Work out of my garage/driveway

[ORVietVet]

Those 88-93 grilles are easier to deal with (IMO) if you just remove it complete with that lower filler strip attached; it screws to the core support with 4 or 5 screws. You can reach the middle one through that slot at the center, and the others once the park lamps are out of the way.

I've got oil cooler lines for Critter, and power steering pressure hose for Sierra Red coming tomorrow. Which reminds me Just Red needs oil cooler lines, too. Jeezus.. all the stuff I forget to order.

I ordered the Sunsong oil cooler lines. Figured why pay extra for Dorman when I know the Dormans are junk, by reputation? Sunsong is an OE for GM brake flex hoses, so hopefully the oil cooler lines will hold up for a reasonable period.

Richard

I had planned to take the grill out with the filler strip installed but the p/s bumper had been tapped before and pushed back a bit. If I forced it, I feared there would be breakage. I explained to her that there was likely an extra .5 labor because of that bumper push. You could not see the push till you looked for why the d/s filler was pulling out when the p/s filler would not pull out.

 

[ORVietVet]

I forgot to say that, I knew the filler could be removed with the grill, because I did that on my girl's 1990 K2500 when I did her headlights. Her's came right out, when you held your tongue right.

On the 1991, it was not gonna happen without breakage.

 

[ORVietVet]

Went back to work on the 2005 Tahoe today. Started with a new 3rd brake light. Then on to the exhaust manifold broken end bolts. Did the driver's side front and rear and the passenger side rear. I had 4 kits and the p/s front end bolt broke loose and came out. I had the extra kit if that bolt broke but it did not break. I installed a new manifold bolt. As usual, the d/s rear bracket kit was a PITA and the p/s rear required the dipstick removal and then the starter unbolted to allow for me to find the dipstick hole when I went back together. All together and no problems and drove out with no noises.

Got a NICE gouge on my left forearm that bled pretty good and after cleaning, my girl sprayed the Bactine on it and watched me squint.

 

[Tonimus]

Ouch. Did I read you're working in your Arizona driveway? Must not be in the Phoenix valley.

 

[ORVietVet]

Ouch. Did I read you're working in your Arizona driveway? Must not be in the Phoenix valley.

No, Eugene, Oregon. No humidity here and started at 10:45 with 63 degrees and finished about 3:30 with 81 degrees. With my canopy, I can work year round, in the rainy season. Rare to be below 38-40 degrees in fall/winter.

 

[ORVietVet]

Even when it gets in the 90's, in the summer, the canopy blocks the sun and I always start early in the morning, in the 50's.

 

[stutaeng]

I could take 50Fs right now! We're approaching our heat wave here. It totally sucks. Lows are around 80F, highs near the triple digits with humidity making it feel like 108F. Not fun at all.

I went bike riding with my 14 year old son this morning. Got to the trail at 8AM and rode about 26 miles in 2 hours. I struggled though... he left me in the dust, I couldn't keep up with him. I was about to quit, lol. Then realized only way back to the truck was ridding back on the bike. SMH. Riding in the Spring or Fall is much more enjoyable around here.

 

[ORVietVet]

I could take 50Fs right now! We're approaching our heat wave here. It totally sucks. Lows are around 80F, highs near the triple digits with humidity making it feel like 108F. Not fun at all.

I went bike riding with my 14 year old son this morning. Got to the trail at 8AM and rode about 26 miles in 2 hours. I struggled though... he left me in the dust, I couldn't keep up with him. I was about to quit, lol. Then realized only way back to the truck was ridding back on the bike. SMH. Riding in the Spring or Fall is much more enjoyable around here.

My girl's daughter lives in Euless, Tx. Going thru the same weather.
I hate that weather and moved to Oregon from KC, Mo in 1995 because of weather like you talk about. Imagine being in a hot MUGGY shop and leaning over a hot engine for 8 hours a day.

 

[Cadillacmak]

My girl's daughter lives in Euless, Tx. Going thru the same weather.
I hate that weather and moved to Oregon from KC, Mo in 1995 because of weather like you talk about. Imagine being in a hot MUGGY shop and leaning over a hot engine for 8 hours a day.

I have always lived in dry cool climates, visited a lot of humid ones and didn't like it (Hawaii, Texas, Florida, Missouri, etc.). When I am working outside at 40 & 50 degrees, I cant take the heat of the house when I go inside, I end up going out on to the porch to cool off for a bit.

 

[ORVietVet]

This morning worked on a referral. A 2006 VW Beetle with exhaust smell in the passenger compartment when at idle or moving real slow. A LF klunk noise when turning, like backing out of driveway. Brake noise.

Found severe oil leak that is getting on exhaust and is the smell source. Klunk noise easily duplicated going 20 mph in neighborhood and rock steering from 3 to 9. Suspect in steering shaft or coupling or strut bearing assembly. Suspension and steering LOOK tight. Brake noise is the rear inner pads are thin enough that the rivet that holds the caliper mount springs is rubbing the rotor. Requires a special tool to collapse the caliper pistons. Have to turn the piston clockwise while applying pushing force. Tool worked great.

 

[ORVietVet]

 

[Cadillacmak]

Leaky and worn! I bet you saved them a fortune.

 

[ORVietVet]

These vehicles are known for driver's door window regulator problems. This one has that problem. I looked at 3 videos at you tube and it looks like a royal PITA to do. Their window is stuck about 5" up and moves a little up and down but is stuck. He said he will do that. Fine by me. Also has no passenger side headlight. He says he has "fixed" numerous times. He has a wedge of wood behind a harness connector to help hold it in place. Yep, he fixed it.

