Our Breakdown, May 17, 2024 & on….

May 17th:  Our mechanic, Jordan, told us this morning he thought it was either a loose wire or the ECM.  “DEF Control Module – This module controls the operation of the emission system. The DEF Module and Engine Control Module (ECM) are in direct communication to make sure the system is operational. ECM – The DPF system and the regeneration process is controlled by the ECM on a Cummins truck.”

Nothing else happens Friday.  We have to wait for a bay to become available.  The motorhome in the bay is having generator issues that are stumping Jordan.

No ECM in stock and they don’t want to order one until Jordan determines we require it. Delivery would likely be the day after they order.

May 18th & 19th:  Saturday & Sunday I-State Truck is closed.  We are anxious for Monday to arrive.

Even though we are so cramped, Allan still managed to prepare us delicious meals. Saturday did a Walmart run and then just sat around playing games.

Sunday we visited downtown Great Falls before the rain, and had a drink at the Tiki Bar 

May 20th: Yahoo for MONDAY!!  We’re up before 6 because we know Jordan starts at 7.  We want to be ready for his arrival.  8am rolls around, then 9am with no contact.  We don’t want to be pains but WTF!

Allan goes to the Service to ask our rep, Jason, when will we be up?

Turns out Jordan has Mondays off, once a mechanic is assigned to a job he sees it through.  What bullshit!!   After much discuss, Jason says he’ll order the ECM and if it is not required they’d send it back.  A little good news.

So Monday’s outing was Ryan Dam.  A much nicer weather day and the dam is pretty spectacular.

Our last meal in a squished Bailey, we hope 

We also hope this is the last time we have this view out the window

May 21st:  Again we are ready to be dragged to the bay.  Again, 8am, 9am, 10am roll by and still nothing.  We check out the bay and see the motorhome is still in the air,  wait, wait, wait.

139p – they finally arrive! 

They are trying to figure out how to “air up”.  They need that in order to release Bailey’s brakes so they can drag her.  They try from the front, it’s not working.  They have to crawl under, which Jordan was trying hard to avoid.    And the blocks are out     

2.16p     Here she goes!!!

Bailey is FINALLY in a bay!  Let the repair begin!

With Bailey safely inside we head to the Crystal Inn which is a 2 minute drive from I-State, we can see I-State from the hotel.

3.38p  Snuggled in and hoping for the best     

Weird! The hotel elevator has a swing  door on it.  Never saw that before.

May 22nd:  Sunrise from the hotel window

The wait for an update or better yet Bailey is ready call from I-State is excruciating.  As I said earlier, we can “kind” of see I-State from the lobby.  We go down to the lobby every 20-30 minutes to see if we can see Bailey outside.

930am Bailey is outside!!  We pack up our stuff, (something told us to bring the room key check out isn’t till noon), Bailey is gone!  

Jason tells Allan, Jorden took Bailey for a test drive.

The story is…. Jordon tried to start (we know this as we heard Bailey not starting) prior to being dragged.  Didn’t start.  When she got into the bay, Jordon tried again and she started.  He cleaned wires and for cracked fuses. Checked the voltage in & out of the ECM  The error code was an issue with the out.  He found a wire rubbing where it shouldn’t & repaired that.  Bailey kept starting.  He didn’t want to take it upon himself to suggest replacing the ECM cause what if the same issue occurred miles down the highway.

He said he had a few other things to check. Allan & I took a drive to discuss what to do.  It is no fun sitting on the side of the road waiting hours for a tow then the repairs.

Allan calls our diesel repair shop in Lethbridge and recounts the story. Armando, checks the error codes Allan said we had but with not seeing the unit is reluctant to advise but suggests it may be best to replace which is what we were leaning to.

Back we go to authorize the replacement.  They then said they thought it best to replace as well

Will take about two hours to replace.  Off we go again, this time we end up at Appleby’s.  We happen to get there at Happy Hour 🙂

517p   Here she is!  Super dirty and needing a good dump!  We’re going to top up diesel, fill propane, dump and get the wash. Pay up, Jason was nice by discounting the bill $800ish    None for us, no one trained is in

To the dump           

We’re most excited about the wash;  1/2 hour from start to finish. We both thought, but didn’t voice while in the wash, “What if she doesn’t start?”

Before                                                              After

720p    Finally take a deep breathe and chill time. We’re overnighting at I-State and will leave early tomorrow.  Like this view better:)What a week!

4 thoughts on “Our Breakdown, May 17, 2024 & on….”

    1. It has been but us RVers know how to roll with the punches 🙂 Just don’t want another punch any time soon.

      Thanks for the good wishes

  1. What a palaver! You and Allan did well in a cramped Bailey.
    So glad that everything is fixed, even though it seemed to take forever.
    Hoping that the rest of your trip will be easy sailing!
    Les and Dan

    1. We surprise ourselves at how adaptable we can be!

      The repairs did take forever, broke down last Thursday and were only back on the road yesterday.

      Thanks for the easy sailing wishes for our land yacht xo

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