Topic: What did you do to your car today?

[Hannibalsmith]

The little indy place I discovered when my daughter ripped up the carboard undertray off her Accent looks like a set from FBI. You'd never know there was a sketchy place like this in our 'burb. But they have a great reputation, don't oversell and bill at 70$/hr. It's a great place for the greasy bits.

Appointment made for Monday morning, instructed to leave the van prior to the curfew on Sunday evening. They are used to ball-joint jobs and have the required press. They say they will look at the steering rack issue but usually refer their clients to a local specialist for these rather specialized jobs. I looked them up online, you punch in your car info and you get an estimate for parts and labour off the website - 1,600$ in my case. Still dear.

The mechanic calls me up midday, says the van is in terrific shape, all bushings are great but the ball joint is indeed shot. 245$ + tax. Can't find a leak on the rack and pinion, suspects the dealer actually removed oil from suspect traces - apparently trending at local dealerships. Hum. Left the van an extra hour outside in the cold, still no squeaks. Can't find any oil residue around the rack.

The van did squeal in the past, so I'll keep watch on the oil level. There are no spots in the garage where the van has been parking since new.

So basically my 4,000$ "stealership" estimate required a 266$ tx incl. repair job. No more clunks.

Think I can copy-paste these two posts in the service satisfaction feedback email I received?

Good job finding a reputable indy to take care of it for you. I really would call the GM or service manager at the dealership and speak to them about your experience and compared to how it was in the past.

I need to find and indy for my Odyssey as well. Last time I took it in for an oil change they recommended timing belt change and a bunch of flushes that I'm pretty sure were just done. Ody has only 78,000 km.

[ChaosphereIX]

2007.

And the AC Delco control arms were $70.  It need need ball joints on top of that, they were an extra $40 each.

Not including shipping though, that was another $40.

Still. Not even close to their prices.

WOW, not even my shop charges that much for control arms for a full size RR.

[Firm]

Took the DTS on a 3 hour round trip to pickup some parts for the Vette. Most time I've spent behind the wheel of the DTS since we went into lockdown this time last year....Prior to that 3 hours was the normal daily round-trip commute. This trip was all highway and backroads through the escarpment, including some decently curvy ones. Still a great car, just quietly floats down the highway and over crappy broken up rural roads. Was nice to get some quality time with it again, and there's something about a big black Caddy sedan that still just does it for me.

It's had a super easy winter thanks to the lockdowns, didn't even get it salty as we've been primarily just using the Escalade.

Photo is actually a few weeks old...but I didn't feel right posting without a photo - trying to lead by example

[PJungnitsch]

Another glossy and beautiful black vehicle.

Don't know how you guys do it, my brothers black truck would stay shiny for about 5 minutes down the road

[EV Dan]

Another glossy and beautiful black vehicle.

Don't know how you guys do it, my brothers black truck would stay shiny for about 5 minutes down the road

Prolly just out of a CT wash 

Regardless, looks amazing for a 14 y.o car 

[Bubba]

Took the DTS on a 3 hour round trip to pickup some parts for the Vette. Most time I've spent behind the wheel of the DTS since we went into lockdown this time last year....Prior to that 3 hours was the normal daily round-trip commute. This trip was all highway and backroads through the escarpment, including some decently curvy ones. Still a great car, just quietly floats down the highway and over crappy broken up rural roads. Was nice to get some quality time with it again, and there's something about a big black Caddy sedan that still just does it for me.

It's had a super easy winter thanks to the lockdowns, didn't even get it salty as we've been primarily just using the Escalade.

Photo is actually a few weeks old...but I didn't feel right posting without a photo - trying to lead by example

Beautiful car. 

[ChaosphereIX]

Classy and boss, Murica style

[Firm]

Another glossy and beautiful black vehicle.

Don't know how you guys do it, my brothers black truck would stay shiny for about 5 minutes down the road

Prolly just out of a CT wash 

Regardless, looks amazing for a 14 y.o car 

I agree on the black thing; I love it when it's clean, but it's rarely ever 'clean' looking. Photos are generous cuz they won't show dust/smudges. That said, I think I've only taken a personal vehicle through an automated wash once in my life - and it was the DTS a couple winters ago. Generally, in the winter, I just leave them dirty until I get a day that's warm enough (0 or better) and will hand wash in the driveway. This winter the DTS saw such little use (maybe 2-3 drives a month) that I kept it covered with an outdoor cover in the driveway which kept it clean-ish.

[JohnnyMac]

Another glossy and beautiful black vehicle.

Don't know how you guys do it, my brothers black truck would stay shiny for about 5 minutes down the road

Prolly just out of a CT wash 

Regardless, looks amazing for a 14 y.o car 

I agree on the black thing; I love it when it's clean, but it's rarely ever 'clean' looking. Photos are generous cuz they won't show dust/smudges. That said, I think I've only taken a personal vehicle through an automated wash once in my life - and it was the DTS a couple winters ago. Generally, in the winter, I just leave them dirty until I get a day that's warm enough (0 or better) and will hand wash in the driveway. This winter the DTS saw such little use (maybe 2-3 drives a month) that I kept it covered with an outdoor cover in the driveway which kept it clean-ish.

