If the tail light burns out, trade it in....

IrTxRx · Aug 17, 2004

All of my cars are/have been well over 10 years old ( '89 F250, '90 ford escort wagon, '86 Mazda PU ) and I like the fact that my mechanic can fix things very easily. Seems like there is an engine, a tranny, an A/C unit and some electrics. Never costs very much to repair and A/C blows cold /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif. Besides, I am saving money for a tractor, so I like my old cars.

However, we did rent a tricked out suburban for a family trip... Wow was that nice. Huge, lots of room and 80mph felt like 55. I did get a little sticker shock at the gas pump though /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif

Hazmat - about the only mechanical thing I can do is change the oil. On my wifes new (now gone car) you had to jack it up and cut the wheel all the way to reach a tiny little filter and make about 1/12 of a trun to get it off /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif I agree, what are people thinking for something that needs to be done so frequently!!!

tillerkiller · Aug 17, 2004

I've got about three of those dropped parts retreivers! My most favoritest tools!!!

I got one that has a little bitty magnet on the end of a telescoping thingie.

I got one that has a BIG magnet on the end of a telescoping thingie.

I got one that has a BIG magnet on the end of a bendy thingie that you can bend all over the place and it stays bent. (untill you get near a body panel and the have to pull it out to go fishing all over again /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif)

I got one that has a CLAW! /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif at the end of a springy thingie.

I got one that is just like a pen but is magnetic.

yep, that's all of them. I guess I have five of them. I'm gonna go kiss each one of them right now.

You just need to get some magnet thingies!!!! /forums/images/graemlins/ooo.gif

jinman · Aug 17, 2004

( If the body panel was open on the bottom, the bolt would have dropped thru...
)

Cut a hole in it. You'll already be prepared for the next time the bulb burns out. /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

hazmat · Aug 17, 2004

Cut a hole in it. You'll already be prepared for the next time the bulb burns out. 

Very tempting - it would help to get some of my frustrations out. On the other hand - we do have an opportunity to get a new "tool" - although sounds like I need 5 small parts retreivers - never know which one will do the job.

rockyridgefarm · Aug 17, 2004

I had a buddy spent a weekend tearing a Caddy apart trying to get to the bulbs. He gave up. Two weeks later he noticed a little door in the trunk. Inside was a row of bulbs, each labeled to an area on the body, connected to fiber optic.

He had a cerebral embolism.

jinman · Aug 17, 2004

( He had a cerebral embolism. )

I can identify with that. /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif ...in so, so many ways. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

JDgreen227 · Aug 17, 2004

Wait till you guys hear this one...

Wife's summer car is a '93 Olds Cutlass ragtop, 19,000 miles, still looks like new. Needs a replacement alternator, no big job on the model with the 3.1 liter V6, disconnect the battery negative cable, disconnect the electrical connections on the alternator, unbolt and replace it.

Hers has the 3.4 liter V6...

Here goes....

Disconnect the battery negative cable.
Remove the coolant recovery tank.
Remove the drive belt.
Remove the power steering lines from the clip at the alternator.
Raise the vehicle, support on jackstands.
Remove right front wheel.
Remove the engine splash shield.
Remove the front exhaust pipe and catalytic converter assembly, then the exhaust pipe heat shield.
Remove the alternator cooling duct.
Remove the alternator rear brace.
Remove the intermediate shaft lower pinch bolt at the steering gear.
SUPPORT THE ENGINE WITH A FLOOR JACK, then remove the rear cradle bolts and the cradle.
/forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif
Remove the steering gear heat shield.
Remove the alternator's lower bolt and washer.
Disconnect the electrical connectors on the alternator and the vehicle speed sensor.
Remove the power steering lines and hoses as required.
Remove the alternator.

No, I didn't keep track of how long I spend on that job, but I sure didn't want to pay some overpriced shop $75 per hour for labor. Why would ANYONE design an engine that requires major work to replace a simple component?

Junkman · Aug 17, 2004

Volkswagen bug....... remove the engine to do the generator repair. Now what genius designed that? True it is a small engine and it comes out quickly, but it seems like there could have been a better way.

BLUEBONNET2 · Aug 18, 2004

hey guys,
that one of the things that caught my eye with the YM2000, just flip up the hood and waalaa..... /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif, air filter, radiator, hoses, one belt, fuel bowl, two cylinders, small oil filter, battery and cables, two bolts and take off the hood, couple of electrical connections for the head lights....... /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif all sending wiring for IDIOT /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif lights under the dash panel (can get my hand in there).... /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

have to take my gran prix to dealer to change the battery /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif

bluebonnet2
P.S. looked at the magnetic thingy doo's yesterday at TSC....lol

hazmat · Aug 18, 2004

You just need to get some magnet thingies!!!! 

Told a buddy at work my dilemma. He reaches into desk drawer and pulls out "littly bitty magnet on the end of a telescoping thingie". You could smell the truck's fear /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

5 minutes later at home and I rescued the bolt & socket from the abyss. Guess I need to stock up on parts retrievers.