Let's play "Guess What Broke on My ProMaster"

"fhrblig" (fhrblig) 01/08/2020 at 21:33 • Filed to: None

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Not my van, but hoo boy that’s a weird color.

On Friday my work van hit 120k miles, and it celebrated the milestone by making me take it into the shop for repairs on Monday. Now, I know this is going to sound insane, but it’s the first mechanical problem I’ve had whatsoever since new. I’ve put all but maybe 50 of the miles on it in two years.

So, what broke on it? Here’s a couple vague hints... the failure did not leave me stranded, it did not result in any warning lights, and it only took a day to fix.

Edit: I feel like I should give another hint or two. It was something mechanical, and it involved the front end. (No, the front didn’t fall off.)

Edit: I'm going to bed now, so I guess I'll just give the answer now... it was the driver's side front wheel bearing. Nothing like the sound of a low flying airplane following you to ruin your day. It's all fixed now.

Future Heap Owner > fhrblig 01/08/2020 at 21:39

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Blower motor?

ITA97, now with more Jag @ opposite-lock.com > fhrblig 01/08/2020 at 21:39

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Did the door fall off?  I recall that being something that’s happened to another ProMaster on Oppo.

boredalways > fhrblig 01/08/2020 at 21:41

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Turbo failed?

fhrblig > Future Heap Owner 01/08/2020 at 21:43

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You know, that's what I expected to go first, but no. I used to be a fleet manager, and all the Chevy and Ford full size vans seem to lose their blower motors every 100k.

Arch Duke Maxyenko, Shit Talk Extraordinaire > fhrblig 01/08/2020 at 21:43

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You didn’t buy The Debater Edition?

fhrblig > ITA97, now with more Jag @ opposite-lock.com 01/08/2020 at 21:44

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No, but I sense that might happen in my future. The sliding door is starting to become clunky when it opens.

CompactLuxuryFan > fhrblig 01/08/2020 at 21:44

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The front fell off

fhrblig > boredalways 01/08/2020 at 21:45

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No diesel here. I have the 3.6 V6.

fhrblig > CompactLuxuryFan 01/08/2020 at 21:47

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Not yet.

Deal Killer - Powered by Focus > CompactLuxuryFan 01/08/2020 at 21:53

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Well, they did tow  it out of the environment, so it’s all cool now.  

SilentButNotReallyDeadly...killed by G/O Media > fhrblig 01/08/2020 at 21:55

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120,000 miles without failure... that's quite a fiat for a Ram.

shop-teacher > fhrblig 01/08/2020 at 22:09

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I was actually going to guess that the sliding door fell off.

shop-teacher > SilentButNotReallyDeadly...killed by G/O Media 01/08/2020 at 22:09

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I see what you did there ;)

i86hotdogs > fhrblig 01/08/2020 at 22:11

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exhaust hanger came loose?

Tekamul > fhrblig 01/08/2020 at 22:15

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If it wasn't the blower motor, maybe the blender door? All cold air all the time, right when you need it.

If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent > fhrblig 01/08/2020 at 22:17

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The headliner exploded

fhrblig > i86hotdogs 01/08/2020 at 22:17

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No.

I think I have something like that loose on my F-150, though. When I rev the engine   there’s a slight rattle coming from the exhaust.

fhrblig > If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent 01/08/2020 at 22:18

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AGAIN.

fhrblig > Tekamul 01/08/2020 at 22:20

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No problems with HVAC yet, fortunately. I'm sure that will happen during a deep freeze or a heat wave.

BaconSandwich is tasty. > ITA97, now with more Jag @ opposite-lock.com 01/08/2020 at 22:22

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I was going to guess the same thing.

If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent > fhrblig 01/08/2020 at 22:23

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Was it fiery or was it more of a "poof" like Thanos's snap?

BaconSandwich is tasty. > fhrblig 01/08/2020 at 22:23

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I'm guessing something plastic. Washer fluid reservoir?

Eric @ opposite-lock.com > fhrblig 01/08/2020 at 22:25

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Mechanical problem that you’d notice that doesn’t set off a light nor leave you stranded, only took a day to fix, and it made you take it in (so it’s not ignorable until there is a convenient time) ...

There’s not much mechanical that won’t set off a warning light. Certainly nothing to do with intake, combustion, or exhaust. Wouldn’t be an alternator, as that generally leaves you stranded .

