Thread 28585073

Experience with convertibles?
1. Can you comfortably drive one at highway speeds with the top down?
2. What if it randomly starts raining in the highway and you can't put the top up at that speed? Do you have to pull over or take an exit?

Which one should I get for a daily and why

lexus obviously
".50 cal bullet to the face or 1 million dollars" ahh question

>>28585096
There is inherit value in a vehicle that was a fleet vehicle. Parts are abundant and cheap. That's why I consider them both. I also like the lines of the caprice impala.

But a lexus seems mad comfy too

>>28585073 (OP)
>1. Can you comfortably drive one at highway speeds with the top down?
define comfortably. it's loud, but the openness is only surpassed by motorcycles.
I sometimes wore earplugs in my miata

>>28585104
Do you ever have to plan out in advance when youre gonna put your top up?
Like driving around town and all of a sudden your gps says you need to get on a highway
Do you preemptively put your top up for that?

>>28585085
the impala because you will attract big-booty dark skinned women

>>28585110
And what does the lexus attract? How bad are impala transmissions

>>28585109
no because it's not that big of a deal to drive on the highway with the top down.
If you really don't want to, most modern cars have automatic tops nowadays, and even if not, it only takes a minute to pull over and put it up.
Just always make sure your top is securely latched if you are driving with it up.

Convertibles suck. They were popularized in Western Europe in the 40s where you only drive 30mph and the climate was very temperate. They have no place in America where it's either hot, cold, or raining 300 days a year and you go 85mph everywhere. It only makes sense if you just so happen to live in the PNW and have enough money to blow on a spare car in which case you aren't posting on 4chan.

>>28585141
what about in california where its always 60-80 degrees and sunny

>>28585152
>california where its always 60-80 degrees and sunny
the homeless guy's meth fumes must be getting to you, that's not the weather anywhere in california but literally right on the beach.

>>28585155
that's literally how it is where i live though
sorry you live in some cold methed out opioid addicted flyoverlet shithole

>>28585158
I lived in shitifornia for 22 years, no, that is not how the weather is, again, "literally anywhere but right on the beach".

I'm going to try a non-welding solution (epoxy or something like that) to patch over a small hole caused by rust on a panel. What should I do about the metal inside the panel? Spray rust converter in there or something?

>>28585166
do you care about this car?

>>28585170
yes.

>>28585171
then stop being a fucking retard and actually fix the issue instead of putting a bandaid over it.
The only way to deal with rust properly is to remove the cancer and stop its spread.

>>28585173
the rust is gone, i'm asking about precautions for the inside.

>>28585202
oh, por15 top coat should do well then if you're just trying to seal it to prevent future rust.

How do I determine if I have a faulty brake master cylinder or if I just got my brakes too hot and had brake fade?

Did an autocross event today and it was hot as balls. I had a dual driver, so my car was running twice as often as other cars, with almost no breaks between runs. And the final section of the course was very high speed and required a very abrupt stop after the finish. On my last run, while I stopped at the starting line, my brake pedal sunk to the floor, so I did not do that run and let my car cool off. When it was time to head home, my brakes felt fine.

Only reason I'm worried it's a master cylinder issue because this is the second time I've experienced a spongy pedal in the last couple weeks, but last time it was during normal driving. I bled the brake fluid and that seemed the fix it. Fluid is very new, too.

How would you anons further diagnose? Am I just worrying over nothing and brake fade doing some autocross is normal?

>2008 328i with 65,000 miles listed at $5.5k.

What's wrong with it /o/? Should I go see it?

>>28585073 (OP)
1. Yes, but comfort is subjective. Most CuntvertiBholes have wind noise. Fancy ones like CLE AMG have good designs that make it almost noiseless with the windows up (but top down).
2. You have to slow/stop the car to put up the top.

Go rent a Mustgag Egobukkake from your local airport Enterprise/Alamo/National or Avis/Budget (Hertz barely has any). Go take it on a roadtrip for a week and hit up all your regional National Parks and shit.

That will give you a feel for the top down lifestyle (not to be confused with the top/bottom lifestyle)

Lexus is 350 2021 or bmw m340 2020

Which is better? Or should I pick another car entirely?
I'm looking for a sporty (mid trim level I guess) sedan. I don't really need anything more powerful than this

>>28585672
nothing wrong, 65k is pretty low
best engine (n52) with lots of resources and people loving it to this day making shit like turbo and supercharger kits for it
good price
buy!

t. 06 330i with 225k miles

How long should you run coolant flush through your cars cooling system? Aluminum block Honda F22B2 currently filled with water.

>>28585866
cool, thanks anon. I messaged the guy and the guy seems like an old man. He said it was garaged so possibly in good shape.

Anything specific I should look out for when I get to take a look?

>>28585913
not sure as i bought mine in a very bad state. look for the usual shit like rust in the wheel housing etc. and noticeable oil residue around the engine, apart from that you should just read up on what you could to as preventative maintenance, you might wanna replace some ccv hoses or vanos components right now before they go bad critically. also i believe there should have been a recall for these for a blower motor that could catch on fire, definitely check if the previous owner had that replaced unless you wanna end up mysteriously dying in a car fire in your own garage like that NYC DA

>>28585073 (OP)
Personal experiences with oil stopleak additives?

>>28586062
Challybros... not like this!

>>28585672
Are you a gentleman?

>>28586096
Yea c:

>>28585853
Self bump

>>28585853
Bmw is hostile toward longer term maintenance and they went off the deep end in 2020 (literally one shop that I know of in the world has cracked the ECU, and you have to physically send it to them to flash before you can adjust anything.) Even if you don't plan to tune it, that and heated seat subscriptions pretty much sums up the nuBMW ethos. Plus, I think by 2020 they already axed the manual in the 340i so there are literally none I'd want to buy anyway.
I don't know much about Toyotas other than my family never had the luck with them others claim to, and even then it was shitbox Tercels and Corollas so their upmarket offerings are more outside of my wheelhouse.
After wanting a newer sedan for my daily, and shopping for a couple years... I'm still borrowing my wife's f150 because there's a falling home in this market, and if anything does tick the boxes it's far too expensive for what it is.

>>28585600
MASTER CYLINDER

>>28586147
tfw these sites never have holden specs

>>28585073 (OP)
cabriolet of a car that is originally a coupe is such a shitty concept. just go buy a motorcycle or smth fgt. miata and all the other cabrio only cars are cool though.

Is this excess movement on the propshaft? I can move it back and forth with one hand.
https://i.4cdn.org/wsg/1756122987696318.mp4

>>28586443
ipgrabber link, leads to questionable/illegal content

>>28585073 (OP)
Is it worth getting a remap on a fwd 2l turbo petrol?
It has 204hp and 221lbft stock and it weighs 1.5 tons, I'd like to get a remap just to bump the torque to around 272 (the manual gearbox can handle around 295 max) without increasing the horsepower

>>28585073 (OP)
1. Yes, I usually wear earplugs and put the windows and wind deflector up, this is quite comfy cruising at 80mph
2. Rain is not really an issue unless it’s absolutely pouring OR if you are moving slowly. At highway speeds it all just spatters on the windshield and only a few drops land in the cabin. But if it picks up or you slow down, then yeah you’ll want to find the next spot to pull off and put the top up.
>t. ‘99 SL haver

>>28585073 (OP)
1. Depends on the aero. Mine is comfy up to 80 kph, can have normal conversations at that speed. 100 with top down is bearable but not comfy, at 120 there's too much wind (I don't have the optional rear seat wind deflector) for most normal people.
2. Yes. Automatic systems usually allow soft top operation at low speeds like 20 kph (so below minimal allowed highway speed), but if it's windy I suggest stopping completely. But if you're driving fast enough for water not to hit the interior, you can keep driving.
>>28585109
I usually find a place to stop for half a minute before longish highway trips.
>all of a sudden your gps says you need to get on a highway
How can that be sudden? Even in a big city (like 10+m pop big) you usually know if there's a chance of taking the highway.

>>28585141
>They have no place in America where it's either hot, cold, or raining 300 days a year
Pussy
Even the fucking Bongs with their meme rain and mist love verts. Most of the US don't have the weather you're describing.

