Chronic Car Buyers Anonymous (Archived)

xwesx · July 2023

roadburner said:
Today I was tipped off about a nice 88 piece tool set that's actually made in the USA - and available at Lowe's. Unfortunately, the Texas factory manufacturing the sets (and some other tools) is now closed so I suggest moving fast if you want a set. I had to ask for assistance to buy my set because they weren't displayed with the other Craftsman tools. A sales associate finally found them in "the warehouse area of the store." For $70 I think it's a great deal.

Thanks! It looks like there are a few in stock locally. I may get one so that we can give it to my daughter after (if? /sigh) she gets her license.

The one thing these sets seem to be missing nowadays, but are absolutely essential, are needle-nose pliers. Of course, this one also doesn't have box wrenches, which is maybe a deal-breaker for a keep-in-the-car emergency toolkit.

ab348 · July 2023

xwesx said:

The one thing these sets seem to be missing nowadays, but are absolutely essential, are needle-nose pliers. Of course, this one also doesn't have box wrenches, which is maybe a deal-breaker for a keep-in-the-car emergency toolkit.

About 30 years ado I bought my Craftsman tools at Sears (on sale though I can’t remember the price) and it had ratchets, sockets, and combination wrenches that have all served me very well. Nice compact case too. Odd that none of the new sets have combo wrenches unless you go to the $200+/- sets.

corvette · July 2023

I think I already have most of those tools, but that is a nice find. I managed to lose my first 10mm socket while working on the Prius. Also lost an extension I had borrowed from my dad. There really aren't many places they could have gone. I still haven't replaced either.

jmonroe1 · July 2023

@corvette said:
I think I already have most of those tools, but that is a nice find. I managed to lose my first 10mm socket while working on the Prius. Also lost an extension I had borrowed from my dad. There really aren't many places they could have gone. I still haven't replaced either.

————————————————
Many moons ago I thought I was careful when I was cleaning up one night but I apparently threw away a Craftsman 1/2 inch drive 6 point socket. I’ve since replaced it but every time I use the replacement socket I remember losing the first one. I make myself laugh when I put it away now…usually talking to it saying, “don’t you go jumping into the trash can, you hear?”

jmonroe

tjc78 · July 2023

@corvette said:
I think I already have most of those tools, but that is a nice find. I managed to lose my first 10mm socket while working on the Prius. Also lost an extension I had borrowed from my dad. There really aren't many places they could have gone. I still haven't replaced either.

Losing your 10MM is a social media trend… lots of “funny”‘ videos about it

breld · July 2023

I bought a Craftsman socket set many years ago - must be close to 20 years now - and it continues to serve me well, thought I did replace one of the wrenches.

Funny thing is…the case, as you’d expect, had a place for each and every socket. So I took the time to organize and place each one in it’s place, only to find out when you lifted up the case the top wasn’t tight enough to secure them all so they all just fell to the bottom of the case. 😀

breld · July 2023

@xwesx - I am in awe of your mechanic skills and courage.

I replaced the air filter in my daughter’s Jetta this past weekend. So there.

stickguy · July 2023

I need to do the RDX. But that’s complicated, requiring multiple tools and removing parts.

Should go back to circular cleaners with a wing nut holding the top on. Worked fine in the 70s

tjc78 · July 2023

@stickguy said:
I need to do the RDX. But that’s complicated, requiring multiple tools and removing parts.

Should go back to circular cleaners with a wing nut holding the top on. Worked fine in the 70s

The air cleaner in the Enclave was unnecessarily complicated. I’ve never opened the hood of the XC so couldn’t tell what that is like.

oldfarmer50 · July 2023

breld said:
@xwesx - I am in awe of your mechanic skills and courage.

I replaced the air filter in my daughter’s Jetta this past weekend. So there.

I just figured out how to squirt some rust proofing into my son’s rocker panels. Does that count?

jmonroe1 · July 2023

@tjc78 said:

@stickguy said:
I need to do the RDX. But that’s complicated, requiring multiple tools and removing parts.

Should go back to circular cleaners with a wing nut holding the top on. Worked fine in the 70s

The air cleaner in the Enclave was unnecessarily complicated. I’ve never opened the hood of the XC so couldn’t tell what that is like.

————————————————
You gotta be kidding; you never opened the hood of your car? What kind of a car guy are you? Are you sure there is anything thing under there?

jmonroe

roadburner · July 2023

jmonroe1 said:

@tjc78 said:

@stickguy said:

I need to do the RDX. But that’s complicated, requiring multiple tools and removing parts.

