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Is this a good starting welder?
I have never welded and want to get into it. i picked up a vulcan welding helmet for $10 at a garage sale last week.
idk what else i would need besides some basic welding tools.
i need to fix a leaky exhaust with a broken hanger, fix some broken right angle screw mounts on a auger, and fabricate an airbox intake shield.

I have a 22 Accord and I filled it up with E15 for the first time. AKA unleaded 88. I've always used 87 in here but after filling up with 88 I noticed that the car runs a lot smoother. I googled this and the only thing I found is that extra ethanol has less chance to detonate. I don't have any issues with the car that I know of. But why is it running smoother with one octane higher gasoline?

>>29102908
What it got, stick, mig and a 3rd one?
Does it have automatic adjustment on top of manual, called synergic mig/welding or some shit like that, basically you just adjust the amperage and the machine adjusts wire feed, voltage and whatnot accordingly. Makes even the shittiest backyard welder (me) feel like a professional.

Is it normal for a car to lose some amount of coolant over time? I filled the expansion tank to the full line about a year ago and it's almost down to half now.

>>29102928
Have you checked what the manual recommends?

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Sorry for the dog shit quality, but how do tops of my pistons look? Is it normal that there is a portion without carbon build up?

>>29103038
87 or higher, compatible with 88, not to use E85.

ive never tried premium. i'll see how that runs next fillup

>>29103036
yes, its an expansion tank. coolant level in there varies.
burning coolant will make your exhaust will smell sweet. How does your coolant look? any issues with your engine oil?
>>29103052
if its clean like that could be valve, or head impact. are you experiencing any issues?

>>29103065
I have some oil burning issues. Wanted to check out the cylinder wall condition because I'm planning to refresh the engine with new rings, etc. But quality on the bore scope is too shit to tell anything. The only thing I noticed was that clean portion on the top of the pistons. They all have that.

>>29103076
well you cant check your cylinder walls with such a low quality scope.
what does the comp test say? oil status?

>>29102928
Extra ethanol also acts as a detergent/solvent.

>>29103079
Compression is good and oil is clean

Ill be going on work trip for 30 days. The weather will be about 10 celcius or 50 farenheit. I only have access to outdoor parking. Im planning on covering my car with a cover and disconnect the negative terminal on my battery. Do I need fuel preservative or do anything else?

>>29103065
>yes, its an expansion tank. coolant level in there varies.
>burning coolant will make your exhaust will smell sweet. How does your coolant look? any issues with your engine oil?
I haven't had any weird smells or white smoke. Engine oil level seems to be stable, might be like one or two mm lower? Hard to tell.

>>29103059
Additives in more expensive (not necessarily higher octane) fuel might make a difference, however it's unlikely you'll notice an immediate change. Going any higher than the manual specifies should make zero difference, higher octane is just to prevent spontaneous detonation on higher compression engines, if your engine doesn't need it then you gain nothing from it and it shouldn't make the engine run any different.

that sticky picture has been outdated for like 10 years so what kinda used car should I get? I'm selling my Focus ST because I need money and i'll get 12k. I'm hoping to spend less than $4k. so far i'm looking at a few common models.
>volvo v50 or subaru forester 2005-2008, both usually around 200kms+
>fiat 500, can get these really cheap, like 4k for a 2012
>mini cooper mid 2000 to 2010, these are also super cheap
>toyota yaris or honda fit, hard to find one at a good price, especially fits because they are fun to drive
>pontiac vibe or suzuki sx4 or toyota matrix, all cheap as they aren't really sought after
>90s honda/toyota, newer civics/corollas etc. have the reliability tax and are usually overpriced for what they are
canadian btw

>>29103097
No. Don't use a cover. Only invites unwanted attention

Testing

Guys i have a 2013 Ford Explorer v6 no turbo 4wd. It often loses all power and gives a "Terrain Management System Fault" on the dash. Then the motor shuts down. How do I diagnose what component this is, and what tools will I need? I heard this could be the throttle but idk. Will a normal automotive scanner be sufficient to diagnose this vehicle?

>scratch muffler in restaurant dilapidated parking lot in the sticks
>only visible if you put your face underneath it
>still have an urge to fix it

The scratches are deep and I don't have any tools. Tempted to get it fixed at a shop but I have no idea why. Why must everything be perfect? I need to get a used scratched up beater.

>>29103489
Fucking spray paint the muffler who cares

>>29103496
In reality I will likely just do nothing. Just wish it didn't get scratched to begin with

>>29103505
tell people you ran over a werewolf and it scratched your muffler

What's a socially acceptable place to work on your car in private when your home is an apartment and you hate interacting with neighbors and are a fat ugly bastard with little to no car repair experience?
A headlight bulb went out, I found a tutorial on how to take it out and swap it, but I don't want to be seen as this awkward blob finnagling about under my car's hood, it makes me feel sickly. Would it also be socially okay to take it out, use it as an example at a shop to find the replacement then return somewhere quiet and replace it there?

>>29103578
>Would it also be socially okay to take it out, use it as an example at a shop to find the replacement
Yes, although the bulb type will be printed on the bulb. If you're embarrassed about performing the repair in public, I suggest doing it with a bag over your head.

>>29103582
I found a quiet spot in the woods and did it there only to learn that my giant hands are too huge to properly switch the bulbs and that gets me angry quick.

>>29103578
>park n rides (don't make it too obvious though, so don't take it too far apart or they could tow you)
>parks (especially if there's a paved area which makes it easier to lift)
>random forests (there are often cops patrolling, so you should be in and out within a work shift)
>paid DIY garages (they exist but the lift is always booked out)
>WalMart parking lots, just don't be under the vehicle or they might call the cops
>anywhere there is a bunch of scrap vehicles
>certain truck stops (but beware, not all of them)
>your friend's house. You do have friends, right anon?