Hey Firm I'm curious if you do any type of rust protection on your winter vehicles?  The only reason I do the automated car washes in the winter is to wash some of the salt off the undercarriage. 

[Firm]

Yeah, I am crazy about rust prevention. I get winter driven cars oil sprayed (my preference is Rust Check brand, but Krown works too) and then I get a few aerosol cans of 'Formula 3000' rust prevention (another oil spray type product) and touch up the 'high-impact' areas (wheel well arches, rockers, seams, etc) whenever I wash the vehicle.

Reason I don't use the automatic wash much; salt isn't active on the car when it's deep freeze type temperatures as there is so little humidity in the air to activate it. I only worry about getting the salt off when the temperatures are up high enough that there's humidity to worry about. Usually, when it gets that warm out, I can just handwash in the driveway. When I do, I make sure I've got a good spray gun and get the underside as well.

I do build up a couple coats of wax on the paint before winter, and if I get a chance mid-winter (during a warm spell) I'll take the opportunity to put another quick coat on it. That's my big issue with automatic washes, the 'soap' used to cut through the grime also removes some of the wax protection on the car, coupled with high velocity water, it's really not good for the paint IMO. If push comes to shove though, I'd rather have dull paint, which is easily corrected, that a rusty car....so automatic washes are better than nothing if that's all the weather conditions or your level of -giving will allow.

[TheHire]

Given I talk to Firm literally every day and have to hear his , and combining this with the fact that he's also the first one I call when I have a problem that I don't have the answer to, I too follow the above philosophy.

Mostly because if I don't, I'll have to hear "I told you so" from him a billion times on the phone, in person, and in our DoubleClutch.ca group chat 

[Bubba]

Given I talk to Firm literally every day and have to hear his , and combining this with the fact that he's also the first one I call when I have a problem that I don't have the answer to, I too follow the above philosophy.

Mostly because if I don't, I'll have to hear "I told you so" from him a billion times on the phone, in person, and in our DoubleClutch.ca group chat 

 

[valuator]

I hit 120,000km in the Pilot this morning.  Vehicle in-service date of December 2015, acquired from my parents with a little over 70k on it in March 2018.  So I've driven it 3 years and a shade under 50k. 

Maybe I should do a more detailed write up...but overall my view is that it's fulfilled its kid hauler duties with little fuss.  I'm not sure I would buy another used one, this was an opportunity to get a pampered vehicle from a trusted prior owner with an extended warranty already paid for.  I'd buy a 2-3 year old MDX for about the same money....it drives notably better. 

I envision us replacing the Outback with my dad's 2020 MDX whenever he tires of it....that becomes the primary family weekend/road trip machine, while the Pilot remains my long-term daily driver.  I find it more comfortable than the Outback and likely to be more durable, so I'd keep it despite being higher mileage.  If I drive it for the long haul, I can put money away in a "fun car" fund. 

[Blueprint]

Before the whole stealership thing, wife complained of poor coverage from the driver's side washer nozzle with the Odyssey. I cleaned it with a tootbrush, picked it with a toothpick, still poor spray pattern. So I open the hood to check the nozzle and connections from underneath, and the plastic tip of the nozzle litterally crumbled under my fingers. No wonder the spray wasn't good. I could have gotten cheaper parts online, but given the fact that Honda Canada's warehouse is 10 mins from my home, I called the local dealer for an 8 am next day delivery.

Removing the broken end from the rubber hoses was as simple as crushing it - black plastic dust.

Got the part, installed the part, tested and ... engine all wet  Had a kiddo spray for me while I observed what's happening under hood and, sure enough, passenger side nozzle sprays the engine more than the windshield. Ordered another nozzle, 60 second install this morning, crushed tip remains out of the tube again (feeling like groundhog day) and voilą, perfect spray, dry engine.

But this had me thinking...

The aforementioned rack and pinion dealer oversell came from my mention of intermittent high-pitched squeal noises on cold starts. Turns out ... the accessory belt is straight below the passenger side washer nozzle. Hmmm... Could a belt all wet with washer fluid slip and squeal?

[Arthur Dent]

Wet belt could definitely squeal.

[Blueprint]

Wet belt could definitely squeal.

Diagnostic: 1875$ + tx

Repair: 23$ + tx

Still using oem parts 

[Golly]

It was +9 this afternoon so I hand washed the Enclave and Malibu in the driveway.  Very therapeutic 

[Serniter]

Looks like a new wheel is $540:
https://parts.lexus.com/p/Lexus_2017_ES-350/WHEEL---DISC/70528397/4261106G70.html

I think that is a wrong wheel but who knows... best to look inside the original and see if there is a code.

4261106D60

A scrap yard is another good source.

Got the car back from the dealer today. The wheel was $633.

[Serniter]

So she did this twice in a few days?

Was thinking the same..

Knowing the circumstances, I am reluctant to blame her. Even though she blew two tires in quick succession.

[Serniter]

The wheel and tire are now fixed, but a tab that holds the bumper to the wheel well seems to be broken. Not sure how that can be fixed.