Cars stuff continues

went down the basement to look for things to use when working on the car and FOUND Both!!! There were 2 jack stands in the box. They weigh a ton and are bulky, and didn't think 2 would fit. Found the funnel nozzle, and 2 empty plastic oil bottles. In a plastic bag soaked with oil. Think I'm ready to work now.

made a handle for the floor jack. It weighs 20lbs, and awkward to move. Newer versions have a handle on top, so made one out of plastic soda bottle material. Looks lkike it is strong enough, and makes it a lot easier to move and carry.

Now I'm sleepy.

confusing info about the jack. Different oils, and new ones failing. The rubber seals leaking and more. I added mineral oil which might not be good, but new ones have failed, or in time, so might anyway. Just have to see. I want to test it to see if adding oil makes it work better. Just can't get moving. Been up a few hrs, and getting tired.

the jack worked and didn't blow up. Have to see if it continues. Learned a few things searching about the oil, like some of any brand jacks can let go at any time. I don't take chances, if laying under a car, and try to have an escape route, or support it well, if I can't. I try to leave the jack in place, even with stands supporting the car, and even the car jack in place if concerned. Don't need a Darwin Award.))

No work on the street that has signs. Trying to figure what they are going to do and when? Trying to figure when to go out and buy more cola. Down to 4-3ltr btls. Should last me till the street work is done, but would prefer to be stocked up.

searching fo things to use to make jacking the car safe, came across some devices to make it safer and not damage the car. Cost 20$ ea, and made 2 in the basement. Had to use the table saw, that gets used as a workbench, when not sawing wood, and had to clear all the things stored on it, even another swall power saw, which was a job.

Have to shape it a bit better to make it stronger, and thinking of using a filler, but the smell is irritating, and wary of using it, unless outside. Makes it really complicated.

went to the diner, and couldn't get out of the car. Drivers door wouldn't unlock, so had to get out the other side, that is a pain. It has been sticking ocassionally, but not this bad. Did get it to work a few times later.

Worked on the jacking adapter I am making. Used epoxy to fill in a curved space where it will sit on the jackstand. Didn't want to use the auto body filler I had thought of, because of the smell, and wanting to do it in the yard. I sat on the sofa. May have added too much epoxy, and I was working by feel. Comparing it to another I had made, to be able to use the Chevy jack on the Subaru, and think I might not have cut a slot deep enough. Gona have to check it tomorrow, and see how to change it. Might be hard now that I cut the wood into the pieces, so smaller now, and harder to hold while cutting. Might make the wood thin in spots, so may have to build up the thickness, instead of deepening the slot.

Having a problem unlocking a car door. It works all the time with the door panel off. It's puzzling.

I'm beat.. Wasn't feeling great but wanted to fix the car door. Took it apart Again, and oiled and greased all te moving parts. I Soaked them and it was dripping out the bottom. I was going to leave the door panel off, but felt I had fixed it. Left the window crank handle off, because they are a bugger to take off. I almost went to buy the tool for it today, but I did it My way again.

the door lock looks like its fixed. Worked every time tonite. Have to see if it continues. Have lots of things I have to do. Wipe the key after unlocking the door, since I put a Lot of oil in, and it gets on the key. I must have put it in and out about 30X, was still getting oil on it. To crank the window, I have to put the handle in place. I want to put a wire on the clip, so I can pull it, and remove the handle easily, at least till I know it is fixed. Then I have to put my glasses on, the seat belt, and light up, and make sure the motor won't stall. Feel like I need a checklist, and I want to pull right out.

Have to get ready to work Sat. Have a Lot of things to get together and bring to sis's. better not forget anything, and going to bring things I may need, but not sure of. Makes the job harder, but need to do it. Working on the street her, I always have to watch for cars coming, and with needing glasses for close work, it is anoying looking down the street to see if a car is coming, and laying under the car, even harder, if having to get up, or worried about getting run over. A neighbor turns his car around, so he is always working on the curb side. i should do the same if I have to, but easier to work in a garage.