A/C compressor? Water pump? Wheel bearing?

i86hotdogs > fhrblig 01/08/2020 at 22:27

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Just laughing picturing the van rolling down the road with spark shootin out from underneath it.

fhrblig > BaconSandwich is tasty. 01/08/2020 at 23:27

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No, it was actually mechanical. It was one of those things that you are able to  continue driving on for a bit, but you should get fixed ASAP.

fhrblig > If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent 01/08/2020 at 23:31

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Insert IDK LOL dog here

*never sees movies*

pip bip - choose Corrour > fhrblig 01/09/2020 at 03:40

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funny you say wheel bearing, i just replaced the uhf one on my Lancer

fhrblig > pip bip - choose Corrour 01/09/2020 at 07:18

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Every other bearing I've had go bad was gradual. This one started to make noise on Friday, and by the end of day Monday when I dropped it off the noise was so bad it made me cringe.

If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent > fhrblig 01/09/2020 at 09:31

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Like this:

facw > ITA97, now with more Jag @ opposite-lock.com 01/09/2020 at 10:27

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It’s one of my favorite images on oppo:

Mercedes Streeter > fhrblig 01/09/2020 at 11:22

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Not surprised on the wheel bearing. Both of the rears on my 2012 smart failed around the same time. Fronts are still holding strong despite my rampant disrespect for them.

Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available > fhrblig 01/09/2020 at 11:50

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I had that happen to me, except it was caused by improperly tightened lug nuts after a crappy tire rotation job.

winterlegacy, here 'till the end > fhrblig 01/09/2020 at 13:00

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“Hoo boy, that’s a weird color.”

At least it’s not Boring Inoffensive Shade Of Black, White, Or Gray #2184287214.

Objector > fhrblig 01/09/2020 at 14:52

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Ok, so I had to comment not guess on yours. I find it amazingly fantastical that you drove 120,000 miles and had nothing go wrong. Ram should buy that thing from you and study the hell out of it.

I personally have owned two (brand new) , one diesel, and one gas, and EVERY FRIGGIN THING that could go wrong, has gone wrong, on both, with the exception of the engines. Let’s start with how many headlights I have had to replace on both, constantly... Maybe 6 per side per vehicle per year? And that’s just the headlights, every light goes out. Wiring harnesses on both, all of the door handles on both, sliding door mechanism on one, total brake system on one, total radiator system on one... Exhaust problems on the diesel, transmission problems on the diesel (but they won’t fix it because even though I have extended factory warranty, the “clutch” is an effing ware-part even when we don’t clutch it). Oh yeah then there is the cleaning cycle for the diesel, unless you are on a highway 99% of the time your whole mechanism is gonna get messed up. Seriously, who can get to highway speeds and keep it there for 5 minutes?

These are just the things that come to my head

As a business owner who has numerous vehicles, I feel like it’s my duty to tell you to never buy a promaster, and never deal with Ram. Collectively I pay Ram $1200/month on vehicles that aren’t on the road full time . What an incredible waste. I wished someone at Ram actually gave a damn, but it’s clear they don’t.

fhrblig > Mercedes Streeter 01/09/2020 at 18:55

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I suspect water recently found its way in, because over the last month I’ve had to drive in snowy/wet conditions more than normal. The day it got worse I was going up Rabbit Ears Pass to Steamboat Springs during a snowstorm.

fhrblig > Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available 01/09/2020 at 18:56

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I trust my shop mostly , but maybe something happened recently during the last service.

fhrblig > Objector 01/09/2020 at 19:00

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My company seems to be having decent luck with them, but some have more problems than others. One of the ones that came in the same batch as mine has had recurring coil problems, and a couple have had to have the shift solenoids replaced, and the older ones have had the cylinder head problems that some of the early Pentastars had.

Mine is an anomaly, though. I’ve been waiting for the other shoe to drop since I got it because it has to at some point , right? But besides this, the only other problem I had was that the outside handle on the sliding door did not work on delivery because a cable to it wasn’t connected right at the factory.

SmugAardvark > fhrblig 01/09/2020 at 19:28

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Best guess, all the metal in it rusted to oblivion?

Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available > fhrblig 01/09/2020 at 19:49

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Not my shop, but a convenient one for something "easy." It was a good time for the thermostat to fail, though.

fhrblig > SmugAardvark 01/09/2020 at 21:33

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Has to be. I think there was a leak somewhere because it got bad surprisingly fast.

415s30 W123TSXWaggoIIIIIIo ( •_•))°) > fhrblig 01/09/2020 at 22:05

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It’s a Fiat, it could be anything! 

jimz > facw 01/10/2020 at 10:36

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someone should ‘shop “Kinja’d!” on the door. 

jimz > fhrblig 01/10/2020 at 10:37

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yeah, that definitely sounds like something compromised the seal and let water/dirt in.  when they fail that fast....