>>29103578
Bro just man the fuck up ffs. Your neighbours might even help you if you wouldn't be an ugly awkward slob

is the italian tune up thing a meme?

I live somewhere that gets a ton of rain, but absolutely zero snow. Been running all seasons forever, but I've been thinking about buying another set of wheels for the wet and the dry seasons respectively. Any recommendations?

>>29103578
Just do it in the parking lot of wherever you bought the bulb. It will take literally 2 minutes. You can do it, I believe in you.
Also do both sides at once, if one went out the other isn't far behind

>>29104436
Summer tires are good in the wet too, it's cold temperatures that they can't handle.

>>29104359
not necessarily. there's a bunch of carbon and shit you can break free from the engine with a bit of hooning. the engine was built to run up to it's redline, don't be afraid to get up there

on the other hand, if something is ready to let go, that's the time it's going to do it...

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>>29102908
Do yourself a favor and don't learn on flux core especially for super thin stuff like exhaust. a lot of people find it to be extremely difficult to do correctly. Anything with gas is going to be immensely easier, hell most people can tig way better than they can properly flux core. But welders are super opinionated and they all think they're the fucking best so any question you got for online welders you're probably going to get "just fucking by a TIG" "lol this guy can't even TIG" when they've never properly flux core welded anything in their life let alone out in the middle of a cornfield in the middle of a rainstorm 2 ft deep in mud which is where you use flux core most the time. If you do decide to flux core your exhaust get an automatic helmet and stitch weld 100 welds around that circumference that's about the only way it's going to work. Also get the thinnest wire you can get I think it's like .35

>>29104571
Idk, I learned on a machine like this, I still use a machine like this and I don't weld body panels. I won't say I have beautiful welds, I have functional welds that don't look a complete mess.
Most people that need to weld but don't plan on making it a primary skill, just use these shitboxes and it works.

>>29104571
damn, that explains why my friend and i kept making booger welds practicing flux core on a piece of old exhaust pipe; we recently got a starter welder kit and the only time i made nice looking welds was on the freshly sanded metal. we were practicing trying to seal up cuts/slits in the pipe that we made with an angle grinder. they sealed but boy did they look extremely boogery.

>>29104668
Yeah flux core in that case is going to be much more picky about how clean the surfaces is and the thickness of material, thicker the better. I wouldn't try filling gaps with it at first the best way is to make sure everything is super clean and overlap everything so use couplers or expanded ends but weld them at the end of the overlap so you have more material. Once you get a feel for doing it that way you'll start to realize that The sounds it makes- the pops and buzzing - is an important indication of whether you have it set up properly or not. Angle is also important with thin materials ,just imagine your welding in a straight line all the way through the material so thin stuff you want to be at an fairly extreme angle when welding butted couplers instead of going straight down through the material where it would be thinner go more to the angle on the side so you get thicker penetration. again everything super clean minimize air flow no super heavy winds. Eventually you'll probably be able to figure out how to do pie cuts and maybe even filling gaps but it's not a pull the trigger and hold it down type of weld it's lots of tiny stacked stitches which you have to clean occasionally, quite time consuming and it's not going to look pretty you're probably going to lose patience and the outcome in the way it looks is probably not going feel very good. This is why an automatic helmet is really important so when you're doing your 100 trigger pulls you don't have to lift and reset after losing your place.

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>>29102887
Please /o/ gods I need help. For work I pull a dump trailer with a 2019 Chevrolet Silverado 3500 dually (duramax)

Today, when I arrived at the job site, I noticed the trailer pasenger-side rear running light was illuminated. No other lights were on, not on the trailer nor the truck (truck was off, lights were off).

When I unplugged the trailer from the 7 point harness, the light went off, I assume meaning the feed is coming from the truck. Plugged it back in, light came back on.

Any ideas what I can do to fix this?
>WT bro for attention

>>29102887
Just had a wheel alignment and tire change. They claim I have a severe diff leak.

Mechanic from a few months ago said it's wet but not too much of a priority.

When should I address this and was the tire place just trying to upsell me? I've got a piece of cardboard under my car since getting home. How long should I leave it for and if there is nothing on the cardboard overnight is it something to worry about?

When i change brake pads that need to be winded in, how important is it that I line up the groove on the piston with the "stopper" nub on the brake pad? I figure the piston should find its own way to the stopper while being used.

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>>29102887
I guess this is fodder for sqt? I have a 2017 Jetta 1.4 with a 5-speed manual that I cannot diagnose. It has a minor rattle when in gear that seems a little bit more pronounced when accelerating and seems present in all gears. It disappears when the clutch pedal is depressed. There is no rattling or noise when idle or neutral. Worn out clutch or release bearing? Flywheel?

>>29105490
>if there is nothing on the cardboard overnight is it something to worry about?
No

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Opinions on this?

>>29105949
if you want to keep the vehicle a long time and/or wrench on it later, I'd say blast a can of https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09CHL8NS3? on it, but the single cans are out of stock atm. I got the six pack and only used 4.5 cans on my whole frame. No you can't have my survivor.

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>>29105961
It's a car I'm consdering to buy.

I've heard good things about corrosionx hd, i'm not particulary hung on any one brand, but I think that one might be easiest for me to get.

I'm not sure should I just apply the product over the rust or try to clean the rust first.

>>29106013
Bright rust is bad that's the kind that is active and aggressive and will spread. Darker rust is nbd, it sometimes even prevents further rust by coating the surface of the steel. If you have darker rust and you coat over it, it's a problem if there are gaps in the coat because that will actually cause the rust to get faster. If there are no gaps in the coat its fine to coat over. The rust may create its own gaps tho.

It's a question of if you you trust yourself to keep up on the coating, if you keep up it's fine, if you slack the coating over existing rust will make no difference at best.

>>29106013
that's not bad at all. Ultimately all unibody cars are disposable, as there's no car of theseus option the way a body on frame vehicle can be replaced with parts of good vehicles.

