"Mercedes Streeter" (smart)
01/17/2020 at 14:15 • Filed to: TDI, smart, gambler 500, Scooter
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"Mercedes Streeter" (smart)
01/17/2020 at 14:15 • Filed to: TDI, smart, gambler 500, Scooter | 4
| 13 |
I’m pretty sure you can tell I’ve posted absolutely nothing in 2020 thus far. It’s not that I’ve nothing to say, rather life has been non-stop stress and challenges. If it’s not the DOE and their destructive wage garnishment, it’s the foreclosure. If it’s not the foreclosure, it’s personal challenges with friends and family. The two light spots are my wonderful girlfriend and my pets...err,
vehicles. So, what’s been happening with my vehicles?
Passat TDI
I’ve driven nearly 4,000 miles in this beast and keep falling more and more in love with it. Think VW is now my second fav manufacturer right behind smart. I’ve also mastered how to keep it out of limp mode. I can actually run it to redline, I just have to shift quickly and get to 2k RPM or below or else it’ll go into limp. Thus, the car is definitely daily-able, just it won’t do things at a quick pace. Still, this car has basically already paid for itself!
I finally got my VCDS tool working and it’s confirmed one of my two theories. I figured the car either had a vacuum leak or a boost leak. I got codes for underboost and the dreaded P0101. Now normally I’d be scared of a worn cam, however after some conversations I think I’ve narrowed it down to boost leak:
— I can hear the turbo “wooshing”. I’ve been advised that unless there has been modifications to the car (it’s stock aside from an EGR delete), the turbo’s really quiet. If there’s a pronounced woosh or hiss, it’s probably a boost leak.
— While I have leaky oil lines, there’s oil spray in the engine bay. I’ve read and have been told that a boost leak can cause this. A boost leak can also cause excessive smoke, though I think my car’s limp mode kicks in before that can be the case. Boost leaks can also cause the P0101 error.
My plan for attack is to warm up the engine, put it in Park, then have someone rev the engine to close to 2k. I’ll hear the woosh and hopefully be able to find where the leak is. Once the leak is resolved I can get accurate MAF data.
The car has occasionally been throwing trans codes when it’s both really cold and really moist outside. No sunroof, other drains look clear, and the footwell is only minorly damp (looks like the PO got a DEEP cleaning and the carpet pad got wet and never dried). TCM box is dry and the TCM itself looks to be in stellar condition. Still, I’ll be sealing it up as a just in case. I’ll be replacing the auto shifter mat as the plastic is pretty brittle.
In other words, a project I feel I can easily handle and will be moderately fun! Plus, the car’s not stranded while I work on it.
451 smart
While helping a friend diagnose an occasional battery light on his 7.3 Powerstroke something hit me: My smart’s alternator may not actually be dead. The guy I hired to fix my car thought I wanted him to replace the alternator, so he tried removing it. After realizing I only wanted belts done he buttoned the car up and put on the belt. Maaaaaybe he didn’t reconnect the alternator. When it warms up outside I’ll check.
Suzuki
New clutch cable! I’ve smoothed out the sharp edges on the lever and this particular cable has better protective wrapping. Hopefully it’s enough. I’ll be on two wheels again once I find the time to renew the registration sticker.
Scooters
I should soon be receiving two free scooters. One is a friend’s Honda Spree. It’s pretty clean. The other is my old 150cc Ruckus. I’m getting it back, for free as well. The Spree just needs a carb clean and a battery, the Ruck already runs.
That leaves us with the Vespa...
Vespa
This project is proving to be biting off more than I want to chew on a Gambler vehicle. I finally popped open the front compartment only to discover the manual seat release to be obliterated. So now I need to slim jim my way in. I took inventory of what needs to be done, at minimum:
1. New battery.
2. New throttle cable.
3. Cleaned carb.
4. Drained fuel.
5. Dashboard sorted.
6. New CDI (without immobilizer).
7. New ignition.
8. Swap on the wheels from the pile of spare parts.
9. Fix the seat release or break the seat latch.
My lack of progress is largely a time problem. With all the aforementioned busy stuff going on in my life, the Vespa’s on the backburner.
Since the Northwest Indiana Fambler I’ve been given some decent offers for it...all of them more than I paid for it. At first I denied the offers because this is supposed to be my ride for Tennessee Redemption in March...but with 2 scoots heading my way that need much less work, I don’t feel much motivation to finish this.
So, might as well turn this into a Stonks opportunity.
