SOLVED! Post 2853 Leaking Injectors, Dealer Techs Rock! Extended Cranking after Engine Swap 3.4L 5vz

Thanks for the perspective on the Prius batteries.

I don't know, we've always said NO WAY to hybrids, but at some point you look around and realize how many people are driving them, then see the consumer reports, and start to wonder if perhaps they really can be reliable, cost effective cars.

The Impreza appeals to us both a whole lot more than a Prius C (AWD and no strange battery/different technology to worry about), but the Prius C would be a few thousand cheaper when comparing new of each. But the big thing for me is the financing - the Prius C has 0% financing right now, whereas I can't find any sort of financing incentive for the Impreza from Subaru, except 1.49% for 3 years from a few dealers, and that ain't gonna work for us when we are talking about a $22K car! I guess they are selling enough of them to not need to give an incentive?

On the other hand, seems like there are an awful lot of Prius' around for sale. I wonder if Toyota just made too many, or if people just tapered off suddenly/drastically in buying them for some reason?

 

The Subaru is reliable until it hits 100K. Then you will likely end up replacing the center differential and some other AWD components that tend to wear out on their cars. Honestly, unless you want the performance of AWD, I'd avoid Subaru. To much premium on their cars.

Look into a Mitsubishi Lancer with AWD. I had a Lancer and had a serious issue (airflow in the cab was compromised and it fogged up all the time) with it but it was the lack of dealer support that really killed the car for me. In other words, my dealer was a dink. I've had other friends with Mitsu's and good luck. They often have awesome warranty and very very good financing. Not something I'm necessarily recommending, but look into it.

No one wants a Prius once it comes close to the estimated battery replacement interval. Do you want to keep an iPhone when you know the battery will fail soon and you have to pay to replace it?

 

No, I meant there seems to be a surplus of new Prius C's, at least around here, and I'm guessing that's part of why they are offering the great financing and what seems like reasonable pricing. Wondering if Toyota just made too many, or if their popularity dropped off recently or what.....

 

Gas prices are down. More people are buying larger cars. It's supply and demand based on the price of gas. It's the same reason 2 years ago so many dealers had piles of V6 crossovers on their lots with discounts. It's hard to sell CUV's when get prices get higher and people think in the short term.

 

Can't believe that this 2 horse town now has a vehicle charge receptacle for the battery burners. They can't fix the damn bridge properly, but they can install a car zapper station.

 

Doing a little grilling and chilling. Roasted mushrooms, potatoes, asparagus and califlour along with a cast iron pan full of mixed vegetables. Corn on the cob to round out things.

For some reason I've been cooking me more vegetarian meals on the grill. Still love me some beef or fish, but seem to not miss it as much in the summer. As a bonus, I get to have more drinks.

 

I love this photo sphere feature with the Google camera app. I am amazed at how well and quickly it stitches the pics together.

 

Whoops, forgot to include the pic. I'm blaming the booze.

 

Use of a raccoon - don't forget a 'Davy Crockett' coonskin cap. Matching for Jen & Eric. priceless.

 

That is quite the offer, but the foot is on the mend, the Honda will be going back to the daughter and the WRX will be back in service full time...

Howard

 

Happy Thursday TW!!!

Got a wild hair and decided to get busy on our fence!! We have this awkward retaining wall shaped like a big U that encloses some roses and other plants. This thing has been in the way the entire 10 years we've lived here. It is really poorly laid out. Pics coming soon. It causes our primary use gate opening from our backyard to our driveway to be this narrow obstacle course, and just really serves no purpose except a home for the roses. So without much of a plan (something I rarely do!), we just dug in this afternoon and started tearing that wall down. It feels AWESOME!! Tore out the gate, ready to transplant roses tomorrow. Then demo the fence in that area, and rebuild everything from the ground up. The way WE want it, not the way it was when we bought the house. I LOVE projects like this!!

The really exciting part? The part that will interest you guys?

The new design of that area will allow us to open two giant double door gates to be able to drive into the backyard from the driveway. Which means we are one major step closer to building a garage. And in the meantime, just being able to drive back there will be a major improvement, because our shed is back there, where all of his car tools/supplies are. So all these years, he had to haul all that crap out of the shed, across our yard, and through the weird narrow gate/obstacle course area. It sucked.

Guess how Eric feels about this project?

All we keep saying is, why the hell didn't we do this sooner??????????????? I think we were scared that the slope of the ground right there was so severe that the wall WAS serving a purpose. But after taking away some of the stones and lots of the dirt, we realized, it's not really doing much of anything, nor did it have drainage installed inside it like it really should have if it was properly built. It looks like it was maybe just poorly planned landscaping decor idea. And now it's finally going bye bye

A lot of work ahead of us though - demo-ing 5 fence panels, finish up demo-ing the retaining wall that isn't even retaining anything, transplant roses (and pray that they don't die), set 5 new fence posts, build 5 new fence panels, then build two massive, beautiful cedar, seriously sturdy gate doors - that will swing open and allow the Taco to enter the party zone - the backyard!!!

 

Now you are in my classroom! Building a detached garage is something I got experience in!

Step #1

What are you going to call it? My wife named mine the North Wing.

I'm excited for you, two.

 

Not sure, any ideas?

