My plastic grill (the formerly black plastic piece) is now a faded light grey. I was thinking about painting it with semi gloss black.
I was thinking about just taping off the chrome edges and the blue oval in the center and painting it in place.
I have a 2000 Chevy Blazer and the front grill is faded and yellow. I drove to a reputable body shop and the guy there told me that this type of plastic cannot be sanded or painted because will only fade again. He told me my only option was to buy a new or aftermarket grill which ranges from $360 to $450. Is there anything I can apply to the grill that will return it to its original black finish?
View 13 RepliesI had a little run in with a curb a few months back, nothing major, just came up and bit me, and the passenger side plastic grill covering the foglight popped out. Since then it's come compltely out, onto the street, twice, when my car bottoms out. Both times it's happened I've been going no more that 5-10mph and I don't even realize it's missing 'till I'm back in the driveway.
The car in the picture isn't mine, just something to show what I'm talking about. My 2001 passat wagon (v6 4motion) bottoms way too much. It's not even lowered.
Is there a source for a insert for the tow hooks & between the fog lights?
View 2 RepliesMine is peeling like I know they all do and I want to sand it and re-paint it. How exactly does it come off?
View 8 RepliesI took the plastic cover in front of the radiator off to clean the radiator and condenser. It directs air through the condenser before it gets to the radiator and I was wondering if it would cool the engine without it (if you don't need real cold ac air) . Without it the air can go over the top of the condenser and it is still blocked by the flap that stops airflow above the radiator. Also, I am wondering if the fact that the condenser has nothing in it affects the radiator cooling, and is it bad for the AC system to be empty. (My AC doesn't work)
View 7 RepliesNoticed this leak today a few days after parking the Ex (V10) -- not a daily driver. Crawled under the Ex and checked under the hood but I could not find an obvious sign of where the leak is coming from.
I checked the coolant plastic reservoir and its on MIN -- I believe that where it should be when the engine is cold. I noticed that these trucks do not have a cap directly on the radiator. That plastic reservoir, is that where I would top off the coolant?
Is there a spot on these engines where it would commonly leak? Should I try to put some dye on the coolant and/or possibly pressure test it?
When I bought my truck one side of my truck had plastic between the outer sheet metal and inner sheet metal and the other side was missing. It looks like the purpose is to keep mud and road gunk from shooting up into the rear area. Where I can order replacements and what they are called? I need both sides, since the one I did have was cracked and barely hanging on.
View 8 RepliesI have a 1989 Toyota Corolla SR5 AllTrac wagon, manual trans with 160k+ miles. It had been running ok - until I got an oil change. I am wondering if I should do the repairs to get it inspected - new tires, battery, driver-side mirror, and rust repair (small hole near rear wheel well, driver's door; sunroof has rust - that's not an inspection item but needs to be done). The rear-wheel differential has been making grinding/whining noise for about a year; it's probably time to rebuild. Back to the oil change - my car ran great, got the oil changed at Monro; then the car started dripping oil, then was very difficult to start and stalled at stops, even brief ones, also when any gas was applied.
I noticed a light grey smoke from the car on start-up, which went away. I first thought it just needed a tune-up, but when I saw the smoke, I thought there might be oil leaking into the valves. I love this car, but the body is really in need of work. The underneath is pretty solid. In the meantime, I still need a car. I thought of getting a small used gas-saving sedan, and putting some money into the All-Trac to use it for gardening, hauling stuff, etc. , and actually, even though a wagon, it's fun to drive. Can you tell I love my Rosie? My other option is to buy a car ... ick... I don't want car payments. I'm looking at a 2006 Subaru Forester with 42k today, am a bit wary of Subaru repairs, and the steep sticker price.
