Van Life Update

Hello, friends. I hope your new year is off to a great start. Apologies for the delay—life has been chaotic lately.

Last time, Georgia (the van) wouldn't start, leaving us stranded in San Diego. After a week of waiting for a dealership, I found a local shop that let me stay on-site while they worked on the van, thanks to a recommendation from another nomad. With Collin's help, I moved the van to a nearby spot, and the next day, we were towed to the mechanic.

We spent a week at the shop, where they kindly fit us into their schedule. The first issue was a bad battery, which we replaced. However, they found more problems, including a faulty ground connection.

Here's some backstory: after buying the van, I discovered it had been in a front collision that wasn't properly repaired or disclosed. The Carfax was clean, but the repairs were subpar. Since day one, I've dealt with electrical issues, and the ground connection was just one of many problems from the old repair.

After fixing the ground issue, Georgia stopped throwing random error codes. However, they found issues with the #4 fuel injector and glow plug, both broken. They also found sludge in the intake and, upon further inspection, pitting on the piston and deep scratches in the cylinder walls. Realizing this could be a worst-case scenario, we contacted the extended warranty company. They requested the engine be pulled, the head removed, and images submitted.

Knowing this wouldn't be a quick fix, I rented a minivan and returned to our base camp in Southern Oregon.

Fast forward to today: I’m back home, focusing on work and trying to relax, though I've caught the flu. Meanwhile, the mechanic has pulled the engine and disassembled the top end, discovering a hole in the head and further cylinder damage. The engine is blown and needs either a rebuild or replacement. The warranty company opted to send an inspector to assess the damage firsthand. We are currently awaiting the inspector’s report.

I wanted to wait until I had a definitive solution before updating you, but the process drags on. The repair will cost $10,000 to $15,000, which should be covered under warranty with a small deductible. However, we are still waiting for approval.

Despite the challenges, I feel fortunate to have broken down in San Diego, where the weather was amazing. Breaking down at base camp would have been much tougher due to the cold. The mechanic has been wonderful to work with, and for that, I am grateful.

Now, we continue to wait.
Brian & Ruby