My stomach is feeling better. Have to figure out what bothers it and why.

did myself in. Went out to check the adapter I made for the jack stands for the car, and thought they needed to be cut more. Came in to do it and had to clear off the saw table again. Guy next store is supposed to work nights. I put up some sound absorbing panels before using the saw. Might not do much, but I did something. Started to recut the wood pieces, and the saw grabbed one and broke it, and also knocked a screw out of the saw blade gaurd, that was scary when the piece went flying. I recyt the pieces, and then started trying to repair the piece that broke. Did it, and hope it works. Gona sleep...

reading some scary things about changing the coolant, and the plastic drain valve breaking, and having to be drilled out. Sure would be a hassle. Trying to find out when it could happen, and maybe even buying one at the dealers tomorrow before they close at noon. Had to check when closing because of the holiday, and noon instead of 4 PM. Might save myself some aggrivation. Not completely if it broke, but less.

Looks like some grit in the radiator, that may be corrosion, and maybe it is that critical. Others say they never changed theirs. Could be problems waiting to happen, or for a new owner.

did some work in the basement, and had a Lot more than planned. Old oil from things I used when changing it, ALL over things. Soaked and driped here and there, and it dripping whever I moved soaked bags. Did me in, and had to sleep.

Trrying to get ready for the jobs tomorrow, and can't fina a bag with thin hoses, I couldn't find before, that I rebagged, and put aside. Now have to Find them Again. Going to have to get dedicated bags I won't misplace, and start filling then.

Went out to look at what I have to do to the car, and wanted to check the hoses for fit, and going to have to wait. Checked other things and forgot to check one, and had to go back out and check

Getting close to tomorrow.. Was pretty wiped out after putting some finishing touches on tools I was modding, but transfered money, as hard as that was to do the way I felt, went to get gas, to the ATM, diner, and food store, dragging all the way.

I rigged up handles on heavy tools, and boxes to carry others in. Trying to find all I have on the list of things. Have a Lot to do, and a lot to bring tomorrow. Better not forget anything.

loaded up the car with stuff and headed to sis's. Changed the oil in the trans and rear that I was familar with. Wanted to change the antifreeze, but I was already dragging before I started. I looked for drain plugs I wanted to open, and could only find one, and didn't have the type tool it needed. I scraped my upper arm changing the oil, and was bleeding like a stuck pig. Sis noticed it while I was fixing her hose.

Forgot about changing the antifreeze till another day. Did more searching and I was right about the tool I needed, but sounds like they are really a bugger to get out, and having to lay under the car to do it, I may just take a short cut, and do the best I can, like everyone else does. Reading what a dealer mech says they do, anything would be better, they don't use distilled water, and probably most don't, or get out that much of the old stuff, like you think they will with the price they charge.

yesterday was pretty grueling, and just unloading the car was a chore, after wearing myself out yesterday. Had a scare that looked like oil on the ground, where I stopped and just parked. Only my cars are parked there, so thought one was leaking, and after chaging oil, that was ny feat. nit it dried up, so must have been water from the AC.

Changing the coolant in the new one is getting to be really complicated to drain it all, and today it is raining..

aching a good bit from yesterday. Even my eyes hurt.(( Trying to get good info on why the jack, though it worked better, wasn't ideal. Of course you always get someone saying to buy a new, better one. I like to exhaust options, and fix what can be fixed. New versions have a handle to move and carry it, so I made one and added it.

It was low on oil, so added some. Couldn't find detailed info on how much to, but sorta got an idea. Even the co didn't explain it. Found a pdf file on the jack, that did give details. Checked it and according, there was a little too much in it, so took it out. It did act the opposite of too little oil, but maybe the way it acts when full. Will have to test it.

