Learned'd VIII: Less Bewbs, Same Nonsense

[Kompresshun]

I know man! I can't win with cars. At least this one has been pretty dead nuts reliable and even now it's not broken. The compressor has been pissing oil out of the front for weeks and hasn't died yet. Two struts are bad, but it still rides fine. So thankfully it's not one of those "Fix it now or walk" kind of deals.

I have been trying to convince the wife to let me buy her friends Volvo T5 wagon though

Yeah Ray, i'd just save your money and do the LSX down the road. Old tech is not worth the trouble anymore when you have the potential of the LSX.

[WDRacing]

I used some of that leak stop/lubricant AC recharge stuff on my Montero when I was oversea's. Worked like a champ actually. Ever try that stuff? If you're gonna swap out the compressor anyway, it may be worth a shot.

[Kompresshun]

This is leaking from the A/C clutch, so I don't think it will work with that unfortunately. It's pretty much just wait until it dies and then replace it. Thankfully the compressor is reasonable($280), it's just the labor involved.

[frapjap]

I've been there bud. 6 years ago I gave up both of my projects for an awesome wife and then to have a home of our own. The itch never goes away, but unfortunately the grown up expenses never do either. I try to start saving up for a new project every year and either something on the car breaks or the house. Thankfully though, the longer we're responsible with our money, the sooner we'll be able to free up more funds and pay off more debt.

Speaking of expenses, I just tallied up everything the 500 needs right now and it looks like $1,000 in just parts alone. I don't want to know what the labor will be... Struts all the way around and a new A/C compressor

On the positive side, we have no desire or plans for children. Hopefully I can still keep toys after the 2 big expenses, wedding and home down payment (wedding much less so, shes reasonable and good with money). In 4.5 years my student loans will be paid off, then I can get MUCH more serious about fun stuff. But it'll probably end up being a vacation condo or something resembling a more grown up investment, haha.

SUCKS about the a/c compressor man. At least you can keep driving with the struts until they start sending your front or rear end wacky directions over bumps.

I used some of that leak stop/lubricant AC recharge stuff on my Montero when I was oversea's. Worked like a champ actually. Ever try that stuff? If you're gonna swap out the compressor anyway, it may be worth a shot.

If you're changing it anyway, eff it and put some of the lubricant/leak stopper in it. Worst comes to worst, you wasted a few bucks.

[WDRacing]

http://www.buyautoparts.com/buynow/2006 ... 71_NA.html

Has them for 259.70 shipped. I've been using them for almost everything lately. Good customer service and a 1 year warranty. They seem to be cheaper than anyone else I have seen as well.

[WDRacing]

Something else I was thinking Chris, can you just change out the seals/orings on the compressor? I don't have much AC experience...

[Kompresshun]

Ray - Kids are expensive, but I still don't feel like that's a major burden on us. I could have something right now, but I choose to not push the issue on it because i'd rather focus on paying off debt first. Kristen will be done with school in another 2 years and we will be raking in A LOT more money. I've already told her when she finishes school i'm buying something and it will be fast and loud. I may buy something as soon as next year though, if we keep doing well with our money.

I may try some leak sealer, but the way it's dripping, I don't think it will help.

Brian - You can replace the seals/o-rings in the compressor, but typically it's not worth the trouble. You have to vacuum down the whole system and recharge it either way, so you have to pay for it to be done twice if replacing the seals/o-rings don't work. Considering this compressor has seen 7 years and 140,000 miles, I think it wouldn't hurt to play it safe and replace it.

[frapjap]

Ray - Kids are expensive, but I still don't feel like that's a major burden on us. I could have something right now, but I choose to not push the issue on it because i'd rather focus on paying off debt first. Kristen will be done with school in another 2 years and we will be raking in A LOT more money. I've already told her when she finishes school i'm buying something and it will be fast and loud. I may buy something as soon as next year though, if we keep doing well with our money.

HELL YEAH! Hopefully it'll make her scream, too.

I may try some leak sealer, but the way it's dripping, I don't think it will help.

GIGGITY

Brian - You can replace the seals/o-rings in the compressor, but typically it's not worth the trouble. You have to vacuum down the whole system and recharge it either way, so you have to pay for it to be done twice if replacing the seals/o-rings don't work. Considering this compressor has seen 7 years and 140,000 miles, I think it wouldn't hurt to play it safe and replace it.

Good point. Sad that it did take a dump on you. Do you need a/c all year round? Is it possible to get through the fall and skimp by until next spring?

[WDRacing]

I will never not have AC, so I hear ya with wanting it fixed.

[sx moneypit]

Chris, do your self a favor and replace the compressor before it loses all of it's oil and blows up.You will save yourself a lot of trouble because you won't have to replace the accumulator and and other parts that will be contaminated with metal shavings.

[WDRacing]

What are you some kind of mechanic or something?

[sx moneypit]

What are you some kind of mechanic or something?

Yeah,kinda of a halfassed one.

[sx moneypit]

And,good morning folks!

[WDRacing]

Morning Ben!

[frapjap]

Morning Ben.

