Engine/Transmission (1998.5 - 2002) Cold Weather Issues

[hilda]

Ok you cold weather people, just got back from Wyoming. Every morning I went out to start the truck I had a growling noise in the steering and the brake pedal. After about 10 minutes of operation, it went away. Got back to So Cal and the growl is gone. Is this normal, or something to be concerned about?

 

[bnbrown]

The sound is the power steering pump, normal in cold temps. I switched to synthetic PS fluid and havent had as much growling since. Hope you missed all the bad weather while driving, we had white out conditions Sunday. Usually the power brakes and Power steering dont work all that well while it is cold and groaning away.

 

[hilda]

The sound is the power steering pump, normal in cold temps. I switched to synthetic PS fluid and havent had as much growling since. Hope you missed all the bad weather while driving, we had white out conditions Sunday. Usually the power brakes and Power steering dont work all that well while it is cold and groaning away.

Thanks bnbrown



Ill change out the fluid ASAP. We did take I-25 back and came thru Denver on Saturday. It was the longer route but we missed all the weather. The DRW works well the the icy roads, glad I upgraded:

 

[bnbrown]

The DRW does seem to help when loaded... but if you drop the trailer or run empty, it can be loads of fun spend a lot of time sliding around out here (we are about 11 miles from paved road). I wound up having to take I-25 all the way down to NM and catching I-40 back to CA last year to get around a storm... still got caught in snow in Flagstaff though. We just moved from CA to CO last year.
I use SynPower PS Fluid, has worked well for me.

 

[hilda]

I'm getting ready to make a similar move. We have 13 acres 12. 5 miles off I-25 in Rowe NM which is off a county maintained road (gravel). I'm done with the Ca rat race.
BTW I have 700lbs of bagged gravel in the back of the truck, leveled the truck, rides better and a little more traction.

 

[bnbrown]

Have thought about adding weight, but often go into town empty and come back heavier (we have 13 horses we are feeding through the winter). I sure dont miss CA, although we spent the last week or two below freezing, but has warmed up now for a couple days. Busting ice off the stock tanks (almost 1/4 mile from the house) when it is -15 or so with windchill doesnt exactly fit my fun to do list... but still better than the 2-3 hour commute I had. We have 120 acres here, 3 miles from the county gravel road, they do a pretty good job on the county road keeping it in good condition, they dont bother much with ice, but keep it snow free 5 days a week. our 3 miles of private road/driveway on the other hand gets pretty bad, havent been able to go out our normal road for 2 week, have been using another road out our neighbors place.

 

[hilda]

Have thought about adding weight, but often go into town empty and come back heavier (we have 13 horses we are feeding through the winter). I sure dont miss CA, although we spent the last week or two below freezing, but has warmed up now for a couple days. Busting ice off the stock tanks (almost 1/4 mile from the house) when it is -15 or so with windchill doesnt exactly fit my fun to do list... but still better than the 2-3 hour commute I had. We have 120 acres here, 3 miles from the county gravel road, they do a pretty good job on the county road keeping it in good condition, they dont bother much with ice, but keep it snow free 5 days a week. our 3 miles of private road/driveway on the other hand gets pretty bad, havent been able to go out our normal road for 2 week, have been using another road out our neighbors place.

I don’t have the 2-3 hour commute, but I do leave my house at 5:30 so my 15 mile drive is not an 1. 5 hour in traffic, with my 5 speed. #@$%! I had a job interview at a major RV dealer in Casper Wyoming in the service dept (that were my son in law’s working). If that does not work out I think were headed for Santa Fe NM. I’ll have to figure out what I’m going to do when I get there. I do have 13 acre of Pinion Trees, I can farm pinions nuts:-laf. I’m done with So Cal.

 

[bnbrown]

LOL harvesting pinons would be better than being in CA for sure Was making the commute in either my 5-speed or my dads 6-speed... lol left leg was pretty strong
to get to work at 8 usually would leave home a couple minutes before 6, and if i actually got on the road before 6 would get to work a half hour or more early... leave at 6:15 and would get there an hour late...
worst traffic here is the deer and antelope in the road.
We were through Casper back in October, but was dark by the tim we got there, have a couple friends up there, they like it. . well whine about the wind a little.
Dont count on 4x4 getting the job done all the time either... was using a 4x4 for a week or two and had to dig it out a few times, and a few time you just didnt bother trying to get through, just left it and walked.
All I can say is I will never move back to CA. Every day here look to the south and see nothing but mountains