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Fixed the air ride today on the 2005SLE.
Found two problems.
The level sensor was bad.
Replaced it with one I got from Andrew.(thanks Andrew)
Also had 2 cuts in the air line on the drivers side.
They were caused by rubbing up against the inner plastic wheel well.
Had an air line kit and spliced in a new line.
Nice to have air shocks working again.
What a big difference how it rides now.

Installed Dorman aluminum coolant elbows with GM OEM O-rings on the 2000SLE.
Took off the belt,alternator and the ICM for easy access.
Took about 1-1/2 hours start to finish.

Passat got some attention today. Fixed the window regulator, got the plate lights working, and most importantly got that rear caliper replaced so the parking brake works again. No more car trying to roll away on me anymore.

So yesterday the coolant flange on the VW decided it didn’t want to flange the coolant anymore. So had to replace it in the rain last night. That was fun.

broke the passenger door handle ( outside ) trying to open it up after releasing it from its icy sarcophagus and then the door wouldn't latch shut. Warmed up the car for an hour and it finally latched, only to find all the doors locked and the car running....Fortunately it was at home and I have an extra key. Went to open up the other doors and then the passenger rear wouldn't latch shut ( didn't break the handle though ). Remembered the door locking itself, actuated the lock on the inside of the door and it worked as usual again. So, lesson learned? Don't wash your car in the winter when it's going to fall well below zero, make sure you're super careful when it snows, melts and freezes your car, especially on the side that got all the wet snow. AND IF you can't get the door to latch shut, try manually locking and unlocking the door first to see if you can unjam the mechanism.

First post of 2019 in this thread!

Changed Penny's oil yesterday. Car is nearing 185k miles.

Also changed the rear motor mount. Definitely quite the journey if you're doing it in your garage. Put the car on ramps, lowered the rear of the subframe, and got that sucker out.

Got the boat roller mount on (finally), and also replaced the oil pressure sensor. That *dang* sensor was a pain in the neck to get to, due to the fact that we didn't have a stubby extension to use. Had to use a weird joint extension (that was all we had). Took the passenger tire off to make that easier.

Not much....replaced taillight bulb....replaced fog light bulb ........put in some 20 dollar LED 6000k headlights.....wanted to see why so cheap lol

replaced the crank sensor with the hopes of a fix to my starting problems that developed in the extreme cold temps...got to upgrade my 1/2 impact to get the 15/16" bolt out of the crank,but to no avail...

turning the key it just cranks but won't fire. It only starts by opening the throttle. it won't idle on its own either. randomly it seems, I lose the tachometer which is why I replaced the CKP. fuel pressure is good, but when it was cold and I would depress the shraeder valve, it would trickle fuel ,but when i got it running and tested it in a warm shop, it shot out full fuel pressure. It simply will not start, cold weather or 30F just by cranking the engine over with the key. I didn't notice any damage to the wiring harness at the computer under the air filter housing when I took a peak at it, but I can't say there is no damage since I did not fully investigate it. I'm going to look at the idle air control valve, but I can't imagine that it would have that kind of control over a cold start....

Got to play with an Autel Scan Tool and turned on the "Afterblow" feature in the HVAC controls.

was kind of disappointed it couldn't change the owner names that show up when you start the car with a given key/fob.

1. Used Autel Scan Tool to program new key fobs (never had any since we bought the car)
2. Replaced Front strut/spring assembly on both sides (gabriel brand)
3. while replacing struts, broke the sway bar end link bolt - time for poly upgrade.
4. tested panic button on new remotes - realized the horn has died at some point in the recent past - bought replacement horn to fit to the car.
5. also noticed the washer nozzles aren't working - yay another project...lol

Ordered shocks, struts and mounts for the GTO. Still waiting on the guy that’s sellling the lowering springs. If I don’t hear back soon I’ll be getting some peddlers stock height springs.

Got the car back from the shop. Main purpose was to investigate the valve cover gaskets, a possible coolant leak, and an undercarriage check.

Undercarriage check revealed that, for the most part, the undercarriage is in fantastic shape for being a 17 year old Ohio car. However, the frame is rotting (rather badly in my opinion) on the drivers side. So much so that the man who worked on my car said that I should start thinking about getting another car.

I'm going to review my options - including possible welding of the area.

Replaced the rear springs and shocks on the GTO. New springs were shorter than stock but the car sits much higher and the wheels are straight now. Have a few more things to do before I bring it out for the year.

Maybe not today but in the past few weeks...

On the Suburban;
- New starter
- New fusible links (as I found that the positive terminal connector that the place that installed my plow, put on to extend it out, was loose, causing power surges, blowing the links).
- Another set of rotor and cap (a typical Vortec 5000/5700 issue)
- then these;



My original 16's were leaking air badly (from around the bead). To the tune of 30psi over night. Couple that with tires that were well past their prime, I said to myself, I wanted a bigger wheel/tire comboe to give me some free "lift" for the plow. And I came across these on Craigslist. Tahoe LTZ 20" wheels

Then on the G8
Rotofab Intake


LED tails;



3,000k LED fogs;


Struts, strut mounts and bushings (no pictures). And then I ordered new Reveal Mouldings (the rubber/plastic trim on each side of G8 Windhshields that notoriously dry rot). Only to open the package and find one of them broken already...

Officially the most expensive picture I've taken to date...



New tires and TPMS sensors for the STS, new shocks and shock mounts, sway bar links, pads and rotors, caliper rebuild kits, heater core, seat side cover, Osram D1S bulbs and LED high beam bulbs, LEDs to fix tail light, one replacement 17x8 wheel, hood strut, and a few other minor things in the mail for the AWD V8 spaceship!

Obviously, not everything has been done yet; it's got it's place in the queue.

I see some new/newer Continental Extreme Contact DWS 06's there too...

CMNTMXR57 wrote:I see some new/newer Continental Extreme Contact DWS 06's there too...

Ah, yeah, that was a fun visit to the tire shop. Hoping they are worth it!

Excellent tire. I've had DWS's on just about everything (the older version, not the 06 version) as well as their Sport Contact (which is currently on the Impala), and Control Contacts on both vans.

I had those tires on the Grand Prix. And I’ll be getting a set for the GTO here once I get the wheels done.

Speaking of the GTO I got the driver side front strut and spring changed out along with poly sway bar link bushings. Going to do the other side maybe tomorrow. I’m also going to have to change that pinion seal before it goes back on the road, I could smell the gear oil while I was working on it. April is going to be an expensive month.