Author Topic: What did you do to your car today? (Read 3013508 times)

me_2 · « **Reply #12100 on:** March 21, 2020, 09:25:39 pm »

I went to grocery this evening for light replenishment, then crossed the street and filled the Volt with Premium.

After, I decided to take a loop ride on highway to get out of the home after last week confinement (WFH) and I overrided to switch ICE on, I haven't burn any gas last 5 weeks (a week before 6 weeks mark) because maintenance mode come in every 42 calendar days without burning gas, it "force" the driver to do so... So I kept it ON long enough to bring engine coolant loop up to running 85C temperature stable and then, I shut it down, back to full EV mode.

Burn 1.44L / 25.8 km ≃ > 5.58L / 100 km

Great_Big_Abyss · « **Reply #12101 on:** March 22, 2020, 11:16:25 am »

I've been having intermittent power interruptions in the Civic. It's happened twice. I'll go to start it, and it will crank for half a second, then lose all electrical power. A jiggle of the battery connection fixes it. Also, the battery felt weak when starting the car. I figured it was a combination of poor connection, and a weak battery. So, on Friday I went and bought a new battery. I replaced it in the parking lot of the battery store, and wire brushed the cable connections at the same time. I figured that would solve the problem, but then it went and did it again that afternoon. Sh!t!!

Yesterday I took the cable connections completely apart and went at them with my wire brush and some sand paper. I got all the corrosion off, and got it down to bare copper. That fixed it. The car starts nice and strong now. I guess it turns out I didn't need a new battery. That's $89.50 wasted, doh! Oh well, I'm reasoning it might have needed a battery in a year or two anyway, so I guess I'm ahead of that now.

The trials and tribulations of an older car. Up next, once it warms up, will be to deep clean the interior of the car. A deep vacuum and shampoo to get rid of all the grot from 12 years of people and pets.

rrocket · « **Reply #12102 on:** March 22, 2020, 01:14:40 pm »

Quote from: Great_Big_Abyss on March 22, 2020, 11:16:25 am

I've been having intermittent power interruptions in the Civic. It's happened twice. I'll go to start it, and it will crank for half a second, then lose all electrical power. A jiggle of the battery connection fixes it. Also, the battery felt weak when starting the car. I figured it was a combination of poor connection, and a weak battery. So, on Friday I went and bought a new battery. I replaced it in the parking lot of the battery store, and wire brushed the cable connections at the same time. I figured that would solve the problem, but then it went and did it again that afternoon. Sh!t!!

Yesterday I took the cable connections completely apart and went at them with my wire brush and some sand paper. I got all the corrosion off, and got it down to bare copper. That fixed it. The car starts nice and strong now. I guess it turns out I didn't need a new battery. That's $89.50 wasted, doh! Oh well, I'm reasoning it might have needed a battery in a year or two anyway, so I guess I'm ahead of that now.

The trials and tribulations of an older car. Up next, once it warms up, will be to deep clean the interior of the car. A deep vacuum and shampoo to get rid of all the grot from 12 years of people and pets.

My first guess was poor ground....which it seems like it was.

ChaosphereIX · « **Reply #12103 on:** March 22, 2020, 01:55:51 pm »

Washed both cars and gave them a quick detail. Will be sending both for a professional polish and wax once warmer weather hits and spring maintenance is done. The Lexus is bad for wash brush strokes in the clearcoat. Compared to the Alfa which has never had them, it is sending my OCD into overdrive. Nothing a quick polish and wax cant solve.

Lexus got new brake fluid, clutch fluid, coolant, diff fluid, power steering fluid, a brake service, and new rear axles when the summer tires went on.

TheHire · « **Reply #12104 on:** March 22, 2020, 04:27:51 pm »

Pulled the Aston out of hibernation, checked the fluids, tire pressure, let her warm up for about 15 minutes, and took a 30 minute spin. The others will follow another day soon...

JohnnyMac · « **Reply #12105 on:** March 22, 2020, 04:39:21 pm »

Quote from: vantage007 on March 22, 2020, 04:27:51 pm

Pulled the Aston out of hibernation, checked the fluids, tire pressure, let her warm up for about 15 minutes, and took a 30 minute spin. The others will follow another day soon...

When did you get the Audi R8? Also your Aston looks amazing and I'm sure you are eager to start the season.

quadzilla · « **Reply #12106 on:** March 22, 2020, 04:44:56 pm »

Quote from: vantage007 on March 22, 2020, 04:27:51 pm

Pulled the Aston out of hibernation, checked the fluids, tire pressure, let her warm up for about 15 minutes, and took a 30 minute spin. The others will follow another day soon...

Didn't I read that you sold the Aston or am I confused which happens easily.

rrocket · « **Reply #12107 on:** March 22, 2020, 04:46:27 pm »

Quote from: quadzilla on March 22, 2020, 04:44:56 pm

Quote from: vantage007 on March 22, 2020, 04:27:51 pm
Pulled the Aston out of hibernation, checked the fluids, tire pressure, let her warm up for about 15 minutes, and took a 30 minute spin. The others will follow another day soon...

Didn't I read that you sold the Aston or am I confused which happens easily.

I think he sold the Jag most recently.

Getting the FBC mixed up.

quadzilla · « **Reply #12108 on:** March 22, 2020, 04:55:26 pm »

Yes you are right...

