Keystone State Thread

Three years ago (December 2021), I gave a coworker’s Nissan Altima a jumpstart. The very next day, my truck’s original alternator rather suddenly and quite spectacularly shit the bed while I doing DoorDash. It literally went from the battery light being on to all major systems losing power in a little over an hour; I bought an alternator from AutoZone, and that one lasted eight months. However, the battery light would turn on and off intermittently, and it gave me a chance to get it fixed. The first alternator nuked a year-old battery, but I was prepared this time and kept my the Optima YellowTop that I still have connected to a trickle charger. My mechanic replaced the generic brand AutoZone alternator with a Denso alternator in August 2022.

My late friend Jim was absolutely adamant that jumpstarting the Altima had killed an already worn-out alternator. I had no idea that the jumper cables my neighbor provided weren’t big enough.

Also, the original battery lasted from September 2009 to late 2014, and was replaced with an Interstate MegaTron. The Interstate lasted until the late summer of 2020, and was replaced with a AAA-branded battery. The failure of the original alternator did damage to the AAA battery that did not manifest itself until a couple weeks after the new alternator was installed. Go figure that damage directly related to alternator issues was NOT covered by AAA’s warranty…

That was a crazy day. After driving to the AutoZone in Warrington, I got into an argument with an employee who was absolutely sure that my aftermarket stereo (specifically the subwoofer) was draining my battery. This was in December 2022 and the stereo in its current form was installed by me and my neighbor in March 2016.

Pissed at the Warrington AutoZone employee, I drove a few miles away to the Warminster AutoZone, where I bought the Optima that I still have.

One thing that really annoys me about my truck is that it only has an 80-amp alternator, and absolutely nobody seems to make stronger alternators for the 2TR-FE; I was willing to drop like $500 on a Mechman (I think that’s the company), but they only made alternators for the 4.0L. If I hit the lottery, I would have a piggyback system fabricated for dual 80-amp alternators, or have an alternator of 120 amps or more custom made.

 

Also, a brass toothbrush? I’ve seen regular toothbrushes used and they seem to work fine…?

 

Electronics are funny like that. Which is why I'm always cautious to give someone a jump because if you are using their equipment and if their shit is messed up enough, it can damage your perfectly functioning car. I would just find a local alternator/motor rebuilder by you and they will give you more amps for cheaper than some chinese company claiming higher amps usually those higher amps are at like 4k rpm and at idle they produce the same or less amps as an OEM alternator.

The HF brass brushes are what I keep in my shop, they are cheap and plentiful. A regular toothbrush will work too but I don't find much use for them in the garage. A brass brush can be used to clean battery terminals, screw threads, etc...

 

Morning

Another soggy ass day. Perfect start to vacation when I could be doing things. Already assembled shelving and organized the basement, changed the boiler nozzle, other inside stuff that's pretty much done. Need to paint some stuff, but with the humidity it'll never finish right

Speaking of dead batteries, I don't even bother with jumper cables anymore for the most part. I bought a couple of those little jump packs and they have been great. No risk to any vehicle and if you're alone you can jump yourself. I've mostly jumped my lawn mower as I'm too stubborn to get a battery for it this late in the season

 

Good morning PA.

 

Morning Pa. Early start today. So Early to bed tonight.

 

Good morning all. First day back from vacation and of course nothing was touched at my desk since I left. Will probably take the rest of this week to straighten up the mess I was left with.

 

a manual gearbox and all you need is a hill and some will, pop started my Tacoma several times that way after taking it for a swim.

 

After my '22 Tacoma 6MT I'm done with manuals. That experience ruined it for me

 

the new manuals are shit compared to older ones. The tuning and accumulators in the system to cater to EPA and inexperienced drivers is disturbing.

 

My MK7 GTI 6 speed was really, really nice. Loved that little car. The one that surprised me was my worn out '95 non-turbo Talon. It had a stage 2 clutch (you know, to hold up to that blistering 120HP!) and was the only good part about that car

The 3rd gen setup was just all wrong. Suffered a year of it before I was done with it. Didn't like the 3rd gen automatic so luckily for me they had a well equipped SR5 4th gen on the lot that I liked.

 

I think car companies are doing it on purpose to convert everyone to autocraptics, a slushbox mafia if you will.

 

I will say the 8 speed automatic in the 4th gens is VERY nice. Nothing like the outgoing 6 speed automatic.

Having said that since my truck is a 1/24 build it falls under the TSB for debris so I got that going for me

 

Good morning Pennsylvania and surrounding.
@Delta09 loved my 5mt and 6mt in both my jettas. Great gearboxes. Although the only time I had to replace my 5mt gearbox is when I let a buddy drive it to the store and he ripped out 2nd and 3 gear. BTW he replaced that with his money. But the gli 6mt gear box was the best manual gear box I ever had

 

Wish I can find a low mileage mk4 jetta gli again. But they are a needle in a hay stack

 

Debris? I'll have to check that one out, I guess they moved on from rust LOL

Shit happens

 

I'd like to make an appointment with you so I can get my dk lowers installed.

 

My schedule is all over the place year around due to rotating shift work not sure if weekdays or weekends work better for u

 

This was at BJ’s in Warrington yesterday; I cannot remember the last time I paid less than $3 per gallon for gas!