Topic: What did you do to your car today?

[Arthur Dent]

Did an oil change on the TSX and Tercel with the middle boy.

Have you ever tried using those "taps" in place of a factory drain plug? Just curious how reliable they are...

I haven't. The oil drain plugs are both pretty easy to get to. The filter is a moderate pain on the TSX.

[draghon]

Oil change on the Acadia yesterday and the filter would not budge. Had to resort to pounding a screwdriver through to get it off. Next time I'm at CT or Princess Auto I will pick up an oil filter wrench.

[BWII]

Oh who doesn't like hindsight!


So...today it goes back to the shop...worse than it was when they brought it in last Friday AFTER the new t-case was installed (which he feels bad about now but really...what can yo do, I ok'd it...and he's seen it before where they go bad - but look at the pics, it's too stout to go bad with a measly 249 lb ft of torque)...and now when they had it up in the air idling in gear...oh, look, the rear drive shaft is hopping around.  Pull the driveshaft...sure enough, u-joint is half seized up.  So he's pulling it off to see what it drives like as a FWD...and if that's it, (thanks for the link Pjungt) looks like I'll be ordering a new driveshaft.  Can't replace the u-joint...non-servicable.  Ford: $742.  Aftermarket: $1000    PJungt's liink: $317 Cdn. 

Why, oh why in the fack didn't we start there??  Shavings in the case  ...fack that...it was oil and carbon lube particles...if that's even a thing.  Oh well, here's to 10 more years of Sport-ing a Fusion.  Gotta get my money's out of it now.

I hope to heaven they put the right gear oil in it...


Also, anyone ever deal with AutoShack on E-Bay before?  Am I setting myself up for disappointment and cheaply made Chinese knock-off parts (it's half the price after all) or is it a place that can be trusted?

[Great_Big_Abyss]

^^^ That was one hell of an expensive shotgun diagnosis...! 

I should think your mechanic at least shouldn't charge you labour for this new fix

[rrocket]

Oh who doesn't like hindsight!


So...today it goes back to the shop...worse than it was when they brought it in last Friday AFTER the new t-case was installed (which he feels bad about now but really...what can yo do, I ok'd it...and he's seen it before where they go bad - but look at the pics, it's too stout to go bad with a measly 249 lb ft of torque)...and now when they had it up in the air idling in gear...oh, look, the rear drive shaft is hopping around.  Pull the driveshaft...sure enough, u-joint is half seized up.  So he's pulling it off to see what it drives like as a FWD...and if that's it, (thanks for the link Pjungt) looks like I'll be ordering a new driveshaft.  Can't replace the u-joint...non-servicable.  Ford: $742.  Aftermarket: $1000    PJungt's liink: $317 Cdn. 

Why, oh why in the fack didn't we start there??  Shavings in the case  ...fack that...it was oil and carbon lube particles...if that's even a thing.  Oh well, here's to 10 more years of Sport-ing a Fusion.  Gotta get my money's out of it now.

I hope to heaven they put the right gear oil in it...


Also, anyone ever deal with AutoShack on E-Bay before?  Am I setting myself up for disappointment and cheaply made Chinese knock-off parts (it's half the price after all) or is it a place that can be trusted?

Reman from RockAuto is $384 CDN

[Golly]

Oil change on the Acadia yesterday and the filter would not budge. Had to resort to pounding a screwdriver through to get it off. Next time I'm at CT or Princess Auto I will pick up an oil filter wrench.

I have a pair similar to this that work really well if you have the access:
https://www.canadiantire.ca/en/pdp/channellock-oil-filter-pliers-0584509p.html#srp

There's also a larger size, more money of course

[rrocket]

^^Similar to what I have.

They sell similar at Princess for $15.

[Arthur Dent]

I have one like that as well. Never failed me yet.

I also have one like this but it is less useful as it only fits one size and nothing I have now uses that size. https://www.napacanada.com/en/p/ECF7769012

[BWII]

While mine's getting finished up, I got to drive this:

TDI...391,000 km.  I jokingly said I could've probably bought your car for what this is going to cost me.  He said: you could've bought 10. I only paid $200 for it. 
Love the torque...kinda peppy...hate the smell.  My garage smells like...like a diesel.  One night.  Going to have to leave the doors open later.  But still, perfect size, fun power, even if it's not fast, it's quick enough, and probably super efficient too.

[draghon]

Oil change on the Acadia yesterday and the filter would not budge. Had to resort to pounding a screwdriver through to get it off. Next time I'm at CT or Princess Auto I will pick up an oil filter wrench.