>>29106193
it's an old civic, it's the absolutely best one i managed to find (in terms of rust) and i'd like to keep it running for few more years if i buy it.

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>>29105250
>Any ideas what I can do to fix this?
I'm UK based, so I'm unsure of how exactly the US style trailers are setup, but I would like to assume that they're not much different to our own trailers in the sense that a single wire from the truck runs into a distribution box on the trailer, which then enables that single wire to feed all the individual lights. If that is the case, then start from the light in question and trace the wiring back to the distribution board/box, checking to see if there are any issues along the way. If not, check inside the box and see if there's a crossed connection inside.

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I bought an ICE car recently, brand new. Did I make a huge mistake? I could have bought a hybrid for like $4k more. I can't really use an EV easily because I don't have a place to charge it overnight. The car market is so weird bros. Do you guys think that most vehicles on the road in ~5 years won't be ICE anymore? 10 years?

>>29106444
What's the dilemma here? You're not going to fit in with all the other people on the road?
I'd be more worried about the depreciation you're eating.

>>29106450
>What's the dilemma here?
Resale value of the car if ICE is on its way out.
>depreciation
Yes, that is my concern

>>29103083
Very true. It's excellent at dissolving seals, orings, gaskets, and lines.

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I'm considering buying a renault wind.
i like the idea of a small roadster but i'm coming to terms that i would barely use the car and when the season is right i'd rather ride my motorcycle so it would be something about convenience (groceries,more relaxed days or just commuting) more than anything but i like the idea of having a somewhat nice/unique car if i get one and these are somewhat cheap and kinda unique. it would be my only car and i don't exactly need one for my day to day life, as i said it's just for convenience especially in the coming months where going out with the motorcycle is not ideal.
the 1.6l engine is a bit hard to come by buy i found two 1.2t nearby for the price of a shitbox (used market here is a bit fucked up) and they seem very well kept.
should i just give up the idea of the roadster/miniGT/small unique car and get a used swift/the average ford fiesta or other well known hatchback? any first hand experience from any anon with one of these or the engines they use?

i bought a used car on fbm, how do i tell o about it, so i can get made fun of?

>>29106973
Start a thread with pics (maybe starting with the ad), making sure to tell us the year/mileage/engine (if the model had more than one) and what condition it seems to be in.
Basically don’t make us go fishing for the basic details you’d want to know when judging a car.

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>bought a gti 2026 autobahn last fall
>forgot about canadian winters
>scrambled last second bought some Bridgestone winter tires
>came with shitty steelies, didn't care
>fast forward I accidently got over a lake sized pothole and dent 2 of the rims so badly they leak both air
So yeah id like suggestions for a decent brand of rims as i really know nothing lf cars.
The tires are 225/40R18.
Besides that car is great

>2012 hyundai elantra els
>90k miles
>$5k
good deal or rip off? anything to keep in mind when checking the car out? never bought a car before

>>29107178
well you dented your wheels on a normal road hazard because there's not enough height on your sidewall, but your brakes look too big to fit any smaller wheels. I'd put on some smaller brakes so you can fit taller tires, then it will do a bit better in snow. If you really wanted to do well in snow though you'll need to convert to all wheel drive. I doubt there are any awd cars in the junkyard you could use the parts from, so your only option is to go to the dealer and ask them to convert it for you. It's usually pretty cheap compared to a better engine though.

>>29107387
if it had the oil changed regularly with carfax or receipts to prove it, and it's in good shape inside and out then probably a decent deal. I wouldn't buy anything without proof of regular oil changes, and watch out for modifications. Most people who modify their cars are complete retards and will not have done the work correctly. Even an aftermarket stereo, I'd walk away unless done by a reputable shop with receipts.

>>29106945
what you should get is a small van that can fit your motorcycle inside, or maybe a pickup. Having two vehicles that the biggest thing they can carry is yourself is redundant.

>>29106805
True, but at first it dissolves gums and other harmful fuel deposits.
THEN it gets to work on the important stuff.

>need to go into work next week
>eh I’ll drive
>no designated parking area
>literally one affordable paid parking lot that may have space
>if it doesn’t, I’m fucked

Fucking hate public transportation

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I feel like such a retard. This is a cable transmission in a CA5 Accord. Adjustment nut, like other Hondas of this era. My bite point is way towards the top of the pedal. Doing factory spec adjustments for the pedal. Loosening the nut ADDS free play, meaning the pedal has to be pushed further to start disengaging the clutch, and tightening the nut REMOVES free play so the pedal is pushed less? Does this really affect bite point in the way that I think it will, or is clutch wear the only thing determining where the bite point actually is in pedal travel?

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>>29106945
it's an interesting car but not practical in the slightest, especially as an alternative to motorcycle. it has barely any boot space and has a convertable top which you presumably wouldn't use if it's going to be a winter car when you don't want to bike.

you could so what I did, get a fun hatchback you like the look of and do a back seat delete, I fit an OEM style carpet on plywood and a cargo net. now you basically have a mini flatbed for transporting extra stuff you can't carry on a bike while keeping a small and economical car. plus it gets a slight performance boost for being lighter.

or just buy the wind, I admit it does look nice. I love small cars but it seems so impractical if you already have a bike.

>>29107894
that carpet's nuts, you should draw a big dick and balls and then write underneath haha you looked

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what mods have virtually no downside (except cost)?

>>29109075
new paint, tinted windows, roof rack, although the roof rack does have an underside. Spoilers usually only go on the top of a car, but they do make those ones for under the rear bumper.

