Apr 05, 2022
Day 10 and still at Camp Cummins
We were asked to have the RV ready for 6:45AM and we did. They did not take it into the bay until almost 8AM. Somewhere around 9:30 we are told that there was no news but two technicians were on the job, Clinton the shop service manager did not call them mechanics. We left around 12:30 to find a place to get an oil, lube & filter change for the Jeep. The light has been on for a few days now. Just as we were about to get into the bay I jumped out of the car much to Colin’s surprise. My body is tired of being confined to small spaces and especially our Jeep day after day. Good thing I did as it was a long 25 minute chore. I just walked around inside an air conditioned store and feel better for stretching my legs. It was so windy out that the skirt of my light summer dress kept swirling up – way up, much more revealing that I cared to show. After that we refilled our five gallon jug, we sure go through water quickly, we just filled it last Wednesday in Blythe at Culligan. We also fuelled the Jeep.( first time since Mexico ) at $4.839 per gallon at a Circle K, best price we have seen and that was for credit. 8.266 gallons cost us $40.00US.
Just as we were getting a bite to eat, I really hate fast food, we got a call from Cummins. They had news that they would share with once we got back to their facility. Well I lost my appetite just like that. Why could they not tell us the que pasa on the phone? We got back to the parking area and saw our RV sitting in the parking lot. Hmmm?
The two techs/mechanics spent a part of the morning on the phone with the CFSE. That is short for Cummins Field Service Engineer whose job is to help diagnose and develop systems and improvements. Between them they think that the problem may be the ECM – the Engine Control Module which is a computer that communicates to the rest of the computers on board. Our ECM is running low on voltage. Please remember that we are not mechanics and that this is our best interpretation of what we have been told.
We finally got lucky as there is exactly only one ECM for our coach in the entire USA and it happens to be in California. It will be here tomorrow be 11AM. Roughly it will take 2-3 hours to disassemble the old ECM which is attached to a hard to get to part of the engine and prepare to install the new one which will take 3 -4 hours. Then we will take the RV for a long test drive along the freeway and over some rougher roads. If it does not work then we might need to be towed back to Cummins and we will not be charged for the part nor all the labour involved with the ECM. Of course we will be back to square one and remain disabled.
While Colin parked the RV into one of provided four electrical spots I called to cancel yet another appointment for next week as we will be further delayed. I only had to book this one last January. The receptionist was not kind at all and actually in my opinion mean to me. That was the straw that broke the camels back. I went into a full meltdown right then and there inside of Cummins and by accident knocked over the girls water bowl making a huge wet mess. One of the female mechanics walked past and went into the washroom to get paper towels and got on her hands and knees to wipe up the water ( someone could easily have slipped ) as I just stood there sobbing. Finally Colin came back in, took it all in and got me out and into the RV where I broke down even more, it all came pouring out. The poor girls were scared and retreated to a corner. Finally I calmed down, ate something, wrote this and am now going to bed at 8PM. My body is in a mess of pain, most of it likely due to stress.
Not sure that I am ready for what tomorrow will bring.
Sorry no idea why the last half is written the way it is but I am not going to try and figure it out as I need to sleep.
<< Older Posts Home Newer Posts >>
Dear Contessa,
I just finished reading your last post with tears in my eyes. My heart goes out to you and I wish I could do something to ease you distress.
Please know that I am sure all of your readers are with you sending good thoughts
your way. STAY STRONG,
Love you,
MJ
Oh Contessa my heart melts for both of you 🙁
Hang in there! Have faith that this fix is the one, and you will be back on the road before you know it!
Electrical / electronic problems of any type are the worst and hardest repair. Most often replace a component and test to see if repaired; try again if it did not. They are on course to the repair. Take heart that they want to fix your rig and get you on your way, that I’m sure of. You WILL be home soon.
I have been impressed that you hadn’t had a meltdown already! Every time I read the daily posts I kept thinking how strong you 2 (you 4) had been this whole time, through all of this. You must be exhausted. I would have given up long ago 🙂
Just Breath, it will all be over soon and this will just be a memory that you will talk about for years.
love reading your blog
Catheline
Back in 2020 we started having various problems with our 2005 GMC truck one thing after another including what we thought was the fuel module. That module was replaced. A few different fixes and then it died in the Walmart parking lot in Mazatlan. Had it towed to the shop and guess what..the engine control module died. Had it died on the road we’d have been in a mess. They managed to find one in Guadalajara and it was fixed. Older vehicle but well maintained. If the electronics calve we’re dead in the water! Gone are the simple days when vehichles weren’t electronic. Chin up..I’ll bet it will be fixed now.
I can surely empathize with you. So here’s a look on the bright side to hopefully give your stress some ease. There was only ONE in California, and it will be yours soon. Not only that, it’s in a state with so many problems to fix , you two are the winners in the lottery for obscure, hard-to-get parts! And finally, the news came from the Cummins expert him (or her) self!!
Im not trying to minimize the experience you’re going through, but it’s now time for some well-deserved luck to come through.
Here’s to some of the bright side coming your way.
Emjay
Thank you for this lovely positive comment. You are right we have had a good deal of luck in the parts department. You may have read by now that we are broken down again but I believe that all that has happened has been repaired but that there is just one small tiny thing that needs to be found and dealt with.
We all have our breaking point my friend. Eventually our body and brain just says, “Enough” and does a reboot. Just take it slow and work your way out of this, you will do it. I am pretty sure I would not have lasted as long as you and Colin. I am sending you lots of positive energy!
Yes, sleep. Then breathe. Then if you can find a spa/hot tub someplace where you can soak awhile, go there. You deserve a break.
Sorry things are so stressful. Hopefully they are correct and next week will be much better. Sometimes one day at a time is the only way. Wishing you four good luck.
Oh dear, you need to sit in front of red light therapy to help lower that stress!!!
Been following along, admire how you and Colin have been handling this very stressful time. The worst nightmare a RV owner can encounter, problems on the road. Certainly I would have melted down long before this. Hopefully some of stress has been relieved, and the parts will arrive, the Rv gods will smile on you. Both of you are to be congratulated, you have handled this very difficult situation in a calm, calculated manner and will be rewarded for your efforts.
I’m sorry to read about your engine problems. I can’t explain the engine situation, but I can explain why your paragraph is partly in italics. You went to type an upper case “I” and your little finger hit the Ctrl button instead of the Shift key. That changed your font to italics. Another Ctrl + “I” would get you back to your standard font. Have a better day tomorrow.
Finally, finally, finally!!!! You both are troupers/troopers (which one is it?) and I will be thinking of you today as you travel North. Traveling Mercies for a trip free of mechanical issues all the way to your home.