Toyota Tacoma

[CaminoRacer]

Or just get a creeper so you're not actually on the cold concrete. Plus then you can creep.

I love the idea of creepers but never actually use one for more than a minute. I always roll around unintentionally when trying to torque bolts or need more headroom or whatever. Might be better for a Taco with more ground clearance though

[Rupert]

How is a tiny cold blooded snake with legs going to help?

Salamanders are amphibians.

[Eye of the Tiger]

Salamanders are amphibians.

They are gross little turds.

[giant_mtb]

Or just get a creeper so you're not actually on the cold concrete. Plus then you can creep.

Y'all wanna change diff fluid in 12F?  Didn't think so.

[CaminoRacer]

Y'all wanna change diff fluid in 12F?  Didn't think so.

Will it even drain out at that temp?

[giant_mtb]

Will it even drain out at that temp?

Probably not very well. I'd drive around to warm it up.

[giant_mtb]

ordered a block heater thing.  not sure where the hole it goes into is, but I'll cross that river when I swim to it.  was gonna just get an oil pan pad heater, but the block heater cartridge is only like $15 more and apparently they're much better at warming the whole engine instead of just the oil, which then gets sloshed around in a dead cold engine anyway...sorta defeating the purpose.

[giant_mtb]

Taco has new sperk plergs.  The guy who sold it to me left 6 brand new NGK Iridiums and a spare U joint under the rear seat, so I finally put the plugs in. Dunno when they were changed, if ever...ones I pulled out were Densos, which seems to be the OEM for the ignition system (coil pack things are also Denso).  It actually idles a bit smoother. Hopefully I'll see a small bump up in smoothness and MPG.  Just filled up...14mpg.

Also discovered why my horn doesn't work...the leads got torn off at some point.

[giant_mtb]

I think one of the plugs backed out a little bit.  Got that tell-tale ticky noise after a drive around town.  I hope it's on the right bank...those ones are a lot easier to get at.  Grrrr.  I'll do it tomorrow.  At least it didn't asplode.

[Soup DeVille]

I think one of the plugs backed out a little bit.  Got that tell-tale ticky noise after a drive around town.  I hope it's on the right bank...those ones are a lot easier to get at.  Grrrr.  I'll do it tomorrow.  At least it didn't asplode.

Soup's First Law of used vehicles: it's always the one that's harder to get to.

[giant_mtb]

Right?

I did the recommended (on the plug box) hand tighten til it's fully seated and then a 1/2 turn, but I guess it wasn't enough.

[Eye of the Tiger]

Soup's First Law of used vehicles: it's always the one that's harder to get to.

Always always always always true.

[giant_mtb]

Should I use blue loctite on them?  Not sure if that's common practice for high heat areas like plugs.

[Eye of the Tiger]

Should I use blue loctite on them?  Not sure if that's common practice for high heat areas like plugs.

Umm, no. Just torque them properly.

[giant_mtb]

Umm, no. Just torque them properly.

Okay.  I thought I torqued them enough the first time. Apparently I didn't for one.

[Eye of the Tiger]

Okay.  I thought I torqued them enough the first time. Apparently I didn't for one.

You either did not do that, or you did strip the threads in the cylinder head 

[giant_mtb]

You either did not do that, or you did strip the threads in the cylinder head 

Shhhhh don't say such things. I'd be fucked.

[CaminoRacer]

Or it's just an exhaust leak that happened to loosen up at the same time.

[giant_mtb]

I don't think it is. It doesn't sound like an exhaust leak, which Taco has a small one somewheres. It sounds like an air pump/ticking. Like this...

https://youtu.be/6CS8COVQoCg

[giant_mtb]

Oh. My dumb ass forgot to hook a vacuum hose back up.   

[Eye of the Tiger]

You gots bigger prollems if Taco sounds like a Ford Escort.
Oh, vacuuuum line, I see.

[giant_mtb]

This block heater is being a bitch.  The cartridge hole is a bitch to get to (rear of the block, by the 02 sensor and bell housing. It goes in but won't go all the way, no matter how I orient it. I've tried spraying parts cleaner and what air I could reach in there, but she's just. not. going. in.

[Eye of the Tiger]

Grease? Vaseline? Astroglide?

[BimmerM3]

This block heater is being a bitch.  The cartridge hole is a bitch to get to (rear of the block, by the 02 sensor and bell housing. It goes in but won't go all the way, no matter how I orient it. I've tried spraying parts cleaner and what air I could reach in there, but she's just. not. going. in.

Maybe you need a YouTube install guide video.

[BimmerM3]

Actually... are you trying the wrong hole?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9UNmmhsyHag&feature=youtu.be&t=7m10s

[giant_mtb]

Seen all the vids/guides. My hole is just clogged with something. Must be nice to not live in the rust belt.

[Eye of the Tiger]

Seen all the vids/guides. My hole is just clogged with something. Must be nice to not live in the rust belt.

Pop dat cherry. Hard and fast. Like a band-aid.

[giant_mtb]

Just gotta keep cleaning it out til it'll go in I guess. Every time I insert it, it gets a hair better. Pull it out, and there's gunk on the grease.  Almost out of parts cleaner.

Jfc I give up for now. This shouldn't be a 2 hour thing.

Found my exhaust leak. There are no bolts at one of the pipe connections and whatever metal gasket is chowdered up.  Pulled as much of that out as I could and threw on two bolts I had laying around.  No more annoying rattle, just the burble from the gap between the pipes.

While I had the FL wheel off trying to shove the stupid block heater in, took a look at my ball joints...upper is definitely fucked.  Boot's torn, etc.  Lower seemed fine, but might as well do both.  Tie rod end had a little wiggle to it (I hear you're not supposed to be able to wiggle it around by hand).  Only issue about doing these myself is I'd want/need heat in the garage.  But, Taco just fits in garage with the door closed...can't walk in front of or behind it, so whenever I'm doing work on it, I open the door and back up 4-5' so I can move side to side and have space up front.  I'd have to like hang tarps or something as best I could over the door opening to keep heat in, otherwise a heater would be relatively pointless.  I could utilize my parents' garage, but then I'd have to move all my tools and junk and my truck (and thus me) would be stuck there for probably two days while I battle rusty garbage.

[giant_mtb]

All 4 front ball joints and both outer tie rod ends plus a pickle fork can be shipped to my door for $134.  The quote I got for doing just the upper ball joints was $370 (including parts).  And all the BJs are press-fit, not riveted, so that's nice.  I have a torch for really fucking shit up if I need to.  Press kit can presumably be rented at my local auto parts store for free with a deposit.

So for that $236 difference, I could buy a little propane heater, a tank, and replace all those things and have money left over for a balance/alignment.

[giant_mtb]

Pickle fork should be here tomorrow, ball joints and tie rod ends should be here Saturday.  Warm weather predicted for Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday of next week (highs of 43, 46 and 44, respectively), so I can hopefully get it all done within a day or two.  Press kit will be rented locally.  I'm confident that with the warmth and acquisition of my blow torch, I'll be fairly unstoppable in this endeavor...

Professional alignment to follow immediately.