>>29109075
headlight relay harness if your car is old enough to not use relays for headlight power, although iirc even some new cars ran headlight power into the dash, like the crown vic

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I'm eyeballing some sedans. are wrx limited's bad? somewhat fun?
wouldn't be a dd just something to enjoy every now and then. yes, I know, it's an econobox but I want an affordable manual sedan.
It's either that or a slightly used integra type s.
There aren't many things on the market for what I'd enjoy. Don't want cars that are low...
idk maybe I should sit in a brz. I think i'd be happiest with an nd miata but too low, I would get tired of getting in and out of it. yes, I'm old.

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>car starts misfiring like mad
>ends up stalling
>turns on, but dies after a few seconds, giving it gas stalls it
>tow it to nearest shop (big mistake), there it starts
>he says its ignition coil on cyl3 (its a 1kr fe) and wants to change plugs
>tell him he can try the coil, but if its not it I want refund
>my logic being car not being able to run on 2cyl, or software preventing it from running, maybe cus it will damage the engine
>drive car straight home, no issues
>next drive CEL starts flashing, misfire on 3rd cylinder
>barely drive it back to shop
>"i fixed it, the coil fault wasnt erased"
>he put my old coil and new plug
>realise he is a moron and get my car back
>car actually runs no issue for 2 days now
wtf?
did the fuel filter get clogged or something?

>>29107429
>battery and tires renewed june 2025
>oil changed at 88k miles (i'll ask for date later)
>A/C refrigerant july 2026
>clean title

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aut/o/bots i have to park my car underneath a tree. every couple of weeks or so some birds will just absolutely relentlessly doodoo all over my car. Cleaning the bird poop is a nightmare because it is mostly the hard/dark kind that seems to glue itself to the car. I am worried about long term paint damage.

I bought some ceramic coating wax thing (Turtlewax Hybrid Solutions) and its honestly kind of shit. Its been like two weeks since I put it on and I was hoping it would make it much easier to clean the poop but it doesnt seem to be doing much. The coating also doesnt seem to be that slippery, it beads "ok" but overall its just disappointing. I have a dark colored car and the beading results in insane water spots everywhere on the car... which dont even easily wipe off with a microfiber after.

I mostly just care about protecting the root where most of the doodoo is the other stuff is relatively easy to clean usually. Any products that can help outside of spending half a grand on PPF? Just looking for a high quality surface protectant that will make it easy for me to clean the poop

thanks. also i should note I can't trim or modify the tree in anyway and its branches jut out exactly where i park.

>>29109547
Just throw a blanket over the hood

>>29109547
A proper, good quality ceramic coating such as Gtechniq GT1 Ceramic Coating will actually do it's job and last around a year or so. The Turtle Wax stuff is okay-ish, but it's more closer to a traditional wax than it is a ceramic coating.

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/o/ anons, I recently got a tar-like substance on a bit of my car. I believe it's asphalt tar if it makes a difference. I tried wiping it off vigorously with paper towels and eventually the soft side of a sponge.

It looks like shit. Is there any way I can get completely back to normal short of going to a detail/body shop?

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>>29109694
start from the outer edge, finish at the center of the deposit. Paper towels will work. Finish with regular car wash to remove the residue of the cleaner.

>>29109306
it shouldn't have needed refrigerant after only 14 years, and one recent oil change is not regular oil changes

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>>29102887
Time has come to change inner rods.
I know there are different tools for this matter but I have a question.
many inner rods have a hexagonal part so you can fit your tool.
but how do I avoid screwing the rack and pinion trying to unscrew it?
I thought the hexagonal part was to fix a wrench, so you could avoid twisting the inner parts.
I am retarded and scared about this shit.

>>29107429
i have the vin but do i really have to pay $50 for the carfax report is there any way to get around that

>>29109712
It won't turn because the pinion gear is engaged square with the rack. The hexagon is so you can tighten the tie rod end as it would just spin if you tried screwing it on via the rod.

>>29109760
that part gets stuck with heat, rust... it's normal to put some threadlocker on it. My fear is to apply too much force to it and fuck up the rack and pinion. but there's no other place to hold the R&P in place so I can apply all the par to the tie rod

>>29109762
Yeah that's the only way to do it. They shouldn't be too tight so I wouldn't worry unless it feels like you're breaking something, and corrosion shouldn't be an issue unless the boot got torn and was left like that.

>>29105490
>>29105939
Unless the diff is empty due to a severe leak

>>29107429
who the fuck keeps all their receipts? Do you just have a folder full of them in the glovebox?

>>29109075
bright blue led headlights

>>29109822
I keep a maintenance log in the glovebox, but the previous owner usually had the dealership he bought the car at do the oil changes, those are all on the carfax. Anyone wanting to buy my vehicle could check my log against all the parts that are obviously new, and would wonder why I'd lie about a $40 oil change every 5k when I've gone to the trouble to repaint every bolt I took out.

>>29109741
get the current owner to pay for it

is okay to reuse a serp belt that's fairly new?

>>29110413
flip it over and look at the grooved side, if it has more than 20 cracks per inch it's toast, less than 20 it's ok to reuse

Why do 2-stroke engines have to be choke-started?

>>29110603
lack of airflow because of insufficient vacuum generation at low rpms to succ fuel outta the carb n sheeit

>>29110610
But choking it means even less airflow? Me dumb.

>>29110657
the smaller hole makes for the same airflow through that hole which means higher pressure and uhhhhh that affects how the venturi effect works

>>29110657
chokes are above the fuel inlet, so it chokes the air off but not the fuel, which results in a richer mixture

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Sick of the stealership running semi syn oil. 2.5 moozda turbo with 20k on it.
Would you run PUP or VRP?

