What have you done to your P5 today?

[DawsonPro5]

Believe me, I would have preferred to have the ability to do it myself. I am, however, tool-tarded. I wouldn't even know where to begin to change the headlamp by myself...and then I'd get all nervous thinking that I'm somehow doing it wrong...and then freak out thinking that I replaced it wrong and it's just gonna cause more problems and then more money. This way...lifetime warranty and save myself all the nervousness. Oh, plus I wouldn't even know what the hell I was doing!!

 

[hornsfan10609]

Changing a radiator isn't hard at all dude, we could have figured it out.

 

[fishdonotbounce]

Here's the instructions for changing out the radiator.

Drain radiator and take off all hoses.
Unplug the clips on the fans.
Undo two bolts on each fan holding it to the radiator.
Pull both fans out.
Undo the four bolts holding the radiator bracket to the frame.
Pull radiator out.
Put new one in.
Reassemble in reverse order.
Fill up new radiator with coolant.

Takes about 15 minutes to half an hour and saves you a bunch of money.

 

[DawsonPro5]

So to sum up my actions of paying for the service: Fail. (Granted, I hardly even know where the radiator is.)

 

[HKPRO5]

Just got a turbo today. Now I just need everything else. Anyone got turbo parts not listed in FS? lol I'm probably going to sell some things I don't use soon. lol

 

[JDMJNKY]

Just got a turbo today. Now I just need everything else. Anyone got turbo parts not listed in FS? lol I'm probably going to sell some things I don't use soon. lol

lol Im the other way around everything but a turbo (laugh)

 

[CTt3P5]

Believe me, I would have preferred to have the ability to do it myself. I am, however, tool-tarded. I wouldn't even know where to begin to change the headlamp by myself...and then I'd get all nervous thinking that I'm somehow doing it wrong...and then freak out thinking that I replaced it wrong and it's just gonna cause more problems and then more money. This way...lifetime warranty and save myself all the nervousness. Oh, plus I wouldn't even know what the hell I was doing!!

That is why we are here...not that I am that technical but there are plenty of others here who you can ask and they are willing to help.

A few months ago I changed the t-stat, t-stat gasket, t-stat sensor, upper and lower rad hoses, rad cap and flush-n-fill because of overheating issues. Only thing I had done on the car before was the flush-n-fill.

Along the way I discoverd that taking the a/c fan off helps soooooo much in removing the lower rad hose and that a $30 investment for a 19mm locking flex combination ratcheting wrench helps in aid of the sensor install.

Including the coolant and wrench and buying all oem parts I'm out approx $130.

 

[ganzhimself]

Here's the instructions for changing out the radiator.

Drain radiator and take off all hoses.
Unplug the clips on the fans.
Undo two bolts on each fan holding it to the radiator.
Pull both fans out.
Undo the four bolts holding the radiator bracket to the frame.
Pull radiator out.
Put new one in.
Reassemble in reverse order.
Fill up new radiator with coolant.

Takes about 15 minutes to half an hour and saves you a bunch of money.

For the layman who maybe isn't the most mechanically inclined, that sounds straight forward and easy enough to do. I could see it taking a quite a bit longer than 15-30 minutes, but that's just me. It seems something always goes wrong when I work on my car... I'm no mechanic, but I've done plenty of work on my vehicles, including ripping the entire top-end off of my old '00 Impala's engine to replace the lower intake manifold gasket that gave out at 120,000 miles... That did save me over $500 in labor costs, so that was certainly the point where I realized that I could do a lot of the repair work on my own vehicles, provided I have a factory manual or good how-tos from a forum.

 

[fishdonotbounce]

You always kick yourself after you do something dumb. I had a dumbass moment today. About a week ago I went to install my stereo since I had taken it out during the turbo install. I plugged the deck in and nothing. Wouldn't turn on whatsoever. I tried everything until I finally gave up and ordered a new one. Same model and everything. It wasn't until today when it came that I figure I should have checked the fuses. If I had been smart and checked those before, I would have ended up paying 80 cents for a fuse and got everything to work right instead of now having a brand new head unit that I have nothing to do with. I'll probably post it up for sale. D'oh.

 

[StealthWyvern]

So to sum up my actions of paying for the service: Fail. (Granted, I hardly even know where the radiator is.)