I changed the diesel filter on my VW touran 1.9tdi and its now leaking a tiny bit while driving from the plate of the filter holder, im not sure why its leaking since i did all the steps properly but maybe i didn't tighten the screws enough, is this something i should fix right now or can i wait till tomorrow when i have access to a torque wrench?

Ok I'm dumb please don't be mean. My car wouldn't start this morning. It turned on. AC, dash, lights, but when I cranked it there was a very loud clicking sound (the starter I assume) and the lights went crazy during. When I stopped the car went back to normal, everything on including AC. Tried to jump it an nothing. Should I just get a new battery or assume the worst and take it into the shop? I'm asking because if the battery is dead it wouldn't be enough to run the AC right?

>>28586821
Your battery can fail in a way that would allow all your electronics to turn on, but not start the car. If this was the case the jump start should have worked, if the cables you used were of a good quality. I think your starter is likely in a dead spot, the clicking is your solenoid engaging the starter gear, but the starter is not spinning. Hitting your starter motor with a hammer will usually temporarily fix this problem. Try hammering the starter, and also jumping it again, but let it sit with the cables hooked up and the other car running for 5 minutes before you try to start your car.

Body repair, I literally want to do the least possible to hide some of this and just stop it from rusting.
It's about 6 inches long, and I've been quoted £600 for a repair, which I'm just not paying.

>>28585085
Fuck off, nigger. You already have your own retarded thread.

>>28586906
sand + paint + clear coat, use oem touchup tool if possible
you're not gonna fix the dent itself without dedicated tools and professional artistic skills
keep in mind that it's gonna be really obvious that you did a shitty diy touchup for the lifetime of the car

>>28586842
I will add I didn't jump it with a car, it was one of those stanely fatmaxx portable deals. I'm gonna get a battery tonight and cross my fingers.

>>28586922
That I can live with, it's my fuck up

>>28586964
It would be smarter to go to Harbor Freight if you have one near you and get a battery load tester for $18. I don’t know what kind of car you have, but the last battery I bought was $200. Another option is to take the battery out of your car and take it to the parts store for testing. If you, or the store test the battery it should have roughly 12.5 volts. It has to have adequate voltage to get an accurate load test. Realize that multiple different things could have caused your car’s situation, a bad alternator is another possibility. The battery tester is also an alternator tester on a running car. On the other hand, this could be a good time for you to learn about the parts cannon, so maybe you should trust your gut.

Looking to buy a car for my family before I ship out to the military.
>Michigan
>10k budget
>AWD preferred, not required
>SUV preferred, disabled family member riding shotgun

I see stuff like 2014 Lincoln MKT, 2013 MKX; 2017 Chevy Traverse, 2019 Trax; 2016/17 Dodge Journey; 2007 Cadillac SRX

thoughts, suggestions?

>>28586609
literally the cdn of the website you're currently on

>>28586998
I'm back home, looking at the car again and it's not the battery like I thought this morning. Battery tested fine. It's saying I have no gas. I had at least 3/4 a tank last I checked. Could it be a sensor problem? It's a 2018 Ford Focus. Is there a way to test it from the outside or did I get fucking got last night?

>>28587140
I have not worked on a car as new as yours, but to the best of my knowledge not having gas should have no effect on the starter turning the engine. Is it still doing the same thing, loud clicking, engine not turning over? Check these videos.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=bwvVL0-LZGI
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=-OIBE4jc4VE

>>28587175
Yeah that second video is extremely similar to what mine is doing. Thanks.

I need some help diagnosing why my car will occasionally not start, it's an 06 Mazda 3.
99% of the time it'll start fine, but it won't even crank when the engine is hot. I've been able to successfully get it push started it when it refuses to start on its own though. Is there anything that could cause this besides the starter?

>>28585073 (OP)

Do you:

>Have and regularly ride a motorcycle?
>Regularly find yourself driving with all windows open for no particular reason?
>Have and use a sunroof on a daily basis?
>(for femanon only) Do you regularly tie your hair? Do you prefer your hair tied and tight for most days?

If you say “yes” to any of the above, you’ll enjoy a convertible.

>>28585073 (OP)
I had t-tops on my old turd gen. first day I bought it I drove with the top off and it was really loud.
Now I ride a motorcycle and I wear earplugs when going on longer rides otherwise it's constant hearing loss.

>Can you comfortably drive one at highway speeds with the top down?
Kind of. With your windows rolled up and a diffusor behind the seats you can maintain some level of circulation in the cabin, preventing excessive buffeting. It's still loud and generally unpleasant though.
>What if it randomly starts raining in the highway and you can't put the top up at that speed? Do you have to pull over or take an exit?
Of course, what else would you do?

Personally, I would only daily drive a motorized hardtop. Daily driving a soft top is fun, but if you're an adult you'll get tired of it pretty quick.

>>28587039
4chan is an ip grabber

>>28587278
>Have and regularly ride a motorcycle?
No but I sometimes think about getting a dual-sport.
>Regularly find yourself driving with all windows open for no particular reason?
Nope.
>Have and use a sunroof on a daily basis?
Have in other vehicles, don't use it.
>(for femanon only) Do you regularly tie your hair? Do you prefer your hair tied and tight for most days?
Not a femoid, not long enough.
Still enjoy driving my 'vert with ragtop down. It's different from driving with open windows or with a hole in the roof or in the saddle.

>>28587668
no shit retard that's how websites fucking work

>>28587376
>Personally, I would only daily drive a motorized hardtop. Daily driving a soft top is fun, but if you're an adult you'll get tired of it pretty quick.
Don't hardtops leak too but less? I mean such a car still needs a garage or at least covered parking. And most of them are less convenient for dailying if it includes using the trunk.

>>28585141
found the faggot
convertibles are fucking awesome, i own two of them. in a convertible you're actually in the place you're driving through, not a spectator in a glass box.

>>28585166
>>28585202
you can paint it with basically anything, but if you're in the saltbelt or if it's an area that traps moisture it's just going to rust again. the only solution is annual applications of a lanolin based rust preventative such as fluid film

>>28585600
doesn't sound like a master cylinder. the master cylinder wouldn't know or care what the temperature at the wheels is. sounds like you might have boiled your fluid or overheated the rotors.
I would consider upgraded to a fluid with a higher boiling point (like DOT 4 if you're running DOT 3), and consider upgrading to larger or drilled and slotted rotors that better discharge heat.

>>28585898
they're all different, follow the instructions on the can.

>>28586906
check the breakers around you and see if you can buy a door in the same color and just swap them

>>28585073 (OP)
1) yes
2) pull over on the shoulder for ten seconds and then do a sick 0-85 pull
There’s a lot of convertible misinformation on this board from retards with third hand information from their Gen X fathers
For instance I read a post saying “weather will destroy your convertible so it has to be garaged” this was a problem literally fifty years ago

>>28587371
>first day I bought it I drove with the top off and it was really loud.
blocks your path

>>28588290
Based

which one is BETTER?
brz
>aluminum knuckles I think?
>more "linear" throttle pedal mapping
>stiffer rear suspension

gr86
>opposite of above
>looks better desu

I don't really invest a lot of time into reading up on BMWs as I don't own one, but is the 3 Series really down to only a 330 and M340 now? Gone are the 325 and 328 I guess? I'm not seeing any option for such.

Also, did AC Schnitzer make a special edition 335i (E92) at some point, or is the car I found simply stickers by the owner? I can only find ACS makes aftermarket parts for BMW.

>>28588298
Thanks, anon. I'm already using dot 4 fluid, and I'll consider getting drilled rotors. Would switching to stainless steel braided hoses help? Do different brake pads make a difference in managing heat?

>>28585073 (OP)
Today my mechanic showed me my rear engine mount is caput. The rear part has cracks and the front part has totally worn out. Since my car has 302000kms anyway, is it worth spending $350AU to fix that up? He indicated also that there’s excessive play in the gears of my diff, and no one can really say with certainty how long I’ve got left with this thing. Should I just keep changing the oil every 10000kms and look for another car?

>>28585073 (OP)

Could a turbocharger be made to be turned on or off at the push of a button so that the engine could also run naturally aspirated?

