The Car Thread

[Frozentreehugger]

A truck guy is a truck guy is a truck guy . I’m well aware born and raised in rural Ontario beef farming country . And spent my career in not the largest ford dealership in Ottawa area . But we are the go to for trucks . My ex snowmobile race partner would not give up his Chevy truck for anything , he died with the keys in his hand .

 

[defra]

Not the only japanese thing is bonsai in my life!
I introduce you my little japanese car!
1.3 liter 4 cilinder monster !
Not realy but its reliable and fun to drive and prety economical with fuel consumption!
It needs some lowering springs and the exhaust needs work as i lost my rear muffler !

 

[Japonicus]

i lost my rear muffler !

Hope you find it soon

 

[Gabler]

Not the only japanese thing is bonsai in my life!
I introduce you my little japanese car!
1.3 liter 4 cilinder monster !
Not realy but its reliable and fun to drive and prety economical with fuel consumption!
It needs some lowering springs and the exhaust needs work as i lost my rear muffler !

Tiny Japanese cars are neat. I always thought it would be fun to have one of those little kei trucks.

 

[defra]

Hope you find it soon

Its in my shed i will get a complete new exhaust in stainless steel from front to back so it Will last my time with this car

Tiny Japanese cars are neat. I always thought it would be fun to have one of those little kei trucks.

Yeah i love those kei trucks as well !
Seen some awesome 4x4's they are expensive here tough as daihatsu is no longer active in europe new spare parts getting rare and importing is not interesting due to the mad shipping Costs

 

[Frozentreehugger]

For those that don’t know . I’m a auto tech have worked for the same Ford / Lincoln dealer . For 30 years . In Ottawa Ont Canada . Today I worked on a 2023 f150 limited . Luxury truck it was stolen in Ottawa . Found at the port of Montreal . Before it could be loaded into a shipping container . In my opinion the chain of events . During the theft are this . Using sone sort of homemade tool . They reached thru the grill and disconnected the horn . Next they entered the truck ( most likely cheating the keyless remote system ) next they . Pulled fuses out of the truck to kill the exterior lights . And disable . One module with a gps . Next they correctly removed trim to access . 2 other modules with gos in them . ( that can not be disabled with a fuse pull ) last they disconnected all electrical in the roof . I’m unsure the goal of that . It disabled the sunroof and lights and 2 antennas . For the entry system . Then they stole the truck . In a lifetime of working on cars . Especially at the dealership. I have never seen a car stolen . So professional. There is 100 percent no damage to this truck not so much as a scratch . Replace fuses . Plug stuff in . And reassemble trim . Scan the truck and erase faults and it’s good to go . Someone very knowledgeable about this vehicle was involved . I have seen many stolen recovery vehicles . But never with no damage . Shows the level these thief rings are at

 

[Underdog]

Montreal used to be the car theft capital. The F150 was the most stolen. That's what my friend was told when his truck trailer and race bike I was to ride for him were stolen 2hrs after checking into hotel. And the race was canceled after all.

 

[Wires_Guy_wires]

last they disconnected all electrical in the roof . I’m unsure the goal of that

Disconnecting the (potential) dashcams, maybe?
Or to prevent the interior lights from turning on when opening the doors, so they're less recognizable on camera when entering and exiting the vehicle.

 

[Frozentreehugger]

Montreal used to be the car theft capital. The F150 was the most stolen. That's what my friend was told when his truck trailer and race bike I was to ride for him were stolen 2hrs after checking into hotel. And the race was canceled after all.

Ontario . Have become one of the leading auto theft areas . In the western world . Several factors have lead to this . Not least of which . Is lack of police investigation . Lack of penalty . Close proximity to a major port . ( Montreal ) poor co operation . Amongst police jurisdictions, ( 2 provinces and a port authority. Ease of stealing modern keyless . Vehicles . Organized crime involvement . Especially in the towing industry . You mentioned bike racing what’s that about

 

[Frozentreehugger]

Disconnecting the (potential) dashcams, maybe?
Or to prevent the interior lights from turning on when opening the doors, so they're less recognizable on camera when entering and exiting the vehicle.

Disconnecting the (potential) dashcams, maybe?
Or to prevent the interior lights from turning on when opening the doors, so they're less recognizable on camera when entering and exiting the vehicle.

All that’s possible . But they pulled the fuses for the lights , the only camera is top of windshield . And is used. Fir the cruise control . ( but they may have not known that ) I suspect it was to disable the 2 roof mounted antennas. Fir the keyless entry remotes . Therefore leaving only one antenna inside the truck . I think this is involvement in there theft device . The truck has sort of a emergency response . If a antenna is disabled . Ie may make it easier to cheat the system

 

[Underdog]

You mentioned bike racing what’s that about

I drag raced motorcycles for 20yrs. I think we discussed, you raced sleds I think.

