What did you do to your vehicle today?

[mb_]

In bronze... His favorite

[bcrdukes]

So....a few years ago, I placed a big order on Rock Auto for some maintenance items (oil filters, air filters, cabin filters etc.) Here I'm thinking whether or not I changed the air filter on the Corolla. I was 100% confident that I did.

I noticed throttle response and general fuel economy has taken a nose dive, and I'm thinking WTF. I go and check the air filter to find that the original Toyota filter is still there, and visibly, "looks" okay, and here I'm going WTF?? I go check my parts bin and low and behold, I never changed the filter and do so right away. Turns out I only changed the cabin filter. New air filter made an immediate difference. We did a day trip to Buffalo, NY yesterday, and average fuel economy improved drastically.

For you masochists (ahem BMW guys) I was hoping for a check engine light but no bueno. Stupid Toyota.

[headhunt3r]

You mean you don't want to remove 2 hours of stuff dealing with 40 different kinds of connectors to get to your starter? What's wrong with you?

[bcrdukes]

I miss doing that.

[Tapioca]

Lots of DIY maintenance on the BMW E46 convertible over the winter:

- New front brakes, rotors, and replacement of front caliper that was seized
- Brake bleed
- Trunk harness wire repair
- New valve cover (cause the old one was cracked, which I discovered after I replaced the VANOS seals)
- New crankcase vent valve and hoses
- Replaced miscellaneous vacuum hoses associated with the secondary air pump system
- New gas cap (cause the old one was throwing codes)
- Headlight lens replacements and full clear corner conversion
- Cleaned throttle body and idle air control valve
- Liqui Moly engine flush treatment and fresh LiquiMoly Leichtlauf 5W40
- Updated the ECU and the automatic transmission computer to last BMW factory firmware for the E46
- Wash, polish, wax

I didn't want to believe the hype about LiquiMoly, but I must say that the old M54 motor definitely runs quieter with the oil. Also, I would say the software updates made a pretty big difference in terms of power delivery and the smoothness of the transmission. The ECU and transmission updates are definitely worth considering if you have an old E46/E39 since the procedures are very clearly outlined on various forums.

[red kryptonite]

in for paint correction! lets see if we can give this 20+ years old paint some life

[EvoFire]

That's a pretty rare colour, is that a repaint or individual?

[red kryptonite]

its just regular steel grey metallic

[bcrdukes]

Originally Posted by Tapioca

- Liqui Moly engine flush treatment and fresh LiquiMoly Leichtlauf 5W40

I tried the LiquiMoly engine flush on my Boxster and I find that it did help, given that it is a 23 year old car, and has probably lived a hard life on the track and street. While I didn't use LiquiMoly oil, I did dump in some Motul and it did run quieter and smoother than before. I'm probably going to just use Kirkland Brand or Walmart SuperTech oil next.

[Dbone]

Originally Posted by headhunt3r

You mean you don't want to remove 2 hours of stuff dealing with 40 different kinds of connectors to get to your starter? What's wrong with you?

Not nearly as bad, but I changed out the intake filter on my Exige. That means jacking it up, pulling the wheel and wheel liner, and pulling the side pod to get a second hand in there.

Then realizing it's a custom intake so Lordco isn't going to have a replacement and I have to order it from the place that installed this intake in the UK (who actually are awesome to deal with).


(don't worry, I don't get under the car while it's jacked up like that)


I gotta say, it was sometimes wanting to stall when coming to a stop and this seems to have solved that. I should have done this sooner I guess.

[tegra7]

Still need to pull the quarter glass. Paint job should be done next week then off for engine and trans rebuild.

[underscore]

What I thought would be a quick job to install an OEM hitch onto the Rav4 ended up taking 6+ hours because every. single. one. of the preinstalled captive nuts had the threads full of undercoating and I don't have a tap in that size. So I had to use the tow hook bolts you remove to painstakingly clean them out. Then the final support bracket wasn't made correctly so I had to beat it with a sledgehammer to get 3 of the 4 bolts lined up so I could call it good enough.

Hopefully the wiring job goes more smoothly.

[Badhobz]

What’s the tow capacity of the rav ? Watchuuu trying to tow anyways. I’m always worried those CUVs don’t have the brakes to backup any significant towing. I got the stealership to install the oem tow kit on her RX but I’ve yet to use it once…. Kinda scared.

[underscore]

3500lbs but the manual says you need trailer brakes above something like 1000lbs. We picked up a pop up trailer (even my camper is a pop up ) that weighs about 1600lbs empty/2200lbs if you max it out. It's got brakes so it should be good to go.

The funny thing is I owned bigger stuff with higher towing capacities for ages, my diesel Grand Cherokee was good for 7200lbs and came with a brake controller, but I never used them for anything but little utility trailers and stuff with crappy surge brakes. Now I'm installing a brake controller because I finally have a use for one and it's going into a Rav lol.

[hud 91gt]

I towed a 4500 lb boat a few hours with my Rav without trailer brakes. I wouldn’t suggest it in traffic (I left at 6:00AM on a weekend). With trailer brakes (as it’s rated) it’s a great tow vehicle. Load the trailer right, with adequate tongue weight and you barely even notice it. My boat is around 2000lb, no brakes and it tows like a dream.

[Dbone]

Does the Rav4 come with a trailer brake controller? The 4runner didn't though it was wired for one.

I have a controller now, but I didn't when I picked up my trailer.

[underscore]

It's kinda weird, the "tow prep package" on the Rav gives you a bigger alternator and an extra 30A "trailer" fuse, but that's just for the trailer lights. You still need to add everything for the brake controller from scratch.

[bcrdukes]

Ouch. Does Toyota offer a brake controller from the factory for any of their cars?

Reason I'm asking is I am open to considering a Toyota to haul my track car in the future. (Hello, Toyota Crown Signia.)

[red kryptonite]

yup! the tundra and tacoma has it

[underscore]

I mean it's 4 wires and a couple mounting screws. Not exactly rocket appliances.

[headhunt3r]

Started the car for the first time after replacing the starter and thankfully I got it all right or right enough that it started no problems. Gave my car a good wash before insuring it for the season.

Only to find that during the off season a spider decided to crawl into my headlight to die.


Why spider bro, why!? I even let your indoor bros live if my wife doesn't see them.

PS: new sport seats kick ass

[JDMDreams]

How are the soft top on those? Do they eventually squirt oil on you and just become unfixable like e36s?

[headhunt3r]

I've seen some stories of others having issues but it didn't seem that widespread nor do I recall reading about it becoming a squirter. Can't say I'm super well versed on the topic as it's only my second season this year with it. The top seems original though and it's an 08 so it seems to have held up well so far in the last 16 years?

[Acura604]

So satisfying to do DIY oil change - and assorted services

total cost: (ah yes, the good ol' days of $40 oil changes LOL)

Kirkland 0W20 4.73L $20 (got 2pk on sale $39)
Fram XG series oil filter $15
Pack of 50 crush washers $6
Ecogard engine air filter $21
EPauto cabin filter $16

compared to dealer: (Richmond Acura)

Oil/filter change (0W-20) - $168.95 + $7.76 Shop Supplies + Taxes

Maintenance Minder 2 - $189.95 + $9.78 Shop Supplies + Taxes
Replace engine air filter
Replace cabin air filter


got a bit messy with draining but I know for next time - first time doing it on the RDX.

I pre-filled the oil filter and lubed the seal of course.... some people say NOT to prefill, others live by it.

[JDMDreams]

Where do you dump the old oil?