>>28589521
I suppose if you could send a signal to go to the waste gate, yes. Set it to 100% open and then you won’t build boost.
But most turbo engines use pistons that are sized for boost…a 9.5:1 piston wont make as good power NA like a 12:1

>>28589414
one is happy
the other is angry
there is no meaningful difference otherwise. get the cheaper one

hey /o/ is it feasible for someone who doesn't know cars very well to daily drive something from the late 80's? I love their aesthetic and the idea that I can have an engine I can potentially work on myself and expand my knowledge.

I found this '89 accord sei with 90K miles and I'm wondering if it's a dumb idea or not. I don't care about shit like automatic windows and bluetooth I'm happy to use a cassette aux adapter or w/e. Mainly just wondering how much of a hassle to expect maintenance wise

>>28589585
As long as the body is ok and doesnt have crazy rust, its easy.

Working on engine is learnable quicker than bodywork. Also you can do it on the driveway while bodywork and painting better in a big garage with spraybooth and such

>>28585073 (OP)
>1. Can you comfortably drive one at highway speeds with the top down?
Yes
>What if it randomly starts raining in the highway and you can't put the top up at that speed? Do you have to pull over or take an exit?
Drive faster
Pic related

Why can't they just make an automatic retractable roof that can be put up at highway speeds?

>>28589652

Are you familiar with how a parachute works?

>>28589585
yes. i went from basic maintenance to manual swapping my late 80s and using that as my daily and fun car.
if you have an option between shit mechanicals, or shit body, i'd go for shit mechanicals because body and interior work is often a lot harder to do, either due to lack of parts, or needing uber specialist equipment and tools to do a decent job

>>28589643
>topdown.gif
keked

>>28589484
Hoses wouldn't help much if at all. Pads make no difference, the biggest factor is the rotors ability to discharge heat. Drilled/slotted increases surface area as does larger rotors period, you can see if there is an upgrade with larger calipers and rotors available for your car.

>>28589507
Yes, fix the engine mount ASAP or it will cause other problems. Just keep driving on the diff until it starts grinding then replace it.

>>28585155
I live in socal it's like that every day here wtf are you on about the weather is the best part of this place

hey guys, what are some car tools i should get if i have none?

I do have some basic wrenches and screwdrivers as i'd assume everyone does, and i also probably have the thing that lifts the car and a few supports meant for cars

i have no idea about car maintenance and repairs other than checking oil meter, filling oil, and filling the refrigerant liquid (idk how to empty any of these)
i just want to be able to repair the small flaws on my car, be able to tell when and why things go wrong (been leaking radiator liquid without realizing it for a week) etc

I have a car that that needs more work than the effort and it's incredibly unlikely any other person would buy it. What are my options to get this out of my driveway? Not interested in any tax deductible options unless I can be convinced it's worth it during tax time.

>Seized brake caliper
>Vacuum leak causing turbo to behave erratically, especially in winter
>Slow brake line leak
>Got sideswiped on highway, lots of cosmetic damage
>Rear defrost doesn't work
>2004 with 300,000 miles
>
>
>
>
>list can keep going

>>28590097
start with the biggest mechanics socket set from harbor freight you can afford. also get a hydraulic floor jack and a set of jack stands there. then you can add on tools as you need them, but that will get you started with the basics.

chrisfix has some decent videos for teaching the very basics of repair and maintenence, here are his playlists:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=brofphmC7GI&list=PLvKbarVtwhUvKCEzK79P2ex9rWVRxVcTl
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oeezwXQC-mc&list=PLvKbarVtwhUvvdufd-D0GTB3Cq7tKxuWl

>>28590267
easiest is call your local junkyard, most will give you about $500 and tow it away for free.
slighly harder is throw it on craigslist/marketplace for $800 and see if you have any takers, make sure to put on the listing you're only selling the complete car or you'll get people hounding you to buy alternator brackets, intake manifolds, and back glass panels.

>>28590307
>harbor freight
whats the european equivalent? Would Leroy Merlin work?
https://www.leroymerlin.es/productos/herramientas/herramientas-de-mano/herramientas-manuales-para-atornillar/llaves/llaves-de-vaso/
>get a hydraulic floor jack and a set of jack stands there
i have these somewhere

thanks for the videos

>>28590318
>whats the european equivalent? Would Leroy Merlin work?
most likely, just something kind of low end and cheap, you don't need to get the nicest tools to do basic maintenance and repairs
>i have these somewhere
sounds like you're ready to get started, i'd also pick up a service manual for your car. post here if you get stuck. good luck anon.

How come every single car with transmission problems on marketplace "just needs a solenoid"? Why don't the sellers just replace that solenoid?

>>28590336
they're probably full of shit and there's more problems than just a solenoid. probably replace it and it still hesitates or bucks or who knows.

This is more of a question about buying cars than maintaining them (I already read the sticky)
I have a 2007 Acura TSX with 175k on it. I service it twice a year and its great but I can tell its getting up there in age and I will eventually need to buy a new car. I used to want an Accord but I am a bit spoiled now with the Acura
I can afford a brand new TLX outright, no loans. I can also get an older TLX.
>money aside, is it better to get a brand new car or to get a 5 year old used one that I've had my mechanic clear
>when discussing buying the car with the dealership should I make them aware that I will be paying cash upfront with zero loans or keep that information secret while I shop around at other dealerships for the best price and only reveal it when I found the best price?
Thanks

>>28590365
if you like your car, just keep fixing it when it breaks. unless the frame is rusting out or something, you don't need to get rid of a car just because it's old. plenty of 30, 40, 50+ year old cars out there being daily driven.

>>28590378
Oh yeah I plan on driving it until it literally bursts into flames on the highway, I just wanted to know how to approach getting a new one when that happens, provided I survive the fire. Its a good car, I get it serviced every six months so its still healthy but eventually its going to need a repair too expensive to justify paying it.

What is a pro-tip for people who want to wrench but live in an apartment without even any covered parking? A place with access to electricity and water, preferably shade and lockable storage, and definitely need to be able to run an air compressor without restriction or fear of someone bitching.
Most storage unit facilities don't fit these, especially not the air compressor requirement.
Preferably the most anti-social solution as well. I'm sure there are ways you can smooze someone into renting out their spare garage for you or whatever but I can't be obligated to make small talk.

>>28590649
>What is a pro-tip for people who want to wrench but live in an apartment without even any covered parking
>Preferably the most anti-social solution as well
Move.

OK, so I have a 2015 focus ST, I went back to uni and I really have barely any money rn, not nearly enough to pay for maintenance and insurance on this car unless I ask my dad for money which sucks ass.

I took it to a mechanic because of wheel noise and realized there's a fucking nail in one of the tires and they are bald anyway so I need something, probably have to cope with chinese all seasons cuz I can't afford good tires. the noise is likely from wheel bearings, I trust what they say since most forums agree with this, though they also said it could be a transmission noise.

I guess I got 3 questions, should I replace wheel bearings for ~700-800 parts+labour (ain't doing that myself), are chinese tires good enough these days, and should I sell this money pit for 12-15k and either buy a motorcycle or a honda civic until I have a full time job again.

>>28590318
>pic
Nah, I would'nt
>a number of sizes missing
>bit inserts but no screwdriver handle to insert them into
>screwdriver is for 1/4" square but it's a regular screwdriver without a ratchet
>not enough hexes
>some sockets are fucking THICK
>1/4 ratchet has awfully large head
>no spark plug sockets
>no size adapters
For E sockets (look like a star or an inverted torx) check the repair manual of your car for the specific sizes.

>>28590365
I always buy 4-5 years old, and under 60,000 miles. Let someone else pay the massive depreciation hit. I keep it secret I am paying in full until the end. They make money on financing, and most are doing that.

Got a 1993 Chrysler lebaron LE 3.0 (4-door) with a passenger taillight turn signal out. But the front turn signal turns on, but no longer blinks. What is this, a broken relay? And I can't find the damn relay box.

>>28585073 (OP)
How much interest would something like this actually have at a dealer lot?

>>28587239
Not sure what the issue is, but bumping your question because I have a similar issue with my '10 Mazda 3. It always starts cold, but sometimes it can take 8-10 seconds to start if I drive somewhere quick on my lunch break.

Getting my bumper repainted at a smash repair shop. They recommend 4 weeks until I get it ceramic coated, but do you think 3 weeks would be fine?

