Quickie From Moab

[ketcat]

Cylinder head still in one piece???????? Go after it with an axe! You may not cut it in two but I bet you can break little chunks off.

[Sewie]

Good to know about the temp. Have you been in 4hi or 4lo mostly?

Truck's looking nice too.

[f5fstop]

Temps have actually been cool for this time of the year; in the mid-to-high 90s. Yesterday, it did top out around 104 up near Gemini Bridges, which I might add is a great trail, if taken off 191. The trail from Canyonlands is easy to and from the Bridges, but there is a steep, rock/sand trail off Hwy 191 that is fun. I don't recommend it after a rain fall, we have a few slips going up when hitting rock, but the locker saved our a**ses.
We also ran Long Canyon road, down from Deadhorse Point. Overall an easy downhill trail, except at the very beginning. This road is famous for the giant bolder you go under (on the local Hummer Tour Guide brochure).


Starting to get back up in the 100s today with an expected high of 108. Just got back from Cache Valley Road, that runs out of Arches, but is owned by BLM. Embarrassing to say, but I actually got the H3 stuck for a few seconds in deep sand with piles of boulders to the front and rear. Embarrassing because, after getting out, drinking some water, cussing a bit, I realized I had not locked the rear end. So, when I got back in, locked the axle, the thing pulled out like it was in my driveway.

Even on most of the worse roads we have been on, 4x4 Lo-Lock has not been required that much; only on this road, and a few others with large boulders and deep sand, or long downhills where I did not want to ride the brakes. In fact, on many of the trails that require 4x4, I have been running 4x4 normal non-lock. Biggest concern on many of the roads is actually the need for high ground clearance.

I let the vehicle idle for twenty minutes or more yesterday at Gemini, and today when taking shots on Cache Valley, and never did the temp gage go any higher than 3/4, and that was with the A/C on at all times. Most of the times, it never went above a small click above 1/2.

So far, I have only two complaints, one I can fix when I get home, the other I have to call engineering on. The door panels are rubbing against the Styrofoam safety foam pieces inside the door, and that squeaking sound of foam against plastic is enough to drive a person crazy at times. Only on the trails, ok on the highway.

The second problem is yesterday, the engine kept sounding like it was racing at all times. RPMs were in normal range, but the engine sounded strange. If anyone has ever noticed, when the engine is first started after sitting for a while, the engine has a racing sound for about 30 seconds, and that is the sound I was hearing. If my memory serves me correctly, that is due to the EVAP, but not sure at this time.

Time to go climb to Delicate Arch....

[HummBebe]

The second problem is yesterday, the engine kept sounding like it was racing at all times. RPMs were in normal range, but the engine sounded strange. If anyone has ever noticed, when the engine is first started after sitting for a while, the engine has a racing sound for about 30 seconds, and that is the sound I was hearing. If my memory serves me correctly, that is due to the EVAP, but not sure at this time.

I do, but I call it the morning ROAR!!! It is loud and sounds like you have your foot in it, and you're not going anywhere.

Let me know what you find out!

[BABHUMV]

Originally Posted by f5fstop

So far, I have only two complaints, one I can fix when I get home, the other I have to call engineering on. The door panels are rubbing against the Styrofoam safety foam pieces inside the door, and that squeaking sound of foam against plastic is enough to drive a person crazy at times. Only on the trails, ok on the highway.

The second problem is yesterday, the engine kept sounding like it was racing at all times. RPMs were in normal range, but the engine sounded strange. If anyone has ever noticed, when the engine is first started after sitting for a while, the engine has a racing sound for about 30 seconds, and that is the sound I was hearing. If my memory serves me correctly, that is due to the EVAP, but not sure at this time.

What kind of Rock Rails do you have? That rubbing/squeek noise started on mine after I put the Manik rock rails on because I think they are too close to the body. As for the howl, I would definetly blame the fan clutch engaging to suck more air through the radiator.

More PICS please!

[Phil H.]

Originally Posted by f5fstop

The second problem is yesterday, the engine kept sounding like it was racing at all times. RPMs were in normal range, but the engine sounded strange. If anyone has ever noticed, when the engine is first started after sitting for a while, the engine has a racing sound for about 30 seconds, and that is the sound I was hearing. If my memory serves me correctly, that is due to the EVAP, but not sure at this time.

Like Deserth3 said, it's the viscous fan clutch. The "racing" is your fan engaged.

Have a great time in Moab. If you get to the other side of the state, near Zion N.P., let me know. I'll take you to some great areas.

[PackerFever]

Well its good to know that the Shaffer Trail is open.

There was a washout rock slide a couple years ago and they said they were not going to repair it for a long time.

[f5fstop]

Got back last night. Trip went well, no breaks, not damage (some scratches and tires are as red as the rock in Moab).
The "morning roar" is not the fan. We researched this a few months ago, and it is actually coming from the back of the engine, and from what I can remember, it is due to the EVAP system. I will check when I get back to work tomorrow, and review my notes. Why it was happening that one day, is what I am concerned about; however, it was only that one day.
I will be posting a complete review of the trip, including the strange fuel mileage records. I say strange, but they are probably normal for the vehicle.

I have no rock rails, never purchased them, so in some places I was gambling, but the high ground clearance was great. Just as the Jeep that was in front of me for a while on Cache Valley trail. If someone travels this road, just look at all the scrapes in the boulders from his fuel tank.

If I was rock crawling like Neo and Bebe, rock rails would have been a requirement, but with no backup, and no rock rails, this was not even attempted on this trip.

The foam squeaking in the rear doors has all but gone away. A little squeaking now that I have returned to Michigan's fantastic roads , so in a few weeks I will be pulling the rear door panels off and seeing what I can do to fix this noise problem. There are types of non-itching tape and plastic sheathing that I might try and use between the foam and the door panel.

Now to go purchase a power washer and cut the grass before I have to purchase a tractor.

Let me add that while in Moab, I only saw two other H3s, and both were clean as heck. One H2 that I parked next too had the Moab Red Tire condition, so at least he or she was doing some off-roading. At Delicate Arch, we parked behind a beautiful all black H3 with chrome wheels. The owner's wife, who staid behind to watch her child while Hubby and kids climbed to Delicate Arch, asked me why the H3 was so filthy. I then asked if the H2 was ever off-roaded and she informed me, her husband did not want the vehicle taken on dirt roads, let alone a 4-wheel drive only road.
I will also mention that 99% of the Jeeps in Moab are clean, but most are rentals and why someone would rent a Jeep and not go off-road amazes me.

I did have a brand new Slate Blue H3 in Cortez CO, almost get in an accident looking at the filthy H3 that passed him while he was turning left.

[NEOCON1]

very nice F5 good to hear all is well gotta love the locker , also BTMing lets the front really crawl if it gets close again just dont do the H2 point and shoot thing we found out the hard way

[timgco]

MORE PICS MORE PICS MORE PICS!
I miss Moab already!

[NEOCON1]

Originally Posted by timgco

MORE PICS MORE PICS MORE PICS!
I miss Moab already!

come down next month for a few days with us

[deserth3]

On the s-10 Blazers I'ved owned the "morning roar" was caused by the radiator cooling fan kicking in. It's a viscous fluid clutch and many a morning it would roar for half a block.
It would also kick in in stop and go traffic with the AC on. Nothing to worry about just the fan working like it's supposed to.
My H3 has done the samething a couple of times. Just makebeliev it has a set of wings and can fly.