![](https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmSokHMxjWeioJ5moCtiZwqZYPp4oSD83kcdasqhKdC3Cj/image.png)When last I left you I said, “then I found the problem…” and that I would continue this story in the next daily dose. Well here we are, the night was short; Thursday was long and I am no closer to solving the problem. In fact I am further away and less optimistic at this point then when I left you yesterday. The one thing I can say is, I'm not giving up.

I did prove one thing to myself and it has to do with the brick and mortar story from a while ago, it is much better to do business with locals when you can, in their establishment if possible. NPC Automotive Computers proved that to me on Thursday in Houston. From the initial phone call, to going there and having the spare computer programmed, it was a good experience in dealing with them. Miss Jennifer, was very polite and knowledgeable on the phone and when she asked what I needed she listened to what I was looking for them to do for me.

The initial car computer company that jacked me around and sent me three computers of which one only worked for a short period of time initially and then left the wife stranded at the local store, $85 towing fee to boot to get the van back to the house since I was out of town and couldn’t go pick it up with the trailer. But after that they sent me another computer that was a total screw up since the VIN number in the computer was not even close to my VIN number, it never stood a chance to work, and it wouldn’t even power anything on the van. I held off sending that back to them and I am glad I did.

NPC was able to program that computer and I took it and went and changed out the one in the van for the newly programmed one, I was sure in my mind that this would solve the problem. Unfortunately it didn’t solve it. Jennifer had given me a quote on a new computer, just in case this programmed one didn’t work. I had stuck the newly programmed one in when I went home for lunch, but rather than extract it and take it with me I took the one that had been in the van that came from North Carolina. These companies rebuilt them so they need the dead ones, they are referred to as “cores” and some places charge a “core charge”, which is basically a deposit that you get refunded when they get your old computer back from you.

The price to get the programming done that morning I was told would be $75.00 but when I paid Jennifer only charged me $50, she said she had the discretion to change the price, and I guess my charm just got $25 knocked off the price. 

She also told me that if I needed a new computer that she would refund the $50 and apply it to the price of the new computer. That is a really sweet deal, and she did exactly that when I went and picked up the rebuilt one that their shop had done. Most places would say, “screw you” since she tried to sell me a new one to begin with. As I paid for the new unit she told me that NPC holds on to the unit that you bring in as a core for 30 days. If I determine that I really didn’t need the computer I can bring the new one back and get my old one from them, there would be a 20% restocking fee but who cares, she gave 33% off on the programming and then would allow me to return the new unit for a refund is pretty much unheard of when it comes to electrical parts.

The one they programmed for me turns out that it does work, I didn’t have one of the four connectors in tight and it wasn’t getting power. It also registered the exact codes that my original computer from North Carolina showed, so that more than likely means that one is good as well. To complete the trifecta; the NPC computer also registered the same codes. So, I have 30 days to return it and get a refund, which I plan on doing, so I will get the NC computer back and it should be good, and I still have the programmed controller that should be good as well.

So for $40 and little bit of time I should end up with two good computers. The van still isn’t running as of the moment but I am not giving up, I spent the evening Thursday tearing into the wiring now, checking wires for continuity and resistance. The narrowing down process is well underway; it is just a matter of time now until I find the problem. 

I should have scrapped this van to begin with, but now it isn’t about the van any longer, it is about whether or not I can find and fix the problem. Electrical isn’t my strong suite, I am a water guy. I can read a schematic and I found a place online that has just about every service bulletin and schematic for every vehicle made in the last 60 years. Schematics are like treasure maps are to pirates, there should always be a golden result if you can follow the schematic.

So, the end result up to this point is I know what the problem “isn’t” , I just don’t know for sure what the problem is or where it is.

When I do figure it out and fix I will let you know.  I’m not going to make this any longer of series than I have too. The daily dose was never intended be a novel with chapters. It is intended to be just an old man telling his “short” stories, and this short is electrical.

Until next time,
@sultnpapper 

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