Random Car Chat

[TD Charlie]

So the batteries completely failed? I caught my father building a Rav4 hybrid the other day. I wonder if this might change his mind

The batteries didn't fail, but they don't do much if they're cold. Before they can do anything, they draw heat from the gas engine to get up to safe operating temps. Turn the heat on to warm yourself up? Well that fires up the gas engine too.

Over the summer I could get to 40mph in most roads without a drop of gas. Lately, even warmed up and on flat roads the battery just pushes the car off the line and the gas engine takes over almost immediately. Dropped from 45 to 30ish MPG.

Plug in hybrids suffer a similar fate, but since the battery is typically far heavier, they see an even bigger drop if relying on the gas engine.

I do not regret the purchase, but I admit that I wasn't aware that the efficiency would tank so hard over the winter.

EDIT: I should mention that the hybrid vs gas models I was deciding between were priced roughly the same at the time. The hybrid may have even been a few hundred bucks cheaper. The sacrifice of course is 75-100 horses. Reports I've seen on the gas model I was considering show 20-25mpg, which is pretty shitty for a turbo 4 IMO

 

[HansonBro]

The batteries didn't fail, but they don't do much if they're cold. Before they can do anything, they draw heat from the gas engine to get up to safe operating temps. Turn the heat on to warm yourself up? Well that fires up the gas engine too.

Over the summer I could get to 40mph in most roads without a drop of gas. Lately, even warmed up and on flat roads the battery just pushes the car off the line and the gas engine takes over almost immediately. Dropped from 45 to 30ish MPG.

Plug in hybrids suffer a similar fate, but since the battery is typically far heavier, they see an even bigger drop if relying on the gas engine.

I do not regret the purchase, but I admit that I wasn't aware that the efficiency would tank so hard over the winter.

EDIT: I should mention that the hybrid vs gas models I was deciding between were priced roughly the same at the time. The hybrid may have even been a few hundred bucks cheaper. The sacrifice of course is 75-100 horses. Reports I've seen on the gas model I was considering show 20-25mpg, which is pretty shitty for a turbo 4 IMO

Hmm I'll let him know. Thanks

That does make sense about the cabin heater. You kind of need a heater core lol.

Oh and I built myself a rav4 today and it was $69k taxes in. That includes a Canadian discount of $5000. I think the 4runner I built was cheaper then that.

Also I let my Tahoe sit for 2 weeks. It was pretty cold and we've had a bunch of snow as well, but now when turning it feels like something is binding. When reversing out of the driveway usually the idle is enough, but this issue forced me to give it some gas. I'm stumped at the moment. It was fine when I parked it 2 weeks ago

 

[TD Charlie]

Hmm I'll let him know. Thanks

That does make sense about the cabin heater. You kind of need a heater core lol.

Oh and I built myself a rav4 today and it was $69k taxes in. That includes a Canadian discount of $5000. I think the 4runner I built was cheaper then that.

Also I let my Tahoe sit for 2 weeks. It was pretty cold and we've had a bunch of snow as well, but now when turning it feels like something is binding. When reversing out of the driveway usually the idle is enough, but this issue forced me to give it some gas. I'm stumped at the moment. It was fine when I parked it 2 weeks ago

70k for a Rav!? That's gotta be the newer "Prime" model? Perhaps they would consider a CR-V hybrid?

Weird issue on the Tahoe. Power steering pump/pulley seized up from the cold maybe?

 

[HansonBro]

70k for a Rav!? That's gotta be the newer "Prime" model? Perhaps they would consider a CR-V hybrid?

Weird issue on the Tahoe. Power steering pump/pulley seized up from the cold maybe?

I did the xse model I think. Remember this is Canadian and taxes included.

I dont think it's the pump or pulley. The wheel is smooth as ever. This issue is only happening on sharp turns. Maybe a bearing gone bad and just weird timing. The poor old thing has had some noises the last year. Might be time for a new front end. Saddest part is, I'll beat him up till spring. Lol!

 

[HansonBro]

70k for a Rav!? That's gotta be the newer "Prime" model? Perhaps they would consider a CR-V hybrid?

Weird issue on the Tahoe. Power steering pump/pulley seized up from the cold maybe?

Well i figured it out....flat tire

Edit: spoke too soon. That was not the issue. Now I'm pissed off lol

 

[HansonBro]

Ok so I might have left it in 4high after the snow storm *eye roll

Go ahead...call me stupid haha

 

[TD Charlie]

Ok so I might have left it in 4high after the snow storm *eye roll

Go ahead...call me stupid haha

Damn you had a hell of a weekend lol

Didn't pick up on the flat tire, and then this?

Well, problem solved I suppose. It could be worse!

 

[HansonBro]

Damn you had a hell of a weekend lol

Didn't pick up on the flat tire, and then this?

Well, problem solved I suppose. It could be worse!

Well I still havnt test drove it...find out tomorrow. Fingers crossed

My rocker on the driver side did disintegrate today though. I might just wait till spring and fill it with spray foam, sand and paint. I am not putting money into rocker panels.

What's your opinion on my front tire situation? You already know I have the new muds on the rear, which I like. But should I go with them or get a more all season and keep the comfort level higher?

 

[TD Charlie]

Well I still havnt test drove it...find out tomorrow. Fingers crossed

My rocker on the driver side did disintegrate today though. I might just wait till spring and fill it with spray foam, sand and paint. I am not putting money into rocker panels.

