What did you do to your MKIV today?

[BobnOH]

Yea, the good old days. Early PCs went obsolete in 2 or 3 years. And if you had a car go a hundred thousand miles, you were in a unique club.
Believe some places make replica historic plates for classic cars. Depending of the quality of the plate and finish, it will be worn or rusted in 30 years.
Back in the day, remember we got new metal every year.

 

[J_dude]

We had a work p/u that still has the original plate (well close to) on it - 1951 GMC 2500. My 1978 Scout still has it's original lic plate front and back. Both are from California and the only reason the '51 would not be original is back then they issued new plates, then metal tabs each registration renewal, until final changing to stickers.

I can still find my mum's '73 Squareback driving around with it's original plates (popped on Japlonik a couple times)

But cars now days are like cell phones. We used to get a Nokia and it still works, even after playing football with it. But now we buy >$1000 phones that break if its too humid out (Florida) or set it down too hard. Cars are getting the same way. Used to be able to keep many years with regular maintenance. Now they have computers (remember your first PC?) that have finite life spans, and cost depends on popularity and scarcity. Is a $800 car worth replacing a $1400 ECM?

/soapbox

Jason

PS - the Squareback still had Bosch D-jet last I saw it.

Two words: planned obsolescence. And it actually began back in the 50’s believe it or not.

 

[dieseldonato]

We had a work p/u that still has the original plate (well close to) on it - 1951 GMC 2500. My 1978 Scout still has it's original lic plate front and back. Both are from California and the only reason the '51 would not be original is back then they issued new plates, then metal tabs each registration renewal, until final changing to stickers.

I can still find my mum's '73 Squareback driving around with it's original plates (popped on Japlonik a couple times)

But cars now days are like cell phones. We used to get a Nokia and it still works, even after playing football with it. But now we buy >$1000 phones that break if its too humid out (Florida) or set it down too hard. Cars are getting the same way. Used to be able to keep many years with regular maintenance. Now they have computers (remember your first PC?) that have finite life spans, and cost depends on popularity and scarcity. Is a $800 car worth replacing a $1400 ECM?

/soapbox

Jason

PS - the Squareback still had Bosch D-jet last I saw it.

The cars arnt disposable, it's just the mentality. Which works out just fine for me. I super cheap when it comes to vehicles. Last several.ive picked up needed a few things amd I then proceeded to drive them till the wheels fall off or they are so rotten I won't put an inspection sticker on them. Which in the case od the small unit body cars/suv is typically what kills them around here, and as cheap as you can pick one up it's not worth worrying about. Last year picked up an 08 Ford escape limited for $900.00 guy couldn't get it to stay running unless he kept his foot in the throttle... he replaced all kinds of parts, but never looked at the fuse box. One 10 amp fuese later it runs fine amd I'm sure he shot gunned enough parts on it that whatever was wrong he fixed by accident. Had 167k miles on it. Fully loaded model. Only thing I don't like about it, is it only gets around 20/25 mpg with the v6 in it. Wife likes it well enough though. I see loads of vehicles at the junk yard that make me wonder why they are there. Not too rotten, fairly new, look complete. Just baffles the mind the way some people just throw stuff out.
As per the computer, I don't agree with your statement at all. In the time I've been a professional diesel mechanic I've replaced 5 computers, 4 of them were customer screw ups. One if them was an issue that popped up in the first 50 hours of service. They just don't give issues typically. Idk about the real new stuff, as I'll never have anything new enough to compare to a cell phone, but I suspect that will hold perfectly true.

 

[Mozambiquer]

We were just talking about the mentality people have today. I work for a tow company and the number of cars abandoned on the side of the road with nothing wrong but its just out of fuel is just insane! They then get towed into the impound lot and wait until they are eligible to apply for an abandoned vehicle title and we get a key made and many of them have driven off just with fuel added.
Plenty of other ones have bad engines or whatever, but still...

 

[IndigoBlueWagon]

We were just talking about the mentality people have today. I work for a tow company and the number of cars abandoned on the side of the road with nothing wrong but its just out of fuel is just insane! They then get towed into the impound lot and wait until they are eligible to apply for an abandoned vehicle title and we get a key made and many of them have driven off just with fuel added.
Plenty of other ones have bad engines or whatever, but still...

Wow. Wonder if that's a rural thing. I don't believe it happens around here. I rarely see vehicles beside roads at all without a service person there. Towns and state highway authorities won't tolerate it.

Having said that, I do believe that a lot of cars that are repairable are disposed of. Many consumers find it easier to sign up for another car payment instead of taking on the cost of a major repair. False ecnomy, but why bring logic into the conversation?

 

[dieseldonato]

Wow. Wonder if that's a rural thing. I don't believe it happens around here. I rarely see vehicles beside roads at all without a service person there. Towns and state highway authorities won't tolerate it.

