What are you working on today?
- Thread starter Amkeer
- Start date
The one psycho pm tech got the axe today. Blew up 5 engines in less than 5 months. Today I diagnosed his last screw up. Tightened the wix filter so hard dug punctures into filter. Dripping a lot of oil. Failed on customer. Engine locked up. 2018 Explorer with 3.5. Only 28k on it. He’s gone thank Hod and vehicle being sold as is. Did I mention I love my job? 
2006 Expedition. Complaint: left rear passenger door would not open from exterior handle.
Well, by the time it got to me the guilty rod had also positioned itself such that the door could NOT be unlocked, so it would no longer open from the interior, either (the child lock was not responsible)
So began the contortionist game of laying across the back seat and removing the interior door panel with the door closed. I've done this before on an '09 Focus, but the Expy is more difficult.
I had to pry the cupholder/map pocket up just to get anything on the lower 7mm bolts. I tried every combination of stubby 1/4" sockets, wobbles, flex handles etc but still I had to pry to make room.
Then for the upper rear screw I had to use my ultra-stubby phillips bit with a 1/4" ratcheting wrench. I used my pocket knife to provide pressure on the rear of the bit while operating the wrench
These CalVan trim tools are so. freaking. nice. They just feel sexy in your hand and don't flex in use. Highly recommend. Could not believe how much they impressed me compared to anything else I've ever used.
Well, by the time it got to me the guilty rod had also positioned itself such that the door could NOT be unlocked, so it would no longer open from the interior, either (the child lock was not responsible)
So began the contortionist game of laying across the back seat and removing the interior door panel with the door closed. I've done this before on an '09 Focus, but the Expy is more difficult.
I had to pry the cupholder/map pocket up just to get anything on the lower 7mm bolts. I tried every combination of stubby 1/4" sockets, wobbles, flex handles etc but still I had to pry to make room.
Then for the upper rear screw I had to use my ultra-stubby phillips bit with a 1/4" ratcheting wrench. I used my pocket knife to provide pressure on the rear of the bit while operating the wrench
These CalVan trim tools are so. freaking. nice. They just feel sexy in your hand and don't flex in use. Highly recommend. Could not believe how much they impressed me compared to anything else I've ever used.
Just hung another wasp trap and watching the fellows work on installing a lawn and sprinkler system
- Joined
- Nov 20, 2021
- Messages
- 2,216
2001 Ford Ranger 3.0 V6
Replaced radiator, radiator hoses, heater control valve and changed oil
1996 Chevrolet Cheyenne 1500 4.3 V6
Replaced locked up ac compressor with a compressor bypass pulley, replaced serpentine belt and belt tensioner
Not much else, too dang hot. I plan to work gingerly in the mornings the rest of the week, doing what I can, and take the afternoons off.
Replaced radiator, radiator hoses, heater control valve and changed oil
1996 Chevrolet Cheyenne 1500 4.3 V6
Replaced locked up ac compressor with a compressor bypass pulley, replaced serpentine belt and belt tensioner
Not much else, too dang hot. I plan to work gingerly in the mornings the rest of the week, doing what I can, and take the afternoons off.
Green crusties oh no
Better hit that with some Deoxit
A coincidental find while installing this remote start I had lying on the shelf into Project xB
... it'll neaten up in time
I'm adding in a anti grind + starter kill relay, as this Scion has no form of factory alarm or immobilization
I doubt the Kia Boyz will be moving into the defunct Toyota game, but cheap insurance
Due to work and such, tracing down the ac issue on my Trailblazer hit a pause. Then my wife reports front end vibration while towing with our 3500. I took the front driver side wheel off. Couldn't pry much for play in the ball joints, tie rod and axle u joint. Tire isn't out of round and no weights missing. I did a quick brake bleed and greased the slide pins before work. Tomorrow I'll hit up the passenger side.
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2007 Corolla
Decided to finally fix the oil seeps on the engine. Replace chain tensioner and cam shaft sensor. Pulled the VVTI solenoid and decided to pull the VVTI filter while I was there. Dropped the filter bolt and had to pull the alternator to get the bolt from the top of the AC compressor. So the valve cover job that should’ve been the hardest part of the job became a footnote in “this should be easy”
Engine looks great at 225k
Decided to finally fix the oil seeps on the engine. Replace chain tensioner and cam shaft sensor. Pulled the VVTI solenoid and decided to pull the VVTI filter while I was there. Dropped the filter bolt and had to pull the alternator to get the bolt from the top of the AC compressor. So the valve cover job that should’ve been the hardest part of the job became a footnote in “this should be easy”
Engine looks great at 225k
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edyvw
$50 site donor 2025
So, Meyle HD thrust arms are junk! I got bushings to get but more feedback on steering bcs. track. Well, bushings lasted 8,000miles.
