Grande Prairie, Alberta, Canada – Sunday to Friday, September 25 to September 30, 2011
The Element has developed some new problems. The latest, a noise that seems to be tied to road speed, worries Frank the most. We discovered the noise in Dawson Creek as we were running some errands. Frank tried rotating the tires but the noise was still there. Hmmm, bearing, CV Joint, ....transmission? Dawson Creek had no Honda dealers, but the next town,which is about 80 miles away, did. We hoped nothing would fall off or seize up before we got there.
It was a short, but scenic drive to Grande Prairie, Alberta. We and the Element made it safely and headed for the Walmart camp ground.
On Monday morning, Frank showed up at the Honda dealer and they were able to find time to diagnose the Element's problems. They said we had a bad wheel bearing, a failing VTEC oil solenoid valve and an unexpected breach in the air intake system. Plus there is recall on the shift interlock switch. Unfortunately none of the parts needed are available locally. They have to come from Calgary. So we get to come back tomorrow. Back to BG to take EJ to the laundry and Frank goes to wash the car so it’ll nice and clean for the mechanic to work on.
On Tuesday, we decide to leave Walmart because it is way too noisy and busy. They are in the process of turning it into a super center. There was lots of heavy equipment tearing up concrete and storage boxes were scattered all over the parking lot limiting the number of parking spaces. Plus it was interfering with our casual wake up time.
We decided to relocate to the Visitor Centre for the day. About 12:30 Frank went back to the Honda Dealer and left the Element for the day. The parts had come in and they were ready for us. Frank got a ride back to BG and we decided to go for a walk around the reservoir near the Visitor Centre. One thing we've noticed is that Grande Prairie appears to be a young city. By that we mean lots of young adults and lots of kids. On our walk we were passed by many children out running. We guess they were out for Phys Ed or recess.
The reservoir provides the water supply for Grande Prairie and is also used for flood control. Water was flowing down the spillway at a pretty good rate.
Bad news, Frank went to pick up the Element and the noise problem wasn't fixed. They replaced the left front wheel bearing, but it turns out the noise wasn’t coming from that particular bearing. But they’re still sure it’s a wheel bearing. They want to replace the left rear bearing now. Frank had a big discussion with them and they agreed to drop the price, order more parts and promise to get it right next time. This means we'll be here two more days. I wonder what fate has in store for us.
About a quarter mile from the Visitor Centre is an Elks Lodge. We got on the internet and found the phone number of the Lodge Secretary and gave him a call. Sure enough, we get invited to stay in their parking lot and there is even an electric outlet we can plug into. There is also a sani-dump right next door so we can take care of those niceties as well. And as a bonus they have wifi available.
The parking lot here at the Elks Lodge is certainly well used by the community. At one point a fellow was giving the wheeled version of cross country sky lessons.
Wednesday was extremely windy and because of that, it felt really cold. We decide staying inside would be a good idea today so we came up with a plan that allows us to go places and be inside. So it's off to the grocery store where we not only got groceries but picked up lunch as well. Safeway has the best chili which is perfect for a cold, windy day. After lunch it was off to the local mall for some walking exercise and shopping. The Grande Prairie Mall must have had at least 6 electronics stores. But Frank behaved himself. EJ shopped for clothes and ended up buying two pair of socks. Then it was off to the Box Wok for an oriental dinner.
Thursday it’s back to the Honda dealer for what we hope is the final fix for the noise problem. The mechanic is sure it’s the left rear wheel bearing and the parts came in from Calgary so our fingers are crossed. But as it turns out, it wasn’t that bearing either. The noise is still there. They borrowed some tires off a new Honda CRV and put those on thinking maybe there was a tire problem. Didn’t help.
Now they want to replace the right front wheel bearing and maybe the right rear bearing, too. It was too late in the day to order parts from Calgary and have them arrive on Friday. But they called around to everyone they could think of and found another dealer in Edmonton that had wheel bearings for the Element and they promised they would be delivered Friday morning. Frank decides to leave the car at the dealer so they can get started on it as soon as the parts arrive. Another long discussion and they agree to not charge labor for any of the wheel bearing replacements except for the first one.
Friday morning we hang around BG. It is really windy, we estimate about 25 to 30mph. And the Elks Lodge is really busy. It looks like they are getting ready for some kind of gathering. We hope that we won’t be in the way.
Around 1PM Frank calls the dealer for a report. The Element is still in pieces, call back in about an hour. We decide to take another walk around the lake. No more than 10 minutes into the walk, we see a city employee working on the fresh water supply at another sani-dump. Uh-oh we think, tomorrow is October 1, what if they’re shutting down all the sani-dumps for the season? Before we can ask the guy, he disappears. We hurry back to BG and take him to the sani-dump next to the Elks Lodge. Fortunately it was still open. Once that was taken care of we returned to our spot at the Elks Lodge.
We walked back to the Visitor Centre so Frank could call the dealer again. Good news. It’s fixed, no noise, and they’re sending a car over to pick us up. Finally it sounds normal again. Yeah! So after 5 days of going to the dealer, 3 new wheel bearing assemblies, a new VTEC oil solenoid valve assembly, a transmission shift interlock switch and a bunch of bucks, we’re finally good to go.
It seems as though all we talked about this week was the car. We admit it did occupy most of our thoughts. Frank even considered renting a trailer to haul it back to the States. His biggest worry was that a wheel bearing would freeze up and cause major problems. But that is all behind us now. So, after six days in Grande Prairie maybe we can get back to our normal travels. We saw a weather forecast at the visitors center predicting –3 degrees Centigrade next week. Time to go.
Then at about 11PM the fresh water pump in BG failed. So, no showers tonight. And the pump is only 3 weeks old. Stay tuned for the next episode!
| BG Miles Today | 81 | BG Total Miles | 8912 |
| Eat Out total $ | 1314.34 | BG Total Fuel $ | 5156.27 |
| Entertainment total $ | 1391.63 | Total Camping $ | 1162.03 |
| E Miles Today | 85.8 | E Total Miles | 2849.31 |
| E Total Fuel $ | 575.82 | Day # of Trip | 117 to 122 |
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