The Automotive Thread

[Flyer_PE]

When I had my little incident, I was just fine until 5 or 10 minutes after landing.  As I'm standing there watching oil drip off the airframe, it finally sunk in just how badly it could have ended. 

I've posted these before but they still serve as a reminder to me to always have a plan for when shit happens.

 

[Supe]

Plan = parachute?

 

[Flyer_PE]

Plan = Where's the nearest place to land this thing if the noisy thing up front goes quiet.

Parachute wouldn't do any good in that aircraft.  No way to get the damn door open against 150mph wind speed.

 

[MA_PE]

So I bring my 2009 Chevy cobalt to a local car wash and have it detailed prior to listing it for sale.  They did an awesome job of cleaning the interior including steam cleaning all the rugs and seats.  I start the car and now the airbag light is on and the information panel says "Service Air Bag".  WTF nothing is ever easy.  I searched online and it seems there are connections under the seat and sensors in the seats for this system.  I don't know if something got wet, jarred loose, or now the is bag is fubar.  Of course I need to got to work so I don't have any time to look at anything.  AAARRRGGGHHH!

 

[matt267 PE]

airbag light is on

That's easy to fix. Use this:

 

[MA_PE]

very helpful.. thanks

 

[Road Guy]

got this from a hiking group were on.. I guess someone parked in this guys spot? wonder if the roof scratches are covered under comprehensive?

 

[MA_PE]

So I go out to check on the seat belt light and look for a loose connection etc.  The car windows are SOAKED with condensation on the inside from leftover moisture in the seats, carpet, etc.  I open the windows and run the defroster to dry it out some and the air bag light is out and stays out.  Nice!.  I take the car for a ride and everything is great.  I back it into the driveway and I hit/rode up on a small retaining wall on one side. Scrape damage on the underside of the rear quarter and jarred loose the integral "mud flap" behind the rear wheel.  <smh>  FML.

 

[Road Guy]

Sorry Man, but you can Defin fix the mud flap with duct tape and a sheet rock screw! Hope you get it sold!

 

[MA_PE]

Sorry Man, but you can Defin fix the mud flap with duct tape and a sheet rock screw! Hope you get it sold!

thanks.  Yeah it's only a couple of screws into the plastic, just another PITA.

FWIW, I took the car to a local Scrub-a-dub car wash for the detail.  $120 to completely steam clean the seats, carpets, mats, etc. interior and clean and armor-all everything else and another $50 for a hand wax of the exterior.  $170 total and the car looks like a brand new car.  I was especially pleased with the interior.

 

[Road Guy]

I need to get my son to find a detail place for our old Tahoe - he used it for his lawn mowing business this summer and it is filthy. I actually chewed his ass pretty hard about it over the weekend.  We use the Tahoe for family trips and with ski season starting next month I need it back in clean conditions. (At his expense)

I don't know if he is just a slob but in the almost a year he has been driving my former car he has never voluntarily cleaned it or washed it (without me directing him to do so) I remember as a new driver, even though I drove a POS Ford Escort, I still kept it clean..

We looked at getting the wife a used Pilot and selling the Tahoe (2002- 190K miles) and getting him something I don't have to ride in, but the math just doesn't work out this year.. & he will be a senior next year and after that I doubt we will need a 6 person vehicle much..

 

[knight1fox3]

I actually used to wash and wax by hand my '84 Toyota Corolla which was my first car that I paid $800 for. I had to go around all the rust and bondo spots. :lmao:  But I didn't care, all that mattered was it was my car.

 

[MA_PE]

For some reason my younger son never cleaned out any car he's ever driven.  It would get cluttered with debris and both my wife and I dreaded if we ever had to ride in or use the vehicle he was driving.  Like RG when I started driving I kept my car clean so it irritated the heck out of me.  when he left the Cobalt back with me I told him to have it cleaned/detailed.  He said he did but it still looked "dirty" with no clutter.  I told him that if he had that car detailed it was the worst frickin' job I'd ever seen.  He eventually confessed that he just took it to  car wash vacuum, gave it a once over with the vac and called it a day.  Kids....they ruin everything.

 

[MetsFan]

I still try to do a full detail on my car once a year - wash / polish / clay bar / sealant.  It's tougher these days with the kids, but I've been doing it since I got my first car back in 2007.

 

[wilheldp_PE]

The body style looks good, but not too flashy for my tastes.  The interior is absolutely amazing.

BTW, I am no longer taking suggestions for names...one of my college friends won the internet today.  My Tesla will be known as "Edison."

My new license plate finally came in...

 

[MA_PE]

Nice!

 

[Road Guy]

+1

 

[Dleg]

LOL.

 

[ptatohed]

Anyone here into radar detectors and/or laser jammers? 

 

[willsee]

Haven't washed either of my cars in a year.