I told him the likely oil leak is the d/s side of engine cam cover o-ring. He also needs the klunk noise looked at with a drive on rack.

IMO, get rid of the Beetle and get his wife a decent used Toyota model.

 

[someotherguy]

I'd not be excited about working on that disposable POS, either. Reminds me of when my wife had her Explorer. The only redeeming quality it had was the 5.0 V8. Otherwise, although it was apparently well-cared for by the previous owner, everything went wrong with it and was a nightmare to work on. Just doing the radiator was a huge job that took nearly my entire day, in comparison, you can do one on a GMT400 in a couple hours TOPS. Each time I had to fix something on that Explorer I wanted to do so with a can of gas and some matches.

Speaking of the heat, it's been in the mid 90's and 70%+ humidity, and even hotter on some days (we had a few last week that were officially 100-101F) and it's put a real damper on my willingness to go out to the garage and do anything. Wednesday, I managed to procrastinate literally -all day- and finally went out there around midnight!!

I think whenever I can find a place we're going to buy, the garage is getting an A/C unit..

Richard

 

[ORVietVet]

For some reason, today is another day where I completely regret not starting an automotive/light truck shop, of some sort. Had an opportunity one time in KCMO but it was just before I was moving to Oregon and was not a good time and thought I would go ahead and open a shop here. Got involved in the shop I was running and an off road club here and time got away. Now. all I see is shops being stacked up with business and even opening up multiple locations to handle it all. I am waiting to see what happens with the partnership of my shop owner friend. They are having some big disagreements and the building owner wants the other guy gone and my friend to stay there. The guy said he would help "reset" the shop and help with equipment if needed. My friend is going thru all that and on his family homefront, it looks like he is getting a divorce as well. He has good days and bad, attitude wise. He has some mood swings that can be a PITA but he is by far the best tech I have ever seen. I know if he separated from the "used truck lot" partner and stopped catering to him as much and paid more attention to retail customers, it would be great. He has people flock to him all the time but he needs another tech for the work flow and let the "former partner" know that he has to get in line too and pay more for the work.

I think I could invest and help smooth it all out but only after the two of them split and he stays at the shop where the building owner wants to set him up even better. I would have to have some guarantees. The partners are mulling over my friend having a bigger portion of the business and him taking 50% of profits instead of the 30% he takes now. Starting a shop by myself, is out of the question. It takes a lot of money for that and the equipment purchases. Tools are not a problem. At 72 and soon to be 73, it is something I know I can "manage and control" but the $$$ outlay is beyond me. To buy in on a new retail business, with my friend's shop is the better choice but waiting on the partnership decision is a PITA.

 

[ORVietVet]

Recently thought about spending large bucks for a new Snap On EETH310 Thermal Imager at ebay. I have come across about a 12 times when a thermal imager would help with diagnosis problems.

If I was still in shops I could justify it but since I am not, I justified, to myself, that a Klein Tools imager and handle is in my financial wheelhouse. You can see how it drops in to the handle and then can use it with or without handle.

 

[ORVietVet]

Friend of one of my neighborhood customers called about her 2014 Mazda CX5 2.5 CEL on and no power. Had P0303 only. I think it went in to a limp mode. This happened on her way to work, yesterday. She has her own code reader and cleared the codes and then drove here after work and dropped off. Said it had a misfire but no CEL. I attached my reader and no codes. 125k miles and still had the original plugs in it. Plug ground burned badly and deposits from weak spark and absolutely filthy filthy backside of throttle body bore and plate. I replaced plugs, cleaned MAF, replaced filthy air filter and spent 30 minutes, just doing the cleaning of the throttle body. Back together and runs like "A striped ass ape"!

 

[ORVietVet]

Oil & filter change day. WIX 51522 oil filter and Valvoline Restore & Protect 5W-30 full synthetic oil....6 quarts.

Cleaned the MAF and changed the air filter with a WIX filter.

Then I found this and pulled the nest out and vacuumed out the case and sprayed rodent deterrent inside the case and all over the cowling area and the engine compartment.

 

[ORVietVet]

Back on #195, I talked about the shop I WAS writing service in, part time and maybe partnering with my friend but that is a big no! The two existing partners split up. Then the friend really let his attitude come to the front. I had been involved with the 2010 FJ Cruiser work and was owed some money, $120, that had come out of my pocket till the job was paid for. Then it was crickets. I contacted the FJ owner in Ca. and also sent a text to my "friend". Made them both feel bad enough, that I received, between the 2 of them, $230 for having to wait 2 months for payment and having to ask for it 2 months later. The "friend" is likely the best tech I have ever been around but....he has mood swings and a bit of a habit of talking down to people. Saw his wife recently, out shopping, and she told me she is leaving him for just that reason. Dodged a bullet.

 

[ORVietVet]

Yesterday started work on a 2012 Honda CRV. Doing headlight assemblies, oil filter/drain plug access cover replacement and a splash shield replacement. Plugs, pcv, engine air filter, cabin air filter, remove and clean the throttle body. Found that the front bumper had been replaced before. D/S bolt to lower wheel well was rusted and ripped the captured nut but is easily fixable. Most done yesterday but headlight assemblies did not come till 4:30 via UPS. Gonna finish headlight assemblies this morning along with the lower shields. Yes, that is dielectric grease in the ends of the freshly cleaned ignition coil boots.