 

[Frozentreehugger]

I drag raced motorcycles for 20yrs. I think we discussed, you raced sleds I think.
View attachment 572737

Ya brain fart sorry

 

[Frozentreehugger]

I drag raced motorcycles for 20yrs. I think we discussed, you raced sleds I think.
View attachment 572737

Most of my racing pics were destroyed in a flood . But a few of my favourite sleds . The moto ski 440 cc heavyweight mod . Was converted to a drag sled from a factory . Built oval track f1 sled . Very rare to never have been raced and beat up on the oval . Was a factory backed teams spare chassis . I was Canadian rookie if the year 1992 . On this sled . And over several seasons won . All the most prestige’s races in the sport . When the class was changed to 500cc . Factory mod , it retired the last world record holder . 6.09 et 98.5 mph in 660 feet ( 1/8 mile ) on ice . The chassis resides today in a private collection . In Wisconsin restored to duplicate the 340cc oval world championship sled . The arctic cat 700cc stock sled on grass . Was the culmination of racing stock sleds on grass . It dominated for 2 years . Winning everything there was . Ultimately going 5.32 in 500 feet on grass. And briefly in a arctic cat racing history vid. The sled with me sitting in the pits . Is us testing my dealers . Personal trail sled . 700 efi . It lead to us being the first to competitive race . A EFI snowmobile in any style racing . Winning the New York State fair race .

 

[Wires_Guy_wires]

Uggghh reversing cameras.
Either you work all the time, or none of the time.
Mine does this thing where it sometimes works, sometimes doesn't.
Readout said it was an error related to missing parameters. Which would hint towards software configuration, which doesn't explain why it does work sometimes.

Opening that booty up showed that there's just a muddy and damp situation all around. So contact spray, lots of it, followed by a shower of silicone spray and WD40. Hoping the WD does the WD and the silicone spray seals it off.

It's working now! But it does that almost every time I try something new, except the time I removed the whole inner console to check the connections.

 

[Frozentreehugger]

View attachment 581200
Uggghh reversing cameras.
Either you work all the time, or none of the time.
Mine does this thing where it sometimes works, sometimes doesn't.
Readout said it was an error related to missing parameters. Which would hint towards software configuration, which doesn't explain why it does work sometimes.

Opening that booty up showed that there's just a muddy and damp situation all around. So contact spray, lots of it, followed by a shower of silicone spray and WD40. Hoping the WD does the WD and the silicone spray seals it off.

It's working now! But it does that almost every time I try something new, except the time I removed the whole inner console to check the connections.

Unsure what type of camera you are referring to . I. General there are 2 designs , a individual wire set up normally 4 wires . And a more modern version . Which is a coax cable . So 2 wires . Both especially the early system . Are prone to poor connections moisture . Corrosion . Terminal fretting ( which is loose pin fit in the connection that creates electrical arcing . That creates surface corrosion ) fretting is far more a concern than most think . It’s the primary reason high quality connections are often coated with better conductor . Even precious metal . The low voltage and current of modern electronics . Just add to the problem. I like your approach. But consider there are vastly different levels of quality in electronic contact cleaner . Generally I use lots of cheap stuff .while exercising the connection . Ie connect and unconnected multiple times . ( to clean the connection ) then a spritz of high end cleaner . To seal a connector , nothing tops a quality dielectric grease. . After it’s connected . All over the outside and back of the plugs to seal out moisture . Thick hand applied not spray . Easily cleaned and reapplied with brake cleaner . It’s the hands down traditional approach . For racing still used at all levels today . Cameras are also prone to failure with moisture inside . The camera . Normally you replace it . But some are expensive . People have had luck drying them . Heat and air movement . ( hair dryer can work ) reseal with grease . Software and the computer board can also be culprit . Weatherproofing connections is the name of the game . You can also eliminate a connection . For example where a trunk harness connects to the body harness . It’s build that way to disassemble . If you cut it out you loose that disassemble ability . If you go that route soldier the wires together and use a quality heat shrink tubbing that has glue in it to seal the connection .myself as a Ford tech , I use there products . 6 ounce tube of ford dielectric / brake grease . Also avail as electrical grease . ( just a thinner version ) and ford heat shrink for computer connections . With glue .I’m sure others have similar products hope this helps

 

[johnbaz]

Not strictly a Bonsai but still a tree in a pot!, My old Seat and Acer palmatum next to it!

The tree when it was brought home, My son borrowed their works pickup to bring it home, It looked lost on the back!!