Should go back to circular cleaners with a wing nut holding the top on. Worked fine in the 70s

The air cleaner in the Enclave was unnecessarily complicated. I’ve never opened the hood of the XC so couldn’t tell what that is like.

————————————————

You gotta be kidding; you never opened the hood of your car? What kind of a car guy are you? Are you sure there is anything thing under there?

jmonroe

Opening the hood is very dangerous- something might catch fire or explode...

stickguy · July 2023

Well, I opened the Maverick hood last week. Based on the bright orange cables, there actually is danger under there.

Air filter, that looked easy. And coils and plugs super accessible. Not even a plastic shroud to remove!

jmonroe1 · July 2023

@roadburner said:
Opening the hood is very dangerous- something might catch fire or explode...

————————————————
That’s true for some but I thought @tjc78 could handle it. Guess not.

jmonroe

xwesx · July 2023

I made progress last night, but I did not get the transmission reinstalled. I found out, as I was installing the new clutch plate, that there is a small grounding strap that connects between the top of the transmission and the firewall above it. Well, not so easy to see when everything is in there! I apparently snapped it clean in two as the unit was lowered down to the ground with only that little wire trying to provide resistance.

Much easier to just get another one today and install it first before lifting the unit back into place.

This is what I did get done...

I need to clean up the grease a little, just to make sure I don't get stuff flinging, but it started raining last night, so I wrapped things up before it got any worse.

Here's the old clutch plate.... It's seen better days! Apparently, pulling my 6x12 enclosed dual axle trailer isn't easy on it. Haha!

jmonroe1 · July 2023

@xwesx said:
I made progress last night, but I did not get the transmission reinstalled. I found out, as I was installing the new clutch plate, that there is a small grounding strap that connects between the top of the transmission and the firewall above it. Well, not so easy to see when everything is in there! I apparently snapped it clean in two as the unit was lowered down to the ground with only that little wire trying to provide resistance.

Much easier to just get another one today and install it first before lifting the unit back into place.

This is what I did get done...

I need to clean up the grease a little, just to make sure I don't get stuff flinging, but it started raining last night, so I wrapped things up before it got any worse.

Here's the old clutch plate.... It's seen better days! Apparently, pulling my 6x12 enclosed dual axle trailer isn't easy on it. Haha!

————————————————
Maybe it’s my phone but those last 2 thingies look the same to me.

As for the ground strap, you coulda used that aluminum sticky duct tape.

EDIT: I now see your new pic. Yeah, that thing is wasted.

jmonroe

tifighter · July 2023

I opened the hood of our Y once. There were groceries in there.

ab348 · July 2023

I see there is another car carrier ship fire today and the blame is being initially put on one of the 25 M-B electrics on board (not mentioned in the attached story but Reuters reported the claim separately in a different piece):

https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/one-dead-several-wounded-after-fire-cargo-ship-dutch-coast-guard-2023-07-26/

nyccarguy · July 2023

@stickguy said:
Well, I opened the Maverick hood last week. Based on the bright orange cables, there actually is danger under there.

Air filter, that looked easy. And coils and plugs super accessible. Not even a plastic shroud to remove!

Who are you kidding? You were not gonna have that maverick. Long enough to do plugs and coils.

stickguy · July 2023

I might, but I also would not likely be the one replacing them.

xwesx · July 2023

jmonroe1 said:

EDIT: I now see your new pic. Yeah, that thing is wasted.

jmonroe

I was shocked at just how small the clutch plate is on this car. It's only about 8" across!

ab348 · July 2023

Interesting development here on the EV charging front: a consortium of automakers including GM, Stellantis, Honda, Hyundai/Kia, BMW and M-B have announced a joint venture to build out a charging network to compete with Elon’s.

https://www.autonews.com/mobility-report/challenging-tesla-major-automakers-launch-ev-charging-network

Hope they can get the electricity.

jmonroe1 · July 2023

nyccarguy said:

@stickguy said:

Well, I opened the Maverick hood last week. Based on the bright orange cables, there actually is danger under there.

Air filter, that looked easy. And coils and plugs super accessible. Not even a plastic shroud to remove!

Who are you kidding? You were not gonna have that maverick. Long enough to do plugs and coils.