>>28585073 (OP)
What's the easiest way to do a coolant flush on a bimmer? I'm a lazy bastard and can't be bothered to reach the engine block drain bolt on a 325ci 46
Would just dumping the old stuff from the radiator and expansion tank and filling with distilled water work? I thought about flushing it like this 2 times but I suck at math and couldn't figure out how much concentrate to add after it's done

>>28590649
there used to be garages with lifts you could rent by the hour to do your own work, but liability and high real estate prices closed them all down. if i were you i would focus on coming up with a plan to rent a small house with a garage. that may involve renting in a different area or having a roommate depending on your situation, but definitely worth it.

>>28590728
chinese tires are ok in a pinch. you could just install a $5 tire plug though or have it patched for much less.
you can tell it's wheel bearings because the sound will get louder when you put weight on it in a turn. for example if your left front bearing is going out, turning hard to the right will make the noise get louder, turning hard to the left would make it get quieter. if it doesn't do this, it's likely not your bearing.
also if you're broke you shouldn't be driving a $12k car. fix it up, clean it up, sell it and get a $2000 beater (not a motorcycle)

>>28590976
None of the turn signals blink at all? they all just come on solid?
Also, you need to get at least a haynes manual before you start troubleshooting randomly, should be cheap from a used bookseller or ebay.

>>28591433
i mean maybe, maybe not, but why risk it? I would wait the designated amount of time.

>>28591446
if the coolant looks clean and there's not dirt or junk you mostly just need to refresh the corrosion inhibitors. draining and refilling the radiator a couple times would do this.
> couldn't figure out how much concentrate to add after it's done
get a large plastic measuring cup (like 4-8 cups capacity), fill it halfway with antifreeze and halfway with water and fill the radiator from that, you will get a perfect 50/50 mix.

>>28591650
He's probably asking about the concentrate regarding the amount of water used for flushing that remains in the system even after you drain it.
>>28591446
>I suck at math and couldn't figure out how much concentrate to add after it's done
First look up cooling system capacity in the docs and buy the required amount of concentrate and a little extra. Then measure how much water you can pour into the system after draining the system. You have to fit all the concentrate you bought into that volume after you done with flushing.

>>28586062
AT-205 works pretty well. I used it in my mercedes hydro suspension which is NLA and insanely expensive to find spares. The reservoir seems to be staying full now

>>28591680
>He's probably asking about the concentrate regarding the amount of water used for flushing that remains in the system even after you drain it.
if he's just draining and refilling the radiator no water will remain in the system

>>28585073 (OP)
>If you want this car in pandereta country, it'll cost you 40k dollars more
I fucking hate this shithole of a country and continent...

>>28591693
Depends, water cooling in BMWs can behave abnormally, judging by the stories from my bimmerfag friends. Air not escaping properly is the most common one.

>>28591767
regardless though if you only add a 50/50 mix to the system, it can only be a 50/50 mix whether or not there is trapped air (which would be minimal if you only drain the radiator and overflow)

>>28591779
Yeah, but if there's water trapped somewhere in significant amounts you might want to take that into account. I mean even in my car (not a BMW) there's a liter or half a liter in the water pump you can't drain through the normal means. Total capacity is 7.5 l.

>>28591113
>>28587239
common enough problem on miatas. usually fixed by changing the camshaft position sensor. may not be y'alls problem, though. Unfortunately you can't really bench test this sort of failure and camshaft sensors aren't cheap.

How much engine sag is okay on an engine stand? I got a stand supposedly rated 1.5 tons and my engine is an AMC 4.0 I6 from a 96 grand cherokee. It's sagging awfully fuckin' low in the front so I've got it held up on the other end with my hoist for now, don't trust it. I also however have never used an engine stand before so I don't know whether this is just the way it goes. Thanks

Looking to buy my first new car to drive for +10 years and basically settled on either the Prius or RAV4 prime. Which is more reliable/future proof mechanical/tech-wise? Just want a no non sense car, easy to work on and dependable, summer/rain/winter and with as few issues as possible. I think the RAV4 prime has the vvtiE for its engine, any advantages compared to the dual vvti of the Prius Prime?

>t.Quebec

>>28592641
>Just want a no non sense car, easy to work on and dependable, summer/rain/winter and with as few issues as possible.
You should look at much older cars then. mid 80s shitboxes will have very few computers, sensors and hoses. You'll be able to find youtube videoes to fix anything wrong and troubleshooting is often much simpler when there's so few things that can go wrong. While older vehicles might not be as 'reliable' they're also easy to fix most of the time and when a problem rears it's head it's easier to deal with than a faulty ground that's slowly destroying your entire electric system that you just can't find because everything in the car is computerized and electrical

>>28592641
New cars are all computerized and there are very few systems you will be able to work on easily.

>>28591648
Cos I already have the ceramic coat booked and the painting got delayed.

>>28592641
idk no one complains about either of those models and the prius's have been pretty bulletproof since they came out.
what u should really get is a 2022 v6 lexus rx350 :^)
the mpgs do suck tho

I have a Peugeot 407 Diesel ('07)
The DPF filter warning light is coming on
I have tried the high-RPM-low-gear(4th)-down-the-motorway-for-30-mins trick, and that was after putting a bottle of this into the fuel tank
Should I try this a few more times?
Is the soot in the DPF filter going to gradually start breaking down each time I do the high RPM thing?
I was doing 3K rpm consistently for like 30 minutes so I was actually kind of shocked that it didn't sort it out.
How many attempts do these things take?
Do I need to put another bottle of DPF cleaner in the tank?

Is there much of a conceivable difference between a 2013 vs 2010 mazda 3? Friend is looking at two from those years and I don't know shit about mazdas. From what I can see mazdas seem generally reliable? Main reason is he wants something more modern and the price for a later model like those is the same or lower than say a 'yota from the early 2000s with like 100k more kms

>>28593014
Oops forgot to say this is also a matter of hatchback v sedan- 2013 is the hatchback, 2010 the sedan. But also just generally curious.

>>28585073 (OP)
Hello /o/, I just can't get over the fact that I bought a 2023 Suzuki Jimny with an automatic transmission. It still haunts me to this day that I chose to buy the automatic version because the manual was out of stock when I went to buy one. I've got around 30000 miles on the car. Would it be stupid if I sold the one I have and bought a used one with manual transmission.

>>28591779
Nah BMWs really do suck dick when it comes to coolant bleeding, there will always be some place air gets trapped in, doesn't have to be engine block, could be the heater even the thermostat.
I had an e39 with LPG kit and it always had air pockets in it

>>28593275
> Would it be stupid if I sold the one I have
No, why would it be? Unless yours is one of a kind there's really no reason not to sell a car you hate and get the same thing
I knew a guy who constantly sold mercs and bought the same ones with less mileage

Looking to get the tools for miscellaneous maintenance jobs when they come up. One thing I need is a torque wrench, I've noticed they come in 2 price ranges $30, or >$100. Is there a difference in the 100 dollar wrenches versus the 30 dollar ones? I'd be willing to buy the 100 dollar ones but I don't want to overspend as I need a bunch of other stuff too.

Looking to get the tools for miscellaneous maintenance jobs when they come up. One thing I need is a torque wrench, I've noticed they come in 2 price ranges $30, or >$100. Is there a difference in the 100 dollar wrenches versus the 30 dollar ones? I'd be willing to buy the 100 dollar ones but I don't want to overspend as I need a bunch of other stuff too.

>>28593742
check project farm there's a video where all were compared. as i recall even the cheapest ones were pretty accurate

>>28593786
Oh shit, forgot about this guy, I'll take a look, thanks anon.

>>28593275
Automatic (with torque converter) is superior off road especially with smaller not so torquey engines.

How long would you wait for your go to mechanic?
He's really good but it feels silly to wait over a week for a starter issue that I don't want to deal with. Pic unrelated.

>>28593736
Well, that makes sense. Thanks for the reply.

>>28593813
Well, I'm one of the guys who daily drive an off road car. Even though I might sell the car in the future and buy a better daily driver; it's just that I want to go back in time and choose a manual over the automatic. I really love the jimny and when I have some leftover money in the future I might do some performance modifications just for the fun of it.

