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e350diesel
Newbie
Posts: 4
Registered: 12-4-2012
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tow service
Some friends and I are planning a trip to Punta San Carlos in the spring. I have a van that breaks down from time to time and needs to be towed to a
dealer or a full service diesel shop to get it running again.
Odds are the van will run fine, but is there a reliable towing service in northern baja? If there is a tow service how would I contact it in the
event of a break down since there is no cell service.
I'm interested in information about how to deal with mechanical break downs in Baja.
I enjoy the forum. Thanks!
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durrelllrobert
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Location: Punta Banda BC
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Mood: thriving in Baja
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| Quote: | Originally posted by e350diesel
Some friends and I are planning a trip to Punta San Carlos in the spring. I have a van that breaks down from time to time and needs to be towed to a
dealer or a full service diesel shop to get it running again.
Odds are the van will run fine, but is there a reliable towing service in northern baja? If there is a tow service how would I contact it in the
event of a break down since there is no cell service.
I'm interested in information about how to deal with mechanical break downs in Baja.
I enjoy the forum. Thanks! |
What do you mean by "since there is no cell service"?
Bob Durrell
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bajaguy
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Mood: must be 5 O'clock somewhere in Baja
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Hmmmmmmmm
You might want to leave that van at home. Nothing is for certain here in Baja.
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Ateo
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Tow is possible...but may take a while and cost a lot.
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Hook
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What year is it and what is it doing? The same thing, over and over or a different ailment every time? Be specific. Is this the 7.3L engine?
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J.P.
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| Quote: | Originally posted by e350diesel
Some friends and I are planning a trip to Punta San Carlos in the spring. I have a van that breaks down from time to time and needs to be towed to a
dealer or a full service diesel shop to get it running again.
Odds are the van will run fine, but is there a reliable towing service in northern baja? If there is a tow service how would I contact it in the
event of a break down since there is no cell service.
I'm interested in information about how to deal with mechanical break downs in Baja.
I enjoy the forum. Thanks! |
If I owned a vehicle I was in fear of breaking down I wouldnt drive it to the corner store,let alone to Baja.
Relax Baja has entered the 21st century there's plenty parts and some very good mechanics.
[Edited on 12-5-2012 by J.P.]
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DianaT
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When we were involved in the towing of Diver's truck and trailer we did find out that for towing, even with the bigger companies, there are two prices
--- one with a factura that you can use for insurance companies, and another price for no factura.
There are areas where no cell service is available, but there is always someone who will stop and will send a tow truck from the next town.
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Desertbull
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Confirmed their is no cell service all the way out to Punta San Carlos...it's a ways into Solosports Adventure camp and you would have to rely on
Kevin or his crew to help you get out. I'd tow strap your van out to the highway and then into El Rosario and wait for a tow from there.
Good idea to get it your van dialed in before you leave...but you just never know!
DREAM IT! PLAN IT! LIVE IT!
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e350diesel
Newbie
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Registered: 12-4-2012
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To answer what engine, it's a 2005 ford powerstroke 6.0 diesel. It's died on the road twice for different reasons. I bought it with about 28,000
miles on it and it has 52,000 miles on it now, so it's not a matter of it being a high mileage van.
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mojo_norte
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Definitely carry a suitable tow strap or chain. If you were to break down on 'The Road' between the highway and the point someone coming along from
the fish camp might be willing to tow you to the highway or maybe even into El Rosario. Expect to give a monetary donation in return for their
trouble.
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DaliDali
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If you can get ahold of them somehow....
The Federal highway police use these guys for their tows.
Salcedo Garage in San Quintin
Tow service 7/24 with flat beds or regular tow rigs and heavy duty rigs.
Carretera Transpenisular Km 198 very close to the Federal highway police office.
Office 616-165-2280
Cell 044-616-163-0088
Take money
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weebray
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We have been personally involved in or witnessed breakdowns requiring a tow several times over the years. In every case there was a kind Mexican
citizen to the rescue. The worst one we were involved in (blew up the moto in Santa Rosilia) was quickly resolved by a resourseful hombre with a pick
up. He found a tow dolly and towed us to La Paz for a hunnert bucks. The tow company wanted mil $ US +. The Mexicans have experience with this kind
of thing. When the motor dies in their SUV they turn it into a trailer/camper.
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Hook
Elite Nomad
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Registered: 3-13-2004
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| Quote: | Originally posted by e350diesel
To answer what engine, it's a 2005 ford powerstroke 6.0 diesel. It's died on the road twice for different reasons. I bought it with about 28,000
miles on it and it has 52,000 miles on it now, so it's not a matter of it being a high mileage van. |
OK, that explains it. There are more than a few issues with that engine, as I've heard. But I believe they can be rectified, rather expensively
sometimes, but then they are pretty reliable.
I was under the impression that that engine did not have the cam position sensor problem. That wasnt one of your breakdowns, was it?
