highender
Veteran Member
Hey all. I still have my 2000 TDi jetta. This short tale is about our recent RV trip north. Years ago I talked my buddy into buying a sprinter RV motorhome......so finally he reciprocated and convinced me to buy a used one also. I found a used one that I liked, ... So End of July we set out from Bay Area to head up north. Two sprinter RV caravaning to Montana. 
Trouble hit the first day....Saturday . Friend's Sprinter threw a code... ESP, Anti lock brakes, Wheel sensors. etc. I had a scangauge, so we cleared it and went on our way. We made it to Bend Oregon at around 6 pm, ...... and his Sprinter engine went into LIMP mode. he could not go more than 30 mph. We tried to clear code, tried to find issue, even pulled a sensor out of the tranny, as some sites says its tranny sensor. No luck. Now we are stuck . WE cannot drive a RV at 30 mph for 1200 miles there and back on the freeway. Arugh. All mechanic shops closed for the weekend. But we figure we can explore Bend til Monday morning ....then bring sprinter into local Mercedes dealership. Further google on their website revealed Dealership does NOT service any sprinter engines.... So obstacle again.......
Then my brain juice turned on , and i thought.." why not contact Matt and Justin ? , They were both up here in Oregon, though they were in Portland area, more than 3,5 hours away. Maybe they can at least point me in right direction, or give some quick suggestions ?""
At 11 pm, Matt responded.... Asked me where I was... I said Bend OR. He laughed and said " Harry, You are in luck. I normally stay in Portland area, but this weekend we visting family in Redmond, just 10 miles away from Bend "" Wow... a miracle ! We made arrangements to meet nexxt morning... Another lucky break .... Matt said he was on vacation, so took all tools out of his TDI trunk.... but somehow he left his Autel computer in the trunk......so it was perfect...... He could talk to the engine computer and read all subsystems. Yay !
Next morning after breakfast at Cracker and Barrel, Matt and DeeDee shows up. They were a sight for sore eyes, looking happy and great ! We spoke a little, and Matt went to work. In a few minutes, he found out the meaning of the code.... then went under the RV, and saw it!!! The wheel sensor wire had come loose and laid on top of spinning axle, which cut the line, causing computer to not get a reading from that wheel. After quickly getting tools , he went to work .........and shortly fixed the problem, and cleared all codes... AND WE are good to go !!
Moral of story : Always always keep in contact with your friends... as you never know when you might need them to help you.
Matt and DeeDee..... thanks a trillion quadtrilliion for cutting short your vacay and driving down to help us out of this jam.... my friend Kang and his family, and my family, were amazed and shocked and extremely thankful for what you all did for us....... We were able to continue our trip !!
Also, Justin contacted me that same morning, and said he was on his way to his pals house, whom also happened to be a sprinter specialist. He offered to help as a backup, as needed. WOw.... big shout out to Justin old poopie for also having my back.
things in life changes and goes different ways, but sometimes, just sometimes, the stars all line up..... things fall in place........and miracles happen.
Trouble hit the first day....Saturday . Friend's Sprinter threw a code... ESP, Anti lock brakes, Wheel sensors. etc. I had a scangauge, so we cleared it and went on our way. We made it to Bend Oregon at around 6 pm, ...... and his Sprinter engine went into LIMP mode. he could not go more than 30 mph. We tried to clear code, tried to find issue, even pulled a sensor out of the tranny, as some sites says its tranny sensor. No luck. Now we are stuck . WE cannot drive a RV at 30 mph for 1200 miles there and back on the freeway. Arugh.
All mechanic shops closed for the weekend. But we figure we can explore Bend til Monday morning ....then bring sprinter into local Mercedes dealership. Further google on their website revealed Dealership does NOT service any sprinter engines.... So obstacle again.......Then my brain juice turned on , and i thought.." why not contact Matt and Justin ? , They were both up here in Oregon, though they were in Portland area, more than 3,5 hours away. Maybe they can at least point me in right direction, or give some quick suggestions ?""
At 11 pm, Matt responded.... Asked me where I was... I said Bend OR. He laughed and said " Harry, You are in luck. I normally stay in Portland area, but this weekend we visting family in Redmond, just 10 miles away from Bend "" Wow... a miracle ! We made arrangements to meet nexxt morning... Another lucky break .... Matt said he was on vacation, so took all tools out of his TDI trunk.... but somehow he left his Autel computer in the trunk......so it was perfect...... He could talk to the engine computer and read all subsystems. Yay !
Next morning after breakfast at Cracker and Barrel, Matt and DeeDee shows up. They were a sight for sore eyes, looking happy and great ! We spoke a little, and Matt went to work. In a few minutes, he found out the meaning of the code.... then went under the RV, and saw it!!! The wheel sensor wire had come loose and laid on top of spinning axle, which cut the line, causing computer to not get a reading from that wheel. After quickly getting tools , he went to work .........and shortly fixed the problem, and cleared all codes... AND WE are good to go !!
Moral of story : Always always keep in contact with your friends... as you never know when you might need them to help you.
Matt and DeeDee..... thanks a trillion quadtrilliion for cutting short your vacay and driving down to help us out of this jam.... my friend Kang and his family, and my family, were amazed and shocked and extremely thankful for what you all did for us....... We were able to continue our trip !!
Also, Justin contacted me that same morning, and said he was on his way to his pals house, whom also happened to be a sprinter specialist. He offered to help as a backup, as needed. WOw.... big shout out to Justin old poopie for also having my back.
things in life changes and goes different ways, but sometimes, just sometimes, the stars all line up..... things fall in place........and miracles happen.
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