Now for something totaly different.

[hwcurtice]

Okay, great ride home today. Oh wait. The Dodge didn't make it.

Best as I can figure, a U-Joint went, or is going, out. Hopefully, that is all it is.

I have a question, because it's too far to tow strap home, and me without a tow rig with a trailer to haul my tow rig, where in the Totem Lake area is the best place to get this fixed?

I know there's a Jeep dealer. They should know something about Dodge's, but where else?

Someone is going to ask for symptoms, so here goes. When I step on the gas, I get a thumping noise. Take foot off, it goes away. Clutch out, power to the tranny and wheels, thumping. Clutch in, it goes away. Parked, just engine running, no thumping. When thumping, little/no power. I only drove it far enough to stop from about 45 mph on 405. It almost sounds/feels like a flat tire, but all the tires are full. I went and tried to make it to 160th, thumping noise came back.

Does any of this make sense?

Oh 1993 Dodge Power Ram 250. I knew someone was going to ask that.

 

[skrause]

How fast of a thumping, 1 per tire revolution or more like 3-4 per revolution?

 

[hwcurtice]

How fast of a thumping, 1 per tire revolution or more like 3-4 per revolution?

about 1 per tire revolution. When I started back up, that's about as fast as I was going. As I was slowing down, from 45 mph it was faster than that, but slowing down.

 

[skrause]

about 1 per tire revolution. When I started back up, that's about as fast as I was going. As I was slowing down, from 45 mph it was faster than that, but slowing down.

Not driveline then. Did it seem to come from either end? Front, rear?

 

[Eric]

Bad tire? belt went out?

 

[skrause]

Bad tire? belt went out?

That's one of two things I suspect, I don't think he wants to hear the other.

 

[Eric]

That's one of two things I suspect, I don't think he wants to hear the other.

:corn:

 

[hwcurtice]

That's one of two things I suspect, I don't think he wants to hear the other.

Popped hood. Belt looks good. No warning lights saying anything about power (electricity) going out. Tires look okay. Couldn't tell if it is front or rear.

If is a tire, a front one being bad would be okay. New tires put on a month ago.

So, what is the 'other'? I can't fix 'it' if I don't know.

Still, I need a shop in Kirkland/Totem Lake. I don't want to tow it halfway accross the county.

Unless someone would volunteer to hook their trailer up to get it off the freeway before the Troopers help me out with that task.... Volunteering would include fuel in their rig and maybe a cold drink to take care of the sweat lost getting said rig onto trailer.

 

[hwcurtice]

Bttt!

 

[skrause]

The belts in your tires, not under your hood. :; You may have lost a tooth or 3 on your ring gear.

 

[hwcurtice]

The belts in your tires, not under your hood. :; You may have lost a tooth or 3 on your ring gear.

You're right. I didn't want to hear that.

Now, best place to get it fixed/towed to? If anything, I need to get it off the freeway. I do not want to pay an impound fee.

I'm searching the Web. Why does it seem the only Ring gears are with auto tranny's? I have a 5 speed.

Did I not mention that when the truck is coasting, clutch depressed, the thumping goes away? So, I'm gonna go out on a limb, it ain't a tire.

 

[skrause]

You're right. I didn't want to hear that.

Now, best place to get it fixed/towed to? If anything, I need to get it off the freeway. I do not want to pay an impound fee.

I'm searching the Web. Why does it seem the only Ring gears are with auto tranny's? I have a 5 speed.

Can you limp it to the next exit? If it's the gears the damage is already done at this point.

Ring and pinion set, rear axle gears. If that's it you're looking at 2-300 plus install labor, 4-500 total.

 

[hwcurtice]

Can you limp it to the next exit? If it's the gears the damage is already done at this point.

Ring and pinion set, rear axle gears. If that's it you're looking at 2-300 plus install labor, 4-500 total.

I can limp. That's what I tried last night, for about 25 feet. But where do I go to get it fixed? Tranny shop? Or just any auto shop? That's my big question right now.

It would be nice to get it closer to home, in Sultan or Monroe, but I don't think dragging it it a good thing. And calling the tow truck would really bite the wallet.

 

[skrause]

I can limp. That's what I tried last night, for about 25 feet. But where do I go to get it fixed? Tranny shop? Or just any auto shop? That's my big question right now.

It would be nice to get it closer to home, in Sultan or Monroe, but I don't think dragging it it a good thing. And calling the tow truck would really bite the wallet.

You need to do a little more diagnosis first to make sure that's the problem. If it needs a new gear set any tranny shop should be able to do it. I might be able to help you out later this week.

 

[Glenn]

Is it 4wd? Can you remove rear driveshaft and drive in FWD to get to Sultan?

 

[hwcurtice]

Is it 4wd? Can you remove rear driveshaft and drive in FWD to get to Sultan?

Yes, it is 4WD.

Correct me if I'm wrong. Even if I drop the rear shaft, I'll still have the same issue, right? It's possible the rear end is in shambles, and thus making the truck undriveable, except at very low speeds.

Yep. I can do front/rear disc brakes, oil changes, and even put a new battery in. When it comes to crap like this, I'm a buffoon. There, I said it.

I have had U-joints go out on me, and this sounded the same (84 Nissan PU). I've had the rear axle decide it wanted to be longer, It broke something and the tire and axle setup came out of the wheel well about 12 inches (85 Izuzu Trooper). I think it was held in by the brake line. I've had spider gears go out, (80 Maxima). None of these were fun in anyway.

Anyway, I'm gonna suck it up and have it towed to Monroe.

 

[Glenn]

You said that when it's coasting the noise goes away. Maybe driving in FWD would take the power off the broken parts in the rear and allow you to drive it in limp mode. If it is the rear R&P, the damage is doen anyway.

 

[hwcurtice]

You said that when it's coasting the noise goes away. Maybe driving in FWD would take the power off the broken parts in the rear and allow you to drive it in limp mode. If it is the rear R&P, the damage is doen anyway.

As Shane said. But I still need to get it closer to home, and in 'limp mode', that's too far, about 20 miles. Hence the tow.

I can't do 'limp mode' on 522. It just won't work. People would wave at me, but only with one finger. I don't really feel good after that.

 

[hwcurtice]

BTW, Shane, thanks for the offer to help. I need the rig up and going as soon as possible, hopefully, by the weekend.

All of you guys, and gals, from NWW, are the best for when someone needs help. One of these days, I'll get all your phone numbers and put them under my speed dial settings on my cell.

 

[skrause]

You said that when it's coasting the noise goes away. Maybe driving in FWD would take the power off the broken parts in the rear and allow you to drive it in limp mode. If it is the rear R&P, the damage is doen anyway.

If the problem got worse it could lock up his rear end and cause an accident.