As the topic name suggests, Felicia the Toyota Coaster has come home from the bus-doctor after her heart transplant.
She is running like a dream! We got to have a look at the old engine, and I can now say that I know what a "melted" piston looks like!
However, her stay at home is short lived - tomorrow she goes off to a different mechanic for a carby re-build and LPG tune - I'm sure that she's quite relieved that this will only be an overnight stay this time.
jules47 said
07:52 PM Aug 31, 2011
Goodo Dave - keep her comfortable overnight now
Cruising Granny said
07:54 PM Aug 31, 2011
Was it worth the cash you thought you saved?
Happywanderer said
07:56 PM Aug 31, 2011
Sounds like a complete overhaul Dave. What did work, anything?
Dave83 said
07:59 PM Aug 31, 2011
Cruising Granny - this whole exercise has turned out to be more expensive than anticipated, but the learning experience and the knowledge now that EVERYTHING has been done makes it just about worthwhile.
HW - yep, complete engine transplant. The good news (other than the assurance of years of worry free motoring, with the warranty to back it up) is that the mechanic was very impressed with the overall condition of the other mechanical bits - it was nice to hear some good news for once.
Happywanderer said
08:02 PM Aug 31, 2011
I know how you feel Dave. I still have nerves everytime I hop into Myrtle.
Dave83 said
08:09 PM Aug 31, 2011
HW - yeah I bet. We put a new engine into Mum's car about a year or so ago, and I was quite nervous about that for a while. It takes a long time to learn to trust the car again - but shorter trips that eventually get longer and longer is best I've found. But especially in an older car, every little rattle or noise makes you just tense right up doesn't it!
Happywanderer said
08:12 PM Aug 31, 2011
Sure does Dave. I THINK I've done around 250ks so far, will do a longer trip (couple hundred ks) when grand bubs is born over the weekend then back to the mechanic for a tightenup and check. Then I think I will feel a bit more secure.
Dave83 said
08:17 PM Aug 31, 2011
Yeah that's best. Just get in at least one or two decent highway runs (10-20km or so) before the long trip if you get the chance - with radio off so you can hear anything untoward. If it's doing ok both on the highway and also around town, there's not much more you can do except trust Myrtle to do what she does best
Happywanderer said
08:30 PM Aug 31, 2011
I've been out on one road trip, did 100ks. Was very pleased with the way she went. She actually runs much better out on the open road. Have to conserve petrol now for bubs arrival as its 100ks each way and not sure how many times I may have to go down there. After mechanics visit and organising will head north for a month to Qld so need to know shes running well before I go.
dazren said
08:54 PM Aug 31, 2011
HW do not worry, you have the new motor, and it has a warranty, as long as the gearbox is ok, and in toyota's they useally are, then it should be reliable for many years to come, and even if something else did cark it [ fingers crossed ] it will not be anywhere near as expensive to fix as a new motor. THINK POSITIVE dazren
Dave83 said
08:57 PM Aug 31, 2011
HW - I'm sure you've been asked this before, but what kind of power/electrical setup does Myrtle have?
Happywanderer said
09:04 PM Aug 31, 2011
Do you mean inhouse Dave? She has an inhouse battery, with an inverter attached and also power points for hooking up to mains plus gas bottle. Fridge is 3 way.
Oh, and gas stove.
-- Edited by Happywanderer on Wednesday 31st of August 2011 09:04:28 PM
-- Edited by Happywanderer on Wednesday 31st of August 2011 09:05:35 PM
Travel Bug said
10:02 PM Aug 31, 2011
Good to hear Dave...
Bet your Mum is pleased too...
Dave83 said
10:11 PM Aug 31, 2011
She isn't really Travel Bug - she paid the bill!
Travel Bug said
10:14 PM Aug 31, 2011
Well...that would make a difference Dave...
When she gets out there travelling around...all will be worth it!
Rip and Rosie said
03:29 AM Sep 1, 2011
Happy Felicia is still alive.
Heard on the news tonight that the Australian economy is one of the best in the world, ....... we should thank your mother, Marj and kandgal for that.
-- Edited by Rip and Rosie on Thursday 1st of September 2011 03:37:22 AM
shazartist said
08:36 AM Sep 1, 2011
Yippy, Felicia is home!...sort of......keep us up to date Dave.
Hey, if you can talk your mum into buying felicia, I give her a month and she will be on the road!
cheers Sharon
kandagal said
11:00 AM Sep 1, 2011
Hope Felicia comes through all this surgery ok. I now know from experience how costly these machines can be. Hope it gives you mum many kms of safe motoring in the future
Dave83 said
04:25 PM Sep 3, 2011
And now Felicia is home with all mechanical bits working beautifully - it's like driving a whole new bus. Couldn't be happier :)
Travel Bug said
08:26 PM Sep 3, 2011
Good to hear that Felicia is out of hospital and feeling much better Dave
Cruising Granny said
08:30 PM Sep 3, 2011
Wow, we've had a few mechanical transplants recently. HW's Myrtle, Kandagal's motor home, and now Felicia. I wish you all the best with your revamped rigs. The fact that the prognosises are good must be reassuring.
As the topic name suggests, Felicia the Toyota Coaster has come home from the bus-doctor after her heart transplant.
She is running like a dream! We got to have a look at the old engine, and I can now say that I know what a "melted" piston looks like!
However, her stay at home is short lived - tomorrow she goes off to a different mechanic for a carby re-build and LPG tune - I'm sure that she's quite relieved that this will only be an overnight stay this time.
Goodo Dave - keep her comfortable overnight now
HW - yep, complete engine transplant. The good news (other than the assurance of years of worry free motoring, with the warranty to back it up) is that the mechanic was very impressed with the overall condition of the other mechanical bits - it was nice to hear some good news for once.
After mechanics visit and organising will head north for a month to Qld so need to know shes running well before I go.
HW do not worry, you have the new motor, and it has a warranty, as long as the gearbox is ok, and in toyota's they useally are, then it should be reliable for many years to come, and even if something else did cark it [ fingers crossed ] it will not be anywhere near as expensive to fix as a new motor. THINK POSITIVE dazren
Do you mean inhouse Dave?
She has an inhouse battery, with an inverter attached and also power points for hooking up to mains plus gas bottle. Fridge is 3 way.
Oh, and gas stove.
-- Edited by Happywanderer on Wednesday 31st of August 2011 09:04:28 PM
-- Edited by Happywanderer on Wednesday 31st of August 2011 09:05:35 PM
Good to hear Dave...
Bet your Mum is pleased too...
Well...that would make a difference Dave...
When she gets out there travelling around...all will be worth it!
Happy Felicia is still alive.
Heard on the news tonight that the Australian economy is one of the best in the world, ....... we should thank your mother, Marj and kandgal for that.
-- Edited by Rip and Rosie on Thursday 1st of September 2011 03:37:22 AM
Hey, if you can talk your mum into buying felicia, I give her a month and she will be on the road!
cheers Sharon
Good to hear that Felicia is out of hospital and feeling much better Dave
HW's Myrtle, Kandagal's motor home, and now Felicia.
I wish you all the best with your revamped rigs. The fact that the prognosises are good must be reassuring.