Big Fat RV engines

[DonTom]

Good news!

Actually, you weren't off base to expect TBI. While MPFI has been the standard in passenger cars for a decade, TBI could still be found in vans/commercial-type vehicles. Part of the reason for this, I imagine, is that smog/mileage standards don't apply (or are much less stringent) over a certain GVW and also that TBI is cheaper.

Today, it's confirmed MPFI.

I had to remove the engine cover to see what was going on with a problem that I didn't realize until yesterday (Friday). The only air I could get for the A/C and heater would blow ONLY out from the defogger regardless of what was selected. Obvious vacuum problem.

But what I found was a real shocker, but this shouldn't surprise me all that much. The first thing I noticed is there was NOT a single hose to the intake manifold or even anywhere near it. I found a plug on the only vacuum port on the engine!!! I then found the vacuum reservoir and noticed a lot of melted hose that was ran too close to the exhaust.

Here's what I assume happened. A CarFax of this RV shows THIS:

07/16/2005 California
Motor Vehicle Dept.
Tracy, CA Title issued or updated
New owner reported
07/19/2005 Vehicle Repair Center Vehicle serviced
ECM repaired
07/19/2005 94,627 California
Inspection Station
Manteca, CA Passed emissions inspection
09/06/2005 95,992 Service Plan Co. Service contract claim
Vehicle serviced
Electrical sys. serviced
07/08/2006 96,569 Service Plan Co. Service contract claim
Vehicle serviced
Engine serviced
08/03/2007 97,537 California
Inspection Station Failed emissions inspection
Designated GROSS POLLUTER
10/08/2008 100,247 California
Inspection Station Failed emissions inspection
10/22/2008 100,271 California
Inspection Station Failed emissions inspection
12/17/2008 Vehicle Repair Center Vehicle serviced
PCV Valve repaired
PCV hose repaired
Spark plugs repaired
Ignition wires repaired
CAP/Rotor repaired
Initial timing repaired
Fuel filter repaired
Air filter repaired
12/17/2008 California
Inspection Station Passed emissions inspection
12/22/2008 Livermore Ford Lincoln Mercury
Livermore, CA
925-294-7700
www.livermoreautogroup.com
ww.livermoreautogro
up.com Vehicle serviced

I assume what happened is that it failed the CA smog test (perhaps the vacuum leak was the only thing wrong, but at least I got a tune up out of it as the wires, plugs, distributor cap, fuel filter and all that has been replaced (I know CarFax shows all this as "repaired" instead of replaced). But they were too lazy to replace the hose that ran toward the very front of the TV where the vacuum reservoir is located, so they simply plugged up the port at the intake manifold! Can you believe it?

Anyway, I ran all new vacuum line and all works fine now. While I had the engine cover open, I decided to add a tach. There's no stock tach in the Chevy Express.

-Don- (Reno)

[Eric]

That's a good story! And yes, I can believe it. "Professionals" are often far from it... but glad it worked out in your favor!

[Ken]

That's a good story! And yes, I can believe it. "Professionals" are often far from it... but glad it worked out in your favor!

Now, as they say, 'Ain't that the truth.' I had a similar experience when asked to look at a car with virtually non-existent brakes. A garage workshop had replaced one of the hoses but the owner said 'I'm really having to use all my power on the brake pedal. - hardly surprising as the garage had replaced the vacuum hose with ordinary garden hose.

Ken.