GY6 already runs, it just needs tires. It’s also just a Chinese scoot, so perfect for offroading in Tennessee without guilt. I’ll sell the Vespa and play with the Spree for a month or two, then sell it, too. Monies!
453 smart
The most reliable 4 wheeled vehicle in the stable, I took it on a fun 600 mile round trip road trip to Hell, Michigan and back. We conquered a snowstorm that left at least a few dozen cars in roadside ditches. Gave it a proper pampering when we got home.
Out Motorsports
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I like cars: Jim Spanfeller is one ugly motherfucker
> Mercedes Streeter
01/17/2020 at 14:38 |
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I’m glad you’re enjoying your Passat. The AHU motor it has (I think that’s the code the US got for B5 TDIs) is pretty simple to work on and easy to feed with junkyard parts. Your boost leak shouldn’t be hard to find. Generally, when AHUs have a boost leak, it’s between turbo and EGR. Have a look at how the EGR was deleted. There may be an iffy gasket or a bolt not on tight.
shop-teacher
> Mercedes Streeter
01/17/2020 at 14:58 |
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I might be interested in the Vespa, if you do decide to sell it.
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Mercedes Streeter
> I like cars: Jim Spanfeller is one ugly motherfucker
01/17/2020 at 15:01 |
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This actually has the 2.0 BHW engine, but similarly I’ve heard boost leaks aren’t hard to find. :)
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Mercedes Streeter
> shop-teacher
01/17/2020 at 15:04 |
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I’m 95% set on selling it, so if you want it you’ll be first in line ahead of the others. Clean title and tons of extra parts. The OG engine allegedly has 50,000 miles but both odometers I have only say 3k. PO did say he’s had to replace the dash unit multiple times, so ¯\_()_/¯ Spare engine has unknown mileage.
If you’re interested in the Spree, you’ll be first as well! I understand it’s fixed gear, so it’s not much interest to me.
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shop-teacher
> Mercedes Streeter
01/17/2020 at 16:01 |
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Cool, just let me know.
I’d be curious to try riding a Spree, just to see if it could even move me with 50ccs and no CVT.
Captain of the Enterprise
> Mercedes Streeter
01/17/2020 at 16:23 |
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How are you acquiring the free scooters? My buddy has a Honda Ruckus and I’d like a scooter too but it would need to be really cheap for me to be able to afford one.
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Mercedes Streeter
> Captain of the Enterprise
01/17/2020 at 16:33 |
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The GY6 I sold to a fellow Gambler. They never used it. The Spree has also been passed around to Gamblers that never did anything with it. Everyone knows I love scooters, thus they all come my way when they want to dispose of them. xD
A real Ruckus holds its value very well. They’re basically as popular as Groms are, if not even more. But then again you don’t want a cheap Chinese scooter for your first scooter experience.
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Captain of the Enterprise
> Mercedes Streeter
01/17/2020 at 16:36 |
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That’s pretty cool! Sounds like a cool community! Yeah my buddy paid like $ 1500 for his ruckus. I don’t have that kind of cash to spare. Maybe after I graduate and make more money.
winterlegacy, here 'till the end
> Mercedes Streeter
01/18/2020 at 01:21 |
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I am still holding onto the 453 Smart as my favorite version of the Smart. They’re a bit... pug-like from some angles, but I guess that’s why I enjoy them...? I dunno, something about them is just appealing.
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Mercedes Streeter
> winterlegacy, here 'till the end
01/18/2020 at 12:11 |
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The 453 is my favourite in terms of a car. It’s the most practical, the fastest, has the most amenities, comfortable, and has a transmission that doesn’t piss people off.
The 450 is my favourite smart. It’s unapologetic about its quirks, quite a fuel sipper, and is just about the closest you can get to a factory highway legal go kart.
JasonStern911
> Mercedes Streeter
01/18/2020 at 14:38 |
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> 150cc Ruckus
Wat?
Pretty sure they only came in 49cc and (Big Ruckus) 249cc form. Unless you’re talking about some Chinese knockoff or GY6 swap, at which point I respect your skills, but find my time better spent riding than wrenching.
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winterlegacy, here 'till the end
> Mercedes Streeter
01/18/2020 at 14:57 |
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and has a transmission that doesn’t piss people off.
I still wonder why MB went with the auto-manual. Instead of getting the best of both worlds you get... neither.
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Mercedes Streeter
> winterlegacy, here 'till the end
01/19/2020 at 12:23 |
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A DCT is still an auto-manual, just faster. :p
But uh, I guess it's a European thing? So many Euro cars have single or dual clutch auto-manuals.