Having said that, I do believe that a lot of cars that are repairable are disposed of. Many consumers find it easier to sign up for another car payment instead of taking on the cost of a major repair. False ecnomy, but why bring logic into the conversation?

Hey now, I like those people! Thats how I get my vehicles. Let them make payments for me and I buy their old car for next to nothing and put a little money into it.

 

[Rob Mayercik]

Two words: planned obsolescence. And it actually began back in the 50’s believe it or not.

May have started even earlier - I seem to recall hearing a story that Henry Ford used to send people to junkyards to go over any Fords they found; if a part was found to be still good, he designated it "overdesigned" and had it redesigned cheaper. Not sure how true it is, but seems plausible.

 

[dieseldonato]

May have started even earlier - I seem to recall hearing a story that Henry Ford used to send people to junkyards to go over any Fords they found; if a part was found to be still good, he designated it "overdesigned" and had it redesigned cheaper. Not sure how true it is, but seems plausible.

From what I've been told that is very true. He used to have a canning factory as well. Had the employees use less and less lead to seal the cans to see what the minimum amount was actually needed to maintain a good seal of the can. Supposedly they found they could use 3 less drips per can, thus saving him hundreds of dollars. He wad very smart at saving money wherever he could.

 

[Bradm]

From what I've been told that is very true. He used to have a canning factory as well. Had the employees use less and less lead to seal the cans to see what the minimum amount was actually needed to maintain a good seal of the can. Supposedly they found they could use 3 less drips per can, thus saving him hundreds of dollars. He wad very smart at saving money wherever he could.

Kingsford charcoal as well

 

[dieseldonato]

Kingsford charcoal as well

Never heard that story, fascinating.

 

[benIV]

was henry ford related to hans volkswagen?

 

[PakProtector]

Ran off to KCTDI and ordered an RCV kit to attempt a rehab of the 2Dr Golf's AC compressor. Should probably have bought two as the BEW's is also a bit weak on pressure differential. Buy one, try one...

Douglas

 

[csstevej]

Working on sons 2000 2 door golf. He went for a safty inspection and the shop wanted to charge him over $3000.00 for “repairs”. It should only have cost about a grand , and they were gonna use , used parts from their salvage yard instead of new , I’m only into about $350.00 and all parts are new except the lower control arm which is used but new bearings installed.

Sad part is that they used to be a good shop, I’ve bought many a used parts from them. I know that they had offered him $4000.00 grand for his car the last time he brought it to them for an air conditioning issue. I’m thinking that they want the car and padded the bill thinking that he’d sell it to them by not wanting to fix it.
Anyway….replaced upper rubber mount bushings.
Replaced both front springs as drivers side had about 2” part of coil broken.
Replaced passenger control arm as rear bearing was loose in mount.
Next is drivers wheel bearing as it’s noisy……

 

[Zak99b5]

Replaced most of the vacuum hoses today. Got silicone off Amazon, 5mm & 3mm. It’s blue, so now my car is faster lol.

Had to remove the vac res to get that hose off. Rest went fine. Did the 5mm first, then the 3mm. Only piece I couldn’t get to was the valve for the EGR on top, because it’s behind the coolant return hoses where they’re mounted to tthe cowling.

Also noticed a little wiggle at the vacuum pump nipple. Removed the clamp & hose, cleaned with paper towels & brake clean. Put a piece of masking tape as a dam and layer some epoxy on it. Not positive this will work, but if it doesnt I’ll just remove the pump so I can put the nipple facing straight up.

 

[Zak99b5]

Oh is there an easy way to reclip that oettiker style clamp for the hose that goes on the nipple?

 

[dieseldonato]

Replaced most of the vacuum hoses today. Got silicone off Amazon, 5mm & 3mm. It’s blue, so now my car is faster lol.

Had to remove the vac res to get that hose off. Rest went fine. Did the 5mm first, then the 3mm. Only piece I couldn’t get to was the valve for the EGR on top, because it’s behind the coolant return hoses where they’re mounted to tthe cowling.

Also noticed a little wiggle at the vacuum pump nipple. Removed the clamp & hose, cleaned with paper towels & brake clean. Put a piece of masking tape as a dam and layer some epoxy on it. Not positive this will work, but if it doesnt I’ll just remove the pump so I can put the nipple facing straight up.

I had to take mine off to get the epoxy to set up right, but I also used a fluid epoxy so it would hopefully seep down into the o-ring area and really get a good seal. Must have worked decently well hasn't come loose again.

Oh is there an easy way to reclip that oettiker style clamp for the hose that goes on the nipple?

Replace it with a regular worm clamp, even a decent spring clamp will do.

 

[Zak99b5]

I don't have the correct size worm clamp, but I can crank down on the one I do have. Doesn't need a lot since it's vacuum.

I also used a fairly liquid epoxy. The idea of running the motor to suck any into gaps didn't occur to me until probably too late. Oh well, I wasn't having any low vac issues, and the nipple wasn't too terribly loose. I can always go back in if needed.