>>29110948
im pretty sure it's not the richness or leanness that does it, and that choking adjusts airflow to make it appopriately rich given the resultant airflow at below stall speeds

sorta like how jets have to overcome "not already going really fast" by having electric motors drive the fan initially

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how do you deal with the salt from maintenance

i have to open up and at least diagnose my clutch, and fix chain tension, and figure a way to fit reasonable brakes. i dont want to do any of it because whenever i do even minor repairs or adjustments, something new comes up, and then it's a big mess, and i just get upset. how do you deal with that getting upset and how do you treat your child(vehicle) properly

how do i learn to drive at 32 years old

>>29111045
Tell the bus driver it's your birthday, and he'll let you drive the bus for a few minutes

>>29111045
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kdo9HZTgr6s

>>29109075
new paintjob/stickerbombing

>>29110978
address things before they become problems if you know its going to be an issue soon. follow the maintenance schedule in the manual. wash the underbody of your car often and rust proof it if you can.

there is no shame in saying “fuck this im not dealing with this” and taking it to a shop when things get too complicated. your time should be worth something

>>29110974
the big name full synthetics are pretty much all the same, unless you’re going with amsoil. and even amsoil you won’t notice a difference on only one oil change.

i use whatevers cheapest of the big four full synthetics on amazon. pennzoil, valvoline, castrol or mobil 1

>>29110975
you're retarded, a choke does exactly one thing, and that is make a fuel mixture richer. It's a (poorly fitted) butterfly valve above the fuel entry point, while the throttle valve is a butterfly valve below the fuel entry point. The lower one controls how much fuel/air mix gets into the engine, and the upper one controls how much fuel is mixed into the air.

Cold engines need to be choked because the fuel condenses back out of the air/fuel mix onto the cold walls of the intake. If you have a vacuum leak and a hot engine is running lean as a result, you can engage the choke and a tailpipe probe will reveal you are back at stochiometric.

Hi guys, I recently had an alternator replaced (engine seemed seized and wouldn't turn over so I took it in and they said my alternator was seized and replaced it), and since getting the car back (4cyl), I have the following codes:

-Cylinder 1 (and 2, 3, 4) Oil Supply Solenoid Valve Switch OFF Time Out Of Range

-Closed Loop Fuel Not Achieved Bank 1

-Misfire on cylinders 1 & 2

>My main stupid question is, are these codes possibly related to them fucking up the new alternator installation?

Did they fuck up a belt somehow? I was thinking there was a voltage issue because the battery light shows up on the dash when I first crank the car up but goes away after a while. I don't want to take my car back to them if I can fix it myself, since they seem inept, but it might be above my wrencher grade and if they fucked it up they should fix it for free right? thanks

Germanon replies especially welcome but all can chime in. What should I look out for when looking for a mechanic? I'm in a new city and don't have any personal recommendations from friends on which places are good.

>>29102887
anyone ever try and cold zink, zink spray paint, on new exhaust stuff? I was thinking of getting a can and then spraying a shit ton of layers around all the flanges.

>>29110975
You are so dumb it's fucking insane. Don't ever post on /o/ again you retarded fucking nigger.

>>29102887
What could be the vampire in my car?
I have a 2010 honda civic as a second car. I start it up and take it for a drive every month at least. The past 2 times I went to start it, it has had a dead battery. I didn't leave any doors open, no plugged in electronics. Battery is a year old. What can be causing this?

>>29112127
something shorted to ground idk

battery could also just be shit and ded

>>29112127
Start it up and take it for a drive every two weeks instead of 4 weeks. You have a shit battery and you can't wait that long. Also something is starting to corrode/seize. Needs adequate oil pressure more frequently because oil has settled. You could do your own experiment to find the sweet spot with regards to how often you need to start it and long you need to get the engine re-lubricated

how feasible is it to do a diy paint job (after having a body shop fix any panel damage, dents, etc.) to your car? would it be worth it for a shitbox with 200k miles and probably has another 100k left in it?

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>Neighbor retired
>bought a brand new Mercedes as celebration and is looking to retire to a warmer state
>Offering to sell me his garage kept, dealership maintained 2003 Buick LeSabre
>58k miles
>brand new set of Michelin tires on it
>brand new rotors and pads all around
>He asking $6500
>He would also be willing to throw in a secondary set of steel wheels with dedicated winter tires on them already (gently used from last season) as well as a bunch of odds and ends he bought for the car over the years.

I know the price is fantastic based on what I've seen online and I've done work for him in the past so he's giving me a good price. Is it a reliable daily driver? I'm currently driving an absolutely whooped Ford Crown Vic with 290k miles on it.

Pic related is a similar car to what my neighbor has

>>29112335
There's an upsidedown anon on here that painted his car with a paint roller, than spent the time to sand it down, and it came out great. So long as you lay it on thick and are willing to spend hours sanding, you can make most paint jobs look reasonable.

>>29112352
One of the most reliable things ever made, and when things break they’re cheap and easy to fix. It’s the kind of car you can fall in comfortable love with, especially the way it will help you if you’re trying to get your life in financial order since not having a money pit for a car is a HUGE help.

Though once you do have your finances in order, a passionate love is just better. 911/E46 or the like.

>>29112405
The little Googling I did said it was considered extremely reliable so that's good to hear.
>financial order
I'm honestly just a cheap fuck. I bought a new plot of land and put a trailer on it recently and I've been cutting all my corners possible because I want it paid off ASAP. This crown vic of mine has been on life support since I bought it for $300 120k miles ago, so I've kind of been on the hunt for a new reliable car and this one has me chomping at the bit. Interior is pristine and looks like a living room lol. Think I'm just gonna take the deal. Buy once, cry once. This would be the first car in my life that didn't need a ground up rebuild after I bought it.

Got an alignment today and experienced a weird feeling when accelerating out of a corner slightly before I had straightened out completely. I took the corner pretty hard and and as soon as I stepped on the throttle it felt like the car snapped dead straight. I mean it felt like it popped onto a rail.
Is this desirable behaviour? I'm new to RWD.

Will a stainless steel muffler necessarily be louder than a steel one, or are there ways to reduce the noise? I want the stainless steel finish without the obnoxiously loud "boy racer" sound.