I'm so excited about making these giant double gate/door things. Once they are built, I'm thinking there will be some wood burning and/or routering going on to make 'em look super cool!!

Going to take some pics now!!

Hoping for it to look something like this when we are done:

 

Gate building question!! Help!!

What size posts do you guys think we can get away with for these giant cedar driveway gates?

One gate door will be ~3/4 of the total width of the driveway, so it will be ~8' wide x ~8' tall. That's a big gate to swing open and have no post supporting the other end of it. This giant one will only be opened when we are doing some kind of project where it's convenient to have a big opening from the driveway to the backyard. Getting the pressure washer out there, car tools, loading/unloading big supplies for projects, walking through with the ladder and about a billion other things. Ah, this will be nice!

The other gate door will be ~1/4 of the total width, so it will only be ~3-4' wide. Not really worried about that one as far as support and post size, because it will basically be a normal sized gate to walk through, which is the one that will be used most of the time by itself. Might just use a 4 x 4 post to hold that gate door up.

But for that big gate - thinking maybe we should do a 6 x 6, or even a metal post (encased in wood later for looks)? I want it to be sturdy. And Eric mentioned possibly putting a small wheel on the bottom of the big one, for it's weight to rest on somewhat. Although I don't want a gap under the fence. May as well try our best to keep the coons out!

How deep would you guys bury the post for that gate? What size would you get? We'll need the post to stick out ~8' 6" above ground, so I was considering getting a 12' post and burying ~3' 6" of it in concrete (with 6" gravel underneath that), then I'd still have 8' 6" above ground. Think that's deep enough for what we are expecting this post to support?

If we did a 6" x 6" post, what diameter would you do the hole? I feel like those online concrete calculators always tell you that you need way more than you actually do. We have this really HARD clay soil that almost acts like concrete, but it's difficult to "rate" how much strength that hard soil surrounding the concreted posts actually adds.

 

I'd go metal. May as well over engineer it rather than dick around trying to find what's just right for a gate. On that note though, why not support the bottom of the long part of the gate with it's own offset tire? Every long gate I've ever dealt with had a support tire on it to avoid any issues. You can build a little wheel well in the fence for an inflatable small tire and that would be enough I'd think

The rest I'll leave to the others on this thread. I'm not great with knowing which or what concrete anchors are needed for fencing.

 

I'd put a diagonal brace from the top of the post to another post at ground level at 45 degrees. With bracing I think a 4x4 post should be adequate. A bigger post will not resist the gate pulling on it with leverage much more. I'd bury it 3 feet.

mandatory disclaimer: I've built a couple of fences but I'm not a professional so Your Mileage May Vary.

 

my rule of thumb for gates is, use metal poles (you cannot see the pole from the "pretty" side any way)

however high the fence is that's how high you want you pole, just 6" shorter. so 6ft gate means buy 10ft poles and put 4 ft in the ground. never try to measure the pole height or it will always not be right so just cut the poles to the height you need after its set solid and concrete has dried for 48 hours. just because its hard doesn't mean vibrations wont break the bond seal on the pipe.

the pole needs to be at least 1/3 in the ground and 2/3rds above ground and filled with at least an 80 lbs bag for each pole. I have found its best to overbuild everything so if you think you need an 1 1/2" pole use a 2" and if you think you need a 2" then use a 2 1/2" pole. same think for supporting it, I put the same length in the ground as above ground even though the rule of thumb is only 1/3rd in the ground is needed.

back fill the hole in with dirt or gravel then fill the hole with water and always double and triple check level in both directions and be sure it fixed securely then let it sit until the water is gone, this forms a suction around the pole as well as "melts" the dirt around it for a solid fill. you want to fill the hole up to about 2ft deep then pour the concrete in.

as mentioned above, no matter what you do the gate will sag over time, you cant stop it, not much you can do but you could put all thread and shackles to be able to adjust it but I find it a lot easier to just put a wheel on the gate then you have no worries at all. use a wheel like this at the bottom of each side of the gates: http://www.homedepot.com/p/Everbilt-4-in-Rigid-Non-Marking-Rubber-Caster-4040045EB/203672604 it doesn't need to swivel because the gate swings so the wheel never spins. bolt it right to the gate on one side then use an angle bracket to be able to attach the other end

and for your viewing pleasure:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ziZqwSgSh5s

 

Thanks for the advice everyone!

Just ordered pizza and got showered, now time to make some J & B's

I have never seen spiders as big as I have seen the last 2 days. We are moving big mannerstones that were in place for probably 20+ years. Ant communities, strange things (golf club head - WTF?), and lots of very large, very creepy looking spiders. Some of them won't die!!

Made great progress today overall - got the 2 rose bushes moved to their new home, got a ridiculous amount of dirt shoveled outta there to alter the slope, and moved a bazillion mannerstones. Oh yeah, and Eric got holes most of the way dug for the two big beefy gate posts.

Tomorrow will be a run to the store for supplies, then setting posts.

Pics coming tonight or tomorrow AM!

Stay tuned TW, because I'm guessing we'll have more questions as we continue planning!!

 

Spiders eat other much more annoying bugs, if you kill them the other bugs will proliferate. Also, spiders only bite people who don't like them. I like spiders and have never been bitten.