What are you working on today?

My Wife's 2014 VW Passat Wolfsbug edition. I pulled the transmission pan and replaced the filter and refilled with fresh fluid. VW makes this as tedious and difficult as possible. Figuring out the correct filter was the most frustrating part. Anyone with the same car: it is the filter made of black plastic, not the shiny ,metal one.
For a laugh start here about 4:00 where Eric recites a short list of tools that will do almost everything on a Japanese car. Then the German tech says that's everything we need just for an oil change ;)
 
For a laugh start here about 4:00 where Eric recites a short list of tools that will do almost everything on a Japanese car. Then the German tech says that's everything we need just for an oil change ;)

Three different sizes of TORX tools, 10mm socket, 5mm allen, plastic hose, funnel, 1/2" and 3/8" ratchets, drain pan, IR thermometer, kitty litter to clean up spills. VW seems to think if you put an extra drop of fluid in the pan the demons from Hell will appear and destroy the transmission with the correct VW hammer. Color me skeptical.
 
Neighbor brought her and her daughter's vehicles over to the house for oil changes and tire rotations. 03 Toyota Tundra and 2010 Chevrolet Malibu
 
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Finishing up the new bumper installation. All OEM parts, paid in cash because the driver that rear-ended the truck was texting and driving while waiting at a light.

Shiny.
IMG_0667.webp


Notes for whoever gets in here again.
IMG_0668.webp


Plastic caps, license plate, lamps installed.
IMG_0669.webp
 
Finishing up the new bumper installation. All OEM parts, paid in cash because the driver that rear-ended the truck was texting and driving while waiting at a light.

Shiny.
View attachment 243935

Notes for whoever gets in here again.
View attachment 243936

Plastic caps, license plate, lamps installed.
View attachment 243937
At least it's steel. I worked on a '17 Taco rear bumper and those are essentially a single horizontal sheetmetal plate and everything else is plastic, including anything that looks like "chrome"
 
Because my posts are inevitably lengthy, the TL;DR I learned yesterday: if a throttle bore is vertical, I should check for (rodent) obstructions first!

One of our volunteers reports his '96 Nissan Hardbody simply won't start.

So I go over yesterday and it fires up immediately -- I'm thinking great, an intermittent problem, probably ignition related.

Then within seconds it sputters, wheezes, idles terribly and dies -- I'm thinking ok, maybe fuel pump.

So I go to start it again. It fires right up, climbs to 4k and just stays there indefinitely. Now I'm really confused: an ailing fuel pump wouldn't cause this much less allow a 4k "idle", and it's not throttle by wire so even an ailing TPS or IAC couldn't force an "idle" at 4k.

So, I start chasing the throttle cable figuring it must be rusty, but it seems to move quite nicely -- and why would a bad cable make it stumble and die or cause a no-start???. At one point I'm working the lever by hand at the throttle body and notice I can force it closed it a bit, at which point it moves freely back to the point where I forced it -- almost as if an obstruction was cleared.

Finally, I pull the air filter and find below. A rodent(s) had come in through the lengthy plastic intake tube and eaten through the air filter. Once there, the bore down to throttle plate is several inches and I believe there was a nest of some kind on top of the butterfly.
20241005_183946.webp


By the time I got to it the nest was gone, so hopefully it all burned up in the combustion chambers and/or was forced out the exhaust valves. In this regard perhaps the initial prolonged "idle" at 4k was a blessing because it forced anything through.

In the future I need to remember to check at least vertical throttle bores before attempting to start, but who really thinks of that?? Does anyone consider that SOP?
 
Because my posts are inevitably lengthy, the TL;DR I learned yesterday: if a throttle bore is vertical, I should check for (rodent) obstructions first!

One of our volunteers reports his '96 Nissan Hardbody simply won't start.

So I go over yesterday and it fires up immediately -- I'm thinking great, an intermittent problem, probably ignition related.

Then within seconds it sputters, wheezes, idles terribly and dies -- I'm thinking ok, maybe fuel pump.

So I go to start it again. It fires right up, climbs to 4k and just stays there indefinitely. Now I'm really confused: an ailing fuel pump wouldn't cause this much less allow a 4k "idle", and it's not throttle by wire so even an ailing TPS or IAC couldn't force an "idle" at 4k.

So, I start chasing the throttle cable figuring it must be rusty, but it seems to move quite nicely -- and why would a bad cable make it stumble and die or cause a no-start???. At one point I'm working the lever by hand at the throttle body and notice I can force it closed it a bit, at which point it moves freely back to the point where I forced it -- almost as if an obstruction was cleared.

