Author Topic: What did you do to your car today?  (Read 3015008 times)

Offline carcrazed

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Re: What did you do to your car today?
« Reply #7620 on: October 25, 2017, 04:10:32 pm »
I was going to wait another week or two, but just felt like swapping the Civic all seasons for used winters.

The scissor jack and wrench in the car was enough to get the job done, but it took just over an hour.  I suppose it would have been a lot quicker with a proper jack and a torque wrench.  I'm going to do return the cheap jack set from CT and do the same thing with the MDX.

My back hurts, but it feels good to do things myself.  ;D

Offline Fobroader

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Re: What did you do to your car today?
« Reply #7621 on: October 25, 2017, 05:15:25 pm »
Timing belts seem dauntingly scary.

Why?? As long as you keep everything lined up, which isn't that hard, and remember where everything goes its actually not that bad at all.
Lighten up Francis.....

Offline ktm525

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Re: What did you do to your car today?
« Reply #7622 on: October 25, 2017, 07:11:32 pm »
Timing belts seem dauntingly scary.

Why?? As long as you keep everything lined up, which isn't that hard, and remember where everything goes its actually not that bad at all.

I guess because if you screw up it is new engine time. I suppose you can say the same thing about an oil change.




Offline johngenx

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Re: What did you do to your car today?
« Reply #7623 on: October 25, 2017, 10:30:15 pm »
I've done quite a few timing belts before, but the engine bay on the Highlander is pretty tight thanks to the transverse layout.  The passenger side of the engine is not that easy to access.

I called my indie shop today and they quoted me $600 all in for the timing belt, related parts, and coolant flush - using the OE Toyota long life coolant.  They use the Aisin/Koyo kit like RockAuto and some others sell.  That's actually an enticing deal.  Parts would end up running me close to $300, so that's actually a lot of work for about $300 in labour.

That's a far cry from $1800 plus taxes and shop fees.

Offline BWII

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Re: What did you do to your car today?
« Reply #7624 on: October 25, 2017, 11:19:36 pm »
Put the winter tires on the Sonic.  Supposed to maybe snow...the AS's are total crapbags in snow - from new, I was just hoping to make it to Nov 16th like last year (or later).  Right around 9000 km for the summer.

Offline Fobroader

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Re: What did you do to your car today?
« Reply #7625 on: October 25, 2017, 11:25:23 pm »
I've done quite a few timing belts before, but the engine bay on the Highlander is pretty tight thanks to the transverse layout.  The passenger side of the engine is not that easy to access.

I called my indie shop today and they quoted me $600 all in for the timing belt, related parts, and coolant flush - using the OE Toyota long life coolant.  They use the Aisin/Koyo kit like RockAuto and some others sell.  That's actually an enticing deal.  Parts would end up running me close to $300, so that's actually a lot of work for about $300 in labour.

That's a far cry from $1800 plus taxes and shop fees.
For $600.....I wouldn't even consider doing that myself

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Offline Firm

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Re: What did you do to your car today?
« Reply #7626 on: October 26, 2017, 07:30:06 am »
I've done quite a few timing belts before, but the engine bay on the Highlander is pretty tight thanks to the transverse layout.  The passenger side of the engine is not that easy to access.

I called my indie shop today and they quoted me $600 all in for the timing belt, related parts, and coolant flush - using the OE Toyota long life coolant.  They use the Aisin/Koyo kit like RockAuto and some others sell.  That's actually an enticing deal.  Parts would end up running me close to $300, so that's actually a lot of work for about $300 in labour.

That's a far cry from $1800 plus taxes and shop fees.
For $600.....I wouldn't even consider doing that myself

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Yeah, at that price (really, only a net cost of $300 since you'd be buying parts anyway) I'd have that indie do it and save myself a weekend. $300 for a free weekend, sounds like a good deal to me :)

Offline carcrazed

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Re: What did you do to your car today?
« Reply #7627 on: October 26, 2017, 08:42:59 am »
I've done quite a few timing belts before, but the engine bay on the Highlander is pretty tight thanks to the transverse layout.  The passenger side of the engine is not that easy to access.

I called my indie shop today and they quoted me $600 all in for the timing belt, related parts, and coolant flush - using the OE Toyota long life coolant.  They use the Aisin/Koyo kit like RockAuto and some others sell.  That's actually an enticing deal.  Parts would end up running me close to $300, so that's actually a lot of work for about $300 in labour.

That's a far cry from $1800 plus taxes and shop fees.
For $600.....I wouldn't even consider doing that myself

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Yeah, at that price (really, only a net cost of $300 since you'd be buying parts anyway) I'd have that indie do it and save myself a weekend. $300 for a free weekend, sounds like a good deal to me :)

Yeah I'd be all over that if I were in your situation.

It looks like I'll have to switch to winters for the MDX soon.  The temperature was 0 Celsius this morning.  :o

Offline Firm

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Re: What did you do to your car today?
« Reply #7628 on: October 26, 2017, 08:46:37 am »
Same here. I run all-terrains on the Escalade year-round, and I don't bother to put the winters on the T/A anymore...I just keep it outta the mucky stuff. The Firebird does need to get the wheels swapped at some point though, was hoping to do it this weekend, but it looks like rain both days. Then I am travelling a bunch, so I am not sure when I'll get to it.

