2011 is almost over

So this is the time to look back on this year and think forward to the next year.

What was good this year????
Our daughters wedding,
Oh we did meet up with friends and family,
We did travel in our old Winnebago,

During the last 3 months we have had vacations to places new and old with friends new and old,
and that has been great.

Let's hope for more time this next year, when we can relax and enjoy our life.

Do you know this family??

I think I do, and we parked next to them at the store today where I took this picture.

Tuesday 12/27/2011

I put the new/used purge solenoid on the wagon today, after checking that it really opened when power was applied.  So the big question....I still have the check engine light on.  The wire from the ecu is good from the solenoid to the big connector by the battery, but I still have to check the wire from the connector to the ecu. 

Monday 12/26/2011

The day after Christmas and all is quiet here.  Our gifts have all been opened and it is just my wife and I at home.

I did do some shopping today for the wagon.  Found a used Purge Solenoid at the local wrecking yard.  I think it is not to old since the part number was the newer one and it was not even bolted back in the original spot under the intake manifold.
After checking it out the piston inside seems to be stuck, but the resistance of the solenoid is close to the correct value and I paid my $5.00.  Tomorrow I should have time to check it out and install it.

Saturday 12/24/2011

So here it is, Christmas eve, and everything is fine except the CEL on the Subaru.  The PSV (purge solenoid valve) is still not right.  I have tried the resistor trick to fool the computer but so far no fooling the ECM.  I tried a 35 ohm, a 46 ohm, a 100, 200 and even a few others but no fooling and the CEL comes right on when the engine is started. 
When I first started playing with this PSV I checked it's resistance and it had the 35 ohm it should have, and the CEL did not come on with the engine cold.  It would even not come on every start when warm.  Now my next step is to take a trip to the wecking yard to see what I find.  Others have gone this route and only found bad ones so this next week I will give it a try.

All I want for Christmas is no Check Engine Light
no Check Engine Light
no Check Engine Light
All I want for Christmas is no Check Engine Light
and I could wish you Merry Christmas...........................................................................

Wednesday 12/21/2011

Took a day trip to the Coast today.  It's about 60 miles to Lincoln City, OR and even though the valley where we live has been foggy and cloudy, the Coast was sunny.  The blue sky made everything look better even if it was cold.

My wife and daughter.

The only thing about today was I didn't get a chance to drive the Subaru wagon.  I really wonder if the Purge Solenoid repair is going to work everytime it starts up.  

Tuesday 12/20/2011

Working on the Wagon I might have fixed a couple of things. 
First was a small oil leak.  A common place to leak was the oil filler tube on the engine where a cheap and easy, my kind of work,  o-ring.   Two easy to get to bolts and a o-ring seems to have fixed that.
Then the only code causing the CEL (check engine light) to come on was a code of 35.  It was the purge solenoid.  After reading several articles on this and trying all the "cheap" fixes I decided to take it apart and see what was inside.  Take a look

I was told they don't come apart but that never stopped me before.  I will have to get back to you on if this fixes it or not.  Only time will tell.

Monday 12/19/2011

My daughter came over today and told me she has been married for 6 months now,  I guess that is a record for some couples.

And one day this week we are taking a day trip to the Coast for some shopping.  All I can think about is taking Wilbur for a few days and getting away.  Maybe some warmer weather and a real sunny day would make that happen.

Yesterday we had a family Christmas party at our house.  Around 23 people and plenty of food and talking.  Now it seems like Christmas should be over.

Saturday 12/17/2011

I don't know why but this blog is calling me to write something lately. This has been a nice way to share what is going on in my life.

Winnebago friends from Washington stayed a couple of nights with us this week.  One of their sons married a girl from Salem so they came down for the wedding and I even attended the happy event.  So it was nice to have friends here and show them around the area.

I think they enjoyed going to the Oregon State Capitol for some mid day school choir's singing.  It is decorated really nice for Christmas.

Santa comes on the fire truck here in Keizer.

My Wagon ('93 Subaru) is coming right along.  There is a purge solenoid for the charcoal canister that is giving me a CEL (check engine light).  After cleaning up some rotten vacuum lines and the solenoid has been relocated to an easier to get at location the CEL is now only on some of the time.  After bringing a old Winnebago back to life this Wagon is easy to work with, so far.

Monday 12/12/2011

We went to the State Capitol, thats the Oregon State Capitol, to see some school students sing.  Every school day different schools send a choir to sing for 30 minuets each starting at 10AM to 2PM.  Kind of nice to see the Capitol all decorated with several trees.

2011 Year end post

This year is coming to a close very soon.  And after looking back on a year filled with much joy, and sadness too, it will be nice to start a new year, and I am looking forward to it.

What would I like to do and see this next year?????

Getting in Wilbur and going someplace new, or even old is planned.

The Subaru I bought recently would be nice to have set up to be towed behind Wilbur.

I like flying RC planes, so that will be fun once the weather warms up.

Seeing old friends is on the list.

Oh did I ever show you my daughter.  She is now married.