>>28589414
BRZ looks better
Tired of the tryhard angry look on cars these days mayne

>>28591718
Um thats a 5.0
I optioned a base ecoboost
$43k is pretty overpriced, should be like $35k max.

>>28593919
>Well, I'm one of the guys who daily drive an off road car. Even though I might sell the car in the future and buy a better daily driver; it's just that I want to go back in time and choose a manual over the automatic. I really love the jimny and when I have some leftover money in the future I might do some performance modifications just for the fun of it.
Sorry I don't get how this is related to my post. Dailying an automatic is easier too especially in traffic.

>>28593933
Oh I forgot to say that I barely did any off-roading with my car.

>Dailying an automatic is easier too especially in traffic.
But isn't it fun though? :D

>>28593944
>Oh I forgot to say that I barely did any off-roading with my car.
A valid reason to get another car.
>But isn't it fun though? :D
Very little difference from the standpoint of having fun.

>>28593919
If you know you're gonna sell it and you're not a huge fan of that specific one, you're better off selling it right now and not when it becomes an older car. It's unlikely it's gonna become a classic down the line, it's worth is just gonna drop >>28593933
> Dailying an automatic is easier too especially in traffic.
Unless the gearing is retarded and you're a boomer, not really
Autos are a pain to drive uphill especially if you're forced to stop which is something you'll be doing a lot if your roads suck or if you drive off road

>>28594447
>Autos are a pain to drive uphill

I'm considering doing a valve clearance adjustment on a Suzuki M16A engine, and I have a couple questions:
>this would be the first time I do any mechanic work beyond the most basic of maintenance, how likely it is I will fuck up and damage the engine?
>the manual says you need a special tool to hold the valve seat down and take the shim out, is there a reason I can't just use a screwdriver or something to hold it down?

Is the electronic parking brake button deactivated when you reach a certain speed?
I've been dying to press it while I'm driving just to know.

>>28594447
>Autos are a pain to drive uphill especially if you're forced to stop which is something you'll be doing a lot if your roads suck or if you drive off road
What? Is there a mistake?

>>28594558
Find a service/repair manual for your car, there are sections in them usually named "description and operation". They answer lots of questions like this one and provide real knowledge.

>>28594572
So there's no universal solution/legislation?

>>28594501
> Narrow road uphill
> Someone's going downhill
> You stop and create some space so both of you can pass
> Now you have to juggle the brake and accelerator and avoid sliding downhill ass first so you don't fuck anything up
Fuck autos and fuck anything made after 2000

>>28594577
>His car doesn't have paddles AND he can't left foot brake
Must suck to drive a shitbox and be a shit driver

>>28594575
They probably cut off at different speeds and other conditions. Idk, all mine are mechanical.

>>28594577
Are you for real?
>>28594579
I refuse to believe that. Also it's usually really hard to make an automatic roll back.

>cruise control cuts off at 90+ mph
Is there any way to get around this?

>>28594597
Reprogramming might help, but depends on the car.

Bought louvre from the other side of the world. Only place that makes them for my car.
Took so long I changed my mind by the time I got it.
Its incredibly fucking shoddy. Almost every corner has a groove sticking out of it where they cut too far, its also warped.
Whats the best way to offload this thing?

>>28587175
Wouldn't this only fix the symptom and not the actual cause?

>>28594558
>Is the electronic parking brake button deactivated when you reach a certain speed?
add this to the list of reasons to never drive a nu-car.

>brakes fail at speed
>hit emergency brake because it's an emergency
>i'm sorry hal, i can't allow you to do that

>>28594597
>Is there any way to get around this?
bigger tires or taller rear axle ratio so the car thinks it's going slower than it is, then use a gps speedo.

>>28594715
Written by someone who never tried that. I did and I can confirm it's the last thing you want to use to stop the car. Literally. First you try to slow down using anything else starting from the engine, and only after you're in 1st gear but still rolling you apply parking brake.
>emergency brake
No such thing in a regular car.

>>28594720
>. First you try to slow down using anything else starting from the engine, and only after you're in 1st gear
lmao, ask me how i know you've never tried this in a nu-car

>>28594723
Obviously it is you who never tried engine braking in nu-cars or probably in any car. They can do that, sometimes even better than older ones, because they have shorter gears and there's more of them, so you can stay at the revs where braking is the most efficient for longer and do that without redlining.

>>28594732
>he thinks the transmission computer will let you downshift so it revs past 4k instead of plunging to your fiery death
lmao. yes i have tried it, and no it doesn't work at all.
imagine defending nu-cars on /o/ of all places

>>28594739
>yes i have tried it, and no it doesn't work at all.
Name a couple of cars you tried that in.
>imagine defending nu-cars on /o/ of all places
Yeah, you are imagining things.

>>28594742
>Name a couple of cars you tried that in.
I don't drive nucars except as rentals because I'm straight but:
2022 Toyota Sienna rental and a 2024 Caravan rental. Neither would allow a downshift to first past ~20mph downhill in the mountains even though there would be plenty of room to rev.
Now, you name a nu-car that you can over-rev by downshifting into first to save your life and use the e-brake at speed in a life and death situation. I'm waiting.

>>28594806
the maximum speed of the first gear in a pacifica/caravan is like 34 mph you retard
it's a 9-speed, you don't need to get into 1st

>>28594715
>lock up the brakes at highway speed via full application of parking brake
Probably not a great plan overall.

>>28594806
> Neither would allow a downshift to first past ~20mph
So? Do you understand how to engine brake? You use higher gears to get under 20. If you can't do that using the engine alone and the alternative is crashing violently like when going downhill with no hydraulic brakes, you use ditches, gravel traps, guard rails etc. to slow down with less damage. Read my initial post again.
>you can over-rev by downshifting into first to save your life
What? Why would anyone want to do that? At this point I'm certain you have no idea what you are talking about.

>>28594820
You understand there's such a thing as a partial application of brakes? Brake application isn't a binary operation. Nu-car drivers may not get this.
>>28594821
>Why would anyone want to downshift their engine to slow rapidly when speeding out of control about to crash into something?
No idea anon, it's a mystery

>>28594997
You understand that electronic parking brakes are either activated or not? Electronic parking brakes are a binary application. Retards may not get this.

>>28585073 (OP)
I wear earplugs on the freeway and crank up the music

I can manually operate the soft top one handed at 35mph in 2 seconds while driving. So if no one is behind me on the freeway, I can slow down or hit and exit and hop back on.

This vid shows how it works but I don't think any other convertible has it this easy.
https://youtu.be/klpFDfvJRlk

>>28594997
>Why would anyone want to downshift their engine
At this point it's just a word salad. Are you under influence?

>>28585073 (OP)
I have my drivers test this week(usa). Failed twice so far. First one was my fault during the parallel parking. Second time I "didn't stop long enough" at one of the 6 stop signs. I can not fucking fail this shit a third time it takes so long to reschedule an appointment. Any tips during the test? I just want to get to my wage cage faster

When applying stone chip paint to a panel, does it go on first?
e.g. bare metal > stone chip paint > primer > paint > clearcoat
Or should there be primer between bare metal and stone chip paint?

Any beemerfags here? I'm 80% convinced that the small radiator leak is coming from the circled part or something near it. This is the radiator drain screw on the driver side, no it's not leaking but something above it is.
Any idea how to fix this or plug/glue the leak somehow without telling me to take the car to a junkyard or replace the radiator?
For reference it's not pissing out fluid, but I can see a few drops under it, got no idea for how long this has been going on

>>28595213
Forgot to say It's a 2003 325i manual

>>28595012
>You understand that electronic parking brakes are either activated or not?
No, on cars brakes have a lever or a pedal that you can set a specific amount of braking force. Smartphone dildo faggotmobiles (nucars) are not cars. Nucars are to cars what tranny axewounds are to real vaginas.

>>28595105
Make some small talk with the examiner, joke about being nervous, stuff like that, if she doesn't despise you she is less likely to mark you down for minor stuff. Keep your speed in check, and make sure to not make the same mistakes as last time. Good luck anon.