I wouldn't say a complete failure... that would be driving tell it stopped running in results would be needing a new engine. Just be glad that you pay attention to your gauges.(drinks)

 

[hornsfan10609]

You always kick yourself after you do something dumb. I had a dumbass moment today. About a week ago I went to install my stereo since I had taken it out during the turbo install. I plugged the deck in and nothing. Wouldn't turn on whatsoever. I tried everything until I finally gave up and ordered a new one. Same model and everything. It wasn't until today when it came that I figure I should have checked the fuses. If I had been smart and checked those before, I would have ended up paying 80 cents for a fuse and got everything to work right instead of now having a brand new head unit that I have nothing to do with. I'll probably post it up for sale. D'oh.

One of the last days I had my truck I took off the MSD box. I tried to start it and I couldn't get it to fire for the life of me, the injectors weren't doing anything. (It was a GM TBI unit so you could see the injectors right on top) Finally since I needed it driveable to get it to the dealership to cash for clunker it I had it towed to a shop, only to find a blown fuse. Had to pay 100 bucks to replace a 50 cent fuse. I was PISSED at myself for never even considering it.

 

[StealthWyvern]

You always kick yourself after you do something dumb. I had a dumbass moment today. About a week ago I went to install my stereo since I had taken it out during the turbo install. I plugged the deck in and nothing. Wouldn't turn on whatsoever. I tried everything until I finally gave up and ordered a new one. Same model and everything. It wasn't until today when it came that I figure I should have checked the fuses. If I had been smart and checked those before, I would have ended up paying 80 cents for a fuse and got everything to work right instead of now having a brand new head unit that I have nothing to do with. I'll probably post it up for sale. D'oh.

Just did that... costed the gf just under 600 bucsk to replace the alt in your 6. we thought it was the alarm that hasn't worked in 2 plus years all of a sudden working and causing the trans to only slam into reverse and 3rd gear!

Here it what I posted over on m3fs easrlier so I dont have to retype it.The post started out talking about home ac units just so you know



"Yep, its only a few hundred more to replace it vs just repair the older unit. However every time I get a little bit of cash something happens or well thats how this year is going... Just fixed the truck(bad alt) and now have to figure out how to get the gf 6i fixed. If its not one thing its another. I just really hope its that crappy ass alarm that I had installed giving her hell. Its at a buddies shop right now getting looked at.

She lost 1st and 2nd and only goes into 3rd gear. Shifts hard into reverse and 3rd. The same time all of this started happening her alarm starts working again. The stupid thing hasnt worked in 1-2 years! Oh and now her car wont even start. All fuses are good under the hood, in cab, and on the alarm system or well the ones on it that I could see. Hopefully I will be able to make it out to this meet but we will see.


Edit: it was a bad alt... 3 alts in the past month. oh well now I dont have to worry about the alts on any of my cars,(msp, f150 or the gf 6)"

 

[fishdonotbounce]

yep i feel ya. I spent around 85 bucks for the new head unit.

 

[MazdaSpeeder]

A few months ago I changed the t-stat, t-stat gasket, t-stat sensor, upper and lower rad hoses, rad cap and flush-n-fill because of overheating issues. Only thing I had done on the car before was the flush-n-fill.

I should know this, but i don't...where is the t-stat sensor? Can't find it in the shop manual.

 

[03zoomzoom]

You have a coolant temp sensor on the pipe that connects the upper radiator hose to the block.

I should know this, but i don't...where is the t-stat sensor? Can't find it in the shop manual.

 

[MazdaSpeeder]

Now that I look under the hood, I see it. Thanks! When I do my tstat and coolant later, I'll just replace that too.

 

[03zoomzoom]

We found out at my shop that if you use a resistor on those, the car reads 8 degrees and doesn't like to start. (we were bored) We were playing around making the car run rich.

 

[Rockin03mp5]

Believe me, I would have preferred to have the ability to do it myself. I am, however, tool-tarded. I wouldn't even know where to begin to change the headlamp by myself...and then I'd get all nervous thinking that I'm somehow doing it wrong...and then freak out thinking that I replaced it wrong and it's just gonna cause more problems and then more money. This way...lifetime warranty and save myself all the nervousness. Oh, plus I wouldn't even know what the hell I was doing!!

im pretty much the same way. after a lot of reading on this site though, i have done a lot of things i never thought i would. just take your time and do it right!

we are here so ask away!

 

[azmp5]

whats the average price of an MSP rear sway bar?

 

[mx-p5]

finished her up.

She's now ready for sale. . .