Van Buildout (Update)

 It has been five years since  I planned to build out my van. Luckily, I never did complete it.

TPMS (follow up)

Very much to my dismay the tire pressure readings from the ODBII sensor are way off. Excited as I was at first to see the pressure reading on the monitor I was skeptical. The readings showed the front tires 10 PSI higher than the actual reading was, whereas the rear tires supposedly were under inflated.
After I visited a Ford dealership the guy told me that he reset the light - not. So I went out to purchase a digital tire pressure Gage to double check and the readings confirmed that the tire pressure was normal for the front and the rear tires (hot and cold).
So now what?

TPMS (Tire Pressure Monitor)

The TPM light is blinking and staying on in the dash display indicating that there is either low tire pressure or one of the sensors is malfunctioning. I had the tire pressure checked and it was at the required PSI. My new system has a TPM display but failed to connect to the existing sensors. After some searching on various forums I came across the proper setup for the Torque app to show the tire pressure via the ODBII/EDU connector. Unfortunately I only copied the formulas and forgot to copy who wrote and published it - thank you for sharing this information.

I still have to figure out how to fix the indicator after all attempts to reset the TPM failed so far.

Left Front Tire Pressure (Driver Front) - Uses the vehicle's TPMS to read your tire pressure. GREAT for constant readings and to see how much PSI increase (or possibly decrease if tires get damaged) when driving! Each tire will get its own menu. All four listed below.

PID: 222813
Long Name: Left Front Tire Pressure
Short Name: Tire PSI (LF)
Maximum Value: 70
Unit type: PSI
Equation: (((256*A)+B)/3+22/3)*0.145
OBD Header to use: 726

Right Front Tire Pressure (Passenger Front)
PID: 222814
Long Name: Right Front Tire Pressure
Short Name: Tire PSI (RF)
Maximum Value: 70
Unit type: PSI
Equation: (((256*A)+B)/3+22/3)*0.145
OBD Header to use: 726

Right Rear Tire Pressure (Passenger Rear)
PID: 222815
Long Name: Right Rear Tire Pressure
Short Name: Tire PSI (RR)
Maximum Value: 70
Unit type: PSI
Equation: (((256*A)+B)/3+22/3)*0.145
OBD Header to use: 726

Left Rear Tire Pressure (Driver Rear)
PID: 222816
Long Name: Left Rear Tire Pressure
Short Name: Tire PSI (LR)
Maximum Value: 70
Unit type: PSI
Equation: (((256*A)+B)/3+22/3)*0.145
OBD Header to use: 726

The improved (another follow up)

I had a bit of time, which is rare these days, and tackled the USB port installation. This turned out to be a bit of an undertaking since there was no clear path from the top to the bottom of the dash board. I had to take off the radio enclosure and the switches for the fan and temperature Gage to get the USB cables to the proper location. At the end it did work out.

I also installed the front dash cam, not in the location I wanted it to be but it works as well where it is at the moment. Perhaps at a later date I will move it into the enclosure above the rear view mirror.

The improved (follow up)

To my dismay my existing ODBII connector did not work, besides, it was to bulky anyway. A quick order with Amazon fixed that issue. Now the connection comes up flawlessly on the Torque Pro app (included with the ATOTO system) and shows all the relevant, and not so relevant information.

Other than that the entire system works perfectly. Maps, radio, Pandora, telephone, equalizer, dimming of display, multiple screens to switch to, car information, and a multitude of other goodies which still need to be explored. The GPS system works well. I also added a WiFi hot spot to the car which allows for a flawless internet connection. To round it all up,  a power inverter allows for a laptop or even a battery charger for the power tools to be connected.

I still need to install, or rather extend the USB port which requires some drilling into the existing panel. The plan is to split the USB inside and have a dual USB flush mount in the dash board.

The good, the bad, and the ugly

It has been 90 days and roughly 4,000 miles since I purchased the Ford Transit 150 Cargo Van. I have to write that I'm very happy with the purchase decision. However, since I was not able to finish the build out in the first go around, mainly due to the cold weather, there are some observations I would like to share.

The good

More room - a two sided sword.

On the one side, it allows me to carry a myriad of tools without making several stops during the week to reload or reconfigure the car for specific jobs. Furthermore, it allows for more accessories to be carried which in turn makes jobs easier to complete. On the other side it makes a mess since all of it is organized in bins at the moment and not in designated shelve units. Some sharp turns, sudden stops, or acceleration can cause some of the smaller bins to topple over and the contents is all over the place despite the lit.

The extra room also allows me to transport left overs or trash easier and faster to the designated landfills or dumpsters. Below is an example of carrying about 2,100 pounds of tile plus several bags of other stuff, or a cement Grinder ( a million pounds if you ask me).

Yes it is a mess but it worked. I'm not sure if I will be able to do that after I finish the build out, whenever that is.

The bad

The van, like all the other vans in the same class, only averages 14 miles per gallon. I drive mostly back roads or city traffic which does not help, neither does the weight of the tools. My previous car averaged about 17 miles a gallon which is not that much of a difference, however, with the gas prices going up again it is about a $100 per month increase. Although the van is not that long, the height prohibits to park in most garages, public or private. The car still is easy to maneuver and park, just not inside. 

The ugly

Opening the doors is like a box of chocolate, you never know what falls out first ... It is ugly inside and looks very unorganized. Dust and other debris is all over the floor. I have to clean the dash board every morning before I start the drive due to the dust accumulated on it. Hopefully this state of looks will improve in the near future.

The improved

This heading is not mentioned in the title but I upgraded the "entertainment" system in the car. I know that there are several upgrade videos online, everybody with their own opinion and style, so I will not go into the nitty gritty details and just show what I did to my van's radio upgrade. Should you be adventures and go for a complete build out, not just a work van, visit this site which has the most detailed and well thought out description of how to do it.