>>29112640
So long as the muffler has the same design, there should be virtually no difference in volume between stainless and steel, so as long as you keep the pipe size the same and copy the number of mufflers and resonators and the like, you shouldn't see much difference beyond the tone.

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Just couldn’t fit pic related on my rear coil spring 2006 civic. Was at it for about an hour and said fuck it, barely managed to fit the spring without that fuckkng shit. No I didn’t use any sort of spring compressing tools - I am scared of such potential power.

Is it over for me?

>>29112999
I couldn’t fit the spring onto the vehicle with the insulator pad on, so I removed the pad* is what I meant to convey

>>29112484
That’s normal. With RWD it’s easy to use the throttle to add slip angle at the rear to help bring the car around. Most RWD cars are balanced towards a bit of oversteer while FWD is generally massive understeer. As you’re straightening up, the rears stop slipping sideways and lock in. You do have to watch this when adding power because the butt waggle of the lock in discombobulates the suspension and makes it easier to break the rears loose, so while you weren’t on it hard enough to fishtail to start you can end up going sideways anyway.

>>29103310
fit and vibe/matrix are good choices
would add the panthers to the list. crown vic and grand marquis
also look for 3800 gms. buick regal, pontiac grand prix, chevy impala/monte carlo. though these will be difficult to find without rust or other issues

>>29103474
this could be anything from the brake system to the transfer case to the transmission.

or all of the above and it’s a power management issue which causes that cascading problem.

an obd scanner is a good start but you may need a multimeter once you figure out whether its voltage related or not

>>29111762
absent having a network or someone you already know, just talk to people. talk to coworkers, your neighbors, the people at the gas station, the waitress at the local diner. chances are one of them will know someone and you can then cross reference it with google reviews or whatever.

what the fuck is with retards driving cars with LED headlights coming across other people with LED headlights (me) and assuming their highbeams are on and doing faggot shit like flashing their high beams right before they pass.
we have the same type of light you fucking cunt, if yours aren't on why would mine be on


what kind of boomer faggot bitchmade behaviors is this?

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Where should I place the jack and the jack stands? If I remember correctly, I had placed the jack stand on the pinch weld and it bent slightly. Is that only meant for lifting the car?

>>29112352
If you don't want it I'll buy it

>>29110498
I looked and it has only seven grooves. Thanks, anon.

>>29109075
Vent visors
>>29109826
I will rape you to death then resuscitate you just to beat you to death.
>>29109822
The last two vehicles i bought had every receipt for work done to it in the glove boxes. One still had the window sticker from 1997.

>>29114937
happy untangling <3

I'm trying to buy a new driver side headlight for my 2015 Kia optima. I've heard Korean models use different components compared to their American counterparts.
vin #: knagm4a77f5589255
I found this https://www.carparts.com/details/headlight/replacement/repk100182

what are the chances this fits with no problems?

>>29115085
50/50, either it does or it doesn't

>>29115085
Just get a used one from an auto salvage yard or a u-pull-it

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To the people that have restored engines that have sat for years, particularly single cylinder with ball main bearings, how bad was the rust when you opened up the cases or cylinder? I have an engine that is ready to have a new cylinder installed, but it juat occured to me that rust could have accumulated from sitting for unknown years. I took the valve cover off and the camshaft or cam bearings have no rust on them so I take that as a good sign.

>>29115506
Depends entirely on where and how it's been stored. If it's been indoors since it was laid up, then it *should* be fine, but if it's been sat outside, I wouldn't take that chance. Drain the oil and see if any water comes out, if not, you might be fine.

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>>29102887
What are people's takes on air fresheners or strategies for keeping your car smelling nice and fresh, aside from obviously cleaning it? I've found most air fresheners are just diffusers containing offensive perfumes. None actually help remove unpleasant odors.

I've found that using cabin filters with activated charcoal works really well. They are only marginally more expensive than standard cabin filters, and they tend to work for a good 4-6 months before they need replacing. I'd prefer to change my cabin filter twice per year rather than buy air fresheners that pollute the inside of the car.

>>29115563
No eating or drinking in the car.
Get a Bissel.

Once it’s clean it doesn’t smell.

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>>29102887
Failed my driving exam for a second time, I didn't do a complete sperg out like I did the first one.
I'm driving in the UK, things are fucked here, the issue is quite frankly, I feel as though my Driving teacher is nitpicking me to the point where I literally went to the test centre and said I don't know how to indicate, I don't know how to park, a complete mental implosion, this is after 45hrs of driving.

Unironically considering getting an illegal e-bike and learning the rules that way, as right now it's like they don't even fucking exist, which is crazy as I used to navigate dual carriageway roundabouts on a PEDAL BIKE at 16 and obey and simply knew what to do at junctions and followed the instructions without being told, it felt like common sense.

Whilst it is random allocation, I am a certified FOID hater, I'm wondering if in the special needs tab I should write I was molested by a woman as a kid to get a male examiner, two women in a row... two fails... coincidence? Definitely, the second one was extremely chill and fair, but I'm still extremely uncomfortable as I don't work or interact with women any more due to my work.

>>29115791
next time remember to jack off before the exam

>>29115794
Kek, I just, Anon, what actually niggles me is now that I think about it is that I had zero fear on my pedal bike, yet everything in a car feels wrong and after a point it's just acknowledging that it is a bit of oil and water between me and the instructor.

I want to enjoy driving, I want to like it but fuck the UK is nightmare fuel to me. Saw the roads in Germany and Poland and I just felt like if I were in the US or literally *ANYWHERE* else I would have passed by now with way less issues.

>>29115533
As far as I know it sat outside in the Florida weather. I drained the oil already and didn't see water. Only specs of surface rust on the valves in the exhaust port though.