Finally, I pull the air filter and find below. A rodent(s) had come in through the lengthy plastic intake tube and eaten through the air filter. Once there, the bore down to throttle plate is several inches and I believe there was a nest of some kind on top of the butterfly. View attachment 243969

By the time I got to it the nest was gone, so hopefully it all burned up in the combustion chambers and/or was forced out the exhaust valves. In this regard perhaps the initial prolonged "idle" at 4k was a blessing because it forced anything through.

In the future I need to remember to check at least vertical throttle bores before attempting to start, but who really thinks of that?? Does anyone consider that SOP?
I have several customers who keep Decon and glue traps under the hood of their cars indefinitely. Rodents in cars are a big deal around here.
 
Because my posts are inevitably lengthy, the TL;DR I learned yesterday: if a throttle bore is vertical, I should check for (rodent) obstructions first!

One of our volunteers reports his '96 Nissan Hardbody simply won't start.

So I go over yesterday and it fires up immediately -- I'm thinking great, an intermittent problem, probably ignition related.

Then within seconds it sputters, wheezes, idles terribly and dies -- I'm thinking ok, maybe fuel pump.

So I go to start it again. It fires right up, climbs to 4k and just stays there indefinitely. Now I'm really confused: an ailing fuel pump wouldn't cause this much less allow a 4k "idle", and it's not throttle by wire so even an ailing TPS or IAC couldn't force an "idle" at 4k.

So, I start chasing the throttle cable figuring it must be rusty, but it seems to move quite nicely -- and why would a bad cable make it stumble and die or cause a no-start???. At one point I'm working the lever by hand at the throttle body and notice I can force it closed it a bit, at which point it moves freely back to the point where I forced it -- almost as if an obstruction was cleared.

Finally, I pull the air filter and find below. A rodent(s) had come in through the lengthy plastic intake tube and eaten through the air filter. Once there, the bore down to throttle plate is several inches and I believe there was a nest of some kind on top of the butterfly. View attachment 243969

By the time I got to it the nest was gone, so hopefully it all burned up in the combustion chambers and/or was forced out the exhaust valves. In this regard perhaps the initial prolonged "idle" at 4k was a blessing because it forced anything through.

In the future I need to remember to check at least vertical throttle bores before attempting to start, but who really thinks of that?? Does anyone consider that SOP?
You reckon the mouse was stuck in the intake and the vacuum stucked him in?

I hate mice.
 
You reckon the mouse was stuck in the intake and the vacuum stucked him in?

I hate mice.
Unlikely a mouse, but possibly. More likely grass, oak brush, leaves and nut shells as seen around the perimeter of the filter. And pieces of the red paper element.
 
2005 Ram 1500 5.7 with 291k miles (sounds terrible): oil change.

I don't like how all the quick lubes appear to use the 3614 "Toyota" filter for all these 3/4‐16 applications. I installed a proper 51085.

I also opted to use 10W40 given the condition of this engine. IMO the factory spec'd 5W20 would be WAY too thin for a neglected Hemi with almost 300k. I think it burns, too, because I got about 4 quarts out of a 7qt capacity....which also tells me he never checks it
 
Today was a big day for the RAV4. Oil change with Kirkland synthetic and Denso filter, transfer case fluid exchange with Valvoline and rear differential with M1 fluid.
 
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Took a wire brush and primer to 2 more used brake rotors. Clean up, paint real nice, install threaded pipe flanges on the base, and screw threaded pipe to the tops.

makes a cool base to a:
- end table
- floor lamp

I enjoy making these as gifts. Holiday season is coming.
 
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2008 Tundra A750F spill 'n fill. Also pulled the pan and replaced the filter per owner request.
 
Final round of work on the coworkers kids 2007 Sentra
I'm over it 🙄
Whoever thought it was a good idea to make a front drive I4 that you have to pull the intake manifold to do plugs is an L
Renault side eye 👀
1000001200.webp

In all fairness, 8 bolts for the intake and 7 for the valve cover, it came apart fairly easy
Good thing I planned a VCG, the factory plugs were soaked in oil, plug wells were full
A misfire was probably on the way
One coil boot succumbed to the oil saturation, luckily Advance had one 👍
1000001198.webp

Fresh set of NGK Iridium IXs, every o ring/gasket on the plenum, clean the throttle body again
1000001203.webp

It's finally all back together
OCI with Total 5w30/ACDelco filter
1000001221.webp

My OCI stickers are so professional 😤
Let's see if he remembers to come back for it
1000001220.webp

One wheel had no TPMS sensor, so I ordered one and was off to the tire shop
No Alineación for you today 🚫
Aesthetically challenged but mechanically sound, that's the goal
1000001208.webp