While I was at it I added some desperately needed floor mats for the front. 

I ventured out in the infinite world of shopping to find exactly what I wanted in terms of performance. The particular piece I was looking for was an Android system with most of the bells and whistles for the least amount of money. After weeks of research and comparisons I stumbled upon the ATOTO ANDROID IN-CAR ENTERTAINMENT system which addressed all the items I wanted in my dashboard, above all, it had the right price tag namely $179 on Amazon. Adding a new dashboard kit from Metra, wire harness, connectors, and adapters the entire new system was less than $240.

Since my soccer team had a bye week this Saturday I took the time to tackle the install. First I removed the existing top and front panels.

   

Second, I attached the wire harness and connected the cables in the order of ground, power, left and right speakers.

   

I turned the ignition key to turn on the power system and the system came right up - success.

Now came the fiddling with the brackets to align the screen with the panel. The small piece in front of the screen had to be cut so the unit slides to the back where it is fastened to the existing dashboard.

After mounting the side pieces, enlarging the opening of the screen front panel to fit the screen the unit was nicely in place and was working perfectly.

I will eventually write how the system performs in terms of radio, GPS, USB, Bluetooth, and OBDII.

Van Build Out (discontinued)

It is April already and the saga continues. Needless to say the cold weather threw a wrench in my well laid plan to finish the build out. As a result my van looks like the picture shown in my January 31st blog - the one on the right side.
Several large projects required too many tools, numerous trips to haul away left overs and trash, and, above all, lots of time. However, there is a light at the end of the tunnel and warmer weather in the forecast. Eventually I will find some time and accomplish what I set out to do.

Upgrading Transportation

After 15 years I decided with a heavy heart to upgrade my transportation. My small business required more and more tools to be transported to job sites and, even after taking out all the seats in the Toyota Sienna Mini Van, there was just not enough room for anything. Besides, finding smaller items became a chore although they are organized in little bins but the bins were covered with larger items such as saw horses, ladder, or other bigger items depending on the requirements for a particular job.

My trusty van provided save travel for me for 229,000 plus miles, actually only 164,000 since I bought it used with 65,000 miles on it. Even when it was fully loaded it had enough horse power to get up and go all the way up and down the east coast. Left out on the map are some places in Florida for some reason or the other.











With a new year on the horizon, I finally started searching for a worthy replacement while working on a house renovation. It came down to three cargo van brands, the first was the Mercedes Benz Sprinter Van 2500, second, the Ford Transit 150, and third, the Dodge Ram. Important criteria included foremost, parking, interior space, type of engine, cost, reliability. Not included was the gas consumption since neither van, including my current one, were efficient in this category. My price range was between $20,000 and $25,000, taking in consideration that this potentially new car was a commercial vehicle and the interest rate is definitely higher than a non-commercial vehicle.

Unfortunately, the Mercedes Benz line comes with a Diesel engine which means that, with the low miles per gallon, the overall cost for gas would mean an increase in cost of a minimum of $80 per month for fuel. Although the 2019 Mercedes Sprinter Van comes with a gas engine, it is only a four cylinder and also cost prohibitive. The monetary value of the diesel equipped Sprinter line holds really well which was very much to my disadvantage. For example a 2011 Mercedes Cargo Van 2500 with 80,000 miles would cost $20,000 which was within my budget. Several others had either very high mileage, higher cost, or both, therefore, this selection was out.

Next on the list was the Ford and the Dodge Cargo Van, although similar in looks and feel I leaned towards the Ford Transit 150 for some reason or the other. On the last day of January I found one with only 25,000 plus miles on it and within my price range. To make a long story short, I test drove it, liked it, and subsequently bought it.

It is a 2018 Ford Transit Cargo Van with a medium roof, very clean inside and outside. Enough space to carry all my necessary and not so necessary tools, gear, and other little things needed on any given job.
Now comes the time consuming, in between jobs build out, transferring all the equipment from the Toyota Sienna van and other storage options so it is organized part. While I was searching for the "right" van, I also looked at other tradesman van build out plans and photos. Since everybody has their own style and needs my build out also will reflect my style and needs.

Of course here is a scenario I had to laugh at because it is very true:

In any case, I will blog about the build out and find out if the left or right side reflects my style. In the meantime I have to figure out how to make this all happen while working full time on projects.

Gearless Part Deux

Yesterday I used a cleaning fluid for transmissions to test if it was a matter of cleaning the transmission from accumulated varnish and other deposits which might have caused this erratic behavior. I'm certain that it is not the transmission fluid since I had the transmission flushed and the fluid exchanged just two weeks ago. Since, I drove nearly 1,400 miles without a problem.
This morning I set out to unload a motorcycle I had in the back of my van. The destination temporary storage is about 20 miles away. Piece of cake. I made it to 13 miles when the gears started slipping while I was driving on a straight road. So much for the solution I had hoped for.
After several telephone calls and two and a half hours of waiting my car was towed to a preferred auto shop, motorcycle still in the back of the van. What next?

Gearless

It started last Friday. I noticed that the gears were slipping a little bit when I was backing out of a parking space. Driving home after my soccer game on Saturday produced a slide backup since the forward gear slipped completely and the car would not move. I was lucky enough to pull into a side street without causing a major backup. I pulled over and turned the car off to check if there was something obvious going on, which was not the case. Then I turned the car back on and, low and behold, it drove forward without a problem. However, it happened again just one mile down the road. Same procedure as before and I made it home.
After consulting with the all mighty internet I decided to give Trans Tune by Sea Foam ^® a try. I was hopeful since the car moved forward without a problem after I followed the manufacturers instructions administering the fluid. Did it really work or was it just a fluke? I'll find out tomorrow.