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Ryan wrote:You can do anything a shop can do, with baisic tools. 8, 10, 12, 14, and some other odd mm sockets, 1/2" drive w/ extensions, phillips... thats really about all you need to dismantle 90% of the car.

Oh, and this

http://www.mx-3.com/manuals/index.php" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Belt makes a lot of sense, except the popped cooling fan fuse. (Unless somehow it can pop after running too long)

Wait wait wait. What about the venerable 17mm?! And the 19! And, of course, the 32!

Ryan wrote:You can do anything a shop can do, with baisic tools. 8, 10, 12, 14, and some other odd mm sockets, 1/2" drive w/ extensions, phillips... thats really about all you need to dismantle 90% of the car.

Oh, and this

http://www.mx-3.com/manuals/index.php" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Belt makes a lot of sense, except the popped cooling fan fuse. (Unless somehow it can pop after running too long)

Also, oil plug is supposedly a 1/2". or is it 19mm?

Ryan wrote:

Ryan wrote:You can do anything a shop can do, with baisic tools. 8, 10, 12, 14, and some other odd mm sockets, 1/2" drive w/ extensions, phillips... thats really about all you need to dismantle 90% of the car.

Oh, and this

http://www.mx-3.com/manuals/index.php" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Belt makes a lot of sense, except the popped cooling fan fuse. (Unless somehow it can pop after running too long)

Also, oil plug is supposedly a 1/2". or is it 19mm?

Ya, ya. I can't remember the oil plug size but I know the transmission plugs are 23mm.

And technically, 34mm is not an odd size.

You know what I mean... gosh Everyone is so freakin' picky.

odd as in "a few odd things" or "odds and ends"

the antonym of "even" is only one meaning...

http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/odd" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

It shouldn't ever be that much... Unless, he broke the belt tensioner bolt for it, like I did with mine. It doesnt sound like he did. It sounds just like a person who wants to rip someone off.

I went to autozone and they sold me that belt for 20! Then maybe 30-45mins of your time if you dont know what youre doing. That's all you'd need to do it.

This is why I do my own work because I don't trust mechanics. The going labor rate is 90 per hour but if they have to do something simple and quick, theyll at least charge you 45 (like a plumber). Myabe the guys trying to tell you its 90 for the labor tho fix it? idk, but I would say, with future problems, come to us first because there is always someone who know something about anything. And I'm speaking from a learner's prespective. It's also soooooo much cheaper.

For more information on this wonderful site, visit: http://www.mx-3.com" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Sorry, had to throw that in there because i just realized that what I said sounded like an infomercial. Good luck with your stuff

I stopped trusting mechanics after the dealership mechanics forgot to tighten some (not all ) lugnuts on 2 wheels of my dad's car. He only realized when he got home and he could finger tighten them.

Yea belts are a simple job, invest in a good tool set and you'll be set for a while.

Lots of parts, check the Wreckers or post here in the [WTB] forum. A lot of us offer same day shipping. lol All of us who swapped out our K8's (V6) for KLZE or DE's have the engines sitting around with the pulley's. Next time you need parts ask here first and yes $90 he's screwing you unless he's doing a timing belt.

Mad Cow wrote:I stopped trusting mechanics after the dealership mechanics forgot to tighten some (not all ) lugnuts on 2 wheels of my dad's car. He only realized when he got home and he could finger tighten them.

Yea belts are a simple job, invest in a good tool set and you'll be set for a while.

Heh, this happened to too. Front-left wheel. Was getting new winter tires, and I don't have a tire changing machine, so I get garages to do it.

When they were done I went to the car in the parking lot with my tire iron, and sure enough, one wheel wasn't tightened. Sigh.

I never take my car to a garage unless it's someone I know, or it's an emergency and I just don't have time to do it myself. The thing is, think about how you do work for yourself, vs. work for others. We don't care nearly as much about our quality of work for others we don't know as we do for ourselves. It's just human nature.

Most mechanics will do a decent job, and screw up from time to time. But when you do it yourself, you know one of two things:

1. It's done right (clean job, used thread sealant, etc),
2. It's done wrong, but you know it, where the corners were cut, and what's outstanding.

On top of all that, it just feels damned good to get in and drive after a 4 hour repair/upgrade. Changing my clutch on my escort was my first major mechanical job, and though it took me 2 weeks (missing parts that I was waiting on), what a feeling when I fired it up, threw it into reverse, and watched in amazement as my car sprung to life again.

And finally, you get to know your car inside out. Top and bottom. Where the rust is forming, what the CV and strut boots look like, if/where oil is collecting.. so you can stay on top of things.

Yay home mechanics.

seriously it ended up costing me 260 because they replaced the pulleys which were broken apparently and the belt. also apparently something broke (a screw or nut) bcuz it was too rusted so it broke when they tried to take it out. appaerntly they ended up welding something up instead...

seriously i got mega ripped and it took them like 3 hours to do it because theyre so god damned lazy as well (my car had been there the day before...) but they charged me 1. well thank you all for your help. indeed i probably will never go back to a mechanic except for a huge problem maybe.

just waiting for the summer to start working on my brakes/ electrical etc etc.

btw... everytime i start the car now, theres a super loud screeching sound comming from the passenger side of the hood... ne1 know what could that be??

madmdx wrote:seriously it ended up costing me 260 because they replaced the pulleys which were broken apparently and the belt. also apparently something broke (a screw or nut) bcuz it was too rusted so it broke when they tried to take it out. appaerntly they ended up welding something up instead...

seriously i got mega ripped and it took them like 3 hours to do it because theyre so god damned lazy as well (my car had been there the day before...) but they charged me 1. well thank you all for your help. indeed i probably will never go back to a mechanic except for a huge problem maybe.

just waiting for the summer to start working on my brakes/ electrical etc etc.

btw... everytime i start the car now, theres a super loud screeching sound comming from the passenger side of the hood... ne1 know what could that be??

If they really did have to weld and change a pulley, that's not thaaat bad. I can see it taking a few hours of labor and lots of parts. But, they also could be lying about what they did.

The screeching sounds like they didn't tighten the belt tensioner enough, and it's slipping. Should go back to them and ask them to retighten it; they can't charge you if it's the belt they installed.

well i mean they claimed the dealer sold them the belt for 90$ (which i can believe, since the dealer is a bloodsucking vampire), and he charged me 20 for the welding job (took him about 10 minutes to do so im assuming it wasnt much).

either way, the shop is closed (sunday) so ill have to wait till tomorrow to tighten it.. and yeah i think its that as well because sometimes it keeps screeshing until i start to move or do something to make the revs jump up or down quickly.

although they charge only about 50$ hourly rate, so next time ill just get the damned parts myself and make em do the labour

and thank you all for all your help! you guys are damned good!

just a quick update
i brought it to the shop and they fixed the slipping belt.
dont know what they did exactly, i was so damn sleepy i waited in the waiting room for about an hour and a half

anyway... now i just need to wait for the summer so i can get myself a good condition exhaust line, one that isnt full of holes