>>29116315
>Only specs of surface rust on the valves in the exhaust port though.
I'd somewhat expect surface rust on the port side of the valve, but rust being there at all is a mild concern as it might have seeped further onto the valve seat, possibly stopping the valve from sealing properly. Honestly, if the engine has been sat outside for a significant amount of time, I'd personally tear the whole thing down just to double check everything, especially if it already needs a cylinder anyway.

>>29115791
>complete sperg out like I did the first one.
>I feel as though my Driving teacher is nitpicking
>considering getting an illegal e-bike
>I am a certified FOID hater
>two women in a row... two fails... coincidence?
>I don't work or interact with women any more due to my work

Based UK instructors keeping dangerous autistic retards off the road.

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Am I a faggot for thinking the 3rd gen hyundai accent hatch was an especially good looking economy car?

>>29117107
>especially good looking
Not the words I would use, but beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

>>29117107
Yes you are and that opinion is only one of the reasons

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first time car owner here
where do you draw the line/balance between "drive it till it dies" and throwing money at repairs?
i have a 2015 jeep that ive paid a lot of money into over the years replacing tires, suspension, brakes, evap system stuff, ignition, etc... probably as much if not more than what I originally got the thing for on a loan.
the suspension especially seems to need major repairs every 2 - 3 years. Im at the point where i wonder if i should bother shelling out another couple grand or just junk it and get something else the next time it happens.
surprisingly the CVT has held up and not had any issues at all... yet.

>why dont you wrench on it yourself
I have neither the tools nor the space to do so, its street parking only where Im at currently. I also dont have a backup vehicle to get me around while Id be theoretically working on it. though Id like to learn.

>>29117620
>jeep
brother, you should've sold that thing a long time ago. Shit heap brand. You own those and maintain those because you like the "jeep" life style, whatever the fuck that means.
I'd imagine the new broncos are way more reliable for the same experience if you care about that shit.

>>29117620
>jeep
>cvt
hahahahahahaha

>>29117620
Buy a Honda bro

thoughts on seat covers or steering wheel covers?

I'm buying an '04 Town Car soon as my first car, anything I need to check besides intake manifold and air suspension?

>>29117651
seat covers are gay(unless the seat damage is bad), steering wheel covers are based

>>29117692
Tire tread. AC blows cold. Dipstick. Underbody rust.

>>29117734
what are you some kind of lady with the fluffy wheel cover for your dainty fingers? Seat covers are great, they protect the seat fabric from your fat ass dragging across it a thousand times a year.

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is it a good idea to apply for a job at an o'reilly auto parts? asking this because of stuff like potential employee benefits when it comes to car shit(whenever i get enough money to afford one) and because it's the one place in walking distance that probably won't have me interacting with effectively 500 personality-clones of my grandmother every day.

>>29117734
I used to use a steering wheel cover until it slipped while I was turning and I almost went in a ditch.

>>29117736
i used to use one because the wheel felt too small in the baseball mitts that some call hands
>>29117789
if it isn't a huge pain in the ass to put on it's gonna slip for sure

>>29117817
It was, in fact, a huge pain in the ass to put on

I was told I have a rear shock leaking oil. How long could it possibly last before needing to be replaced? Any chance it could last the winter?

>>29117632
Im aware of their reputation now, though i wasnt when i got it in 2020. back then I was in a spot where I needed something asap, but something more reliable than a 1k beater. no credit history, no cash to buy something outright, and it was the only thing i could get on a loan and wasn't 200k+ miles.
now its almost 200k and the suspension feels like its made of cardboard. im very much over it

>>29117645
i know i know. its not even 4wd either.

>>29117877
when a shock goes completely bad, it will allow your wheel to bounce. The bouncing body can mostly be ignored, but the wheel bounce can make you wreck. I had a bad rear shock on a 92 subaru, there's this one freeway exit I use with a curve where the inside wheel would get into a resonance cascade and start bouncing, I could feel the weight of the car shift over to the non-bouncing rear tire and flex the sidewalls a bunch. I've also seen people driving on the freeway with a bad shock and tire out of balance so bad you could see daylight under the tire when it would lift up.

>>29117878
I would get rid of it and buy a make and model that’s known for being reliable. Especially if small shit keeps piling up. But car notes are expensive so the math probably works out to keeping it running unless something big breaks or if it costs you more than $3500 a year…at a maximum. I think just about any new $40k Toyota pencils if you keep it for a while.

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Does anyone make a higher quality version of these rod ends with the pressed in studs?

The ones on my sway bar loosened up instantly and now make a lot of noise.

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where the fuck do you buy whole door assemblies for a forty-year-old car? do i just have to go to scrapyards and hope they have a chevy celebrity i can nick a whole door off of?

>>29117692
You guys able to look at a video and see if there's something immediately wrong with an engine? Here's a video from the seller.

https://files.catbox.moe/82eiw9.mp4

Other than checking fluids I don't know what to look for, or more importantly, listen for. I've been watching lots and lots of videos but it's different in-person. It looks like it's been sitting for awhile. Paint isn't faded but there's a little but of mold to clean off, which is fine. There's some pine needles in the video. The interior is near mint except for a bit on the steering wheel.

Any Aussies/Kiwis able to weigh in on minivan/MPV offerings? Not wanting a crossover, but not sure what's good down here.

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>>29109712
I am a retarded individual and I confused inner rods with suspension ball joints.
car is gettin some fixing tho.

>>29116786
The thing is Anon, what upsets me most is, I already feel like a massive Nigger for failing my theory 7 times I think.
I legitimately think I'm going to be disgusted when I do eventually pass.

It's weird, despite there being a literal highway code, it basically feels theoretical

I just can't escape the feeling of utter shame of it all.

>>29119166
Sorry I think I took my THEORY 7 times passed on my 4/5th, and it lapsed because there were no tests.
Currently about to take my 3rd driving practical which even writing that out anonymously makes me want to kill myself out of shame.

