Random thoughts thread: the Cheers of topics

[wrx_02]

Yeah I have had a **** weekend.

I usually drive my scooter to work to save on gas..... 100mpg!
It had an issue and I had to order a new head for it, it broke down Friday. So hopefully the 100$ head and gasket set fixes it.

So my wife had to prove to me she could load the trailer to come get me and knocked my race bike over. I just painted it. UggggHHHhhhh
She felt worse about it than I did though.

Picture before it fell, its not too bad. Spent hours fiber glassing it before painting it. Turning 2:09's at ECR the 2nd time on the bike. Brake still arn't how I like them yet so I could drop another 5 seconds easy when I get them worked out.



Then Saturday my volt meter in the car was beeping at me when it hit 10 volts. So I replaced the Alternator from what the auto store told me...... no change, then the battery..... no change......

Taking the car in for a timing belt @ Cobb on Friday and asked that they check for a draw. If I am lucky it will be under 1200$ for all of it.

With the New house and dog coming soon I am strapped for cash.

The dog will be cool, they sent me puppy pictures today.

[TheRipler]

Then Saturday my volt meter in the car was beeping at me when it hit 10 volts. So I replaced the Alternator from what the auto store told me...... no change, then the battery..... no change......

Starting to sound way too familiar.

So, my brand new WRB 02 WRX was brought home on a Friday night. Saturday morning, the battery was deader than the proverbial doornail. The first year I had it, the dealership had it more than I did. I was making WRX payments to drive around in 10 year old GM vehicles that smelled like a cross between wet dog and a DMV in July. I knew everyone in the service dept on a first name basis, and they knew me. ...and ran the other way when they saw me coming.

I went through all the local techs, 3 regional techs, and one guy from Cherry Hill. There were 5 batteries, 4 alternators, 2 wiring harnesses, 2 ECUs, and a variety of sensors replaced. People on the forums thought I was making things up, and Subaru couldn't possibly make a lemon. I was reviled and derided by the community. I couldn't mod my car because the warranty was the only thing that ever gave it a chance of running.

Thing is, the car wouldn't run down the battery while sitting overnight. It would only run down the battery when you drove it. So, I get somewhere, and then all of a sudden I couldn't leave. Finally, Subaru sprung for a 130A alternator from an Outback, and that covered the problem. You could still tell the car wasn't right, but it didn't flat out die anymore. I did get to know the corporate guys, and they asked what I was looking for in a car. I was never going to buy another Subaru again.

Then I got a "we're sorry about that last car" deal on a new STi, and it was everything I ever wanted. It even had the extra .5L and no radio or sunroof option I asked for. I jumped on it, and I never thought about the WRX again

..until now. Thanks.

[wrx_02]

Haha well this was the first time I replaced the alternator. I installed the system in the car in 03/04 so it isn't that since I havent touched it since.

I did install the trailer hitch and light plug maybe 7 months ago? Hasn't been an issue until recently.

I did have the fuel line recalled maybe over a year ago and that winter it did the same thing. Dealer left the bolt loose on the wire to the alternator. Easy fix, then no issue but it did spark and arc several times before I fixed it.

Then I had it come loose again, made me think they left the lock washer off and I added one and it hasn't been loose since. But now the same issue. All connection look good to the alternator, and the battery. No corrosion, 90A alternator and Red Top Optima. What gives?

[TheRipler]

The only thing I ever installed was a volt meter, so I could watch it fall below 11v.

[wrx_02]

My Escort has one so I watch it......I mean it has been 10 years. Figured the stock alternator would have been out before then with the system.

[Vicarious_Lee]

Hi guys....long time no post for me.
Just read the last 3 pages to get caught up, sorta.

Not much going on here, still traveling, still have the same 2 Subarus (my son is now legal to drive, so he gets the Impreza at times). Sigh.

Glad to see some of the group still posting.

Ripler, congrats on the "soon to be new" car.

I'm going to be in the Denver area next week, may see if Matt wants to meet up.

Hey Charlie! I'm just trying to prep Roxy for my 500+ mile road trip to go play run-and-gun with a bunch of fantastic instructors in hot, humid, still, and Biblically tick-infested Southern Missouri. In fact, the wife's car is out of the garage and my clothes are all soaking in a think mist of permethrin on the garage floor. This turned out to be hellishly expensive, but I won't likely get an opportunity to train like this for a long time, and you know, in for a penny, in for a pound (or in this case, 2,000 rounds of rifle ammo and 800 rounds pistol).

So I'm trying to get my AC belt to stop squealing (the automotive equivalent of farting in public). I'm using my grandfathers method of tightening the tensioner until it shuts up. No success so far.

Can I change this thing myself?

EDIT: Well my goodness, wrx_02! I had no idea you lived in Ft. Worth! We should meet up sometime like Ripler and I, and Charlie and I never got he chance to.

Did you say dog? Cause I just got one that's REALLY needing to go to a good home. Found her wandering the golf course, profoundly lost, at about 11PM last night. Put up signs immediately in front and back. She stays outside and chirps nervously.

She's about 40 lbs, maybe a year or so old, black with white, and looks like a boxer/boston terrier color only smaller. She has a collar but no tag, and no microchip. She's a little big, fairly mannish looking, kind of annoying and acts goofy and retarded.

I've named her Kourtney Kardashian.

She's sweet, not food aggressive, and gets along with other dogs.

Someone take this b1tch. While I'd happily adopt her if I didn't already have two older dogs, I owe this sweetie no 12-15 year commitment for finding her, and I WILL take her to the pound next week.

[yosemitemtb]

The Outback might just be cursed. Within a week of buying it, the windshield cracked, a CV boot failed and it got a nail in a tire. On a different note, I'll be racing in the Lone Pine Time Trials next weekend. It's like a super-sized autocross, 80mph plus. http://www.lonepinetimetrials.com/

The time trial was a blast! I hit 99mph on Saturday's course, Sunday we ran it the other direction and I only eked out 97mph. Almost 100mph on a narrow airport taxiway paved in the early 1940's! I think next year I might just do it in a rental car, I saw a couple out there but I don't know what Enterprise is going to say when they return with totally wasted tires. Tire shredding was used to describe the surface more than once. Check your volume before watching these, there's a lot of wind noise.

[yosemitemtb]

[Charlie]

Hi all.

VLee, yes, you can change the AC belt yourself, not hard to do.

Fun looking run Yos, spin much in the 1st one??

JK, you should try to get in touch with Sube555.....he used to be in Appleton, not sure where now though......

[Vicarious_Lee]

Hi all.

VLee, yes, you can change the AC belt yourself, not hard to do.

Fun looking run Yos, spin much in the 1st one??

JK, you should try to get in touch with Sube555.....he used to be in Appleton, not sure where now though......

I have just cracked the tensioner set screw mount. I leave 8AM Thursday.

I cannot type "dammit" in a large enough font right now.