————————————————
Leave him alone. He’ll wake up from his dream when he hears a Miata roar by.

jmonroe

roadburner · July 2023

@xwesx said:
I made progress last night, but I did not get the transmission reinstalled. I found out, as I was installing the new clutch plate, that there is a small grounding strap that connects between the top of the transmission and the firewall above it. Well, not so easy to see when everything is in there! I apparently snapped it clean in two as the unit was lowered down to the ground with only that little wire trying to provide resistance.

Much easier to just get another one today and install it first before lifting the unit back into place.

This is what I did get done...

I need to clean up the grease a little, just to make sure I don't get stuff flinging, but it started raining last night, so I wrapped things up before it got any worse.

Here's the old clutch plate.... It's seen better days! Apparently, pulling my 6x12 enclosed dual axle trailer isn't easy on it. Haha!

On the BMW E3 sedans if you disconnected the motor to body ground strap the speedometer cable would act as the ground and smoke would soon come pouring out of the speedometer.

roadburner · July 2023

Update on my friend’s C7: the dealer is replacing the battery fuse block and charging the battery overnight. More news as it develops.

greg128 · July 2023

ab348 said:
I see there is another car carrier ship fire today and the blame is being initially put on one of the 25 M-B electrics on board (not mentioned in the attached story but Reuters reported the claim separately in a different piece):

https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/one-dead-several-wounded-after-fire-cargo-ship-dutch-coast-guard-2023-07-26/

I imagine insurance rates for cargo ships transporting electric vehicles are or will be skyrocketing. There was a similar incident a year or two ago which was I think around a half billion dollar loss. There was also a vehicle cargo ship fire recently at the port of Newark, NJ resulting in the death of a firefighter although there was not a mention of EVs that I could find. That does not mean one was not involved or the cause.

It is probably a better idea to assemble and transport them on the same continent.

xwesx · July 2023

roadburner said:

On the BMW E3 sedans if you disconnected the motor to body ground strap the speedometer cable would act as the ground and smoke would soon come pouring out of the speedometer.

Yikes! Not a kind way to find out!

Michaell · July 2023

greg128 said:

ab348 said:
I see there is another car carrier ship fire today and the blame is being initially put on one of the 25 M-B electrics on board (not mentioned in the attached story but Reuters reported the claim separately in a different piece):

https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/one-dead-several-wounded-after-fire-cargo-ship-dutch-coast-guard-2023-07-26/
I imagine insurance rates for cargo ships transporting electric vehicles are or will be skyrocketing. There was a similar incident a year or two ago which was I think around a half billion dollar loss. There was also a vehicle cargo ship fire recently at the port of Newark, NJ resulting in the death of a firefighter although there was not a mention of EVs that I could find. That does not mean one was not involved or the cause.

It is probably a better idea to assemble and transport them on the same continent.

I thought two fireman died in Newark.

oldfarmer50 · July 2023

ab348 said:
I see there is another car carrier ship fire today and the blame is being initially put on one of the 25 M-B electrics on board (not mentioned in the attached story but Reuters reported the claim separately in a different piece):

https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/one-dead-several-wounded-after-fire-cargo-ship-dutch-coast-guard-2023-07-26/

The price of EVs just went up.

au1994 · July 2023

https://bringatrailer.com/listing/2023-rivian-r1s-34/

A poster friend might want to watch this one…

nyccarguy · July 2023

@xwesx - thought of you at dinner tonight

tjc78 · July 2023

@jmonroe1 said:

@tjc78 said:

@stickguy said:
I need to do the RDX. But that’s complicated, requiring multiple tools and removing parts.

Should go back to circular cleaners with a wing nut holding the top on. Worked fine in the 70s

The air cleaner in the Enclave was unnecessarily complicated. I’ve never opened the hood of the XC so couldn’t tell what that is like.

————————————————
You gotta be kidding; you never opened the hood of your car? What kind of a car guy are you? Are you sure there is anything thing under there?

jmonroe

What’s there to do? It’s a lease with prepaid maintenance. I can check the oil from the screen on the dash. It has 18k miles on it .. I’m sure eventually I’d have to do something but it hasn’t needed it.

Also - it’s the same engine my S60 had so I do at least know what it looks like!

nyccarguy · July 2023

A view from the 3rd row of the Highlander.

Michaell · July 2023

nyccarguy said:

A view from the 3rd row of the Highlander.

What did you do to get banished back there?

stickguy · July 2023

that was my question. Being punished?

stickguy · July 2023

I love this. Not the price but looks immaculate. Would likely rust away in 2 years up here though if I dared take it out in the winter.