What's your opinion on my front tire situation? You already know I have the new muds on the rear, which I like. But should I go with them or get a more all season and keep the comfort level higher?

if it were me I’d keep all seasons on it permanently. Sell off the other set.

definitely screw the rockers. If you plan on selling it in the near future then replace them, but it’s probably just your own recreational beater at this point? Plenty of trucks been driving around for years with literally no rockers. You’ll be fine

edit: i should mention that the 69 barracuda i owned for a short bit, no rockers. Both sides entirely filler. Bad bondo job too. And it had been that way for about 15 years

 

[HansonBro]

if it were me I’d keep all seasons on it permanently. Sell off the other set.

definitely screw the rockers. If you plan on selling it in the near future then replace them, but it’s probably just your own recreational beater at this point? Plenty of trucks been driving around for years with literally no rockers. You’ll be fine

edit: i should mention that the 69 barracuda i owned for a short bit, no rockers. Both sides entirely filler. Bad bondo job too. And it had been that way for about 15 years

Well I'm definitely not selling the rears. I've been happy with them and want the capability.

I think we had this conversation about a year and a half ago about ride quality and noise. That's my concern now with new front tires. If I had it my way, id have bf Goodrich ko 2's all around. Unfortunately they are about $400 each for my 20's.


And NOOOO its not a rec vehicle. It's my DD

 

[TD Charlie]

Well I'm definitely not selling the rears. I've been happy with them and want the capability.

I think we had this conversation about a year and a half ago about ride quality and noise. That's my concern now with new front tires. If I had it my way, id have bf Goodrich ko 2's all around. Unfortunately they are about $400 each for my 20's.


And NOOOO its not a rec vehicle. It's my DD

Oh even easier, comfort all the way!

 

[TD Charlie]

How'd that go?

Just drove 4.5 hours up to the Mount Washington area for a quick vacation. 41mpg on the drive with serious elevation change.

but i had to leave the car at the bottom of a hill and walk up to the driveway. The cottage is a private road and the snow plowing job is so bush league. 3 vehicles with our group and only 1 barely reached the driveway.

 

[HansonBro]

Just drove 4.5 hours up to the Mount Washington area for a quick vacation. 41mpg on the drive with serious elevation change.

but i had to leave the car at the bottom of a hill and walk up to the driveway. The cottage is a private road and the snow plowing job is so bush league. 3 vehicles with our group and only 1 barely reached the driveway.

Get a Tahoe

But that sounds fun. A nice cottage with some snow and friends. Perfect

 

[Elysian]

Did some good work on the Jeep today. Replaced the old backup camera with a new one, replaced the grungy steering wheel (which had a cheap leather wrap put over the original leather) with a stock vinyl wheel, replaced one of the 12v outlets with a dual USB (one for data to the stereo and one for power only), fixed the steering wheel buttons not working on the stereo, added the OBD2 data to the stereo for the gauge screen, and cleaned the heck out of the interior.

 

[Elysian]

Changed the spark plugs on the Jeep today, here's one bank:

And the other:

They were pretty nasty, definitely gained back some power after the swap.
Previous owner cheaped out with these copper plugs... I put NGK Iridium IX's in. $170 spark plug change but well worth it. So weird that Hemis have 2 spark plugs per cylinder.

 

[HansonBro]

Changed the spark plugs on the Jeep today, here's one bank:

And the other:

They were pretty nasty, definitely gained back some power after the swap.
Previous owner cheaped out with these copper plugs... I put NGK Iridium IX's in. $170 spark plug change but well worth it. So weird that Hemis have 2 spark plugs per cylinder.

Nice work. Is it just me or are the threads abnormally long?

 

[Elysian]

Nice work. Is it just me or are the threads abnormally long?

Yeah, probably just a Hemi thing.

 

[Elysian]

Picked this up from a local, will be pretty helpful on our drive to Ohio in a couple weeks.

Could use some paint but I'll do that in the spring.

 

[TD Charlie]

Picked this up from a local, will be pretty helpful on our drive to Ohio in a couple weeks.

Could use some paint but I'll do that in the spring.

Saw a guy melt all his cargo in one of those things one time. The exhaust outlet was angled directly into the rack though, and much closer. You've got a pretty good angle on the outlet. I'm sure a healthy cat would help as well.

 

[Elysian]

Saw a guy melt all his cargo in one of those things one time. The exhaust outlet was angled directly into the rack though, and much closer. You've got a pretty good angle on the outlet. I'm sure a healthy cat would help as well.

Yeah I could see that being a problem for some Stock exhaust on this is pretty far to the passenger side and angles down, I think it'll be okay. We'll also be driving it from Texas to Ohio in the middle of winter, can't hurt

 

[Elysian]

Bought a Yakima Skybox 16 Carbonite for the move.

 

[Elysian]

Got the Travall dividers installed, and the dogs fit back there great, and even love being back there.

 

[Winger98]

Picked this up from a local, will be pretty helpful on our drive to Ohio in a couple weeks.

Could use some paint but I'll do that in the spring.

If you're in northern Ohio and looking for places to eat/things to do throw a message my way.

 

[TD Charlie]

Back in November I lost my brother "Dibba" in a car accident. Immediately my father filed for a new license plate for the 64 Malibu we share, but he never told me about it. I guess he checked with our insurance/RMV agent friend and she said that the MA tag DIBBA was taken, but to file for it anyway and list a couple backups. At the same time, my father also filed for new plates on his daily. The plates arrived yesterday and I'd be lying if I said I didn't break down when I saw them

 

[HansonBro]

Back in November I lost my brother "Dibba" in a car accident. Immediately my father filed for a new license plate for the 64 Malibu we share, but he never told me about it. I guess he checked with our insurance/RMV agent friend and she said that the MA tag DIBBA was taken, but to file for it anyway and list a couple backups. At the same time, my father also filed for new plates on his daily. The plates arrived yesterday and I'd be lying if I said I didn't break down when I saw them

View attachment 507440

That's awesome buddy. A little gesture like that will certainly stir up some chatter and give you the chance to reflect and remember. Thumbs up!