What Did You Do In The Garage Today?

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Beef15 said:
Hmm indeed. In addition to mine I work on a fleet that still has probably a dozen. Update when it's solved.
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Ok so I solved the mystery 5.4 3v issue. This was on of the toughest ones I have had in a while. Turns out there where multiple issues. After running every freakin test and checking everything I could rule out through electronic means I decided to tear the front cover and intake off the motor and verify that everything was in time and there was nothing funky going on inside. Well everything under the front cover checked out but under the intake is where it got interesting. Who ever installed the new engine did not clock one of the knock sensors in the right direction. So when the intake was installed it pinched the wiring going into the sensor which caused a intermittant bad connection, the other knock sensor was installed with to long a bolt and would not tighten down enough to fully clamp it to the block. The incorrectly clocked sensor also pushed up on the bottum of the plastic intake enough that over time it caused the intake to twist and prevent a intake runner valve on bank two from moving freely. The lack of a correct signal from the knock sensors caused the variable cam timing system to malfunction under certian driving conditions and throttle settings. Some times it would advance or retard the cams correctly and other times it would not. Truck runs great now after correcting the issues.
 
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More work for me.

I got that replacement gearbox for our rotary cutter on over a weeks time. Had to pick up some larger wrenches and sockets to make it happen. But it's on! Wife has been using it this week and somehow managed to explode a trailing wheel hub and didn't notice it. The 7' cutter is set up with two trailing wheels, so I moved one of the brackets to the center for a single wheel jobby until a replacement hub gets here.

My Hustler is running great after the fuel line replacement that I did a little while back. I had the drive belt break on me so I replaced it. After cutting a bit I noticed a weird noise when the blades were engaged. Turns out my center blade spindle lost its bearings and was running all wobbly. I ordered the replacement and some new blades and installed the spindle on Thursday. I got the wrong size blades so I have to return them and the correct ones are on the way now. I sharpened my old ones but they still need replaced. They are shaped like a crinkle fries. Lol. Oh, I had no clue that the blade hubs had zerk fittings on them. They are hidden way up under the deck under the dried on grass. My bad!

I pulled out our Husqvarna trimmer to do some work and the damn thing was dripping fuel all over me. I tore it apart and saw that the fuel line bushings where it enters the tank had disintegrated over the past 12 years of use. The rubber was all gooey and falling apart. Local small engine shop sold me a couple for $4. I used it a couple of hours today with the pole saw attachment on it. It's running really well again.

CHRIS
 
Getting closer to wrapping up the 41 Ford. Ladder rack is installed with lights working. Did a full test on headlights, taillights, running lights and even have turn signals. Motor turns over, but haven't put fuel to it yet. Hopefully will get some more knocked out this weekend.
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Had to replace the wiper linkage on the 2003 Saturn Ion, common problem the plastic breaks, it is made of POM,
you can't solvent weld it, tough but should have been metal like the replacement part.
The Dorman brand part was assembled with the links backwards so it would not line up with the motor shaft.:mad:
Got the GM part on Amazon and that was exact fit.
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Brakes on the 2009 Malibu and 2003 Saturn last week.
When it stops the rain I can swap out the transaxle in the '99 Taurus Wagon.
 

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Moved my Ford Lightning into the garage and now waiting on the new parts to arrive and time to install them.
 
Starter button, ignition, headlights, floor dimmer, emergency lights, and momentary siren switches are all mounted in place along with fused power for rear and side spot lights. Turn signal switch and gauges will go through final install next. Everything is still working like it should. Looking forward to actually firing off the motor at some point.
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Button Pusher said:
Had to replace the wiper linkage on the 2003 Saturn Ion, common problem the plastic breaks, it is made of POM,
you can't solvent weld it, tough but should have been metal like the replacement part.
The Dorman brand part was assembled with the links backwards so it would not line up with the motor shaft.:mad:
Got the GM part on Amazon and that was exact fit.
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I freakin hate Dorman parts. My service advisor has learned not to order them just so he doesn't have to hear me bitch about them.
 
Short Fuse said:
I freakin hate Dorman parts. My service advisor has learned not to order them just so he doesn't have to hear me bitch about them.
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Agreed, my first choice was LKQ but the Ion had the parts pulled before I arrived. Tried to get it fixed same day.
"If I took it somewhere it would be fixed" says my daughter.'
Leave the car, come back in two days, we'll get to it'.
They could have had the same bad part and I don't charge by the hour' I reply.;)
 
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Laid out $1100 for the old ladies mail car to get a new rack and pinion, power steering pump and two tires put on with an alignment. With the rain we’ve been having and the time it takes to make these repairs no way I could have gotten it done for her in a timely manner. Hate to spend that much money but she needs the car for work.
 
Been working on my 1994 bass boat. Previous owner had a rat nest of wires in the bilge. Got all that sorted out and cleaned up. Got some non ethanol fuel and some Sea Foam to put in the tank and got it cranked up. The Merc XR6 150 is running good for having sat so long. I'm getting an alarm from the controller. It's a fast beep. A constant beep is over temp so it's not that. Low oil is four beeps in two minutes so it's not that. I've not found what a fast beep is trying to tell me.

Also just today (it worked yesterday) while digging around tracing wires I must have disconnected something. The key isn't shutting the motor off. Probably a bad ground. I'll investigate that tomorrow. It may be in the controller itself. I just pulled the fuel line and let it shut down that way. Always fun fixing other peoples projects but it allows me to learn this boats systems so I have some idea whats going on with it. Wanted to put it on the water this weekend but it's looking less and less likely.
 
