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82 Rampage suddenly won’t roll forward

632 views 6 replies 3 participants last post by  ReckedRampage 
#1 · (Edited)
Hi

So my rampage has no brakes currently. It’s fine, this was planned. So when I work on it I push it out of the garage and back in.

It pushes like a dream. Like a full shopping cart. Easy in, easy out. Until 2 days ago when it decided it wasn’t going to roll forward anymore. Goes backward EASY.

It’s been in push/neutral. It has no parking brake.

It’s been leaking reddish, okay fine, I assume it’s the power steering fluid because the reservoir is suddenly empty and we had it on and fiddled with it some before putting it away for winter.

I wonder if it’s the transaxle. They hang out right next to each other in a line and it’s kind of difficult to tell. I decide to pop the fill plug open and see if it’s empty. It’s not. I open it and it spills everywhere. One might say it was overfull.

So now it’s blocking the entire garage and needs to move. I’m out of ideas and need to move it asap.

Anyone got ideas about what’s wrong? I’d be glad for the help.

Edit: crawled under it a while and cleaned some things off. The transaxle doesn’t appear to be leaking. The power steering pump reservoir is bone dry. Called a friend and forced it into the garage, and it sounds like a brake is seized or a bearing is toast. Grinds and what not. So goes another day looking for problems that might not exist.
 
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#2 ·
I'm thinking the shifter isn't in neutral.
You said: It’s been in push/neutral.
Did you mean that you pushed the shifter down and towards you then forward? (like an L in reverse).
That then would be reverse.
If not, it could be that the shifter came out of alignment and you aren't really in neutral.
 
#3 ·
The reverse L would be reverse gear on mine, yes. It sits like it’s in neutral now. I climbed under it and had someone cycle to R and it engages audibly, and the shifter doesn’t slip out of gear. When they put it back in neutral it disengaged and went back to slight slack.
If I push the shifter down, toward me, and then back, there’s a spot labeled ‘push’. That spot doesn’t hold the shifter, it slides back into neutral. Whether this is a normal feature or not is unclear to me, as both my rampages have this shift pattern and both operate the same way.
The linkages are all there, and it’s pretty smooth to operate. When it was running last year it went into reverse and 1st fine.
It could absolutely be out of alignment anyway, or something could have broken between last year and now and I haven’t found it. Our (not professional) assumption goes between not in neutral and seized brake. the back wheel was whining when we pushed it and the car was lifting it’s back end as if someone has hit the brakes on it.
if you have any diagnostic ideas, I’m happy to get down and look again.
thank you!
 
#4 ·
In the rear of the truck is a load compensating valve. My bet it is bad. My understanding they are long, long gone as far as replacements. Many people remove them with no ill effects. FYI- The valve directs more brake pressure to the rear brakes if it senses a load in the bed of the truck.
You can jack up the car and see what wheel (if any) is not moving easily. The rear drums brakes will sometimes groan a little bit esp on the l-bodies. Somewhat common. IMO, it is a sign that the rear wheel cylinders could be on their way out.
Set of four car dollies makes moving cars in the garage a snap. This set of 4 can be bought for under $100 even less with discount coupon. Need a floor jack to use these obviously.
 
#5 ·
In the rear of the truck is a load compensating valve. My bet it is bad. My understanding they are long, long gone as far as replacements. Many people remove them with no ill effects. FYI- The valve directs more brake pressure to the rear brakes if it senses a load in the bed of the truck.
You can jack up the car and see what wheel (if any) is not moving easily. The rear drums brakes will sometimes groan a little bit esp on the l-bodies. Somewhat common. IMO, it is a sign that the rear wheel cylinders could be on their way out.
Set of four car dollies makes moving cars in the garage a snap. This set of 4 can be bought for under $100 even less with discount coupon. Need a floor jack to use these obviously.
Definitely getting some of those, I’m sick of pushing this thing on it’s own wheels. Good call.
I replaced one of the rear wheel cylinders already. Had a bleed screw snap off inside it, had to be done of course. I didn’t think about the compensating valve, it definitely looks like it’s rotten. I’ll look into it.
Thanks
 
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