So, decided to do that and since car has 135,000 miles decided to do engine mounts bcs. mileage +stick shift.
To replace mounts, best way is to drop front subframe and just fish them out:
Turns out, mounts are in really good condition. After driving it is but smoother, but if I knew it they are in that condition, would not change them, but here we are. I mean, who doesn’t like to lower subframe for no reason? But, here I am:
Also, did ball joints as I managed to damage one taking down thrust arm:
So, decided to do that and since car has 135,000 miles decided to do engine mounts bcs. mileage +stick shift.
To replace mounts, best way is to drop front subframe and just fish them out:
Turns out, mounts are in really good condition. After driving it is but smoother, but if I knew it they are in that condition, would not change them, but here we are. I mean, who doesn’t like to lower subframe for no reason? But, here I am:
Also, did ball joints as I managed to damage one taking down thrust arm:
Ugh that sucks. I had a bad experience with Meyle bushings a few years ago and had to do the job twice on a friend's E46. Lemforder is all I put on my car now. Haven't had any issues yet, although I did the E90 M3 arm upgrade on mine since it is a RWD car.
I used to think alternative Euro suspension parts were acceptable
I've followed Sreten @ M539 Restorations saga with BMW chassis parts
Either O.E or LEMFÖRDER
Occasionally a ZF or TRW part will work, but rarely
edyvw
$50 site donor 2025
I reinstalled Lemforder. That is OE supplier to regular E90. For M3 it is TRW.
TRW is now under ZF, and Lemforder was under ZF for some time.
I hear that Meyle HD was not as stout as before, but I still gave it a try.
Busy day at the ranch but I dug into my 3500 a touch more. BD update completed. Uninstalled the tune and then reinstalled the updated tune. Nothing blew up on me and from what I can see, I did not brick the thing.
Before I rip the passenger wheel off I found some play in the ball joints. How much? Well no dial guage but I can feel it and there was none driver side. Me no like. This evening I hope to get the caliper bled and pins greased. Then test drive and figure out if I'm buying a press and joints or sending it to my buddies shop.
Before I rip the passenger wheel off I found some play in the ball joints. How much? Well no dial guage but I can feel it and there was none driver side. Me no like. This evening I hope to get the caliper bled and pins greased. Then test drive and figure out if I'm buying a press and joints or sending it to my buddies shop.
edyvw
$50 site donor 2025
I installed them bcs. they were HD, solid rubber not hydro bushing. I took down Lemforder that was on 25k thinking it is getting bit soft on track. When I took it out I still couldn’t move steel part with pry bar. After taking off HD yesterday, after 8,000mls I could move steel part with screwdriver. Super soft. Original BMW bushings that I took at 100k mls were stiffer. Absolute junk.
Cleaning a VERY dirty tb on a Nissan Hardbody.
Nissan apparently decided to aim for the GM HEI alternator version of a tb, cramming no less than 4 electrical connectors, 4 vac lines and 2 coolant lines on a relatively compact piece.
Query: what's this sensor (finger indicates) above the IAC? It's not IAT as that's in the air cleaner housing.
Nissan apparently decided to aim for the GM HEI alternator version of a tb, cramming no less than 4 electrical connectors, 4 vac lines and 2 coolant lines on a relatively compact piece.
Query: what's this sensor (finger indicates) above the IAC? It's not IAT as that's in the air cleaner housing.
Changed the spark plugs on my wife's 2018 Equinox 1.5. Easiest plug change I've done in a while. What threw me for a loop is that the plugs I took out are AC Delco 41-153 and the ones I got at the parts store are 41-156 (I guess these are an updated version?). Car only has 56,000 miles on it and the owners manual shows replacement at 60,000.
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Removing some zero scaping. The landscape timbers somewhat disintegrated and rotted from the oppressive texas heat. When I first build this about 10-12 years ago I used lots of rocks as filler so it was tough going. I got about 1/3 removed today before pooping out. Moved the crushed granite to the side of the house where I keep trash cans. Its always shady there so its perfect.
Once this is all removed the plan is to till it, amend, till it more, for a new in-ground fall garden.
Once this is all removed the plan is to till it, amend, till it more, for a new in-ground fall garden.
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