Topic: What did you do to your car today?

[Bubba]

My home parkade has been undergoing repairs for the past couple weeks and a lot of dust has been created. This is my car after sitting for a week while I was in Arizona.  A trip to the car wash is in order this evening.

[rrocket]

Next time scrawl the obligatory "wash me" on the windshield before snapping the pic!   

[rrocket]

“If only my wife was this dirty”

Hmmm...not quite dirty enough.   

[Railton]

“If only my wife was this dirty”

Good times.
Railton

[rrocket]

Heh...

[Dante]

Replaced the O2 sensors for bank 2 on the Outlander and my perception is that the engine runs much smoother than before.  I hope this takes care of the intermittent CEL condition for good.

The sensors came out without a fight and I got away with only one hour labor. Can't say the same for the manifold cover which I intended to replace but the bolts were seized so I ended up leaving it alone.

Ordering the sensors (same NGK/NTK as OEM) from RockAuto saved me  $1000 or so. Happy camper!

Next I have to find the time to do  a full exterior detailing job ....

[KD]

Hilarious was this cow blocking the way. Zero fcks given about cars going by!

Haha, reminds me of a couple of years ago when my buddy and I were driving back from his woodlot way out in the middle of nowwhere and we see a Llama trotting down the roadside.    They are a strange looking beast to see out in the wild.  He never paid any attention to us either. 

[Sir Osis of Liver]

Back when I had my YJ, LadyO and I had driven way out some logging road in Carlton county. When we got to the woodyard, a couple of enormous work horses wandered over and stuck their heads in the car looking for snacks. I think we did happen to have a couple of apples in our lunch kit. After the apples and a scratch on the nose, they wandered back into the shade.

We later found out that the cut was being done by an old fellow who had gotten rid of his skidders and did it more as a hobby. He'd leave the horses there unattended, and they looked after themselves in off hours.   

[Seafoam]

Have heard a rattle in the front end of the truck last couple of weeks.Today decided to investigate. Discovered front swaybar endlink driver side no longer attached to the lower control arm. So replaced them. Trouble is now, nice shiny parts on front end don't match all the crud that's on there now.

My pictures never turn out correctly.    What a luddite. I'll keep trying.

[ianmcc]

Replaced all four struts and shocks on my VW Mk5 (although my youngest has claimed it for herself).
Rears were no issue-and they were both leaking bad.

While replacing the fronts I noticed all four cv boots had split so they also had to go. Since I had no idea how long they were leaking I picked up new axles.
But not so simple! I fought the axles and they fought back! Passenger side went smooth and was done in under an hour. Drivers side inner cv wouldn't release no matter what I tried. Spend three hours and pulled out every prybar I had until I tapped out. So I searched YouTube for creative solutions and came across the vise grip slide hammer trick.
Can't post external links but search for TobyjTWUVMw and you will see my inspiration via Youtube.
For less than $8 at Princess Auto for a ready rod that threaded into the adjuster end of the vise grips I made one up. Clamped on and two taps and 10 seconds later it was out!


Just as I was about to claim victory over German engineering I got a text from my wife who was in Jasper with her mom in the E550.
Seems that the dreaded red battery warning light reared it's ugly head. She made it back to Calgary safely but just as one Germanic hill was climbed I was faced with another. Unfortunately I only saw the first line of her text-in Jasper.
So I didn't see the rest of the text-Battery light came on??Is this a concern!? Guess I was too POd to fully read a text that I thought was how much fun she was having in the mountains.
Well I drove it with no issues the next day but on my way home I too was staring at an angry red warning battery. Hmmm. Re-read the full text and my heart sank. I guess that it did sound louder than normal.
Growling alternator removal on the forecast!



Will probably look into a local rebuild rather than a replacement (most I see are rebuilt anyway).
The Rabbit needs a proper wheel alignment so we are kind of down to one car (the Wrangler) but the Rabbit did get me to the liquor store for tonight.

I am keeping that damn inner cv joint as a constant reminder that if all else fails and sh*t aint working that I should stop, grab a cold one and spend time online researching my issue.

[Firm]

Replaced all four struts and shocks on my VW Mk5 (although my youngest has claimed it for herself).
Rears were no issue-and they were both leaking bad.

While replacing the fronts I noticed all four cv boots had split so they also had to go. Since I had no idea how long they were leaking I picked up new axles.
But not so simple! I fought the axles and they fought back! Passenger side went smooth and was done in under an hour. Drivers side inner cv wouldn't release no matter what I tried. Spend three hours and pulled out every prybar I had until I tapped out. So I searched YouTube for creative solutions and came across the vise grip slide hammer trick.
Can't post external links but search for TobyjTWUVMw and you will see my inspiration via Youtube.
For less than $8 at Princess Auto for a ready rod that threaded into the adjuster end of the vise grips I made one up. Clamped on and two taps and 10 seconds later it was out!


Just as I was about to claim victory over German engineering I got a text from my wife who was in Jasper with her mom in the E550.
Seems that the dreaded red battery warning light reared it's ugly head. She made it back to Calgary safely but just as one Germanic hill was climbed I was faced with another. Unfortunately I only saw the first line of her text-in Jasper.
So I didn't see the rest of the text-Battery light came on??Is this a concern!? Guess I was too POd to fully read a text that I thought was how much fun she was having in the mountains.
Well I drove it with no issues the next day but on my way home I too was staring at an angry red warning battery. Hmmm. Re-read the full text and my heart sank. I guess that it did sound louder than normal.
Growling alternator removal on the forecast!



Will probably look into a local rebuild rather than a replacement (most I see are rebuilt anyway).
The Rabbit needs a proper wheel alignment so we are kind of down to one car (the Wrangler) but the Rabbit did get me to the liquor store for tonight.

I am keeping that damn inner cv joint as a constant reminder that if all else fails and sh*t aint working that I should stop, grab a cold one and spend time online researching my issue.

Impressive work, those CV axles can really suck. That vice grip slide hammer thing looks interesting, I am gunna check it out.

[ianmcc]

If you look closely you can see a groove on the joint which gives the vise grips a place to really clamp on. That is the key-elsewise it can easily slide off.

[rrocket]

Guys on the job site load it for you?      

[Great_Big_Abyss]

Got a buddy at a sawmill?  Those are the outer pieces of tree that are otherwise waste when a tree is turned into dimensional lumber.

I get unlimited endcuts of kiln-dried SPF from my work.  Once I had one of the forklift drivers dump the bin right into the back of my Ranger, and an errant piece of wood fell funny and dented the outer bed.   Now I just fill a few boxes when I want wood.

The best part is because it is kiln dried, and basically just lumber off-cuts, I can transport it anywhere I want without having to worry about spreading pests.  Also it lights real well.  I usually don't need any kindling.  Just build a log cabin around my paper, and away I go.

[Railton]

Guys on the job site load it for you?      

So.....that's a yes then?
Railton

[Ex-airbalancer]

Put the truck to work

That is a pretty big load for a Ford 

[rrocket]

Guys on the job site load it for you?      

So.....that's a yes then?
Railton

Well, I did open the bed door, Ted! That counts for something!

"Load my truck!"

[2JDM]

Put the truck to work

How do you like the standard V6 engine? Buddy of mine is thinking of an XLT with the base 3.3L V6 or a 3.6L Ram as his grocery getter.

[Railton]

Guys on the job site load it for you?      

So.....that's a yes then?
Railton

Well, I did open the bed door, Ted! That counts for something!

True.
I suppose you need to conserve your strength so you can finally whoop the Wife's old man at the cottage triathlon.
Railton

[rrocket]

^^Aren't you supposed to lose to the old man on purpose?  For wifey?