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4968 messages, Last post on Dec 06, 2009 at 4:49 PM

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#4776 of 4968 still working on leaks, suprise mpg increase by dave8697 Apr 04, 2009 (6:54 pm)
Update on 1998 Astro with 115,000 miles that had an oil leak at crimp in oil cooler line. Just took it on 1050 mile trip after adding stop leak to oil and coolant. Got home and checked under it and no leaks after about 1/2 hour parked. Just in case, I called and the local NAPA store can get me the Sonoma PS flex hose line for $30. Maybe they can get me the Astro oil line for not much more. The gas mileage was great on the trip. Still need to go top it off but expect the total trip avg. to top 23 mpg. That is within one mpg of my dad's new 4.0 liter 2008 Pacifica recent trip mpg and nearly matches the trip I took in the Astro a month after I first got it, 11 yrs ago.
#4777 of 4968 Re: Tranny problem [carguy89] by okko1 Apr 05, 2009 (8:24 am)
Replying to: carguy89 (Apr 01, 2009 6:34 pm) it is not a bad idea to change tranny fluid after a break-in period. as for metal shavings in the pan or on the plug this is common in all new trannys. sounds like somebody trying to sell a service to me.
#4778 of 4968 FJ40 Vin Number Search by wsome001 Apr 07, 2009 (12:12 pm)
My 1974 Land Cruiser FJ40 needs help!! California requires at least two VIN numbers to register an out of state vehicle. I have the one on the driver's door. The one on the firewall is illegible. The engine is a swap out, so no VIN there. The one on the right frame rail behind the bumper has been welded over with a bracket. There is no VIN at the bottom of the windshield. Please help! Is there a VIN on the tranny, transfer case, or differentials? Or somewhere else on the chassis? Where? Any help is appreciated. William Replies to this message: Mr_Shiftright (Apr 07, 2009 1:45 pm) wsome001 (Apr 08, 2009 12:29 pm) Mr_Shiftright (Apr 08, 2009 2:33 pm)
#4779 of 4968 Re: FJ40 Vin Number Search [wsome001] by Mr_Shiftright HOST Apr 07, 2009 (1:45 pm)
Replying to: wsome001 (Apr 07, 2009 12:12 pm) Actually, and I don't mean this in any way as a criticism, your vehicle sounds worthy of suspicion. You should have a VIN under the windshield, and that's missing...you should have something on the firewall, and that is "illegible". And the one on the frame rail is "welded over". That's a lot of co-incidences. Are we getting a message here? Have you owned this vehicle a long time? You may need to get a bond on this puppy or else California will tell you to take a hike. Replies to this message: wsome001 (Apr 08, 2009 12:29 pm) Mr_Shiftright (Apr 08, 2009 2:33 pm)
#4780 of 4968 CVT transmissions. by jipster Apr 08, 2009 (3:52 am)
I guess they've been out for about 5 years now. Any idea on reliability compared to a regular auto. trans? Are the things rebuilt, overhauled, or just replaced when they breakdown? Cost to rebuild as opposed to a reg. auto trans?
#4781 of 4968 Re: FJ40 Vin Number Search [Mr_Shiftright] by wsome001 Apr 08, 2009 (12:29 pm)
Replying to: Mr_Shiftright (Apr 07, 2009 1:45 pm) Well, I have had this vehicle about 8 years, and had it registered in Ca before, only last time, they didn't care about the missing VIN. The VIN that was welded over ocurred when a six inch lift was installed and a large spring leaf bracket was installed. The bracket is on top of most of the VIN, although you can still see some of it. It's possible that this vehicle has a shady past, I wouldn't know. I have the title, and I didn't think of VIN numbers back then, I was barely an adult at the time and didn't know anything. What does it mean to have it "bonded?" How do I do that? Replies to this message: Mr_Shiftright (Apr 08, 2009 2:33 pm)
#4782 of 4968 Re: FJ40 Vin Number Search [wsome001] by Mr_Shiftright HOST Apr 08, 2009 (2:33 pm)
Replying to: wsome001 (Apr 08, 2009 12:29 pm) Well if you can see part of the VIN, that should be enough for the inspector. Depends on how much is visible. Why don't you call California CHP and ask them? They often do these inspections and they know the rules. You can call anonymously on their information line. Bonding means you take out a bond for the value of the vehicle that guarantees the vehicle is not stolen. I'm kind of surprised they are hassling you if you have the old title. Sometimes one hand at DMV doesn't know what the other hand is doing or saying.
#4783 of 4968 strut repair question by richardstew Apr 13, 2009 (10:20 pm)
im planing on fixing my 2001 bmw 330i's front struts by replacing them the heinz repair manual is going to be my guide but i was told i would need some sort of clamp for removing and installing the struts is this true? or is following the manual the ok way of changing them. Replies to this message: kiawah (Apr 14, 2009 4:00 am)
#4784 of 4968 Re: strut repair question [richardstew] by kiawah Apr 14, 2009 (4:00 am)
Replying to: richardstew (Apr 13, 2009 10:20 pm) If you haven't done it before, I'd suggest just taking it somewhere to do. Lots of garages will do struts, even tire chains like National Tire Discount. I've done struts a number of times for my vehicles over the year, and just paid the last time. I don't know specifically about BMW, but I assume they're like any other strut, basically a compressed spring over top of a strengthed shock. The problem with doing it yourself, is even with the strut in a fully extended position (maximum length), the spring is compressed and is putting tension on the strut to extend it out to it's maximum length. If you just start unbolting things, at some point the parts and spring will break loose and send metal parts flying. You'll loose body parts you would rather have kept for a couple more years. The strut spring tool, allows you to apply compression pressure to the already compressed spring, so you then can unbolt it from the underlying shock. You put in the new shock, align everything properly, bolt the spring back on, and then slowly undo the spring tool. You can do it safely, but take care and make sure you get all the parts put back in exactly the same rotation that they came off in. A number of vehicles have had alignment problems and had to issue TSB's, when the strut was not assembled correctly at the factory. When I was at NTB getting tires and had the struts done, the guy had a tool bolted on the wall that held the whole strut, and with one movement of the large lever safely compressed the strut hold all the pieces in alignment, so that he could easily replace the shock. Very slick. You may want to investigate whether a shop would change the shock out of the strut for you at some minimal price, and then you mount the strut in the vehicle if you want to do that piece.
#4785 of 4968 Timimg Belt by oldfarmer50 Apr 14, 2009 (10:46 am)
Can anyone tell me when the timing belt should be changed on a Chrysler Cirrus with the Mitsubishi built 2.5L engine (6G73). Owners manual says nothing. Mitsu dealer says 60K on all their engines. Found an internet source that says 90K. Also, is that engine an interference type or not? Replies to this message: obyone (Apr 14, 2009 6:35 pm) bolivar (Apr 15, 2009 2:51 am)