>>28595105
Maybe don't be a terrible driver

>>28595213
if you're not sure where the leak is coming from you can drain the radiator and smoke machine it. if it's a small crack in the plastic, you can use this stuff to patch it:
https://www.oreillyauto.com/detail/c/j-b-weld/j-b-weld-0-85-ounce-plastic-bonder/jbw0/50139
it's amazing stuff on most plastics, let it dry 24 hours before adding coolant.
if the crack is in the metal portion of the radiator, traditional jb weld putty is the stuff you need

>>28585073 (OP)
convertibles are for faggots

>>28595447
Good. Women are obsessed with faggots and every faggot i've seen is more attractive/takes care of himself more than sloppy non faggot males

>>28595413
I don't think it's a crack, even under pressure and when everything it hot it only drips slowly, maybe a micro pinhole or a messed up seal that's a pain to get to
The leak is on the pastic part of the radiator, I don't see anything wrong with the alooominum
I thought about using caulk ir something like that but I'm not sure how it's gonna handle moisture and coolant

>>28595447
It's 2025 anon. You can come out of the closet.

>>28594701
Would what only fix the symptom?

>>28585073 (OP)
Why would you get such an ugly convertible? There are very few cars that can pull of the convertible. And the mustang is not one of them.

>>28589948
LOLOLOLOLOLOL

Thoughts on steering wheel knobs for "racing" and drifting? A friend of mine has some land and we talking about getting beater car runs decently enough to do doughnuts and make a little track of us to shoot the shit on the property. I like holding on my knob for driving around cause I like resting my other hand on the shifter and it gives me more control with just one hand on the wheel. I'm worried about using it and it becoming a problem during possible accidents, we're getting a cage and seatbelts and all but it still makes me somewhat worried.

>>28595552
Forgot knob.

>>28595552
If you mean something like this it doesn't really give you more speed or control, and in advanced driving schools they actually advise you against these things. Learn to steer with your palm.

>>28595557
>palm
Is that more controllable than holding a knob?

>>28595564
Yes

>>28595493
>80 degrees
You're proving his point?

>>28595564
Yes.

I was replacing a fuse and dropped a nut down here. It's been almost three hours and I cannot find it. It's nowhere or wedged somewhere. My.buddy is gonna give me a ride to a store to get a new one. Will it be bad if I don't find it? Could if fuck anything up?

>>28595566
You sure? Even if hands are sweaty? I'm used to drive with just one hand instead of using both of them.

>>28595571
How bad is it, anon?
When I googled for pictures of these knobs, a number of results suggested they are for disabled people.

>>28595574
I'm not disabled, I just like them. They're nice.

>>28595571
Yes, but not if knees are weak or you have vomited.

>>28595136
I would have much more confidence with anything if the first coat touching bare metal was some sort of primer. 2 part epoxy hopefully, that stuff seals very well.

>>28595569
More than likely nothing will happen.

>>28593786
they were pretty accurate for a short while, and then the cheap ones wore out and got wildly inaccurate. I think only the snap on lasted more than 1000 uses without getting completely out of spec

>>28595569
It'll make occasional rattling noises and fall out after a couple days of driving

>>28595569
nothing down there that can be damaged (if it were inside your intake manifold on the other hand)
nut will be an m6x1 or a m8x1.25 more than likely. oreilly sells assortments of metric nuts and bolts that are handy to have.

>>28595667
oh shit because i've used my cheap craftsman probably thousands of times, lmao

>>28595726
depends if its old american craftsman or chinesium craftsman

>>28595663
>>28595670
>>28595725
Thanks. Just peace of mind. Worried about a short or it getting stuck in something important. Got everything working finally. The fuse that handles the AC controls on my dash blew and I was dying.

>>28595406
someone in the last thread i asked said to take the test in the hood and i would have passed that 2nd time, and honestly there is probably some truth to that. I started mentally spelling "stop" in my head when i hit a stop sign so i don't make the same mistake of not stopping long enough at the intersection.

How can I sell a bunch of misc OEM parts from a car? Do I just put a big listing on offeup? Sell stuff individually on ebay?
Stuff like wheels or random trim pieces, engine covers and strut bars

>looking for used cars
>found a 2002 Lexus ls430
>base trim level
>80K on the odo
>old man owns it
>timing belt replaced at 75K
>no aftermarket shit, all stock
>engine idles perfectly, drives perfectly, feels like a fucking cloud
>all electronics work fine
>0 rust, southern California car
>aesthetic issues like worn paint, dings, steering wheel micro cracks, one place the plastic is a little cracked on the dash
>talked the guy down to $7.6k

Here’s the thing tho /o/, I opened the trunk and this is what the electronics compartment looks like. Is this bad enough to reconsider the car? Fwiw the electronics have 0 problems when I tested them.

The only other thing I noticed is a lot of liquids coming out underneath, I tested it on my fingers and it was clear, just looked like water from the ac blasting and it’s a hot day. Should I still pull the trigger? I’m thinking about it

>>28596855
Here’s the obd scan, the only pending code is a P0442 for a small evap leak. I live in commiefornia so he agreed to have it smogged before he sold it

I have an E46. The previous owner tried to swap the steering wheel and fucked something up inside the column.
I've already replaced the steering wheel itself, but I don't have any steering wheel control or the horn. The airbag light is still on.
What could be broken inside? There is sort of a creaking noise from inside when turning sometimes.

any tricks to getting a rusted oxygen sensor off that hasn't been touched in 20 years?

>>28596878
Could be something related to the clock spring.

>>28596887
Fire is always the answer, pic rel.

I learned to drive less than 6 months ago. I've been in one accident. Today I damaged a very expensive rental vehicle. I probably won't be charged since I bought full coverage beforehand, but i'm still very sad for hurting a new truck. I've come to realize I am a bad driver. What do i do to change this?

>>28596509
You're not supposed to hit stop signs anon

>>28597510
kill yourself

>>28596855
>0 rust
Yeah fucking right
Get the entire thing inspected for rust, ESPECIALLY the underside and whatever internals you can get to.
Also if he can't give a reasonable explanation for the state of the trunk then it's a no from me chief

>>28596855
there is a fucking RUST WATERLINE on that module

>>28596855
that trunk is leaking badly and filling with water. i would only buy if its a good deal. you'll have to fix the leak, take the carpet out and bleach everything at a minimum.

>>28596887
only try to remove it when the car is stone cold, hasn't been started in 24+ hours. spray some liquid wrench on it, cut the wire off at the sensor and pound a normal 24mm deep well 1/2" socket on it, then just give it the beans. it'll come right out, i've done it dozens of times on o2 sensors that look like they were in the ocean.

>>28597635
*meant to type 22mm

WHY DOES THIS FUCKING CABLE JUST NOT FUCKING EXIST WHY CANT THEY USE A NORMAL THIRTEEN PIN TO THIRTEEN PIN CABLE LIKE EVERYFUCKINGBODY ELSE

Okay now that I've gotten that out of my system, is there a chance any of you might have one of these laying around that you could put on eBay or something so I could buy it?

Dented the bed side like a retard. Can this be fixed with a panel replacement? Or will I have to check for something deeper?

>>28597659
The bed is a single item so you can't just replace a panel but that might pull. Or accept that it's a truck and doesn't need to look perfect.

>>28597659
a good body man can fix it without replacing any panels, PDR could probably make it pretty good. if you want it to look great, it will take pounding the dent out, body filler and paint

>>28597659
Lrn 2 drive

>>28590649
>definitely need to be able to run an air compressor without restriction or fear of someone bitching
most air tools have battery operated equivalents. and if it is job you can do in one day, you can typically do it on the street.

>>28597629
>i would only buy if its a good deal
I think it is for sure. The thing drives perfectly and the mileage is low af. Despite the leak the guy seems ahead of maintenance. He replaced the timing belt 10K before it was due. The other compartment on the drivers side didn't show any signs of moisture as well

The module in the pic is the tuner for the radio, which is functioning fine atm. All the other electronics in this model are further up in the compartment I'm gonna say they're okay. The ultra lux trim has a nav system, ECU, and air suspension compressor also crammed in there, so good thing this one's basic trim.

Honestly I'm just gonna buy it and just take care of the rust in the compartment. Seems to be localized to that area and the car is fucking sweet. Plus I live in San Diego I'm not too worried about it spreading

>>28585073 (OP)
Yes.
Yes.
>>28585122
Nothing.
700r4 is great.

What would this be from? A simple rock chip or does it look like a rust hole?

