Showing posts with label car repair. Show all posts
Showing posts with label car repair. Show all posts
Thursday, October 4, 2012
Tuesday, October 2, 2012
Honda Accord Radiator Flush and Hose Replacement
Who just replaced the upper and lower radiator hoses on his 1995 Honda Accord?
Oh that's right...it was me!
Of course, I did have a little help from a retired tugboat captain with a sawzall. "You think I should disconnect this fan and move it out of the way of the clamp?" I asked.
"No, we'll just cut straight through it."
Sparks flew; hours were saved.
Eventually I maneuvered the new hoses into place. The Captain handed me a bottle of dish soap; said, "Rub some of this on the inside. It'll slip on easier." I wanted to tell him, "That's what she said," but then I remembered who I was talking to. I focused on getting the job done, instead.
It's hard to know how to repay such a debt of minutes.
Also: I'm pretty sure that engine coolant isn't supposed to have the color and texture of a mocha frappucino. But that's why I did this, 'innit? Got some water in there now. Flush, rinse, drain, repeat. Antifreeze is too expensive to use as a cleanser. I'll save it for when the water runs clear.
One lesson learned: don't leave your service manual under the car when you disconnect a hose from the top. You'll have to buy a new book. Another: You lay down a tarp before you get started. It's your mother's garage, after all. Good thing you listened to the captain.
It was still cheaper than paying someone else to do it.
One more thing to cross off the list of "things to learn how to do poorly."
We get by, most of the time...
Oh that's right...it was me!
Of course, I did have a little help from a retired tugboat captain with a sawzall. "You think I should disconnect this fan and move it out of the way of the clamp?" I asked.
"No, we'll just cut straight through it."
Sparks flew; hours were saved.
Eventually I maneuvered the new hoses into place. The Captain handed me a bottle of dish soap; said, "Rub some of this on the inside. It'll slip on easier." I wanted to tell him, "That's what she said," but then I remembered who I was talking to. I focused on getting the job done, instead.
It's hard to know how to repay such a debt of minutes.
Also: I'm pretty sure that engine coolant isn't supposed to have the color and texture of a mocha frappucino. But that's why I did this, 'innit? Got some water in there now. Flush, rinse, drain, repeat. Antifreeze is too expensive to use as a cleanser. I'll save it for when the water runs clear.
One lesson learned: don't leave your service manual under the car when you disconnect a hose from the top. You'll have to buy a new book. Another: You lay down a tarp before you get started. It's your mother's garage, after all. Good thing you listened to the captain.
It was still cheaper than paying someone else to do it.
One more thing to cross off the list of "things to learn how to do poorly."
We get by, most of the time...
Sunday, July 8, 2012
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