What have you done to your vehicle today?

Got 2 new rear sensors to fit now what a pain to get to them all the screws panels that have to come out. Inner rear wheel well cover inside plastic side panal rear light cluster all to get to the the screws to pull the bumper
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My friend needed a rear light bulb which meant taking the whole wing apart. He went to Halfords, paid a fiver and the bloke told him to wait. A few minutes later, a very petit young woman came out, put her tiny hand through a gap and changed the bulb in about two minutes! My friend wasn't quite sure what to think lol.
 
Done a bit of idle tuning. As occasionally it could stall when slowing down to a junction.
There and many ECU parameters to do with idle. One bring through STIT variable, this is a tweak value of the IAC is the idle rpm didn't match the target.
Just needed to log the STIT value while running from cold to warm in the garage. Use these values to modify the desired air flow table.
After that done a few hot starts, all working perfect. Should have done this ages ago. Real test will be on the next drive.
 
Duster failed it's mot on track rod ends so job for today replace them both nice easy job for a change car back on road with retest today.
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I was sure you hadn't done the track rod ends on Duster to long ago, maybe it was the van.

Looks like you done track rod ends on the Audi in April last year:- https://www.solent-renegades.co.uk/...your-vehicle-today.12964/page-139#post-130120

Van or duster in Jan 2023:- https://www.solent-renegades.co.uk/...-done-to-your-vehicle-today.12964/post-123302

Possibly TA in March 2021:- https://www.solent-renegades.co.uk/...-done-to-your-vehicle-today.12964/post-123302

Mustang Nov 2020:- https://www.solent-renegades.co.uk/...-done-to-your-vehicle-today.12964/post-106399

April 2017 you got rod end for something:- https://www.solent-renegades.co.uk/threads/new-rockauto-discount-code.25635/post-70083

You do like changing the track rod ends. lol, changing them that often they should come off easy.
 
Thats a good find the Duster had 2 lots now I thought we had done them before dad dosnt alway keep the receipts he had hot a few bad pot holes lately and some of the single track roads are bad. Even the common where I post about the various animals on road at night time if another car comes along you move over good chance of hitting a pothole ot dropping into water ditch that flows along side of roads.
Looks like every car I had and evey car dad has had bar 1 has had track rods.

Yes the ramp was the best 3.5k with jacking beam I have spent. I don't get why more petrol head car people don't invest in a ramp of some discription if they have the room space. Friends near Shrewsbury are having a big garage built but no ramp they have 5 vechiles I keep saying about ramp they just say oh just use jack and axle stands we are not getting any younger it makes life so much easier working on vechiles and means you can do alot more on them as well. And save money by not paying garage labour costs..
 
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today i got my new carpet came from orange county carpets via sts imports. no picture as its still in the cardboard box . won't be fitted till winter just in case i might drive the ranchero again this year
 
Adding any sound dreading to floor pan before new carpet goes down.
 
yes i have a roll of it and the new carpet has a layer attached to it i will post a picture when i unwrap it.
 
Took TA out today to lake vynvrle and popped over to this bridge that I have posted about before
Still a rickaty bridge with the wooden slats 1 was missing. Nice back drop and nice area winter time all snowed in.
Bridge similar to the one in smoke and the bandit in design
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Recently I have noticed the water in the radiator going down a bit. Its since the intake install. Before that, it could be years about it needed to be topped up.
My main aim was to check the pipe that goes to the expansion pipe, its a small diameter pipe frm the top of the radiator, when the water eapands it goes into the expansion, and relys on suction to stuck it back when cooled. So a crack in the pipe would be an issue.
Removed the battery, ready to remove the expansion tank.
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A lot of sludge on the dip stick.
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Sludge in the pipe too. the expansion bottle never been out in 25 years, so a build up is expected I guess.
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Pipped in some fairy liquid, fulled with hotwater and used a compressor on the pipe, checked for leaks, but also created bubbles, making all the sludge move so it could be washed out.
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Rinsed out and popped back in the car. Not sure if that will effect the water loss, with a blocked pipe, perhaps water would go into the expansion and not enough suction for it to return. There are no visual leaks, even a cemera down the back of the engine, all looking fine. Something to keep an eye on. I dont think it is this small pipe leaking not as it took pressure from the compressor and no bubbles underwater.
 
What's the rad cap like it could be getting weak in its old age for a few quid worth changing
 
What's the rad cap like it could be getting weak in its old age for a few quid worth changing
Yes can certainly add that to the order next time I order from RockAuto. Still not ordered from them since I lost that £100(approx) order.
No evidence of any water leaks anywhere. However lost some in the rad, so it going somewhere. The waterpump runs from a pulley. I could run the waterpump from a power tool, get the water moving, although thermostat wont be open. Still gives me a chance to view all water joints on the engine. There are some right at the bakc of the intake. I can just about get my inspection camera in there after the engine had been running and nothing visual. Running cold with a power tool on the waterpump may tell me something.
 
Zapped in a new tune. Mainly checking g/s of air on idle, with this help with round town driving tune. Only small adjustments, so small, it needent be done, outsite temprature change will move things too. So I am within range.
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While data logging and it warming up. i got my endoscope out and was looking for waterleaks around the back of the engine. all pipes looking great and dry at the back.

Looking around the thermostat, other pipes, all looking fine. Then see water dropping on the floor. i was sort of happy to see this, as it would explain the slow loss of water.
Notice some drips of liquid.
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The endoscope up behind the waterpump i see water. Hard to see on a photo of the screen(saved the hassle of saving to an SD card then transfering to the PC) The far left and far right of the pump are gaskets where it joins to the engine. i couldn't see water around there.
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My last pump failed internally, and leaks out the bottom. It seems to be the same here.

View of the puddle from above.
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So went on Rockauto. Wanted to stick to AC Delco for the pump, and other useful bits. My pipes are original, no signs of leaking yet, but lets freshen them up. Also Darren mentioned about getting a new radiator cap. so ordered one of those too.
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UK roads are getting worse. At least it's a reasonable easy job.
 
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