You should register for a Ford diesel discussion board, tell them what problems you've had, ask what ones are likely, what ones are fixable and then
make a decision. Some of the basic parts could be carried with you, though I suspect that working on that engine is probably not fun, given that it's
a van.
In short, if you cant feel certain that the vehicle can be relied upon, I would not take it. Who wants to be tow-strapping for any distance at all.
You end up ruining your partner's trip, too.
[Edited on 12-5-2012 by Hook]
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mojo_norte
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Ford Powerstroke 6.0 diesel.- The horror the horror.. I'd dump it for 90's E250 with a gas engine and have money left over for new kites (or sails)
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rts551
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Diver found a reliable tow truck (grula) in San QUintin. I don't have the number handy. Its the one who took his truck to Tijuana.
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monoloco
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| Quote: | Originally posted by mojo_norte
Ford Powerstroke 6.0 diesel.- The horror the horror.. I'd dump it for 90's E250 with a gas engine and have money left over for new kites (or sails)
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They have a lot of problems with
injectors and head gaskets. Those motors are not so affectionately referred to as 6 leakers.
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e350diesel
Newbie
Posts: 4
Registered: 12-4-2012
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Thanks all for your input. In answer to Hook, no I have not had the cam sensor issue. At 38,286 miles the van died on South Padre Island, Texas.
Towed to dealer, CA Regulator – Fuel Pressure and A Sensor ASY. The dealer said they had found coolant in the wrong part of the engine and suggested
an egr cooler replacement, but they were booked and couldn’t do it right away. We were at the end of our trip, took a chance and returned to Utah
without an egr cooler failure, but I researched the 6.0 egr cooler and learned they often fail over and over. At 39,472 miles I bought a Bullett
Proof EGR Cooler and had it in installed locally and had a new oil cooler installed as well since the engine was already apart. I bought a Scanguage
II to monitor among other things the difference between the engine coolant temperature and oil temperature, as well as the function of the EGR valve.
At 51,311 miles the van died in Shiprock, New Mexico. Towed to a dealer, this time the problem was low oil pressure and an oil pressure leak on the
high pressure oil pump that required a new updated pump fitting. Apparently this is another common problem with the 6.0.
A ford diesel forum is a good idea. I’ve asked a large diesel shop owner how to make the 6.0 reliable. He says the work on them is nonstop and that
most his work is on the 6.0. Ouch! The fellow I spoke with at Bullett Proof Diesel in Arizona did not agree, his view is the 6.0 can be made
reliable.
In response to Mojo_Norte, “I'd dump it for 90's E250 with a gas engine.” I’m a kiter and this van is ideal for us except for the engine. It’s a
2005 extended body ford E350 with a professionally installed raised roof and insulated walls, Quigley 4 x 4, double bed, third battery, fantastic fan,
etc. Tons of room for gear. I’d hate to let it go, but your suggestion is probably a good one.
To DaliDali and RTS551, thanks for the name of the towing companies. And thanks to everyone else who’s chipped in on my question regarding towing in
Baja.
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DianaT
Select Nomad
Posts: 10020
Registered: 12-17-2004
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| Quote: | Originally posted by rts551
Diver found a reliable tow truck (grula) in San QUintin. I don't have the number handy. Its the one who took his truck to Tijuana.
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He used the one that DaliDali listed. They towed truck with the travel trailer on a large flat-bed. Ferna in TJ arranged for the truck to spend the
night in a safe lot in Tijuana and Roberto towed the trailer across the border. The next day another company towed the truck across the border.
Later we heard that Salcedo could have taken it across the border.
Guillermo at Jardins told us Salcedo is expensive and through him we might have gotten it done cheaper --- however, I don't think he realized that
the tow job meant going to El Rosario first and then towing the truck AND the travel trailer.
If you break down, you can also hope that TW comes along --- he was also involved in the rescue of Diver. When Diver broke down south of El Rosario,
along came TW and he towed Divers big ole diesel truck with not so small travel trailer with his own truck back to El Rosario! And his recent trip
report says he is still involved in the volunteer rescue business. :-)
Good luck
[Edited on 12-6-2012 by DianaT]
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Bwana_John
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Registered: 10-17-2007
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You are aware that it will cost 3X as much to tow if its a SMB? 
| Quote: |
In response to Mojo_Norte, “I'd dump it for 90's E250 with a gas engine.” I’m a kiter and this van is ideal for us except for the engine. It’s a 2005
extended body ford E350 with a professionally installed raised roof and insulated walls, Quigley 4 x 4, double bed, third battery, fantastic fan, etc.
Tons of room for gear. I’d hate to let it go, but your suggestion is probably a good one.
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Id trade my 03 E-350 7.3L 4x4 campervan for a 03 F-350 7.3L 4x4 with pop-up camper any day!
[Edited on 12-6-2012 by Bwana_John]
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mojo_norte
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Anyway - no worries - have a great time - drive sober and not at night - and don't forget your mountain bikes
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