My Toyota Avalon got totaled and the model is discontinued. What should I get to replace it? Is the Crown worth it at all or should I just accept my fate and get a Camry?

>>28597825
Buy a used car.

>>28597829
Wasn't planning on buying new.

>>28597825
Sorry to hear that. To answer the question, buy an American vehicle

>>28597842
American vehicles are awful

>>28597842
No way, it's jap cars for life for me.

>>28597831
So why does it matter if its discontinued.

More financial advice than anything else
>own 2003 vw jetta, wagon, 1.9tdi, manual
>135k right now
>bought for basically nothing at 100k
>each year it needs random stupid repairs, most recently:
>2023 $1000 labor intake manifold entirely clogged and needed clearing
>2024 $700 central locking mechanism electronics of some kind making the alarm go off every five minutes
>2025 $3000 on front struts, fuel pump and water pump (and timing) and brake rotors
>mech says back struts next year
>wonky part of the turbo piping on cool side will need replacing eventually too
basically I dump like ~$2000 average annually into it between these repairs, routine shit like oil and tires, and $80/mo on insurance

so my question is how am i doing in terms of cost of ownership right now? car payments seem crazy high, and modern cars still seem like they need plenty of repairs, and reliable older cars dont seem cheap or easy to find. or am i wrong about this and i could driving for like less than $1k/yr outside of gas and insurance

>>28597864
>or am i wrong about this and i could driving for like less than $1k/yr outside of gas and insurance
You could do a lot of that yourself instead of paying some monkey $200 per hour.

>>28597864
You owe nothing on the car and are basically paying for it to run. This is what everyone else has to do, except they also owe tens of thousands on the car

>>28597871
ive doen a handful of things myself (fuel filter recently) but i feel pretty limited as an apartment parking lot dweller. not sure id even be able to diagnose these issues let alone fix them
>>28597876
i get that, im just wondering how my cost of running compares to other things, like obviously other car brands have different issues and costs than a shitbox diesel volkswagen

>>28597759
>Honestly I'm just gonna buy it and just take care of the rust in the compartment
fix the leak first or it will come back
>>28597806
definitely a rock chip that has been (poorly) filled with touch up paint

>>28597864
so over three years you've spent $4700. that's $130 a month. you're not going to find anything with a $130 a month car payment. as long as the car is structurally solid it makes much better financial sense to keep it running than to buy a new car.
don't forget a used car isn't a magic bullet and is also going to need maintenance and repairs as well on top of the payment, plus every car is going to need oil and tires and insurance, possibly more than this one does.

the sticky is outdated, where do i find a good overview of cars in my area with a budget filter?
t. busrider

If you upgrade the engine in your car with a new cam and an aftermarket ECU, how does it work? I assume there is going to be some work and trial and error getting the engine to run right but the cam must be broken in pretty much on the first start. So how do people install an aftermarket ECU and a new cam without ruining the cam?

>>28585096
>ahh
Why are zoomers required to emulate the way niggers speak when typing?

If an engine has a cracked headgasket is it still salvageable?

>>28598880
Is the engine salvageable? Yes. Is the head gasket salvageable? No. Head gaskets are generally one time use items, and if they fail there is no way to "fix" them. Assuming the cylinder head isn't warped, or coolant hasn't entered the cylinder and hydro locked the engine, etc., etc., all you need do is buy and install a new head gasket.

>>28598746
Ruining new camshaft by not reprogramming the stock ECU? How?

>>28598839
Its worse than that. Its niggerspeak coupled with acclimation to online profanity filters.

>>28598079
Are decent spot fixes possible? I've talked to 4 smash repair places and they all want to repaint the whole panel.

>>28598746
you tune the idle asap and even if it runs badly during idle it's no big deal, it's not under load, just get it fixed and stable and then slowly work your way up the rev range checking shit and tuning it.
>ruining the cam
what? When you install it you make sure it doesn't hit the pistons and you're good to go. Tuning the engine is not going to cause pistons to hit valves unless you have excessive VVT advance...
Most tuners will disable VVT advance, so there's no worries of causing it with a tune. Others "simulate" the range of VVT advance before they bolt up the engine and figure out how much degrees they're going to be allowed on the tune before they could hit pistons.

>>28598950
Not really, the best you can do is use OEM paint so the colors match (assuming it wasn't a multi-layered paint job). A good touch up job will be unnoticeable as long as you're more than 2 feet away and not shining light directly on it though

>>28598950
yeah with patience you can get it virtually unnoticeable. it's a similar technique to fixing a deep paint scratch: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zl_iSYYGBiY

I replaced the compressor in my truck 2 days ago (clutch failure, compressor still worked great until the clutch starts slipping above idle) and the first time I started it up to fill it with refrigerant (it was already about 1/3 full from system vacuum and tank pressure) the compressor stalled when the clutch first kicked on for about a quarter second before it started spinning. I figured this was just because I put way too much oil into the suction side (8oz when they only take like 4 because I misread the instructions that came with it) and it didn't happen again whenever the compressor cycled during the filling process and it also didn't happen an hour or two later when I went to go drive it. However if you let it sit for something like 6+ hours then it will do the same thing the first time the clutch kicks on after starting. Is there something wrong with the compressor or is it because I overfilled the system with oil? It's a large dual air system that takes almost 3.5lb of refrigerant and almost a pint of oil so going over by 3 or 4oz of oil shouldn't be THAT big of a deal considering it has two evaporators and a bunch of extra tubing to get to the rear one, besides a bit of potential efficiency loss from oil insulation. Plus it did likely lose 1 or 2 maybe even 3oz from the shaft seal weeping and a bit leaking out from the compressor lines while I was swapping it so I'm somewhat skeptical (read: in denial) the problem is being overfilled.

what if instead of dropping ICE cars for EVs because they pollute, we just let them stay and nuked india to balance the carbon emissions?

>>28596855
>old man owns it
this just means nothing ever got fixed, maintenance was done by crackheads at jiffylube, and the engine has been lugged for its entire life

>>28599828
what do you mean when you say the compressor stalls? it's locking up and stalling out the engine?
an oil overcharge could definitely cause it to lock up, as the compressor isn't made to pump liquid oil which it might if there's too much in there, good possibility it's been damaged if that's the case.

>>28600008
can we just nuke india anyway? preferably with some kind of depopulation nuke instead of a destructive one as the land is quite beautiful

>>28600034
>>28600008
I doubt sending billions of tons of radioactive turd dust and curry powder into the global atmosphere would be much more environmentally friendly. It would have to be much more targeted containment and razing operation to make sure we don't end up poisoning the entire world even more than just letting them continue.

>>28600134
we'll never know until we try

>>28598923
How do you know the engine is still good? As long as it runs? If you see coolant has entered the cylinder (eg piston head is suspiciously clean) there is still hope or is it over? I'm asking mainly to know when/if it's worth haggling down the price of an used car if it has signs of head gasked failure and then fix it yourself or if the chances of the engine not being fucked are too low to be worth it.

>>28600033
As in the compressor itself is stalled and does not spin for that 1/4 second or so causing the squeal. Also I forgot to mention that the belt isn't new but it's not old and in good shape, it even still has all of the labeling on the smooth side, so it's not the belt slipping because it's worn out (it never slipped before on the old compressor either). I'm not too sure that there was much if any damage done because of the belt slip acting like a clutch in and of itself, at least that's my hope, but like I said the only reason I'm bothering to ask is because it keeps doing it after it sits for a while and like I said it's overcharged on oil but not by THAT much in the grand scheme of how large the system is, and I've never had an issue like this before with a bit of excess oil in an AC system.

>>28600211
Coolant being burnt in the cylinder isn't *too* big of a deal, and will likely not have any lasting effects, but if the coolant has been mixing with the oil, then there's a much larger chance of bearing damage and bore scoring. Bearings are far more likely than the bores to suffer damage from diluted oil, but the only way to check those is by removing the oil filter and checking for sparkles, or by opening the engine up and checking the bearing and journals directly. Bore scoring is easier to check, and can be done by shoving a borescope down where the spark plug screws in, but again, the bores may be fine while the bearings are not.

