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I changed the timing belt 2 months ago on this Lexus. The work included the two cam seals. I had done this job on a 1MZ before and had no problems with that job. What could have gone wrong? I used a pvc pipe to perfectly install the seal just like the Toyota tool. I don’t remember if I...

I was testing a 4200 watt craftsman generator that was having performance issues. Wires came in contact with the frame of the unit. The engine cut out immediately. Big spark flashed next to me. Stupid, I know. Should I just trash this thing? Replacement board is $250. I don’t want to spend...

I wanted to answer this because after reading many many many articles and forum posts why a pedal gets stiff, I finally found a satisfying answer. Forum posters said it was hydraulics, dirt contamination, pedal adjustments, or worn out bearings. None of that made sense because I had no leaks...

I’m trying to get to the clutch on my Scion xD. The thing is so stiff, it ruined my leg. I was hoping to replace it and see if the pedal got lighter. I tried for hours to get the transmission to separate from the engine. It would not budge. I didn’t see any spot on the top of the engine to...

Coworker was describing a problem with a car. I offered to help identify the problem. 2016 GMC Terrain with 116k miles. Nothing looked out of the ordinary from a cursory glance at the suspension. When accelerating, the car pulls to the left when upshifting. When decelerating, it pulls to...

I’ve always owned Manual transmissions. Now that I own automatics, I am confused about jacking them up. When I put a car in park, the car rolls forward or back depending on the road’s slope. Then something catches and stops the rolling. In my mind, I wonder if you jack a car up, say the rear...

Am I doing something wrong? I am putting a lot of weight on the valve cover and rocking back and forth. It won’t go on. I can see the tubes physically digging into the gaskets as I’m pushing them in. I don’t understand. They get good reviews on Amazon. Mine is a 3MZ-FE, just like the...

My RX330 saga continues. I’m trying to replace the valve cover gaskets due to substantial leaking. Opened up the intake manifold and found a silicone mess. THIS is why I try to do work like this myself, and not moronic people that you have no idea what ways they skimp out! Should I leave it...

I just nearly finished the timing belt on my RX330. I have some concern about the valves. When I was trying to get the belt over the cam sprockets, the cam sprockets rolled 30 degrees clockwise and counterclockwise. This happened when I was struggling with the rear bank to align the belt...

Driving home from work, I saw a wheel bouncing ahead of me. This was in a downtown area of a small town. Then I smelled burning metal/rubber. A suburban was slowing to a stop on the oncoming lane. Quickly pulled out my phone and snapped a pick behind me! I finally witnessed something we’ve...

I bought this car last year for $3800. It replaced a disaster Nissan Rogue that couldn’t be registered in GA due to rebuilt title issues. So I bought this 194k miles Lexus on a whim, since I had lost my mind trying to make the rogue road legal. Carfax showed oil changes ranged from 5000-7000...

I’m suspecting a leak somewhere, but only past a certain pressure? AC cycles on and off 2 seconds. Thinking the thing is low on refrigerant, I proceed to fill. Low pressure rises to 60psi. Compressor kicks on. Low pressure drops to 25psi within 3-5 seconds Compressor cycles off, low pressure...

I requested my dad buy this tool for me for my birthday. 1/2” Craftsman 450ft/lb impact driver. I’ve done a lot of jobs with hand tools. I remember undoing a Crank pulley bolt on a 1MZ-FE with like 3 cheater pipes. No more! This thing undid a 20 year old 199ft/lbs CV axle nut in 2 seconds. I...

2005 Ford Focus with 150k miles for $1600 It was a government owned car with a very robust maintenance history. See valve cover image. I bought this car because my scion manual transmission has been murdering my leg. So I may sell it if I can’t resolve the manual transmission pain. This...

This 2010 xD beater has been great. 10k miles and a year later, I’ve had not a single problem after fixing the initial purchase problems. A bad wheel bearing, leaking radiator, and a busted control arm bolt are all it needed. I’ve come to befriend the old junker. But I’m so dejected because I...

What is this? First time I have ever heard it. Light turned red. I have to brake hard. Car makes a loud scraping noise, like the noise brakes make when grounding off rust rotors that have been sitting for weeks, but louder. 2004 Lexus RX330 196k miles. I checked underneath. Nothing is...

I don’t know if I should bother to go through the hassle to bring something like this to market. I’m looking for a leak proof way to fill a car. I don’t like the funnels because they don’t deal with glugs. I find glugging makes it harder to avoid drips. My prototype worked ok, but I found the...

This thing is an absolute RIOT. Plugged it into my Scion XD 1.8L hamster engine. Hilarious.

So here on BITOG, we live in a sort of Bitubble. The plebians outside of bitog do not live as we do, obsessing over intervals and viscosities. No, my friends, outside of our Bitubble, we have people who drive with no tire and literally scrape entire apartment complex parking lots with rim guts...

I watched a video of a guy talking about the merits of owning a 3D printer for car work specifically. He printed a gauge cluster, trim components, and an intake manifold(!). It really made me think these could be wonderful for replacing bigger old plastic parts. He also mentioned that 3D...