"DasWauto" (DasWauto)
12/16/2013 at 22:17 • Filed to: car repair
9
6|
"DasWauto" (DasWauto)
12/16/2013 at 22:17 • Filed to: car repair | 9
| 6 |
Yesterday I performed a car repair using the handyman's secret weapon, duct tape. I think this also solidifies my honorary Canadian status.
Apparently it is a common issue on Mazda3s for the signal wire and connector to the starter to corrode, interupting the signal. All the other electrics in the car work just fine but it will not crank. Over the last couple of weeks I've had to get underneath and fiddle with it every once in a while but with winter moving in, that's less than appealing.
After a little googling I found an American service bulletin with instructions for the repair (Mazda Canada apparently didn't issue one, as far as I found, which is weird). I cut the wire and connector off the loom, put a new connector on a piece of wire and soldered them on to the remaining wire (soldering from below is difficult). Thus-far I had successfully avoided burning myself with falling solder (did I mention soldering upside down is fun?) but annoyingly I nicked my finger when I was holding the iron to the heat shrink. Sonofabitch.
I wrapped the severed sheathing on the loom and my already heat shrink covered soldered connection in some duct tape to keep out the elements and gave it a crank.
Well, the repair was successful and the car started so I'm not completely incompetent.
I don't have any pictures of my handiwork hackjob because I forgot to take some. To do so now would mean crawling under my car in the snow at -20°C. Fuck that noise.
vdub_nut: scooter snob
> DasWauto
12/16/2013 at 22:20 |
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If the women don't find you handsome,
they should at least find you handy.
*read by a pile of gravel*
CTSenVy
> DasWauto
12/16/2013 at 22:25 |
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Good job, and keep your stick on the ice.
153624 - Straight Six
> DasWauto
12/17/2013 at 00:19 |
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I recently pulled out the pilot bearing on my car with bread because all the tool stores were closed. For those of you not familiar with this trick, you start off by filling the area behind the bearing with bread. You then take a bolt just small enough to fit through the center of the bearing and hammer that until the bread starts to leak out. You shove the bread back in and add some more. Rinse and repeat until bearing pops out.
I was so immensely proud of myself that night. My garage smelled nice too, not to mention I didn't have to spend ~$40 on a bearing puller.
MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner
> DasWauto
12/17/2013 at 12:07 |
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I much prefer black electrical tape, but good call to keep it covered.
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DasWauto
> MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner
12/17/2013 at 14:17 |
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Didn't have any so I made do with what I could find.
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MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner
> DasWauto
12/17/2013 at 15:16 |
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If it works!
I always keep the electrical tape in the garage, I'm working with 45 year old wires...