Already expensive and I assume it goes well over the 31K current bid.

https://bringatrailer.com/listing/1982-toyota-4x4-pickup-36/

stickguy · July 2023

and here is something QB motors needs. can fit lots of oddball little Japanese cars in this thing!

https://bringatrailer.com/listing/1973-international-harvester-loadstar-1700/

jmonroe1 · July 2023

roadburner said:

@xwesx said:

I made progress last night, but I did not get the transmission reinstalled. I found out, as I was installing the new clutch plate, that there is a small grounding strap that connects between the top of the transmission and the firewall above it. Well, not so easy to see when everything is in there! I apparently snapped it clean in two as the unit was lowered down to the ground with only that little wire trying to provide resistance.

Much easier to just get another one today and install it first before lifting the unit back into place.

This is what I did get done...

I need to clean up the grease a little, just to make sure I don't get stuff flinging, but it started raining last night, so I wrapped things up before it got any worse.

Here's the old clutch plate.... It's seen better days! Apparently, pulling my 6x12 enclosed dual axle trailer isn't easy on it. Haha!

On the BMW E3 sedans if you disconnected the motor to body ground strap the speedometer cable would act as the ground and smoke would soon come pouring out of the speedometer.

————————————————
That might lead to some folks bragging that they went so fast they smoked their speedometer.

jmonroe

jmonroe1 · July 2023

oldfarmer50 said:

ab348 said:
I see there is another car carrier ship fire today and the blame is being initially put on one of the 25 M-B electrics on board (not mentioned in the attached story but Reuters reported the claim separately in a different piece):

https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/one-dead-several-wounded-after-fire-cargo-ship-dutch-coast-guard-2023-07-26/
The price of EVs just went up.

————————————————
If this continues they might want to fix the problem or ship the batteries on another boat. When trouble shooting electrical bugaboos, isolating the problem usually helps.

jmonroe

jmonroe1 · July 2023

stickguy said:
and here is something QB motors needs. can fit lots of oddball little Japanese cars in this thing!

https://bringatrailer.com/listing/1973-international-harvester-loadstar-1700/

————————————————
I always get a kick out of the adds for old vehicles that say, “XXXXXXX miles shown”. For once I’d like to see, “miles shown has been shown many times before”.

jmonroe

nyccarguy · July 2023

@stickguy said:
that was my question. Being punished?

Nah. I drove the 9 hours here, so I figured I’d let my wife drive back to the hotel from dinner for 10 minutes:)-

We caught the sunrise over the beach this AM.

stickguy · July 2023

Looks pretty

qbrozen · July 2023

@stickguy said:
and here is something QB motors needs. can fit lots of oddball little Japanese cars in this thing!

https://bringatrailer.com/listing/1973-international-harvester-loadstar-1700/

Kinda neat, but too small. Needs 264” inside to fit 2 Kei cars.

oldfarmer50 · July 2023

stickguy said:
that was my question. Being punished?

My question is what was he doing at that pawn shop in the previous Subie picture.😫

oldfarmer50 · July 2023

stickguy said:
I love this. Not the price but looks immaculate. Would likely rust away in 2 years up here though if I dared take it out in the winter.

Already expensive and I assume it goes well over the 31K current bid.

https://bringatrailer.com/listing/1982-toyota-4x4-pickup-36/

That generation of Toyota had a welded seam running the length of the bed. They didn’t rustproof it at all so it would corrode within a few years completely destroying the bed.

nyccarguy · July 2023

I know it’s on the Cape and is an ex rental and has had (5) owners, but it is priced decent and a private seller:

https://www.autotrader.com/marketplace/buy/ford/escape/2009/1FMCU93G59KB62234?listingId=683755414

nyccarguy · July 2023

This one has the rust spot on the right rear 1/4 panel:

https://www.autotrader.com/marketplace/buy/ford/escape/2009/1FMCU93G89KC50310?listingId=687423984

stickguy · July 2023

First one looks clean. I always liked the boxy escapes. An honest car. Though I have in my head that you are better off with the 4 cylinder. And that old for a kid, I would rather have FWD. less to go wrong.

Use the rust spot to hammer down the price on the 2nd one!

nyccarguy · July 2023

@stickguy said:
First one looks clean. I always liked the boxy escapes. An honest car. Though I have in my head that you are better off with the 4 cylinder. And that old for a kid, I would rather have FWD. less to go wrong.

Use the rust spot to hammer down the price on the 2nd one!

I’ve messaged both sellers on Autotrader to see if they can provide me with any additional information.

nyccarguy · July 2023

The one from the Cape is gone. At least the seller messaged me back.

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