New versions

figured I fixed the door lock on the old car, and decieded to put the window crank back. I had all them off, and was putting the drivers back to roll down the window, and it was getting to be a pain, being awkward, and falling off when I opened or closed the door, because I took the clip off that secures it, since they are so hard to get off. Today when out, I was missing one, and one that had the clip on it. Looked in the glove compartment, under stuff on the seat, and under the seat, and nothing. Figured it must have fallen outside the car, but thought I would have heard it, but where oe when. I was bugged, but had 2, and don't lower the rear windows, I hoped. Going out tonite, I saw it on the coffee table, half burried. Still missing one for the rear. Would like to find it for peace of mind. I have used it a few times.

made it out to return car stuff, and went shopping It was hot when I went out, and then cooled off nice. Drove the Sube a good bit.

Wanted to get some wipes/toulettes, to carry in the car or in the basement, to clean my hands when handling oily things. Can't stand anything on my hands, and motor oil is the worst. Was going to pick up some, but have a box, and not knowing which would work best, I decided to try the ones I have to check them. Put some in a baggie, and carry them, or keep in the basement. Might modify por make my own. No water in the basement, so have to keep some down there. I used to when I worked a lot down there.

sis had a patio table blow over, and shattered a glass top on a patio table. She can get a new one for 60$, but shipping is 120 on line, or 80 from the store. Asked if I could carry it in my wagon, but it is too big. The roof has rails, but no cross pieces on the roof rails, to lash it down good. They sell ones for 150$, but think I can use strips of wood to support and secure it on the highway. I have 2 strips of wood that look about right, but one was a bit too short to be ideal, and just caught 1/2' on each side in the front of the rails, but in the rear the rails are closer together, and it overlaps an inch on each side. Will have to lash them good, and I use rubberized cabinet shelf liners, to provide grip. Used to use foam carpet padding, but that got old and dried out. Amazing how well things like that grip, and prevent any sliding, so just have to keep it from lifting.

exhausted from working on getting things ready to work tomorrow. Hauling a table on the car, and changing the coolant. Couldn't find some things to do things, but found some others, better than ones I had, so guess things evened out.

Thought I had an old pair of light blue jeans, that are worn thin and stained, but had a half decent pair on. Wiped my hands on them a few times, so got them a bit dirty. Not happy with that...

Again have to get together a Lot of things and tools. Less for working on the car, but ones to rig the car to haul the table. Better make a list again.

went to sis's to pick up a patio table, and carry it on the Subaru with roof rails. Hoped to change the antifreeze, but filling the car up with all I needed to change it, and getting the table loaded and home did me in. Going to shoot for changing it tomorrow, before it gets Real hot, but Thurs and Fri were the best days.

Need to find my head/sweatband, or buy a new ones, Sweat just Pours off of me, and gets into my eyes. I took a wristband that got too big, and added elastic. Covers my whole forehead, but looks weird.

There are hawks at sis's, and one was laying spread winged in the grass for a while. Never saw that before.

changed the coolant in the Subaru, but it didn't go easy. Wanted to drain and change it all, not like most people and Even dealers, just draining the radiator, and dealer mechanics Even say, they Just use Tap water, Not distilled, which is recommended. I wanted to pull drin plus to empty the motor, but they are hard to get to, and I only found one. Opening the thermostat housing will do the same thing, so was going to do that. The locaton and mounting position would make it difficult and risky. Decided to just drain the radiator, and refill with distilled, run it, and drain it again, so sorta flush it, since all the coolant won't come out doing that. Have to guess at how much liquid isleft in it, and figure how to get a 50/50 mix. it was hard to judge, so don't think I got it right. Have to test it to try to figure. The first time doing things is a learning experience.

OMG, it's all nuts... I picked up some antiseizing compound I was going to use when changing the coolant parts, but didn't, and thought I remember reading to put it on the threads of the spark plugs. Looking for info, who says, yes, and who says no. Main problem could be breaking the plug in the motor, or stripping the threads... Car mfg doesn't mention it, and plug co's say, no.

came across a hydraulic jack, that jacks the side of cars, like most jacks do now, which are mechanical, and wondering if I should invest? It is a sissors type, like some of the side ones are, and would be easier to use. Don't need it that often, and they are a bit more expensive, compared to an extra one I bought, so not a great deal, but would be something nice to have. Gona have to keep an eye out for them.