Quote from: vantage007 on February 29, 2020, 10:44:27 am

Sold the XJR... for a handy five-figure profit. Anyone who said the facelifted X358s are the "most reliable" was lying.

rrocket · « **Reply #12109 on:** March 22, 2020, 05:03:47 pm »

Quote from: ChaosphereIX on March 22, 2020, 01:55:51 pm

Washed both cars and gave them a quick detail. Will be sending both for a professional polish and wax once warmer weather hits and spring maintenance is done. The Lexus is bad for wash brush strokes in the clearcoat. Compared to the Alfa which has never had them, it is sending my OCD into overdrive. Nothing a quick polish and wax cant solve.

Lexus got new brake fluid, clutch fluid, coolant, diff fluid, power steering fluid, a brake service, and new rear axles when the summer tires went on.

Too bad you aren't closer...I can polish the IS fast now!

ChaosphereIX · « **Reply #12110 on:** March 22, 2020, 06:19:09 pm »

Quote from: rrocket on March 22, 2020, 05:03:47 pm

Quote from: ChaosphereIX on March 22, 2020, 01:55:51 pm
Washed both cars and gave them a quick detail. Will be sending both for a professional polish and wax once warmer weather hits and spring maintenance is done. The Lexus is bad for wash brush strokes in the clearcoat. Compared to the Alfa which has never had them, it is sending my OCD into overdrive. Nothing a quick polish and wax cant solve.

Lexus got new brake fluid, clutch fluid, coolant, diff fluid, power steering fluid, a brake service, and new rear axles when the summer tires went on.
Too bad you aren't closer...I can polish the IS fast now!

Post-social distancing road trip? Would rather pay a friend than someone random.

ianmcc · « **Reply #12111 on:** March 22, 2020, 06:56:28 pm »

Working on the GBC Valiant and drinking cheap beer.
When I first pulled the valve cover I found a bent pushrod. No biggie as it has sat for untold years and who knows what transpired over those years. Replaced it and ran the valves.
So trying to get it to hold an idle (it won't) I was able to get a vacuum gauge on it albeit at almost full throttle and found the vacuum was swinging wildly between 12" and 18" of vacuum which tells me the valves aren't set properly.
Pulled the valve cover to re-check the clearances and found another bent pushrod. turns out intake valve on number 4 cylinder is stuck.
That means the head has to came off. Ugh.

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10157156016133434&set=a.10151591586048434&type=3&theater

TheHire · « **Reply #12112 on:** March 22, 2020, 07:10:11 pm »

Quote from: quadzilla on March 22, 2020, 04:44:56 pm

Quote from: vantage007 on March 22, 2020, 04:27:51 pm
Pulled the Aston out of hibernation, checked the fluids, tire pressure, let her warm up for about 15 minutes, and took a 30 minute spin. The others will follow another day soon...

Didn't I read that you sold the Aston or am I confused which happens easily.

I'll never, ever, ever sell the Aston. I sold my '08 XJR... because despite how beautiful they are to look at and wonderful they are to drive, they're every bit as unreliable as people say they are.

Weels · « **Reply #12113 on:** March 22, 2020, 07:38:46 pm »

Gawdamn that is beautiful...

Quote from: vantage007 on March 22, 2020, 04:27:51 pm

Pulled the Aston out of hibernation, checked the fluids, tire pressure, let her warm up for about 15 minutes, and took a 30 minute spin. The others will follow another day soon...

ChaosphereIX · « **Reply #12114 on:** March 22, 2020, 10:25:21 pm »

one of the most beautiful cars of all time, that is

their later designs are a hot mess in comparison, IMO.

TheHire · « **Reply #12115 on:** March 22, 2020, 10:29:00 pm »

Thanks guys, I do agree that it's one of the more timeless designs around. I also like that it kind of flies under the radar - it doesn't attract crazy attention like a McLaren or a Lambo; only those who really know give it a second look.

Arthur Dent · « **Reply #12116 on:** March 23, 2020, 12:22:03 am »

Not my car but helped install an upgraded exhaust on this Subaru Legacy GT (the turbo, 5spd one). Up pipe and down pipe. Its exhaust so some stiff bolts.

A 3/8 socket extension was broken.

Great_Big_Abyss · « **Reply #12117 on:** March 23, 2020, 08:16:34 am »

Yikes.

The good news is, I believe because it's MasterCraft, if you take it into a Canadian Tire, they'll replace it free of charge.

Oh, and did anybody notice how Vantage deftly avoided answering the question asking when he got the Audi? He confirmed he would never sell the Aston, but not a peep about the Audi.

Still not a peep about it. It's like it's a big secret that only a few people know about (I'm bettin' Ron's one of em), and Vantage is slowly letting a few juicy details slip, like this picture.

Vantage, you would make a great politician.

TheHire · « **Reply #12118 on:** March 24, 2020, 02:13:12 am »

Quote from: Great_Big_Abyss on March 23, 2020, 08:16:34 am

Yikes.

The good news is, I believe because it's MasterCraft, if you take it into a Canadian Tire, they'll replace it free of charge.

Oh, and did anybody notice how Vantage deftly avoided answering the question asking when he got the Audi? He confirmed he would never sell the Aston, but not a peep about the Audi. Still not a peep about it. It's like it's a big secret that only a few people know about (I'm bettin' Ron's one of em), and Vantage is slowly letting a few juicy details slip, like this picture.

Vantage, you would make a great politician.

Heh... it's not a vehicle I can take credit for. Just happens to be one of the family toys that I happen to be the caretaker of. It's a V8 with the gated stick, about 29k on the odometer. We acquired it last year... she sees just about ~1k a year of fair weather driving.

ChaosphereIX · « **Reply #12119 on:** March 24, 2020, 07:38:29 am »

That is my ideal spec R8. Fantastic garage.