>>28595012
>You understand that electronic parking brakes are either activated or not? Electronic parking brakes are a binary application.
You're a fucking retard. Just because its controlled by a computer doesn't mean it's fucking binary, 100% braking force or nothing. Some cars lock you out of using the parking brake while moving, some will gradually apply the brakes and bring you to a stop. Read your manual. Drive more cars.

>>28585073 (OP)
what does having your engine replaced under warranty do to the value of a car on the used market?

>>28600652
No affect

>>28600343
>Read your manual.
Post yours. None of my cars have e-brake.

>>28600761
I drive an older car with a mechanical parking brake, but I've driven a couple newer Nissans and they'll pop a warning light and slow your car to a stop if you hold the parking brake while moving.

>>28600831
>slow your car to a stop
How exactly do they do it? Please don't guess and post manual per your own advice instead.

>>28601264
>how do brake stop car
its a mystery, I don't think anyone knows

>>28601276
>posts a guess about the specific brake system working differently from what someone else said
>posts an advice to read the manual
>doesn't read the manual himself
>can't prove his claims
>implies there's only one way for all brake systems to work an everyone knows it
Don't act retarded please, this thread is for questions and advice.

>>28600831
imagine having a car that's so anemic it can't even overcome the parking brake

Is it normal for engine oil to look thin and watery on the dipstick?

>>28601337
actual water would separate to the bottom of the pan or churn into mayonnaise. nu-cars use ridiculously thin oil weights like 0w20 so they self destruct faster. if that's the case swap with 5w30 if you want the engine to last.

I recently bought a 2023 CX-30 from a dealer and was inspecting around the engine bay. I noticed this burn/melted hole on the fuse box cover, is this a concern? The only aftermarket mod I see on this car is aftermarket seat warmers but nothing else and I would assume they’d need to get into the engines fuse box to get a fuse installed for the seat warmers. I’m just confused how this happened, I can’t think of a really hot tool a technician would use to install this that they would go oops and accidentally hit the fuse box cover to scour it by accident. Was this like an overheated fuse or some electrical damage that melted the cover? I checked inside and the fuse area looks fine but could’ve been damaged already repaired or something? I’m just concerned of a future electrical issue here and this car isn’t that old either, just really weird.

>>28601528
somebody set something hot on top of there, you can see corresponding melt damage on the battery(?) cover directly in line

>>28601528
Never seen anything like that being caused by a fault on these cars before, like anon said it looks like something hot was put there or it fell.
If they were doing wiring for seat warmers maybe it was a soldering iron.
You could go back and ask about it, see if they will replace the cover for you if you only just bought it

>>28601578
Ah yeah that would make sense if it was a soldering iron and they let it sit there or something and it burned the cover.

>>28601528
looks like someone jumped started it the wrong way and melted the jumper cables

Is there a reason not to put threadlocker on everything?

>>28602126
Wasted time, cost. and effort? Unless the fastener specifically requires a thread locker, why would you *want* to make life difficult the next time it needs to come off?

>>28602126
Would you put threadlocker on your battery terminals? Your interior paneling? Your lug nuts?
Threadlocker is for things that you don't expect to touch for 5+ years

>>28602136
I don't expect to touch any of those things for 5 years.

Why is it that every single time I replace a thermostat, without fail, the engine no longer gets fully up to operating temperature?
I am replacing them with OE temperature thermostats, new seals/gaskets, and i always top up the coolant afterwards, yet the temp gauge never gets up to the middle tick mark. What gives?

>>28602917
You have air in the system.

>>28602126
because you don't want to risk stripping or breaking off the bolt the next time you take it off?

>>28602869
like a nigger, you have no concept of permanence or time.

Trying to help a friend who's car's alarm keeps setting off on its own at night. I thought disabling it by removing the fuse would at least stop it from happening. My understanding from this diagram, though, is that the same fuse is used for the starting system as well as the electrical system so it won't be much good removing that. Is that correct?
The horn fuse is the one above. Not having a horn isn't ideal but I imagine that would also prevent the alarm from going off, right?

>>28603279
>starting system as well as the electrical system
*as well as the alarm system I meant to say

>>28603279
if the car was made in the last 20 years or so, almost certainly the alarm is built into the body control module or instrument cluster module or something similar and can't be disabled without breaking a ton of stuff.
you will need to troubleshoot why the alarm is going off, could be as simple as a failing door or hood switch that makes it think a door or hood is being opened. use a scanner that can read livedata to see if there is a pid for something like "last alarm reason" and troubleshoot from there.

>>28603279
>>28603312
the car's battery is probably dying
even if it has enough amps to start in the morning the voltage could be dropping low enough overnight in some modules to trigger the antitheft system

>>28585073 (OP)
1.yes
2.look up stupid.

>>28585104
I used to use my PC headphones to play music with the top down on road trips. NA is a comfy traveler.

>>28603380
>not letting the others enjoy your taste in music

>>28599828
Arent you supposed to put oil in it first and then pull a vacuum? Why didnt you just drain the excess oil out?

>>28603322
>the car's battery is probably dying
this

>>28585073 (OP)
1. Yes
2. Yes, you have to pull over.
Don't buy a car that isn't designed as a convertible. Either get yourself a BMW Z3, Z4, Miata, S2000, MR2 W30, or some kind of brit roadster.

>>28603383
I'm on the hwy. No one can hear my music with the top down.

>>28603642
>t.wattlet

>>28585096
kill yourself faggot

>>28595493
dude are you retarded?

>>28603454
>Don't buy a car that isn't designed as a convertible. Either get yourself a BMW Z3, Z4, Miata, S2000, MR2 W30, or some kind of brit roadster.
People who think convertibles with two rows of seats are just sedans with roof removed very obviously never wrenched on one. The entire rear end is fucking different, usually starting right from the windshield. Most parts are different, the unibody itself is structurally different. You're lucky if at least something like the fuel tank or exhaust is shared with mass-produced sedan.

>>28603683
The amount of engineering that goes into making a convertible mustang doesn't make a convertible mustang not shitty and gay.

This is the fucking view from inside my car. Car wash didnt take care of it so I’m going to clean the inside and outside myself. What is the absolute best cleaner/cloth/method/anything to get rid of this shit so I don’t have to drive at 5mph at night?

What have I gotten myself into chat
I traded a 300k mile 94 mighty max 4wd pickup for a 91' E250 Ford van with the Inline 6 no belts or chains. 34k and unknown milage.

Dude added some dosh on top and it was just too worth to not trade.

>>28604233
You're not white.

>>28595105
Test today. Time to pass. Failure is not an option.

Own an E9x
bmw in their infinite wisdom decided to not include coolant temp gauge?
is there a way to program it to the BC button on left stalk?

>>28605923
Is there no temp option when cycling through the gauge cluster menus? Or am I thinking of VW?

>>28605950
vw
only temp think im aware on e9x is either warning light or going into secret menu to see it.
https://youtu.be/7exeRgWtkt4
not really a viable option.

I live in an emissions testing state (cucked state) if I buy a used Jetta TDI right now what are the chances it fails the emissions test? From what I understand VW diesels were the ones with the defeat device, right?

>>28606006
Honestly it depends on emissions levels.
dont think they can really prohibit you from driving an old car if its in good nick.

>>28595409
wasn't a terrible driver today. passed. lick my nuts.

>Have mazda B3000
>Look up what coolant to get
>Also look it up for a 3L Ranger (same exact car and engine)
>Tells me to use something different
So what do I use? Does it matter?

Is a 3-inch C clamp or some bar trigger clamps for woodworking gonna be enough to compress the piston on the caliper for my brakes?

Probably a retard question but I'd like to know if I need to swing by Advance Auto before I do my brakes tonight. Somehow I lost the auto C-Clamp but have some woodworking stuff

>>28606112
congrats anon

>>28606206
open the manual, find what spec the coolant needs to be. find a bottle of coolant that lists that spec.

>>28606029
Turns out there's a page where you can search by VIN# to see if a VW has been fixed. It looks kind of sketchy with the cert error but my state's page on the settlement linked directly to it so I think it's fine.
vwdieselinfo.com

Has anyone ever used a discount site from work benefits to buy a car? Is it actually cheaper? I have access to Buyer's Edge Inc but the prices don't seem much better than something like carsforsale except I can see the dealership fees in advance. The selection seems much more limited too.

>>28606273
I can't find it.