"Tanks" plane trip to Perth

[Keith Morris]

"tanks" here---

What a month this has been. I will be glad to see the end of August. All was going well ‘till the Mercedes decided to display a EDC Warning light on the dash, and run in LIMP MODE. I searched the Owner’s Manual to find out what this EDC warning was. No listing other than EMC Warning. I eventually found out that EDC is Electronic Diesel Control.
Right, let’s have it fixed, call a Diesel Mechanic to come from Karratha and run the computer diagnostic programme. It was not that easy---the diagnostic plug on my Sprinter is a round fitting whereas the mechanics plug is a square end.
Bob and Ash had a look and a try to fix the problem to no avail, so down comes the mechanic from Karratha [only 3 days late) and he run the diagnostic check which indicates that the diesel pump is faulty. Ben [the Karratha mech] then phoned Perth and had a replacement diesel pump sent by express post.
It was decided that the Sprinter has to go to Karratha to the workshop where the pump can be replaced. Bob ( Forum Member) was kind enough to tow the Sprinter [see previous pics on this Forum] into Karratha to the workshop. What was to be a 4 hour job to change the pump was not possible as the mechanic gave the wrong numbers and the replacement pump sent was the wrong part. This activity came out as a cost of $730 to tell me that the Sprinter motor won’t start.
The next alternative is to send the Sprinter to Perth to Paul, the Mercedes Commercial mechanic. The Sprinter was loaded on a drop-deck low loader and $1,250.00 later it is now on it’s way to Perth; all within a few hours.
“Tanks” and “Russell” are now running around the streets in Karratha trying to book a seat on Virgin and a place for the dog in the hold. This is Friday afternoon and there are only 3 seats left for sale BUT I can’t take the dog. There are 2 dogs already booked on the Friday flight and that is all the aircraft can carry. I managed to book on the Sunday flight with “Russell” booked as well.
The Sprinter arrived in Perth on Sunday and was to be unloaded from the low-loader on Monday am It would be available for collection after 12 noon Monday. A Tilt-Tray was ordered [$272.00] thru the RAC-WA and the Sprinter was delivered to the M/B Commercial Workshop in Malaga.
The Malaga workshop will inform me what is wrong with the EDC thing and what it will cost to fix the problem after ANOTHER Diagnostic check.
Keith.

[dapope]

Ow, that is a painful exercise all round. Makes our dead generator pretty insignificant.
Hope thats the end of the problems Keith

[pet-els]

Hi Tanks,
Sorry to hear of your troubles, but hope you did not take the hair clippers to Perth with you.
Dot still needs them [$20 cut by a junior will not be as good as a cut at 40 mile beach].


PeterH

[Dot]

Peter I think this lot are in cahoots as Chuck has a set of clippers just being oiled at the mo

[BruceS]

Oh gee that's a terrible thing to happen to Keith's vehicle.
What's the betting he'll turn up in the RR with Russell beside him!!
I just can't imagine Tanks not being there!
Surely you can postpone it a week or two?
All these computer driven things are such an expensive headache when they play up.
Maybe throw an old smelly Perkins in it?

[weezanickinoff]

Plenty of clippers here, so no probs there!

[Keith Morris]

"tanks" here----Well here I am back at Wyalkatchem with "Russell" and a hire car.
I had to get a hire car to get around Perth and arrange the Tilt tray to take the Sprinter from the transport yard at Kewdale to the Mercedes mechanic at Malaga, plus other tasks.
I came to Wylie to look at the thrashing the burglars gave the house during my absence. Also Paul, the Mercedes mechanic, can not start work on the Sprinter until THURSDAY. [or perhaps FRIDAY].
I will not be able to make the "Great Shave" event, but I'm sure that it will go off well and raise a lot of dollars.
I won't know very much till Paul has time to work on the Sprinter and find out just what parts are required. After the motor is fixed I will be back to 40 Mile Beach quick smart.
I will keep all informed via the Forum when I know what is required.
Keith.

[Helen Grose]

Sorry about your troubles Tank

Things must get better
When you hit bottem the only way is up
Helen

[jamglor]

That's no good at all, hopefully they will be able to get it up and running asap and also hopefully not to much of a outlay of dollars
so you can get back up there to enjoy yourself

[dapope]

Just got off the phone to Tanks, he is not enjoying the wintery blast down this neck of the woods at all. Must be frustrating having to wait for things to happen. Hopefully will be an easy fix