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Saturday morning 7 May 2022
Was awake most of the night for obvious reasons
Got up early and started to.drain fuel out of the Long range tank with a 5L bottle to fill in main tank as main tank was low on fuel and my Fasset pump also packed up pumping fuel from bottom to top.
So when I get the bus started it is 1 way to the Border.LOL
After I moved 35L I started to get stuck in to engine bay to get the bus running again.
Gone through everything again
Got Spark out of the coil
And if Renay switch the ignition on there is fuel pressure. But engine will not start.
Cleaned out the Airfilter that was very cloged with dust and even removed the air pipe at the Throttle body.
The Starter relay also started to pack up from the salty water it got in so I just bridged the wires to give power to the Starter solenoid and crank the engine.
Andreas walked over to "Hold the Torch" and I showed him spark is there when cranking the engine
And fuel pressure when ignition is switched on.
He held the Torch for me and we checked for power with test light on all the major items.
Even said to him it is looking like he is going to tow me to Palapye to get my PCR Results and then to the Border just to get out of Botswana. Then from there I'll make a plan to get home. Stupid thoughts hehehe
Sprayed some Quick start in the intake pipe and engine wants to come to life.
So it points out it needs fuel.
Andreas the Torch bearer and I decided it could be the fuel pump not giving enough fuel pressure.
I jumped in under the bus with my spare fuel pump and started to loosen the clamps holding the pump.
Then my eye spot what I immediately knew what the problem was.
From the Silicone sealer I applied in the beginning of the trip on the Positive terminal
Touching the pump body and with the high salt contents of the pan mud the wire was corroded completely off with the the green acid slime found on a vehicle main battery terminals.
Barely touching either side so if Renay switch ignition on there is just enough power to run the pump and I get fuel pressure. But when we try and crank to start the engine the movement prevent the pump from getting power to pump fuel.
Man o man o man when I saw this I knew I'm driving the Syncro home.
Removed the Silicone and old wire. Extended the wire and a new push on terminal on and the engine Fired up.straight away.
Luckily I had a spare 4 pin relay in my spares and I rewired with new lugs on the wires and starter button worked again all fine.
Had to reconnect the air intake pipes and get everything secured in the engine bay in one hell of a hurry as the rest of the group were ready to leave Kharma Rhino sanctuary direction Back home.
Most of our stuff we just tossed back in to the bus from unpacking it to the Chalet.
2 ticks and we were mobile on the road.
I lead the convoy direction Palapye at a nice casual 80km/h and the bus feels good.
I called ahead and our PCR tests papers were ready at Palapye.
While the rest of the Group stopped for a quick WIMPY breakfast while Renay and I collected our test certificates and filled Fuel. Drove back to meet the group at Wimpy and get our French fries ordered where they basically just finished there brekkies and off we go to Martin's Drift Border post.
By now I was confident the engine would start if switched off and just before the border post everyone else topped up.there fuel ready to get home.
Got to the border control at Botswana side ant it was a breeze to get stamped out of Botswana.
Then to SA side and had to fill in COVID docs and I was first finish and took my paper to the "tent" to get checked and the guy ask how many in your group?
I said 6 and he gave me a torn off piece of paper that he just wrote the number 6 down this was our covid clearance for 6 people without even checking any ones info.
I was actually peed off going through all this shit the previous day and the morning to get the PCR certificates.
But all good we all sailed through in a heart beat and back in SA.
Man it is awesome to visit neighboring countries but just as nice to be back in your own.
We took the more casual via Lephalale stopping at the fancy new garage for biltong again and at Kranskop Engen we waved every one goodbye.
I stopped and did a quick vehicle check and Manny for some Roomys and off we are on the way home with actually very little traffic.
Arrived home with a surprise welcome from the kids in our bedroom with chocolates and balloons. They obviously missed us as much as we them. Then unpacked everything out of the bus that I can take the bus for a proper chassis pressure clean and inside vacuum and wash Sunday morning. And do a proper mechanical check and repairs and upgrades.