Well - here is my new working theory for why the transmission hose popped off the radiator - in addition to the torque rod being shot (click this post's title to pop over and see the part i am talking about) i noticed this weekend that the car was overheating again. I was actually @ the carwash and saw the temp/pressure gauge going up. To make matters worse the wash kept failing while me and the little man were going through it, so i was kinda worried i was going to hit the red while is was in there. anyways, i pulled in front of the house, popped the hood and the fan wasn't blowing. Which made me crazy because i just replaced the thing. What had happend was the connector to the relay was slightly out (the locking tab is broken). I pushed it in and the fan kicked on. So my theory is that w/ the fan not going and the torque rod being gone was a combo that resulted in the hose loosening and pressure building.
I ordered the anti-torque rod today, will probably get it tmrw. And unfortunately i'll need to take it somewhere to put it in. I left my torque wrench up in maine and its too cold to do that kind of stuff right now on the street. so that's next on the list.
I'm also really concerned with the suspension - i have been feeling like the rear shocks are going and notice a bit of oil on one looking under the car the other day. So i need to make a decision on that - i want the bilstein touring shocks/struts but don't feel quite like dropping another 350-400 bucks. So i am trying to decide if i should just throw in some monroe or similar non performance parts. Oh well - in any event i'm driving like an old lady now. I will have to figure out my plan tho soon - next maine trip is in the beginning of feb so i will need to get sugerblack ready for the highway by then.
Monday, January 11, 2010
Friday, January 8, 2010
Thursday, January 7, 2010
tune up
of course i forgot to take pictures after i put in the new plugs and wires . . . but did take this one during the operation . . . i had left the car parked after the fiasco this sunday w/ the trans oil hose blowing off. So this morning i went under the hood and added a worm clamp on the hose, put the airbox back in and she started and drove just fine. I'm wondering if i should jack her up to take a closer look at the transmission mount or just order one from FCP. they have em for 37 bucks which is very reasonable. My gut is telling me to order it, and that i should pull codes or take the car over to Aamco or something.
anyways - car drove great into the office so i think i'll take my chances and drive to laguardia to pick up the wife and son fromt the airport tonight.
'
anyways - car drove great into the office so i think i'll take my chances and drive to laguardia to pick up the wife and son fromt the airport tonight.
'
Monday, January 4, 2010
xmas work & new years trip
sugerblack and i had a great visit from santa this year. We did the sparkplugs (platinum) the wires (ipd) and distributor (cap & rotator) i had the pcv done at a local mechanic (labor was 272) and saved myself a lot of money compared to the quotes i was getting from everyone else. I cleaned the engine & polished the manifold. Car drove so well after the work (except for some vibrating at about 80 - which i suspected was a transmission mount).
all was well - parked the car in long term parking and headed to atlanta. Yesterday we met a friend of my wife who showed up for brunch in an Audi r8 - a real supercar. then to a kids birthday party at dave & busters where i spent all my time driving super car simulators. so after a 3 hour delay i picked up the car, no wife & no baby and hit the bqe on a sunday night - i was living the dream baby - hauling. as i hit my exit, the first one on the prospect expressway with widespread panic blaring on the stereo i felt the car downshift (normal) and heard the engine revving (not normal). green light and a right onto 20th street - and no forward momentum, just rev when i pressed on throttle. Worried it was the timing belt (which i have been worrying about lately) i shut the car off and popped the hood - fluid everywhere. i noticed that there was a hose loose from the radiator on the diver's side near the battery but couldn't quite figure out why that would effect the transmission. I know now that the radiator services the transmission coolant & engine coolant.
Anyways - i was only 2 blocks from home but not somewhere i could leave the car so i called triple A - it was 10:35pm & 21 degrees. I was too afraid to run the engine for heat so i sat, and sat and sat. I called them again @ 11:30, they said the wrecker would be there @ 12:15. Called again at 1 am. @ 1:40 a wrecker came to tow me the 4 blocks to the service station by my house. 3 hours in 21 degree (6 with the windchill) i was violently shivering - even with the extra pair of socks i pulled out of my luggage.
This morning i went down to deal with it and jacked it to discover that in fact the transmission mount is blown. It could be that the vibrations caused the hose clamp to fail - could be that the guys at pepboys didn't install it properly when they did my radiator. In any event - it took more than 5 quarts of fluid to get it to engage again. I need to throw the airbox back on and put a worm clamp on the hose to secure it and look through the sites to see what i am going to do about repairs. not sure if i am should take it to the dealer for a real service but am leaning that way - or should do the guy in jersey or what. but boy - just when you are living the dream - cold cold reality brings you back. poor sugerblack
all was well - parked the car in long term parking and headed to atlanta. Yesterday we met a friend of my wife who showed up for brunch in an Audi r8 - a real supercar. then to a kids birthday party at dave & busters where i spent all my time driving super car simulators. so after a 3 hour delay i picked up the car, no wife & no baby and hit the bqe on a sunday night - i was living the dream baby - hauling. as i hit my exit, the first one on the prospect expressway with widespread panic blaring on the stereo i felt the car downshift (normal) and heard the engine revving (not normal). green light and a right onto 20th street - and no forward momentum, just rev when i pressed on throttle. Worried it was the timing belt (which i have been worrying about lately) i shut the car off and popped the hood - fluid everywhere. i noticed that there was a hose loose from the radiator on the diver's side near the battery but couldn't quite figure out why that would effect the transmission. I know now that the radiator services the transmission coolant & engine coolant.
Anyways - i was only 2 blocks from home but not somewhere i could leave the car so i called triple A - it was 10:35pm & 21 degrees. I was too afraid to run the engine for heat so i sat, and sat and sat. I called them again @ 11:30, they said the wrecker would be there @ 12:15. Called again at 1 am. @ 1:40 a wrecker came to tow me the 4 blocks to the service station by my house. 3 hours in 21 degree (6 with the windchill) i was violently shivering - even with the extra pair of socks i pulled out of my luggage.
This morning i went down to deal with it and jacked it to discover that in fact the transmission mount is blown. It could be that the vibrations caused the hose clamp to fail - could be that the guys at pepboys didn't install it properly when they did my radiator. In any event - it took more than 5 quarts of fluid to get it to engage again. I need to throw the airbox back on and put a worm clamp on the hose to secure it and look through the sites to see what i am going to do about repairs. not sure if i am should take it to the dealer for a real service but am leaning that way - or should do the guy in jersey or what. but boy - just when you are living the dream - cold cold reality brings you back. poor sugerblack
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