of breakdowns.

Everything from axle shafts to gear boxes being ripped off the frame. 9/10 times, I laughed about it and kept my cool. But a different element is added when the tow vehicle is the exploration vehicle. I think that's where I'm still very new at.

 

[imiceman44]

Much overdue. The wife and I made a decision for this year to just get out and go. No more waiting for things to be perfect. Going when things aren't perfect, is part of the adventure. So you've been right all alone. Imagine that lol.

I have had this philosophy all my life because otherwise I would never do anything since nothing will ever be really done and perfect.
And occasionally having trouble is part of the adventure.

 

[GWeakland620]

On the way into work, the CEL came back on. P0216 code is present. Reset the code, and it doesn't come back on until you drive it again.

This is what I have found. Still sounds like the Stepper Motor and/or wiring.

P0216- injection timing control circuit

This code sets when there's a 5 degree or more difference between Actual injection timing and Desired injection timing. The timing stepper motor on the passenger side of the fuel injection pump extends or retracts, which rotates the cam ring inside the injection pump to alter timing. This code sets when the PCM can't get the timing right.

There have been a couple of instances of frozen stepper motors, but the more likely cause of this problem is a wiring issue. So, look the related wiring for signs of insulation wear-through or faulty electrical connectors.

 

[GWeakland620]

Got a free core pump brought to me today. Not sure when it will get rebuilt. But I have one now.