Topic: What did you do to your car today?

[HeliDriver]

I just hope it doesn't happen to me in the middle of nowhere.

That's why you take it in preemptively, isn't it?

That would be great, but the warranty doesn't work that way. Have to wait for the part to actually fail before VW will replace it. And IIRC, the replacement cost is about a grand, so not something I'll pay for out of my own pocket just in case. 

But, the upside is that once the manifold is off (on VW's dime), the car is ready to have the intake valves cleaned (which VW won't otherwise pay for.) So a valve cleaning will only cost me a couple hundred bucks instead of $5-600. So now I'm hoping the manifold fails before the valves need to be cleaned.

[rrocket]

I just hope it doesn't happen to me in the middle of nowhere.

That's why you take it in preemptively, isn't it?

That would be great, but the warranty doesn't work that way. Have to wait for the part to actually fail before VW will replace it. And IIRC, the replacement cost is about a grand, so not something I'll pay for out of my own pocket just in case. 

OH!!  So it's not a recall?  Got it...

[Seafoam]

I just hope it doesn't happen to me in the middle of nowhere.

That's why you take it in preemptively, isn't it?

That would be great, but the warranty doesn't work that way. Have to wait for the part to actually fail before VW will replace it. And IIRC, the replacement cost is about a grand, so not something I'll pay for out of my own pocket just in case. 

But, the upside is that once the manifold is off (on VW's dime), the car is ready to have the intake valves cleaned (which VW won't otherwise pay for.) So a valve cleaning will only cost me a couple hundred bucks instead of $5-600. So now I'm hoping the manifold fails before the valves need to be cleaned.

Oh the joys of direct injection.   How many kilometers on the GTI?

[WRX_Pilot]

Anybody use seafoam on a vacuum line?  Might be better than $600 at the dealer... Though I'm sure the dealer does a better job (hopefully).

[mrthompson]

Intake spray cleaner instead?

[HeliDriver]

GTI has 82,000 kms on it now. Runs fine, but sometimes has a very slight hesitation that I wonder if might be an indication that the valves are due for cleaning. Otherwise not really bothered about it for now.

I'm not going to mess around with Seafoam. I could maybe see using it regularly as a kind of preventative maintenance, but don't think it would be effective on badly caked-up valves. If anything, I'd be scared of it dislodging a chunk and having it go through the engine.

I haven't had to look into it too closely yet, but there are indie mechanics who do the valve cleanings all the time and charge considerably less than the dealer. And it's not too hard a job to DIY, just a PITA as lots of parts need to come off just to get access for the cleaning.

[Solstice2006]

Coming close to 2000km on the Mazda6, maybe next month. I expect to only do 1000km a month on that car.  Did 500km the last 3 days with the Honda.  But still only 190,000km

[aquadorhj]

Fusion...

you got the highbeam on. 

[HeliDriver]

Got the truck back today and it was in fact the throttle position sensor that went on the fritz, repaired under warranty.

Also had them change all the fluids while it was in (truck is 4 yrs old w/ 80k kms): synthetic oil & filter, Trans fluid & filter, transfer case fluid, brake fluid, & coolant. Rear diff fluid was changed last year, and leaking front diff seal was fixed under warranty a couple years ago with fluid topped up then.

Cost $850 for all the fluids changed - I was expecting more. Could have saved $$$ by doing it myself, but the truck doesn't fit in the garage and I'm not keen to lie on my back in our gravel driveway. I plan on keepng the truck forever, so don't mind spending some money on preventive maintenance.

And great service from our local dealer, as usual: the service writer actually tried to talk me out of changing the brake fluid, saying GM doesn't recommend it (lifetime fill  ). I think it's smart anyway, and was pleasantly surprised to find the brake pedal much firmer now. Guess it needed to be bled anyway.

[SaskSpecV]

Could have saved $$$ by doing it myself, but the truck doesn't fit in the garage and I'm not keen to lie on my back in our gravel driveway.

I put a tonneau cover (the cheapest Access one, TonnoSport I think) on my wife's GMC yesterday - borrowed my buddy's (heated) garage to do it.  There was < 2 inches of clearance on either side mirror (and not towing mirrors!), and < 3 inches from the front and rear bumpers to the garage door/back wall.  And this is only the extended cab / 6.6' box version.  After watching me cram that rig into his garage, there's no way my buddy will ever buy a full-size truck!   

Couldn't use my garage, as the tent trailer is "camped" in there for the winter.  And the garage isn't heated.  Last time I put a tonneau cover on the F150 it was a warmish Feb day, but I still froze my hands off.  At -20C, I figured I'd find a nice warm place to do it this time - was going to use Superstore's underground parking, but apparently they frown on performing automotive maintenance there 

Next up, replacing a headlight and DRL on the ET.

[dr_spock]

Added air to a tire.  It seems to have a very slow leak.   

[Arthur Dent]

Replaced the alternator in the wife's Expedition - relatively easy but not great outside, in the driveway, in December. The battery was pretty hopeless too so replaced it as well.

[skypoint]

Not quite a today post since it happened last night.

Picked up my brand new Mercedes GLK 250 Bluetec from the dealership at 6:30pm.

Got rear ended at 7:30pm.

[ArticSteve]

How seriously?  Post a pic if possible.

[skypoint]

Luckily not very seriously - no body work damage. There's a scratch on the chrome trim, some plastic mesh design in the bumper is warped, and a little bit of his car's colour came off on my bumper (a 1.5 inch line 3mm thick on my white bumper).

I'd normally not be bothered by since the car was fresh off the showroom floor I'm not going to be happy till it's fully restored to showroom condition. The Benz dealership have their bodyshop guy coming to look at it this Friday morning and to give a quote to fix it. If the other guy won't settle cash at that point I'll have his insurance pay it up.

[sailor723]

Great....congrats!

and.......

Oh Man....that sucks!

[skypoint]

It's a real annoyance because I had a bunch of work scheduled for my car next week - Paint Protection Film application over the front end and cQuartz Finest coating all over. Now if I don't get this fixed by the end of Monday then all that will need to be rescheduled.

[dr_spock]

Not quite a today post since it happened last night.

Picked up my brand new Mercedes GLK 250 Bluetec from the dealership at 6:30pm.

Got rear ended at 7:30pm.

Congrats on the new car and bummer.

[Northernridge]

Not quite a today post since it happened last night.

Picked up my brand new Mercedes GLK 250 Bluetec from the dealership at 6:30pm.

Got rear ended at 7:30pm.

Congrats and man that sucks. Hope the damage is not too bad and you're back in action soon.

[ArticSteve]

The Benz dealership have their bodyshop guy coming to look at it this Friday morning and to give a quote to fix it.  If the other guy won't settle cash at that point I'll have his insurance pay it up.

Realize the Bodyshop guy picked by the Benz dealer will routinely adjust the damage at very inflated prices.  Best to tell him that you are actually picking up the tab personally for reasons that you prefer not to discuss so as to temper his "Benz" pricing.

The reason being is that if the tab is stupidly inflated and the other party momentarily has a lapse of judgement and does go thru insurance your vehicle will suffer an immediate and permanent "diminished value".  Hence, extra patience might be required to stick handle the negotiations.