Like I just feel like a retard. I'm sure when I get a male examiner I'll pass with flying colours

>>29118509
those are heim joints, they all squeak. You stop the squeak by putting grease on it or switching to a different style of joint.

>>29118577
Easier to check car-part.com than to check with each individual dismantler.

>>29119210
The noise is a knocking noise because of how loose they are.

>>29119227
well that's not supposed to happen. What car?

>>29119239
Offroad vehicle
They are 3/8 fine thread. Is there a source for higher quality ones? Or do I have to use normal 3 piece joints with spacers and bolts to get a higher quality joint.

>>29119249
you didn't answer what car, how am I supposed to google your car and sway bar links for you without that information?

>>29119249
also you should post a picture of the joint on your offroad vehicle that is making the noise

>>29119253
>>29119257
>let me google if for you
Forget it, normie. I already did that.

>>29119261
well then I'll just accuse you of improperly installing the part. You either ruined it during the install or crossthreaded it and now your shit's fucked forever. Also you didn't grease it like you should have.

>>29119166
>>29119169
Anon, what you're feeling is perfectly valid and also correct. (You) ARE a retarded nigger. (You) SHOULD feel shame and disgust. Don't try to kill yourself though, you'd only fuck that up four or five times first and cause a bunch of trouble for emergency services.

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>>28468085
This isn't a question, it is an answer: It was either a 2005, 2006, or 2007 Toyota Sienna.

The difference between not having your clutch burnt or burning it are the RPMs applied, right?

>>29119851
My understanding is that it gets burnt by being halfway engaged, and that you can't burn it if the clutch pedal is fully depressed. I'm sure someone will correct me. When I launch, I try to release the clutch pedal as quickly as possible (although not so quick that it jerks the car).

>>29119851
If the clutch is making contact with the flywheel even partially and the wheels aren't spinning at the same rate as the flywheel (considering gear ratio), then the clutch is slipping. If the clutch is slipping it's generating heat due to friction between it and the flywheel. The more dramatic the difference, the more heat, which more or less means higher engine rpm equals drastically more heat. And finally, more heat equals more clutch wear. Also consider that heat generated is a function of time, so slipping the clutch for a prolonged amount of time is bad even at moderate to low rpms, hence why using the engine to keep a car still in an incline is not a good idea.

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Are muscle cars simply grand tourers but cheaper?

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>>29119971
yes, in the same way that boys are simply girls but with penits

Should I buy a 200k volvo 240 as my daily or will I regret it?

I have no daily commute and my wife owns a reliable car.

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What's a realistic price I could sell my 05 GTO for? 27k miles? Interior is clean minus the back seat storage areas starting to disconnect from the seat and one window switch being broken. Thinking about buying a GR86 instead am I retarted?

What kind of cover should I get to park my bmw 135i outside for the winter up north with lots of snow?

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My car has been at the mechanics for a week and I'm afraid to call and find out how much I owe.

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is the outer race of this bearing hub the same piece as the mounting flange? It's from a 2017 elantra
I was getting excited about bearing dimensions thinking I could just press a slightly different bearing with the same OD in there but it looks like one piece now

>>29120355
Looks like a one piece hub/bearing to me. RockAuto has separate bearings, but they don't look like they would fit that so I'm not sure what they're for.

>>29120386
I'm now thinking I can use the 2016 elantra knuckle (which seems much more rare) as it has a press fit 78 mm bearing
it looks like it will mount to the same ball joint, maaaaybe the same strut mount and tie rod mount.
Im just thinking about when I reach the end of my shitlantras engine life maybe I will do a k swap instead of replace the Hyundai engine as it seems to be more easily available
the stock 2018 civic wheel bearing is slightly wider so won't fit under the snap ring but they sell one with the correct OD, ID and 40mm width https://www.tradebearings.com/jx6c-1215-c1c-angular-contact-ball-bearing-43x78x40mm-product-365497.html
after then it should be just a matter of cutting down the civic hub flange 4mm
idk maybe this is too much to make a slightly more reliable shitbox

>>29120412
This seems like a lot of effort when the hub in your pic is ~$75 on RockAuto
Those tapered bolt on ones are super easy too, no pressing required, just a sledge to knock the old one out if you live in an area with rust

>>29120441
it's to use civic CVs, which won't fit the Hyundai bearing hub spline

>>29119854
>>29119877
Thank you anons, I guess my understanding was incomplete in relation to how clutch wear happens.
I know everything mechanic does wear out with use and time, but I have to wonder if you can compare a clutch + flywheel kit being used by a terrible driver against a torque converter simply doing its job, which one lasts longer, I mean.

>>29120228
A garage.
>>29120329
Either grow a pair and call or just sign the title over and give them the car. Because if you don't pay for the work they'll get a mechanic's lien and take it.

>>29103474
Check out your ABS or wheel speed sensors. Cracked plastic or rusty debris under the mag sensor.

>>29120444
Could you order custom CVs that will fit the civic trans and hyundai bearings?

>>29120513
My garage is full.

Why are shows called Top Gear and Fifth Gear if that's the least fun gear?

>>29121137
Third gear doesn't sound as bombastic

>>29118509
heim joints on an offroad vehicle is a terrible idea since they wear absolutely incredibly fast from just outdoor stuff like dirt
plus on an offroad vehicle, they loosen super fast from the back/forth motion
you should switch to something specifically made for offroad. maybe a johnny joint

>need to get tires swapped, bleed brakes, change oil
>just moved out from mommy and daddy's house so i have zero tools
is there anything wrong with buying all the tools i need from harbor freight and then replacing them with nicer ones if they break? i really dont want to spend $300 on a pair of ramps or $200 on a torque wrench when the harbor freight one costs 1/5th that
the only thing i wont cheap out on is jackstands

>>29121455
There's nothing wrong with HF. Plenty of professional mechanics use HF tools.