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

[OR VietVet]

I have found that I would rather deal with the neighborhood people and the landlord people over the American Legion people. The AL people tend to act like they know how to do what they ask of me but are just "throwing me a bone" and when we talk about the work, two things take place. They try to get me to lower price-after has already been agreed to and the conversation shows me that they don't know crap about what they think they know. The other clientele I deal with just hand me the keys and don't pretend to know and never bicker about the agreed upon price. My whole motivation for doing this work at home was two things: The money and that I would call the shots and do it my way-parts and labor.

 

[Tonyrodz]

I have found that I would rather deal with the neighborhood people and the landlord people over the American Legion people. The AL people tend to act like they know how to do what they ask of me but are just "throwing me a bone" and when we talk about the work, two things take place. They try to get me to lower price-after has already been agreed to and the conversation shows me that they don't know crap about what they think they know. The other clientele I deal with just hand me the keys and don't pretend to know and never bicker about the agreed upon price. My whole motivation for doing this work at home was two things: The money and that I would call the shots and do it my way-parts and labor.

That's why you never do work for friends or family.

 

[OR VietVet]

Did some work on a 2010 Honda Pilot today.

Esay stuff: oil and filter change, clean MAF, replace wiper blades, tried to reset oil life but was blocked because of TPMS light on and the reset tool I have does not do Honda's. Found that the right rear brake light was out and the left rear was smokey too so I did both. Also found that the 3rd brake light had the outer two bulbs, one on each end, burned out but the center 3 were working. Guy is going on trip and I will fix when he comes back but is leaving on the 9th, so may do before then. Turns out that the bulbs can be changed individually. The driver's headlight lens is foggy and needs buffed out. The p/s headlight lens is crystal clear.

He had a filthy cowling area that I cleaned up. He also said that periodically the "check charging system" light comes on but has never had a problem. One pic is with engine shut off and the next pic is running with blower and headlights on. Belt is great and tight. No odd noises from the alternator. Will address at a later date.

 

[OR VietVet]

Worked on a 96 Tacoma today. Cannot open unlocked driver's door with the outside handle. The inside handle opened it easily. Removed inside cover and removed water barrier and took a look. The inner handle would open the latch on the striker but the outer handle would not. Found that the outer handle, when lifted up, was not pushing arm down on the onside that would push lever down that moved the linkage rod to open the latch on the striker. The part that would push down on the inside was either worn off or broke away. Will know when I remove the handle tomorrow and get pics of it. The new handle pics will show a "curled" finger that will push down on the flat metal tab that is part of the arm that will lever down and move the linkage rod at the end. More pics when get old out tomorrow.

 

[OR VietVet]

Tomorrow I am also replacing the complete headlamp assemblies on my girl's TrailBlazer. They are foggy and I don't polish just to use longer. Great prices at RA and my free labor and now is her Xmas and birthday presents. I am also doing all outside front and rear lights on her 90 K2500 ext cab pickup and the headliner and visors. Also a new cover for the interior dash fuse area. Here are the before pics:

 

[OR VietVet]

 

[OR VietVet]

Even doing the headliner and the visors on the 90 K2500:

 

[OR VietVet]

Here are the pics of the driver's door outside handle that I took out of it. I will repost new handle pics for comparison. Kind of a PITA where the key lock cylinder mounts behind the door tab and the attaching bolt has to go thru a hole in the door metal tab and a hole in the ear that is part of the key lock cylinder and then into the new handle and thread in. That was hard to reach inside the door to do and fight for room with the attaching rods. The bolt threads are about 5/8" long, so there is not much to allow for lining up and grabbing a thread on the new handle.

 

[OR VietVet]

Then I changed out the foggy headlamp assemblies on my girl's 2002 TrailBlazer. Comparison pics included:

 

[OR VietVet]

When the headlight assemblies came for the TrailBlazer, one of the headlight assemblies came for the 90 K2500 and the amber side marker lights but in order to change the turn signal assemblies the grill needs to come off for all of it. I will wait till I get the rest of the lights on Tuesday and then tackle it all at the same time.