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DirtySCREW said:
Predator bomb.....

DS

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I hope not. I've already put too much work into this thing to have it explode on me now. I went back out and looked at it again. I think my problem lies in the wiring harness where the factory cut into it to install forward engine tilt controls. I may have a break or two there. It might be the cause of both the alarm and now the engine kill not working. Thing is, the alarm quit and the engine won't. I have a feeling if I repair the bad ground so the engine with turn off, the alarm might return. It's just a matter of time and I'll get it sorted out......I hope. What's irritating is all the repairs I made to the bilge wiring has noting to do with the engine control. I purposely left the engine control stuff alone so this wouldn't happen.
 
Bought some more parts and waiting on more to show up and then working all next weekend on my truck hopefully.
 
Tinkered on the boat a little today. Figured out the problem with the key not shutting off the engine. Wasn't a bad ground. The key switch needed the contacts cleaned. It's working great now. Still getting the alarm though. I'm thinking it's a bad temp sensor. There's no way I should be getting an overtemp alarm on a cold engine. Ordered a new sensor and will see if that fixes it.
 
New iridium plugs in my wife's Toyota Corolla. I lost my maintenance records for several years so I don't know how long the old plugs had been in there. They didn't look bad, but I wanted something easy to do. I also cleaned off a bunch of corrosion from the positive battery terminal, and that took a lot longer, and was far messier, than the plugs.
 
Put a new starter in the '94 Dodge Ram 4x4. It's amazing how stuff falls and hides from you. After taking the top nut off the starter I was lowering the socket and extension. Somehow the socket came off. I thought it hit the ground and shot across the shop. I circled the truck four times looking for it. Crawled back under the truck and finally found it on top of the front differential on one of the reinforcing ribs. Nut was still in the socket. Finding that took longer than the actual replacement.

While I was disconnecting the negative battery clamp it broke. So off to Advance to return the starter core and pick up a new clamp. Funny how you set out to do one job and it often turns into more than that.
 
Got the Ford flathead in 41 fire truck running. As soon as the carb got primed, it fired right up. Old technology, but it works great, sounds good and looks good. Had a locked up rear brake and was able to break it loose with the truck's own power. Big step closer with the motor running. The heavily modified painless wiring kit is working out great for this project.

 
lowcountry said:
Got the Ford flathead in 41 fire truck running. As soon as the carb got primed, it fired right up. Old technology, but it works great, sounds good and looks good. Had a locked up rear brake and was able to break it loose with the truck's own power. Big step closer with the motor running. The heavily modified painless wiring kit is working out great for this project.

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You need to build it up like the one in my avatar.
 
Oil change in the venza. Damn Toyota for using a 64mm oil filter wrench. The one from auto zone sucks but got the job done, I'll be buying the nicer one for next time on Amazon.

Also rebuilt my echo 110 string trimmer. 10 years it lasted before it wouldn't crank, 8 bucks for a rebuild kit and off she went.

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BloodRunsThicker said:
When do you start giving rides?

Awesome numbers there.

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I need to get it to the track to stretch it's legs. Closest thing to stretching was getting on the highway from a stopped turn where the speed limit is 70mph.
 
BloodRunsThicker said:
Oil change in the venza. Damn Toyota for using a 64mm oil filter wrench. The one from auto zone sucks but got the job done, I'll be buying the nicer one for next time on Amazon.

Also rebuilt my echo 110 string trimmer. 10 years it lasted before it wouldn't crank, 8 bucks for a rebuild kit and off she went.

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But the K&D oil filter wrench. I've had mine since 09 when my wife got her Venza. I hate cartridge filters too!!

https://www.amazon.com/Motivx-Tools...oyota+venza+oil+filter+wrench#customerReviews

Well....I can't find the k&d one like I have I got from Amazon anymore.... This Motivx seems to be the go to tool now....hope this helps


DS

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Hey DS can you send me a pic of that wrench?? There are a lot of different ones online. 704 564 1300. The shitty cast one I bought at autozone is junk and it's going right back.

Thanks

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Chasing gremlins in a 69 Fastback... help would be appreciated.... 351w
Dieseling really bad when timing is advanced a bit... but if you back the timing off, it is spark knocking really bad. New carb I've ran it really rich and really lean... no difference other than power. Ive changed all ignition components... no change. I checked the vacuum advance and it's within op specs. Pulling my f-n hair out.
 
Slingnuts said:
Chasing gremlins in a 69 Fastback... help would be appreciated.... 351w
Dieseling ,........ Pulling my f-n hair out.
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Hi, does the car have A/C and idle solenoid?
Have you checked that the plugs are correct heat range, if yes, try running a set one to two steps colder as a test, can also be vacuum leak.
Is the ignition circuit dropping power when turned off?
 
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Changing both front unit bearings on my daughter’s 07 Xterra and am gathering the parts to replace her water pump, upgrade the timing chain tensioners (known issue) and replace the spark plugs. Good thing is she leaves for college tomorrow, so I have a couple months to get the parts in and do the work
 
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Button Pusher said:
Hi, does the car have A/C and idle solenoid?
Have you checked that the plugs are correct heat range, if yes, try running a set one to two steps colder as a test, can also be vacuum leak.
Is the ignition circuit dropping power when turned off?
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No A/C or idle solenoid
Tried many plugs
Hot wire to coil is dead with switch
 
Slingnuts said:
No A/C or idle solenoid
Tried many plugs
Hot wire to coil is dead with switch
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How many miles on the engine?
Have you checked all vehicle electrical grounds?
 
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