I noticed on my 03 excursion on both sides of the front axle there is a circle plastic o ring behind the u joint that is lose? Nothing is leaking and no signs of leak marks ever. Kind of looks lik a spacer ring of some sort because its at least 1/8th inch thick plastic. Also some time ago I posted about a whistling noise but never got a answer but its only there when im in 4wd there is a whistling noise from my right side and my locking hub when I turn it the hub seems lose and has a crunchy feeling to it. I just bought it a few weeks ago and now I am running into a whistling noise and noticed theres a piece of plastic that looks like a spacer....
View 14 RepliesAny good way to install and mount a light bar without drilling into the front bumper or grill? I have a 32" LED bar I want to mount between the top of the bumper and bottom of the grill, but the mounts aren't ideal for where I want to put the light.
View 9 RepliesWas rolling up my window and I heard a pop and the crank just turned and the window just faded down into door, how difficult it is to replace it, seems like it works on a cable system from what I can see. Last time i dug into a door frame it was a gear type system, got the window jammed up with a piece of wood till the weekend....
View 3 RepliesI have an 02 explorer xlt with tan interior. The tops of the door panels are kinda worn dried and faded. Any good quality paint/ dye I can get to repaint these and what the actual color is?
View 3 RepliesHad the diff checked today.fluid was grey in color,looked like it might have a little water in it. 2010 limited slip. wasn't over full. 10000 miles.
View 12 RepliesI drive a 2007 Prius - about 185k miles on it and purchased it used a few years ago. It's needed minor maintenance to it but overall it's served me well.
I hopped in my car this evening and went to turn on the headlights. After turning the knob, the lights came on - then both faded and turned off. These are halogen bulbs. Here's what I have tested - I don't have light in my driveway...
I just wanted to go to the store but the car won't does anything. not quite sure how to describe it but when i insert key and press it will not start, just clicking sound from underneath the steering wheel. also, the icons on the dashboard blink, turn on and off, car graphic in the middle is partially faded. the trunk will not open. also, key gets stacked in, took my five minutes to get it out. not sure what is going on.
View 7 RepliesI didn't notice anything until I was towing yesterday and tried to pass a car to get onto the offramp.
Anyway, I went to floor it so I could get around and, in my mirror, I could see a decent bit of grey smoke coming out. What could it be?
It doesn't smoke at all on startup and runs smooth right away.
I have a 02 power stroke 7.3, driving down the road the other day is started smoking a grayish white smoke pretty good. i let off the throttle and it had a real loud knock along with the smoke. oil pressure was good. i stuck it in neutral and revved it up kept smoking but the knock would go away at higher rpm. then all at once it would stop and run fine. then today it started doing it and wont stop now at all.
View 14 RepliesNoticed a chip on one of my wheels today and would like to get some touch up paint. What is the paint code or the closest color touch up paint for the grey painted 20 inch wheels?
View 2 RepliesJust picked my 2005 excursion from being bulletproofed. Arp studs, oem head gaskets, turbo cleaned rebuilt, blue spring mod, 8 new Motorcraft injectors, rebuilt heads surfaced, new Ford oil cooler, egr plugged delete, sct x4 on 2nd tow tune, new radiator, new fan clutch, new water pump, and sinister delete kit. I got almost home to last stop sign and took off and noticed grey/white smoke.
Then drove so more for 20 minutes. Everything you come to complete stop and take off it does this. On start up it will puff a little puff then go away. Is this normal after a rebuild and go away after some miles have been put on engine. Or should I be worried. It runs awesome now and idles so smooth with tons of power on tow tune.
2007/ES350.
I got this car in december 2014 and yes, there was this well known piston slap noise on cold mornings.
The dealer where the car has been maintained did an oil change at 54 400 miles and they added bulk oil 0W-20. I think that's a pretty thin oil for this engine, also the manual recommends 5w30.
So I bought a box of Amsoil 5w-30 Signature Series, the OEM filter and did an oil change.I could immediately tell the difference, the piston slap started to fade and the MPG went up. They say that this oil will improve the fuel consumption, and that's true.
But the most important thing is that piston slap noise started to fade immediately and now after 2500 miles there's around 10% of the piston slap noise. The engine is smooth as silk and I'm really happy with the result.