A composition that I won at the club auction!

A burned out Mini with beancan exhaust crashed!, The chap that put this together had a great sense of humour!!

John

 

[Wires_Guy_wires]

Unsure what type of camera you are referring to . I. General there are 2 designs , a individual wire set up normally 4 wires . And a more modern version . Which is a coax cable . So 2 wires . Both especially the early system . Are prone to poor connections moisture . Corrosion . Terminal fretting ( which is loose pin fit in the connection that creates electrical arcing . That creates surface corrosion ) fretting is far more a concern than most think . It’s the primary reason high quality connections are often coated with better conductor . Even precious metal . The low voltage and current of modern electronics . Just add to the problem. I like your approach. But consider there are vastly different levels of quality in electronic contact cleaner . Generally I use lots of cheap stuff .while exercising the connection . Ie connect and unconnected multiple times . ( to clean the connection ) then a spritz of high end cleaner . To seal a connector , nothing tops a quality dielectric grease. . After it’s connected . All over the outside and back of the plugs to seal out moisture . Thick hand applied not spray . Easily cleaned and reapplied with brake cleaner . It’s the hands down traditional approach . For racing still used at all levels today . Cameras are also prone to failure with moisture inside . The camera . Normally you replace it . But some are expensive . People have had luck drying them . Heat and air movement . ( hair dryer can work ) reseal with grease . Software and the computer board can also be culprit . Weatherproofing connections is the name of the game . You can also eliminate a connection . For example where a trunk harness connects to the body harness . It’s build that way to disassemble . If you cut it out you loose that disassemble ability . If you go that route soldier the wires together and use a quality heat shrink tubbing that has glue in it to seal the connection .myself as a Ford tech , I use there products . 6 ounce tube of ford dielectric / brake grease . Also avail as electrical grease . ( just a thinner version ) and ford heat shrink for computer connections . With glue .I’m sure others have similar products hope this helps

Thanks for writing this down, very useful and I'll have a look for dielectric grease.
Just want to make sure that you're not touching brake cleaner with your bare hands, or contact cleaner which might be worse because of the DMSO. I've had some tissue in the lab from mechanics that were against using gloves to study occupational disease.
Lymph nodes full of cancer. Average age of passing was 52. The gloved guys had just minor inflammation or looked 'clean'.
Be safe my friend!

 

[Frozentreehugger]

Thanks for writing this down, very useful and I'll have a look for dielectric grease.
Just want to make sure that you're not touching brake cleaner with your bare hands, or contact cleaner which might be worse because of the DMSO. I've had some tissue in the lab from mechanics that were against using gloves to study occupational disease.
Lymph nodes full of cancer. Average age of passing was 52. The gloved guys had just minor inflammation or looked 'clean'.
Be safe my friend!

I appreciate your concern very thoughtful of you . Thank you . I’m the first tech I’m aware of to start wearing gloves , I wore them of and in for bad chemicals . Before but made the choice . To start wearing them full time. When my wife became pregnant . ( thinking I’m not picking up my child with harmful stuff on my hands ) my daughter turns 21 in a few days , drove me crazy to get used to them for weeks . Now I don’t feel correct without them on. Unfortunately there is limited u can do about the chemicals I breath . I try my best to limit it . Also to many worry about just the stuff like brake cleaner . All the fluids in modern cars . Are not like they used to be , fuel lubricants . Coolant . All are full of very harmful chemicals . I also long have taken strides to limit the bad effects on my body if the trade , I use a special kneeling pad .always on cement . High quality boots with shock resistant insoles . Ear protection . But my past is still there . Especially racing snowmobiles . Spilled all kinds of racing fuel on my hands ( changing jetting ) have tinnitus in my ears , aggravated by open exhaust 2 stroke sleds . Not to mention the titanium and stainless screws in my leg . But we all breath and ingest all kind of stuff daily in our lives these days .

 

[Frozentreehugger]

Thanks for writing this down, very useful and I'll have a look for dielectric grease.
Just want to make sure that you're not touching brake cleaner with your bare hands, or contact cleaner which might be worse because of the DMSO. I've had some tissue in the lab from mechanics that were against using gloves to study occupational disease.
Lymph nodes full of cancer. Average age of passing was 52. The gloved guys had just minor inflammation or looked 'clean'.
Be safe my friend!

There was also a terrible case . Here in Ottawa . A tech at a Toyota dealership . Washed grease off his hands . With brake clean . Then went outside to have a cigarette. He lite his hands on fire . And tried to extinguish them in a snowbank . Which failed . The fire continued under his skin . He lost the use of his hands . And almost all feeling in them