 

[burpod]

taking a trip to acadia maine for a couple days with wife + 2 kids. testing out another tune version, will be bringing vcds and mpps of course hoping to break 50+ mpg in the automatic at normal highway speeds

 

[Zak99b5]

Guided the son through changing his gear oil in his 01. Fluid that came out looked fine, but there was only about a third of a gallon. Took two full quarts of Pennzoil Synchromesh, which was all he bought. I had some leftover Redline MTL, so we added a bit of that and got it full. We had the car up on ramps in order to get that little extra in.

Noticed his vacuum pump nipple is loose—more wiggly than mine was. Need to tackle that next.

 

[csstevej]

Daughters fuse block started to melt on top of battery , replaced it with a spare I had, having member Mozambique making new wire from alt to fuse block and replaced rh front speed sensor as it died when she started car up..ASR and ABS lights on dash came up….. sensor was open.

 

[dieseldonato]

Hotter then the gates of hell out right now, going to trouble shoot my ac system a bit on the vw. I may just drive the truck today. Already pushing 90* with high humidity.

 

[dieseldonato]

Thinking either my compressor is bad, or the tvx is junk... getting some odd pressure readings. Static pressure was 85psi, it's pushing 90* out so should be close enough to being fully charged. Fans both run, compressor engages. At first high and low differential was around 30psi. 120 low, 150 high. Then after a while the low came down to around 60psi. But the high side settled down to 110psi. Suction line never got cold out of the tvx. I almost wonder if there's a partial clog, or the tvx isn't metering refrigerant correctly. I hate to fire up the parts cannon, but I'm thinking along the lines of a new tax, receiver dryer and flushing the system. Only thing that sucks is I'll have to make time to run I to my uncles shop to recover the refrigerant thays in it.

 

[Zak99b5]

Having static pressure close to temp F doesn’t mean you have enough refrigerant in it for the system to cool properly. It only means that there's some.

Before ordering anything, go to said uncle's and have him evacuate & weigh what was in there. Perhaps you’re just low, perhaps you need other work. Avoid the parts cannon!

 

[norbert77]

This pic got sent to me. Gotta say I'm intrigued, only held in check by lack of insurance for something like that

 

[AndyBees]

This pic got sent to me. Gotta say I'm intrigued, only held in check by lack of insurance for something like that

In my neck of the woods, when buying Insurance, a copy of the Title is all that's necessary. The agents don't inspect the vehicle.

 

[csstevej]

Same here….just give them the vin number.

 

[dieseldonato]

Having static pressure close to temp F doesn’t mean you have enough refrigerant in it for the system to cool properly. It only means that there's some.

Before ordering anything, go to said uncle's and have him evacuate & weigh what was in there. Perhaps you’re just low, perhaps you need other work. Avoid the parts cannon!

134a static pressure follows pretty closely to ambient in *f. It may be a little low, but not enough to give the odd ball pressure readings I'm getting. After doing some research it seems it could be the internal regulator or the txv. Either way I'll be recovering the system to change out parts, so I'll know what it had in it. Doesn't seem too difficult to change the internal valve in the compressor either.

 

[JDSwan87]

Timing belt on Gertrude (2dr Golf) yesterday with @PakProtector and my buddy Jason. Went smoothly with all the MetalNerd tools and IDPARTS timing belt kit. Only stumbling block was the 11mm IP we swapped on, the previous owner beat the living $#!+ out of it attempting to hammer mod it. They hammered the IQ so out of whack, the car barely ran. @PakProtector almost instantly knew the symptoms, out came VCDS, hammered IQ back into tolerable range (3) and she runs great. Timing was advanced above the green line, but a small adjustment brought that right back into where it should be.

 

[burpod]

Timing belt on Gertrude (2dr Golf) yesterday with @PakProtector and my buddy Jason. Went smoothly with all the MetalNerd tools and IDPARTS timing belt kit. Only stumbling block was the 11mm IP we swapped on, the previous owner beat the living $#!+ out of it attempting to hammer mod it. They hammered the IQ so out of whack, the car barely ran. @PakProtector almost instantly knew the symptoms, out came VCDS, hammered IQ back into tolerable range (3) and she runs great. Timing was advanced above the green line, but a small adjustment brought that right back into where it should be.

i think that usually happens when someone loosens the QA cover bolts and attempts to hammer mod. because the triangle bit is on "top" an inexperienced person can easily make the mistake of loosening the cover only and then attempt to hammer mod. and when IQ doesn't much... hit it harder lol

 

[JDSwan87]

i think that usually happens when someone loosens the QA cover bolts and attempts to hammer mod. because the triangle bit is on "top" an inexperienced person can easily make the mistake of loosening the cover only and then attempt to hammer mod. and when IQ doesn't much... hit it harder lol

The peened the hex head end over! The triangle socket doesn't cost THAT much...