There are just some days I wish I didn't turn wrenches

[OR VietVet]

 

[OR VietVet]

 

[89Suburban]

Nice man! Love your stainless work bench too.

 

[TollKeeper]

That almost looks like an engine again!

 

[OR VietVet]

@89Suburban, to be fair, that is my friend's work bench. He has 3 of them.

@TollKeeper, while the engine bay is so open, gonna start hanging alternator, p/s and a/c. Then will reinstall the front axle.

 

[TollKeeper]

In other words... Time for all the fiddely bits to go in... The ones that make working on these newer vehicles a pain because the space goes quickly..

Alternator
P/S pump
Water pump
Fan
Fan Shroud
AC
AC lines
P/S lines
Hoses
Wiring
Intake
Intake hoses
Large Sensors (MAF)
Exhaust

And then the fun begins.. Bleeding the P/S, making sure all the other fluids are full.. Hoping you remembered to tighten all the bolts correctly.. ETC.

 

[OR VietVet]

In other words... Time for all the fiddely bits to go in... The ones that make working on these newer vehicles a pain because the space goes quickly..

Alternator
P/S pump
Water pump
Fan
Fan Shroud
AC
AC lines
P/S lines
Hoses
Wiring
Intake
Intake hoses
Large Sensors (MAF)
Exhaust

And then the fun begins.. Bleeding the P/S, making sure all the other fluids are full.. Hoping you remembered to tighten all the bolts correctly.. ETC.

Yep, all fluids being changed as well. All bolts/nuts are checked and double checked. Yes, you got it, the engine bay is wide open now and none of that will effect the front axle install and now is the time to take advantage of the room. It is getting a new radiator as well.

 

[OR VietVet]

Recently I did something that I had been looking forward to doing since it is something I can do because I am retired. I had bought and sold a 2006 Yukon Denali XL and the guy I had bought it from had a 99 Yukon and I was paid by him to do a water pump and thermostat and so I fixed the coolant leak but he still had a heat problem that turned out to be a clogged heater core and I diagnosed that part for free. He wanted me to install a heater core and I said no. Don't want to work all twisted under a dash. He had another guy do that and then he called me about intermittent heat problem. He came over and had great 190 degree coolant in and out of heater core. He took it home and the other guy could not figure it out and he called me at night and I said, for free, to double check the work he did and then he called me the next day and told me they put in another control head and now all is good. Then he called a day later, and said was still, intermittently, not heating correctly and I said I could check it but not for free any more and would be a minimum of $40. He got mad and said I worked on it and should be free. I asked him if the system is full? He said yes. I asked him is there any drops on the ground and he said no. I told him my work is fine and that does not mean I inspect for free and in the beginning I told him I warranty my labor and do not warranty parts. I actually got him a lifetime warranty water pump from AZ at my military discount for just under $100. He was goona pay over $200 elsewhere. I told him that it could maybe have a failed new thermostat and if it was failing, I would not charge for diagnosis and the part would be free at AZ, under warranty, where I got it. But, my labor would not be free to replace it. He sniveled and called me a rip off and I told him that after careful consideration, I will not look at it or work on it or anything else he owns. He threatened me that he would tell all his contacts that I was no good and a few other unkind words. I told him go ahead and tell anyone he wants because my clientele was from this neighborhood and the VFW and the American Legion. The kid is about 30 years old and spoiled and wants it always his way but I don't work like that. Soooo, as a retired man, I got to tell him to pound sand and I did not care whether he liked it or not. Felt good.

Plus, the guy that I sold the Denali to and had originally been thinking he was buying it from the kid,.....well, the kid called him to tell him what happened and the guy told him about all the work I had done recently and how satisfied he and his wife were with it and he said he hung up on the kid. The guy then called me and said what the kid said and I told the guy that was correct and the guy said, "I don't work for free either, especially at your labor rates". He has already told other family members of my work. He also said that he has a slow fuel fill problem that he wants me to look at on the Denali and a very intermittent hesitation when pulling away from a stop light or stop sign. He said no CEL as of yet. He has some doctor's appointments for the next couple weeks and will contact me after all that.

 

[OR VietVet]

This makes sense:

MSN

 

[OR VietVet]

If you look close you can see the power steering pump, the alternator and the a/c compressor with the serpentine belt tensioner assembly, are now bolted up to the engine. Plan on doing an engine start on Friday. Still have some finishing touches to do with fluid changes but we are getting very close to this FJ coming off the lift.

Notice the harnesses are no longer bungy corded up at bottom of hood.