I have a pair similar to this that work really well if you have the access:
https://www.canadiantire.ca/en/pdp/channellock-oil-filter-pliers-0584509p.html#srp

There's also a larger size, more money of course

Yes, that style would work great for the Acadia!

[aquadorhj]

not me..  my neighbor just picked up Audi RS5.

few years old, but less than 40k on it.  sounded pretty good.   more barky than my merc.

[Hammy]

Oil change on the Acadia yesterday and the filter would not budge. Had to resort to pounding a screwdriver through to get it off. Next time I'm at CT or Princess Auto I will pick up an oil filter wrench.

I have a pair similar to this that work really well if you have the access:
https://www.canadiantire.ca/en/pdp/channellock-oil-filter-pliers-0584509p.html#srp

There's also a larger size, more money of course

Thanks, I'm getting a set of these, tired of making a total mess every time we change the oil filter on my sons bike and have to use the screwdriver method!

[Golly]

Oil change on the Acadia yesterday and the filter would not budge. Had to resort to pounding a screwdriver through to get it off. Next time I'm at CT or Princess Auto I will pick up an oil filter wrench.

I have a pair similar to this that work really well if you have the access:
https://www.canadiantire.ca/en/pdp/channellock-oil-filter-pliers-0584509p.html#srp

There's also a larger size, more money of course

Thanks, I'm getting a set of these, tired of making a total mess every time we change the oil filter on my sons bike and have to use the screwdriver method!

Princess Auto has this on sale this week:
https://www.princessauto.com/en/detail/oil-filter-wrench-pliers/A-p8883639e

[valuator]

My dad takes delivery of a new 2019 MDX A-Spec tomorrow.  I guess I know what I'll be driving in 3-4 years   

He got a nice deal, despite him not being much of a negotiator.  His 24-month Ridgeline lease was up in April so he'd been shopping around a bit.  Local Honda dealer impossible to work with (despite him being a model customer).  Wouldn't give any equity on lease buyout towards a new Pilot Touring. 

He went out to test drive the MDX as he'd had two of them in the past.  Found a 2019 still on the lot at $60k, but they were offering $10k off the top right away.  Then they offered $5k of equity by buying out his lease (trade in of $37k, lease buyout of $32k).  Now down to $45k.  He hummed and hawed and they threw in the winter mat package as well as a winter tire/rim package.  So he's picking it up tomorrow.  I think he's writing a cheque for $55k on the road.  Not bad!

[Gurgie]

My dad takes delivery of a new 2019 MDX A-Spec tomorrow.  I guess I know what I'll be driving in 3-4 years   

He got a nice deal, despite him not being much of a negotiator.  His 24-month Ridgeline lease was up in April so he'd been shopping around a bit.  Local Honda dealer impossible to work with (despite him being a model customer).  Wouldn't give any equity on lease buyout towards a new Pilot Touring. 

He went out to test drive the MDX as he'd had two of them in the past.  Found a 2019 still on the lot at $60k, but they were offering $10k off the top right away.  Then they offered $5k of equity by buying out his lease (trade in of $37k, lease buyout of $32k).  Now down to $45k.  He hummed and hawed and they threw in the winter mat package as well as a winter tire/rim package.  So he's picking it up tomorrow.  I think he's writing a cheque for $55k on the road.  Not bad!

Sounds like a pretty fair deal overall.

[ChaosphereIX]

Gave the IS300 an oil change and scheduled in lots of additional maintenance (summer tires put on, rear axles replaced, brake service, diff, power steering, coolant and brake fluid change). Made appt with Alfa Ottawa for spring inspection for the 155.

[Ex-airbalancer]

Gave the IS300 an oil change and scheduled in lots of additional maintenance (summer tires put on, rear axles replaced, brake service, diff, power steering, coolant and brake fluid change). Made appt with Alfa Ottawa for spring inspection for the 155.

Summer tires in Ottawa in March    :

[BWII]

Got my bill!! 


 

[Brig]

Ugh.  A fellow hiker was "diagnosed" with the same thing on her 2008 Escape.  She's pondering whether to cut bait or suck it up.  Truck is truly mint but has almost 200K kms on it.  She wouldn't even get $500 for it on trade, given the repairs needed.  Sucks.

[BWII]

Check the u-joints...might be less than she needs.  Wish I'd thought of that sooner; the $350 repair that could have been.
Or pull the driveshaft and go FWD.  Feels lighter for some reason, but I do miss being able to move from a stop sign...quickly.