Need to rant: All is fine til the end!

[96ToyoCam164K]

I am so irritated right about now. Here I am 2 days into one of my first major DIY (just changing fluids/thermostat) and after I finished the last under car job we go down to let the cheap shit scissor jack down and the damn extension bar breaks

So the thing won't budge, and its basically stuck on the damn jack. Not to mention its late. I go to the autopart store, and as I was looking for an extension the guy says I can use a screwdriver. Me being not in the right mind I turn back around (at the expense of an already complicated carpool driver!) and the screwdriver doesn't budge Why would he tell me that and oooo I should of just bought a new damn jack! I feel so stupid! Why am I so stupid!?

So its been stuck about 3 hours, and I was at the last part of the job...just needed to add some trans fluid. Make it even worse, Im being ridiculed for doing DIY which isn't making the damn process any easier! Now its cold, dark, and its on the jack in my apartment complex! It would have been a bit easier if my 'co-worker' would have started earlier like we agreed to yesterday. We got started at damn near 4 pm! Arrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrgggggggggggghhhh

Then, to add salt and vinegar to the wound; he tries to push the jack off from the side so it could 'fall over' and what do you know he slightly dents the side of the car, jack doesn't go jack.

So yeah, very irritating here. After this Im taking my ass to Sears and buying those rhino ramps which I should have just ******* got when I was buying the damn jack stands! Unnecessary B.S., not even part of the job...just holding me the **** up for nothing.

I will never buy crap tools again because they are pieces of sh!t. I just wanna go to AutoZone and throw that sh!t back in their face! Ok rant over

The good news? Well I was able to 'pop' off both differential plugs and find it near empty and similar to molten lava

[JohnGD]

Your differential will definitely thank you for it. I wonder how many owners paid to not have it changed.

Just curious. Doesn't your car come with a scissor jack in the trunk? I think Federal regulations require it for non-run-flat tires.

[hill8570]

Welcome to the DIY zone, where Murphy's Law rules and you're always missing at least one tool or part to finish the job. Maybe you could convince your dumbass friend that he should be able to bench-press the oil pan long enough for you to free up the scissor jack?

Tomorrow's a new day!

[haux]

Originally Posted by hill8570

Maybe you could convince your dumbass friend that he should be able to bench-press the oil pan long enough for you to free up the scissor jack?

I second that!

[96ToyoCam164K]

Originally Posted by JohnGD

Just curious. Doesn't your car come with a scissor jack in the trunk? I think Federal regulations require it for non-run-flat tires.

This car was an auction...and was missing alot of 'little things' e.g. emblems and a tire jack!

I just bit the bullet, went to the 24 hour store around here and got a hydrolic jack. Doesn't go as high...but its ALOT easier than the other. I finally got it off...What a nightmare but by next week I'll say, we did it!

I was so tired that I could only pull into the next parking spot...but the quick jerk in reverse seems alot smoother than before. Like I said, when I opened it...some dirty fluid just trickled out. I'll take it for a 'spin' tomorrow! (well maybe not, its supposed to ice up tomorrow)

[haux]

Originally Posted by 96ToyoCam164K

I just bit the bullet, went to the 24 hour store around here and got a hydrolic jack. Doesn't go as high...but its ALOT easier than the other.

The hydraulic jack my dad has goes a ton higher than the scissor jack from my car. Odd. I guess there's different types?

[JohnGD]

I see. So it must have been though a dry cleaner then.

Fenixus got a Harbor Freight 2-ton trolley jack that goes to 15"-5/8. The Pep Boy $15 Torin on sale goes up only to 13". Not enough to clear his 3-ton stands.

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/cta...emnumber=66725

Good thing you serviced it. Drive it for a week or two and then repeat the drain/refill. See what color the recent fluid becomes. You may need to do 3 drains/refills, which is the standard Honda way of clearing the transmission of "old" fluid. (But 2-3 may be good for the diff).

Originally Posted by 96ToyoCam164K

This car was an auction...and was missing alot of 'little things' e.g. emblems and a tire jack!

I just bit the bullet, went to the 24 hour store around here and got a hydrolic jack. Doesn't go as high...but its ALOT easier than the other. I finally got it off...What a nightmare but by next week I'll say, we did it!

I was so tired that I could only pull into the next parking spot...but the quick jerk in reverse seems alot smoother than before. Like I said, when I opened it...some dirty fluid just trickled out. I'll take it for a 'spin' tomorrow! (well maybe not, its supposed to ice up tomorrow)

[DAT RICE]

@JohnGD
Why not just do the flush instead of drain and refill? I did the latter and at first the car was shifting much smoother but later it became worse again, cause ya know the new fluid finally mixed in with the old one, rendering it useless. What I mean is, it's not as efficient as the flush nor cheaper. If you keep doing the latter, sure,you'll dilute it cleaner but you're still gonna have the old fluid in there. I have to do the flush soon. Doing the differential flush will improve the car's rolling efficiency? back to stock performance right? No, I'm not thinking "zomg turbo performance!"

[hill8570]

Originally Posted by haux

The hydraulic jack my dad has goes a ton higher than the scissor jack from my car. Odd. I guess there's different types?

Probably a bottle jack instead of a floor jack. Don't think I've ever seen a floor jack with less than 13" of lift.

[JohnGD]

True, but it may be harder for some to do. And of course after 3 drains/refills you'd still be left with about 12.5% of old fluid left (say 50% gets drained). So I guess do whatever works for the owner.

Just don't let the system run dry, because the OD clutch is supposed to be engaged at all times. So probably don't want to let it slip and burn.

Originally Posted by DAT RICE

@JohnGD
Why not just do the flush instead of drain and refill? I did the latter and at first the car was shifting much smoother but later it became worse again, cause ya know the new fluid finally mixed in with the old one, rendering it useless. What I mean is, it's not as efficient as the flush nor cheaper. If you keep doing the latter, sure,you'll dilute it cleaner but you're still gonna have the old fluid in there. I have to do the flush soon. Doing the differential flush will improve the car's rolling efficiency? back to stock performance right? No, I'm not thinking "zomg turbo performance!"