Offline carcrazed

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Re: What did you do to your car today?
« Reply #7629 on: October 26, 2017, 10:13:51 am »
Oh I also bought and replaced windshield wiper blade inserts yesterday.  It was interesting that it was cheaper at a dealer than amazon. Rockauto didn't have the inserts at all.
I can see so much better now.  It didn't feel safe driving in rain during nighttime on Tuesday because the wipers were too worn out.

Also, before the sun disappeared, I managed to put downs three coats of rattele can clearcoat over the damaged clearcoat of the Civic.  It was too dark by the third coat so I don't even know how it turned out.
« Last Edit: October 26, 2017, 10:15:42 am by carcrazed »

Offline dkaz

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Re: What did you do to your car today?
« Reply #7630 on: October 26, 2017, 02:41:30 pm »
For $600.....I wouldn't even consider doing that myself


First you're saying it's not bad but then you're saying $600 you wouldn't bother doing it yourself. Which is it?  :P

I'll leave it to the guys who have the skills and expertise to do it in the 3-4 hours they're charging me and let them fix things if they screw up vs. me being SOL if say I rotate something by accident with the belt off. I enjoy working on brakes, suspension, replacing a starter, etc. but I don't think I'd have fun doing a timing belt which could potentially take me tens of hours.

Offline Fobroader

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Re: What did you do to your car today?
« Reply #7631 on: October 26, 2017, 02:43:44 pm »
For $600.....I wouldn't even consider doing that myself


First you're saying it's not bad but then you're saying $600 you wouldn't bother doing it yourself. Which is it?  :P

I'll leave it to the guys who have the skills and expertise to do it in the 3-4 hours they're charging me and let them fix things if they screw up vs. me being SOL if say I rotate something by accident with the belt off. I enjoy working on brakes, suspension, replacing a starter, etc. but I don't think I'd have fun doing a timing belt which could potentially take me tens of hours.

For $2000, well worth doing it yourself, for $600 including parts, not worth my time.

Offline dkaz

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Re: What did you do to your car today?
« Reply #7632 on: October 26, 2017, 02:45:40 pm »
For $600.....I wouldn't even consider doing that myself


First you're saying it's not bad but then you're saying $600 you wouldn't bother doing it yourself. Which is it?  :P

I'll leave it to the guys who have the skills and expertise to do it in the 3-4 hours they're charging me and let them fix things if they screw up vs. me being SOL if say I rotate something by accident with the belt off. I enjoy working on brakes, suspension, replacing a starter, etc. but I don't think I'd have fun doing a timing belt which could potentially take me tens of hours.

For $2000, well worth doing it yourself, for $600 including parts, not worth my time.

My indy guy in Surrey did full timing belt, tensioner, idler, seals, and water pump $850. Looking at the invoice in Kelowna for my current Sienna's previous timing belt job, I'll pay a little more but still a good deal.

The Honda dealership in Kelowna did my Odyssey's timing belt for $600.

Offline johngenx

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Re: What did you do to your car today?
« Reply #7633 on: October 26, 2017, 07:03:18 pm »
The Highlander's timing belt change is a little rough thanks to the transverse V-6 being a little crowded on that side.  With the plethora of fasteners to undo and the tight quarters, this is a job that would be much nicer with air tools and flex heads and a hoist to gain access through the wheel well and the hood.  Yeah, jackstands work, but being able to go up and down would make things much easier.  I took a good long look at the stuff I need to do, and as said, at $2K, I'd for sure do it myself, but for $600, nope.  The kit is $215 shipped plus taxes and plus coolant I'm getting very close to $300 in parts alone.  That extra $300 is easily worth not skinning all my knuckles.

Offline Firm

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Re: What did you do to your car today?
« Reply #7634 on: October 26, 2017, 10:44:02 pm »
Not mine....but I got a quick drive in the 308 GT4 my dad picked up a week or so ago.  :pimp:

Took a couple quick shots of the view of the driver's seat, the interior is pretty impressive in this car

*I am trying a new image hosting thing....if these don't work let me know*



« Last Edit: October 27, 2017, 08:35:09 am by Firm »

Offline CanuckS2K

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Re: What did you do to your car today?
« Reply #7635 on: October 26, 2017, 10:48:44 pm »
Awesomeness!!!!!   :thumbup: :thumbup: :thumbup:   

Needs a solid interior cleaning though.   ;)

How's it drive? 
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Offline johngenx

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Re: What did you do to your car today?
« Reply #7636 on: October 26, 2017, 10:48:53 pm »
Gated shifter for the win.

Offline CanuckS2K

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Re: What did you do to your car today?
« Reply #7637 on: October 26, 2017, 10:50:44 pm »

Offline Firm

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Re: What did you do to your car today?
« Reply #7638 on: October 26, 2017, 10:57:57 pm »
Haha, yeah, those photos were a couple days ago...the interior has been properly detailed since I am sure. It's hard to keep him away from stuff like that.
I barely got it up to speed on my quick run around the block (waiting on insurance appraisal for plates), but it feels similar to the 'normal' 308's....stiff. everything. Torquey, and responsive on and off the thottle. Gated shifter is definitely sweet, and the dogleg manual is something I am not used to....My dad says he is because his other 308 is the same, I am taking his word for it because I haven't driven with him in ages.

Offline johngenx

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Re: What did you do to your car today?
« Reply #7639 on: October 26, 2017, 11:01:35 pm »
We had a few PCA guys that would also bring 308s and 328s out to track days, and I got to have a go in a 308, and they're actually fun cars.  Completely different character compared to a 911.