Auto repairs...

[flyfisher]

I have always worked on my vehicles which primarily have been Jeeps.  Easy to work on with lots of space and tons of aftermarket parts out there.  Last Jeep I had I had to get rid of to make some money numbers work for a house we were buying based o nteh payment even though I was paying double the payment each month....another story for another thread.  Anyways so I end up getting a 2012 mini cooper countryman ALL4S about 6 years ago which is surprisingly roomy and all around a solid driving car as it should be since it is pretty much a BMW.  Abolut 15k in to me owning it, it needed a thermostat cover replaced.  Not a big deal on every car i have worked one well that changed with this one...looked like an artificial heart and i needed the hands of a child to work in the engine compartment.  I got it done and vowed to never do work on it myself again.

 

Fast forward to having 125k miles on the clock and i notice a loss of power at highway speeds and a small oil drip up front.  There was also a very strange occurrence of oil light coming on at higher RPM and not lower....strange and opposite of what I knew so I started researching and called a few shops that specialize in Mini vehicles.  They all said it would 99% most likely be the turbo and I got quotes in the 3-4k range....well my vow to not work on it again was broken as I picked up the pars for about 1500 and fixed and did some other routine maintenance like coil packs plugs air filter oil change etc...

 

It was one of the most difficult things I ever did on a vehicle and not because of the complexity but because of the lack of space.  Took me roughly 10 hours or so and all was good until I started it and have a major exhaust leak.   Then I remembered a plate that I put in the wrong spot....so I had the pleasure of basically doing about 90% of it again but this time took about 4 hours as i knew how to contort my body to access bolts.

 

Car is running great now and the power loss was gradual so it wasn't as noticeable.  One thing I will say is that them building the car is they used similar sized bolts with 10mm being the most common.  I don't think, other than the O2 sensors I needed anything but a 10,11,12,13mm socket so that was nice.

 

No weird oil leak or check engine light now either so it was well worth the time spent and I will NEVER do it again........

[casts_by_fly]

3 hours ago, flyfisher said:

No weird oil leak or check engine light now either so it was well worth the time spent and I will NEVER do it again........

until the next time. Knowing what you’re doing and then paying someone to do what you know how to do yourself isn’t going to fly unless they are so cheap you can’t say no.

[Jig Man]

God made mechanics so I wouldn’t have to do that kind of thing.  I don’t even raise the hood on my truck though I am sure there is a motor in there somewhere.

[flyfisher]

3 hours ago, casts_by_fly said:

until the next time. Knowing what you’re doing and then paying someone to do what you know how to do yourself isn’t going to fly unless they are so cheap you can’t say no.

I figure this one lasted 130k miles and i don't think i will have the car another 130k.  I do have an issue paying someone to do something I can do though and that goes for all kinds of stuff.

[TnRiver46]

Kudos man, I wish I could replace more

stuff on my truck. I’ll bring it up and you can start next week @flyfisher???

[Bird]

Certainly agree, especially older Jeeps, easy to work on....... love the 4.0.

 

Ironically this thread pops up.

My wife's car " 2017 Hyundai Santa Fe" throws an engine code for a cylinder 3 misfire at only 78K.

I replaced plugs, no help, I run a compression test........blown piston rings ☹️.

 

Told the wife to drive my Jeep while I tear the head off to replace rings on all 6 cylinders.

She absolutely detests driving the Jeep.

 

She came home today with a Honda CR-V. ......true story.

 

[TnRiver46]

10 minutes ago, Bird said:

Certainly agree, especially older Jeeps, easy to work on....... love the 4.0.

 

Ironically this thread pops up.

My wife's car " 2017 Hyundai Santa Fe" throws an engine code for a cylinder 3 misfire at only 78K.

I replaced plugs, no help, I run a compression test........blown piston rings ☹️.

 

Told the wife to drive my Jeep while I tear the head off to replace rings on all 6 cylinders.

She absolutely detests driving the Jeep.

 

She came home today with a Honda CR-V. ......true story.

 

 

im sorry that one got me……..

 

but Honda does make a better car that’s for sure 

[Bird]

44 minutes ago, TnRiver46 said:

 

im sorry that one got me……..

 

but Honda does make a better car that’s for sure 

Yeah I laughed at her.......said wow your impatient.

[volzfan59]

I don't even try to work on these new cars. I used to build and maintain my own race cars and worked on our family cars, but these new ones? Nope. For the most part, you have to have special tools, computers, etc.

[flyfisher]

15 hours ago, volzfan59 said:

I don't even try to work on these new cars. I used to build and maintain my own race cars and worked on our family cars, but these new ones? Nope. For the most part, you have to have special tools, computers, etc.

mine is a 2012 so there are some computer things but not like the newer vehicles.  I did get a cheap code reader and it works for the codes and even resetting them so that is kind of nice to have.

 

18 hours ago, TnRiver46 said:

Kudos man, I wish I could replace more

stuff on my truck. I’ll bring it up and you can start next week @flyfisher???

Sure, what are you trying to get done?  Bring the kayak and we can go fishing   

18 hours ago, Bird said:

Certainly agree, especially older Jeeps, easy to work on....... love the 4.0.

 

Ironically this thread pops up.

My wife's car " 2017 Hyundai Santa Fe" throws an engine code for a cylinder 3 misfire at only 78K.

I replaced plugs, no help, I run a compression test........blown piston rings ☹️.

 

Told the wife to drive my Jeep while I tear the head off to replace rings on all 6 cylinders.

She absolutely detests driving the Jeep.

 

She came home today with a Honda CR-V. ......true story.