No more dash emojis 🤩
1000001214.webp

He lives near an industrial area with lots of construction, so that TPMS light is still gonna be on fairly often 🙄
Replaced the missing lug wrench and aired the spare, now he can conduct a tire change alone 👍
And he already lost two of the keys I made for it
$16 later, a newer style switchblade key was generated
1000001223.webp


I'm done with it, it goes and stops, it probably won't unalive him, or leave him on the side of the road
It's a free car that chewed through $750 worth of stuff just to make it roadworthy
Whine on CVT, whine on 🫡
 
Final round of work on the coworkers kids 2007 Sentra
I'm over it 🙄
Whoever thought it was a good idea to make a front drive I4 that you have to pull the intake manifold to do plugs is an L
Renault side eye 👀
View attachment 244114
In all fairness, 8 bolts for the intake and 7 for the valve cover, it came apart fairly easy
Good thing I planned a VCG, the factory plugs were soaked in oil, plug wells were full
A misfire was probably on the way
One coil boot succumbed to the oil saturation, luckily Advance had one 👍
View attachment 244119
Fresh set of NGK Iridium IXs, every o ring/gasket on the plenum, clean the throttle body again
View attachment 244118
It's finally all back together
OCI with Total 5w30/ACDelco filter
View attachment 244116
My OCI stickers are so professional 😤
Let's see if he remembers to come back for it
View attachment 244117
One wheel had no TPMS sensor, so I ordered one and was off to the tire shop
No Alineación for you today 🚫
Aesthetically challenged but mechanically sound, that's the goal
View attachment 244120
No more dash emojis 🤩
View attachment 244121
He lives near an industrial area with lots of construction, so that TPMS light is still gonna be on fairly often 🙄
Replaced the missing lug wrench and aired the spare, now he can conduct a tire change alone 👍
And he already lost two of the keys I made for it
$16 later, a newer style switchblade key was generated View attachment 244122

I'm done with it, it goes and stops, it probably won't unalive him, or leave him on the side of the road
It's a free car that chewed through $750 worth of stuff just to make it roadworthy
Whine on CVT, whine on 🫡
Under the cam cover looks nice, but why does it look so "dry"?
 
1968 Pontiac GTO
Pan drop and filter change on the transmission, changed engine oil

1957 Cadillac Sedan DeVille
Finally got a radiator. Got it installed and sealing the bolts with rtv cured the water manifold leak, at least for now
 
Final round of work on the coworkers kids 2007 Sentra
I'm over it 🙄
Whoever thought it was a good idea to make a front drive I4 that you have to pull the intake manifold to do plugs is an L
Renault side eye 👀
View attachment 244114
In all fairness, 8 bolts for the intake and 7 for the valve cover, it came apart fairly easy
Good thing I planned a VCG, the factory plugs were soaked in oil, plug wells were full
A misfire was probably on the way
One coil boot succumbed to the oil saturation, luckily Advance had one 👍
View attachment 244119
Fresh set of NGK Iridium IXs, every o ring/gasket on the plenum, clean the throttle body again
View attachment 244118
It's finally all back together
OCI with Total 5w30/ACDelco filter
View attachment 244116
My OCI stickers are so professional 😤
Let's see if he remembers to come back for it
View attachment 244117
One wheel had no TPMS sensor, so I ordered one and was off to the tire shop
No Alineación for you today 🚫
Aesthetically challenged but mechanically sound, that's the goal
View attachment 244120
No more dash emojis 🤩
View attachment 244121
He lives near an industrial area with lots of construction, so that TPMS light is still gonna be on fairly often 🙄
Replaced the missing lug wrench and aired the spare, now he can conduct a tire change alone 👍
And he already lost two of the keys I made for it
$16 later, a newer style switchblade key was generated View attachment 244122

I'm done with it, it goes and stops, it probably won't unalive him, or leave him on the side of the road
It's a free car that chewed through $750 worth of stuff just to make it roadworthy
Whine on CVT, whine on 🫡

I found carbureted Nissans manageable to work on. Somewhere in the 90s they seemed to not care at all how the cables, wires, and hoses were routed, and even simple jobs had a lot of things to undo, sort through, disconnect, then do and re-sort and reconnect. Idk if they’ve gotten any better? I haven’t been under a hood from the brand in a decade.
 
2004 Ranger 4.0 with 210k. Muffler rusted through
20241007_113017.webp

Owner sourced a Borla catback system and asked that I install it. I actually think it gives the V6 a decent rumble that is subtle and not obnoxious. I'm generally on the fence about catback systems but I guess he could have done worse.
20241007_161852.webp


Perhaps the most annoying was the lack of new spring-loaded hardware at the front flange. By some miracle, I was able to salvage the M10x1.5 threads and reuse the original bolts. I provided new nuts from my stash
 
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