Car & Truck Talk
clearlysuspect
Posts: 2,124 ✭✭✭✭
How many of you work on your own or your wife's vehicles? I'm no Master Tech by any means but I maintain and repair our vehicles when they break and I like to think I'm a decent mechanic.
I thought this might be a place where we could share the projects we're undertaking, the problems we're up against, and the useful tips that might help others.
Ask for help. Offer advice and suggestions. Or just show us what you're working on.
As an Aircraft Electrician/Avionics Tech/ Aircraft Mechanic there isn't much that scares me in terms of troubleshooting and repair. Typically I'll do some reading, watch so videos on YouTube, buy the tools I need and get the job done.
I have a 2006 Ford F-250 6.0 TurboDiesel Powerstroke 4x4 and my wife has a 2006 Chevy Silverado 4x4. She has actually become quite the researcher and troubleshooter also, and she's not afraid to climb under the truck and help me drop a transmission or a rear differential.
So my first bit of gouge to add here:
During some troubleshooting of a no start condition on my truck I recently discovered an amazing App on my phone called Torque Pro. It is by far the best thing I've ever spent $5 on. Paired with a cheap $10 ELM327 Bluetooth OBDII adapter this app can out perform some test equipment that cost hundreds and thousands of dollars. I'm pretty astounded by its capabilities. If you're doing your own maintenance you absolutely need this app!!!
I thought this might be a place where we could share the projects we're undertaking, the problems we're up against, and the useful tips that might help others.
Ask for help. Offer advice and suggestions. Or just show us what you're working on.
As an Aircraft Electrician/Avionics Tech/ Aircraft Mechanic there isn't much that scares me in terms of troubleshooting and repair. Typically I'll do some reading, watch so videos on YouTube, buy the tools I need and get the job done.
I have a 2006 Ford F-250 6.0 TurboDiesel Powerstroke 4x4 and my wife has a 2006 Chevy Silverado 4x4. She has actually become quite the researcher and troubleshooter also, and she's not afraid to climb under the truck and help me drop a transmission or a rear differential.
So my first bit of gouge to add here:
During some troubleshooting of a no start condition on my truck I recently discovered an amazing App on my phone called Torque Pro. It is by far the best thing I've ever spent $5 on. Paired with a cheap $10 ELM327 Bluetooth OBDII adapter this app can out perform some test equipment that cost hundreds and thousands of dollars. I'm pretty astounded by its capabilities. If you're doing your own maintenance you absolutely need this app!!!
Post edited by clearlysuspect on
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Comments
I've done work for several Auto and heavy truck diagnostic companies and online companies.
I posted this some time ago.
http://forum.cigar.com/discussion/897532/automotive-diagnostic-apps
Money can't buy happiness, but it can buy cigars and that's close enough.
https://youtu.be/9kjoWoYtZg4
I was so glad to discover they covered diesel engine sensors like ICP, IPR, FICM, FICM SYNC.... From all the Powerstroke forums I was looking at it seemed I was gonna have to shell out several hundred dollars for Autoenginuity + software or at least $160 for a scan gauge.
Where did you work as a mechanic?
I can't wait to get her done…pending my recurring back injury
I thought the build would be fun but has turned into a major PITA! Just getting the right parts and not being damaged upon arrival has been ridiculous. I'll take all the luck you got man.
My brother has an 86' IROC Z28, I love the 3rd gens also, those babes can move with work done, I bet yours can move! People these days driving their new Corvettes, Challengers etc. think they're slow then get their own doors blown off at the stop light. LOL
Money can't buy happiness, but it can buy cigars and that's close enough.
0patience said:
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Do all of us here have back problems?
"If you do not read the newspapers you're uninformed. If you do read the newspapers, you're misinformed." -- Mark Twain
On the way home from the doctor I was running that Torque Pro app. My truck started running rough and not responding to acceleration much. Fortunately with that app I was able to diagnose it very quickly and have and IPR sensor on the way in the mail. Hopefully I'll be feeling better soon so I can change it.
Have fun with that. LOL!
Money can't buy happiness, but it can buy cigars and that's close enough.
It doesn't look too bad. Definitely gonna have to move some stuff out of the way but it looks pretty straight forward. I can show you stuff on aircraft that would make your jaw drop its so hard to reach.
I think the worst tool I've ever dropped was into the intake fairing of a B757 engine. I spent 8 hours with a magnet attached to a really long stick and a boroscope. After that I just started to tie my tools to my wrists while working in that area.
I highly recommend having one of these too! I'm not sure if this is the exact one I have but it has saved my rear end numerous times!!!
http://www.ebay.com/itm/5M-Android-Endoscope-5-5mm-6-LED-USB-Waterproof-Borescope-Inspection-Camera-NEW-/401191563765?hash=item5d68e171f5:g:YH0AAOSwAuZX2QzN
"If you do not read the newspapers you're uninformed. If you do read the newspapers, you're misinformed." -- Mark Twain
It took me longer to find the tool, than to finish the job.
Money can't buy happiness, but it can buy cigars and that's close enough.
Nice. That always sucks. I had a crazy experience once when I dropped a small 1/4" spline nut off the side of a V-22 Osprey engine while I was trying to attach an electrical harness to it. I was working up on a ladder when I dropped the self-locking nut. I knew it wasn't on the plane so that was good, but a search of about a 20 foot radius showed no results. The guy who designed the computerized manuals for the plane, Dean, was walking past and asked what we lost. I told him what happened. He asked if I had another one so I gave him one. "Let's drop this one and see how far it rolls, then we'll know about how far we need to set our search radius." Sounded like a good idea.
I swear this was one of the craziest things I've ever seen. That thing hit the ladder on the way down, hit the ground and rolled clear across the hangar, and it only stopped because it ran into something. I'm talking a good 30-40 yards away.
I went and got another nut.
Money can't buy happiness, but it can buy cigars and that's close enough.