 

I haven't done anything that drastic and probably wouldn't as I don't have an extra vehicle to use while that one would sit and no garage to work in.  I'd like to get to that level at some point but I'd need to build an outbuilding first

[J Francho]

I'll be replacing the rotors and pads on my wife's Toyota this weekend.  It usually takes about 90 minutes.

[flyfisher]

13 minutes ago, J Francho said:

I'll be replacing the rotors and pads on my wife's Toyota this weekend.  It usually takes about 90 minutes.

Brakes are one of those things that when you do them once you are like why do I ever pay anyone to do these.

[J Francho]

Unless they're drums. Then I pay someone else. I'm too old to be bothered. 

[MN Fisher]

1 minute ago, J Francho said:

Unless they're drums. Then I pay someone else. I'm too old to be bothered. 

Last fall, my neighbor helped me re-do the brakes on the Silverado...everything got replaced - master cylinder, lines, calipers, rotors...the works.

 

Took us a whole weekend, but boy did it save money on labor.

[J Francho]

The last job I did on my truck was the oil cooling lines. What a pain. I had to take the front wheel driveshaft off and even then it's a bear. 

[flyfisher]

15 minutes ago, J Francho said:

Unless they're drums. Then I pay someone else. I'm too old to be bothered. 

Do any vehicles have drums any more?  I do agree though they are the worst.  I did them once on my 95 wrangler and it was not a pleasant experience.

[GReb]

My wife has a 2019 Countryman. She loves it but I told her when the warranty runs out next summer she’s going to have to find a new ride. I learned owning a BMW that once they get to 100k miles it gets more expensive to fix than buying a new one. And as you mentioned a Mini is just a different looking BMW. Kudos to you for fixing it yourself. The Germans do not agree with your decisions lol

[Bird]

1 hour ago, flyfisher said:

mine is a 2012 so there are some computer things but not like the newer vehicles.  I did get a cheap code reader and it works for the codes and even resetting them so that is kind of nice to have.

 

Sure, what are you trying to get done?  Bring the kayak and we can go fishing   

I haven't done anything that drastic and probably wouldn't as I don't have an extra vehicle to use while that one would sit and no garage to work in.  I'd like to get to that level at some point but I'd need to build an outbuilding first

Thankfully I never had to attempt a repair as the wife sold the car to one of those " we buy your car" places in the city.

She was upfront and disclosed it had a bad cylinder.

Hope they do the right thing and not blindside an innocent buyer. Idk

[flyfisher]

1 minute ago, GReb said:

My wife has a 2019 Countryman. She loves it but I told her when the warranty runs out next summer she’s going to have to find a new ride. I learned owning a BMW that once they get to 100k miles it gets more expensive to fix than buying a new one. And as you mentioned a Mini is just a different looking BMW. Kudos to you for fixing it yourself. The Germans do not agree with your decisions lol

Yeah I actually like my countryman.  I rented a car while I worked on this one and it was a new Mazda CX5 and I was not impressed at all.  It had more creature comforts than mine but the performance and handling was severley lacking.  

[J Francho]

12 minutes ago, flyfisher said:

Do any vehicles have drums any more?  I do agree though they are the worst.  I did them once on my 95 wrangler and it was not a pleasant experience.

They are part of the towing package on my 2010 Sierra. 

[GReb]

32 minutes ago, flyfisher said:

Yeah I actually like my countryman.  I rented a car while I worked on this one and it was a new Mazda CX5 and I was not impressed at all.  It had more creature comforts than mine but the performance and handling was severley lacking.  

They really are the ultimate driving machine. Until you have to drive more than 2 or 3 hours at once. 

[Woody B]

20 hours ago, Bird said:

Certainly agree, especially older Jeeps, easy to work on....... love the 4.0.

 

Ironically this thread pops up.

My wife's car " 2017 Hyundai Santa Fe" throws an engine code for a cylinder 3 misfire at only 78K.

I replaced plugs, no help, I run a compression test........blown piston rings ☹️.

 

Told the wife to drive my Jeep while I tear the head off to replace rings on all 6 cylinders.

She absolutely detests driving the Jeep.

 

She came home today with a Honda CR-V. ......true story.

 

Hyundai has a special policy/extended warranty on many of their engines.  Call a dealer with your VIN and see if it's covered.   

 

 

[Bird]

2 hours ago, Woody B said:

Hyundai has a special policy/extended warranty on many of their engines.  Call a dealer with your VIN and see if it's covered.   

 

 

You are correct but unfortunately our vehicle didn't meet the criteria for the extended warranty.

We bought both of our daughters Hyundai apon graduation and they were excellent cars, nothing bad to say.

Wife is very happy with the current Honda.

Thankyou for your insight ?

[TnRiver46]

5 hours ago, flyfisher said:

mine is a 2012 so there are some computer things but not like the newer vehicles.  I did get a cheap code reader and it works for the codes and even resetting them so that is kind of nice to have.

 

Sure, what are you trying to get done?  Bring the kayak and we can go fishing   

I haven't done anything that drastic and probably wouldn't as I don't have an extra vehicle to use while that one would sit and no garage to work in.  I'd like to get to that level at some point but I'd need to build an outbuilding first

I got squeaky creeky sounds over speed bumps or any bumps and squeaking when you turn the wheel 

[flyfisher]

11 hours ago, TnRiver46 said:

I got squeaky creeky sounds over speed bumps or any bumps and squeaking when you turn the wheel 

Sounds suspension like but you never know.  the sqeaking when turning the wheel could be a bunch of things unfortunately but the first thing I would check is power steering fluid and if all the steering stuff is lubricated like it should be.  I am no mechanic and I never stated at a Holiday Inn express so take this advice for what you paid for it lol