Ben knows his s***. Do what he says.


Hows the 240 running? Is it everything you hoped for and more?
Whats the most miles you've seen on an original engine, Ben?

[Kompresshun]

Ben, I plan on replacing the compressor before it craps out, but if it craps out before I have the funds then i'll just have to deal with replacing the other parts too. I should have the funds in another week or two, just trying to save a little cash at the moment.

Ugh... my bad luck just keeps striking me. The guy came back to fix our dryer last night after waiting a week for parts and it crapped out again today. Thankfully he said he's just going to swap us out dryers this time, but still this will be our second dryer in less than a month.

We have two vans in our fleet with well over 300k miles on them and still running like tops with the original drivetrain. We've seen as much as 600k out of a van here with an original engine.

[frapjap]

Ugh... my bad luck just keeps striking me. The guy came back to fix our dryer last night after waiting a week for parts and it crapped out again today. Thankfully he said he's just going to swap us out dryers this time, but still this will be our second dryer in less than a month.

We have two vans in our fleet with well over 300k miles on them and still running like tops with the original drivetrain. We've seen as much as 600k out of a van here with an original engine.

Did you buy new dryers, or are you tossing money at them? Sounds like warranty work from what you've described.
I repaired/replaced a motor and a belt in mine. Thankfully its an old style analog dryer, not some new fangeled circuit board pretend push buttons crap.

WHAT?? 600k on an old SBC? Wow.

[Kompresshun]

We sold our other one to the guy broken for $100, because it was going to cost $400 to fix it(bad controller board) everywhere we checked. He then sold us a slightly used unit that was really nice for $140 with a 60 day warranty. It failed within two weeks, he came out and diagnosed it and ordered the parts. Worked fine when he left and quit again today. He has another one just like it, so he's just going to swap it for us and save us both time.

Not a SBC, a Ford 5.4L Triton. We've been running E-250's here for years, but are slowly starting to phase them out for Chevy Express 2500 vans because the Econoline went the way of the dodo.

I tried to get them to try out a Sprinter or a Transit, but they prefer body on frame vans due to cost and being easier to maintain.

[WDRacing]

The new Express is a decent van. I wouldn't mind having a 4wd version myself. The ultimate WROL/Zombie machine!

[sx moneypit]

Morning Ben.

Ben knows his s***. Do what he says.


Hows the 240 running? Is it everything you hoped for and more?
Whats the most miles you've seen on an original engine, Ben?

Thanks for your vote of confidence Ray.

The 240 runs great,pulls hard but i need to work out some issues with the idle quality.

The most miles i have seen myself on an engine was an 89 Camry with close to 500000 on the clock.

[WDRacing]

A motor will essentially run forever with frequent fluid changes and basic upkeep.

[frapjap]

Hey Brian- do you do fantasy football?

[sx moneypit]

A motor will essentially run forever with frequent fluid changes and basic upkeep.

[WDRacing]

Hey Brian- do you do fantasy football?

Yup. Usually do a Nico staff league and a family league. Although the family league always ends up with me managing all the teams since my parents are retarded and my boys are 3 and 6. My teenager, who was really the only one managing his team, is in Army boot camp...not alot of pc access there

Why?

Morning all!

[frapjap]

Ohhh, I was looking for some draft advice. Lindsey made fun of me last night for picking a kicker for my second choice.
Theres a work league, too. With 12 people. After failing on the family league draft (even after researching) I need some pointers so I don't lose out on the pot for the work league.

[WDRacing]

Don't draft a kicker. Pick one up after the draft is done. You'll be better served using your draft positions to secure rb's and wr's.

It's a toss up who you should pick first. A lot of people grab a running back first. I grabbed a QB first last year and my next 2 picks were RB's.

A Lot of trades happened this year. See who's melding real well on their new team. Tom Brady has rookies and Danny Amendola who is very injury prone. That limits Toms output and makes it hard to pick a WR from the Pats.

You can ask me direct questions if you have any. I monitor Nico pretty much all day.

[frapjap]

'm thinking of building around the Broncos and 49ers. Kaepernick and Crabtree would be fantastic together if Crabtree would become unhurt, dammit. Otherwise, I'm using Peyton and Welker together, hoping for some double points there.
RB I have Arian. D is going to be the Texans or Green Bay. Considering picking up Riddley, too. He had some big moves last year and he'll probably get used more often this year without a lot of receiver threat on the Pats.

[WDRacing]

Advice.

Don't pick teams to build around. Use the best available from all teams. Having a QB WR combo only pays off if your league gives a bonus that sort of thing. Otherwise you risk having a bad week if that particular team does poorly.

I change out my Defense often. Usually who's ever playing against the worst offense that week.

[MinisterofDOOM]

A recent AutoWeek had an article about Fantasy Racing leagues...I keep meaning to check one out but I have Absent Minded Professor syndrome so I haven't yet.

[WDRacing]

Hey Chris I bought the baller package of Interstellar Marines on Steam. It comes with a free second license to give out. You want?

http://www.interstellarmarines.com/