DIY visual inspection for dummies

15K steering Re: DIY visual inspection for dummies

I think I finally saw the steering stuff this time around. It's so well hidden inside the car that it's hard to imagine how it could be damaged. Some photos:

#1531 - looking from the driver side - relatively easier to see


#1532


#1533


#1534 - from passenger side - almost impossible to see

 

15K exhaust Re: DIY visual inspection for dummies

I saw some high heat spray primer and paint for the exhaust system and decided to give it a try and got it done back in August. I only did the tailpipe, the muffler and the piece of pipe upstream from it - those three seem to have rusted the worst.

It looks OK so far and let's wait and see if it will last this coming winter. Some photos:
#1541


#1542


#1543

 

15K fluid levels Re: DIY visual inspection for dummies - New filter & Fluid levels

Just to compare fluid levels:
#1551

#1552

#1553

 

Homemade ramps Re: DIY visual inspection for dummies

Haven't got a chance to show off my homemade ramps (4 of them) - might as well do it here.

#1561


#1562

 

Re: Homemade ramps Re: DIY visual inspection for dummies

Thanks! I will look for the hole next time and post photos.

Uh, except the possible oil leak on the back of the engine block that I posted in a separate thread. I have wiped the area and have been watching to see if the oil droplets come back:

Thanks! Only about 2K miles, and it hasn't seen winter yet - it may all peel after the winter - we will see. The wheel wells were much dirtier compared to last time - we have been getting more rain and the mud deposits form some interesting stripe patterns on the wheel well wall. I hope I will have time to do a quick spray before the winter comes.

Thanks! Is there a particular brand of silicone spray you use? I was afraid that the solvent or oil used in the spray may actually attack the rubber, but your good experience with the Insight is worth considering - how many years for the 289K miles?

Thanks! The "stopper" is on the endless "to do" list. And yes I do use chocks, either with ramps or jack lifts/stands.

 

Re: Homemade ramps Re: DIY visual inspection for dummies

Now it's about 6K miles since painted and a winter has passed.
The other day while the car was up on the lift in the shop I managed to snap a picture before getting caught by the service adviser and being lectured on "insurance does not allow customer in shop". :nono: :redface:



The paint seems to hold up better than I had expected. More pictures to come when I do the 20K service.

 

20K mile photos

Just rotated tires at 21232 miles and took a bunch of pictures. I am not going to repeat posting everything, just some new and interesting ones.

Thanks to Patrick's instruction I finally learned to look through the small hole at the inside pads for the front brakes. They looked nice and thick but it's really difficult to take good pictures. Here are the best I could manage: right front brake:


left front brake:


The high heat paint on the muffler unfortunately has started to peel and also there are rusts showing through:


The wheel wells had thick mud caking and I casually cleaned them a little bit: before:


after:


Before crawling under the car to take picture of the oil droplets under the ICE I stacked two of my home made solid wood ramps under the cross member as a backup for the jack stands:


The leak is really slow. This is more than 2000 miles after the dealer wiped everything clean and put dye in the oil:


My homemade wood+rubber pads for the jack stands and the jack:

 

Engine water pump pulley

The inside of the engine water pump pulley may be checked periodically for coolant leaks:

 

Re: Engine water pump pulley

Thanks for pointing it out. The timing chain cover was resealed by the dealer under warranty recently thus the excess sealant.

 

30K inspection items

Getting ready for 30K miles inspection. There are some new ones:

__ Automatic transmission fluid
__ Ball joints and dust covers
__ Brake lines and hoses
__ Brake linings/drums and brake pads/discs
__ Drive shaft boots
__ Engine/Inverter coolant
__ Exhaust pipes and mountings
__ Front differential oil
__ Fuel lines and connections, fuel tank band
and fuel tank vapor vent system hoses
__ Fuel tank cap gasket
__ Radiator, condenser and/or intercooler
__ Steering gear box
__ Steering linkage and boot

I plan on changing the ATF. But if we don't change it and only check the level, should we use a new washer? I saved the old washers from last fluid change and couldn't tell the difference from new ones. On the other hand why risk it for just a $1 washer?

Where do I look for the front differential oil and the fuel stuff?

I suppose I just look at the radiator and condenser for obvious leaks or do I need pressure gauges hooked up to measure things?

Thanks in advance for all the help.