Foo - RubenX Auto Mechanic Adventures

Seems I'm gonna keep fixing car stuff so instead of opening new threads for each adventure, let me just make one and update it with the successes and failures.

Hyundai latest developments:

The Rear Struts:

After changing the front ones, it became clear that the rear ones were bad. Car's ass was jumpy, shacking like a reagetton dancer. The procedure is similar to the one for the front struts but there is some trickery to it.

You have to disassemble the rear cover thingie (see pic) to access the top bolt/nuts (see 2nd pic). Then the brake like in not bolted, it's a clip... a tricky clip that has to be hammered out and back in. Other than that, is an easy thing to do.

http://i301.photobucket.com/albums/nn53/RubenX_Longwood/Huyndai/rearcoverthingy.png
Rear Cover Thingy

http://i301.photobucket.com/albums/nn53/RubenX_Longwood/Huyndai/the3nuts.png
Top nuts of the strut assembly.

http://i301.photobucket.com/albums/nn53/RubenX_Longwood/Huyndai/rear-leftstrut.png
New Rear Left strut already installed, very clean and shiny.

The audio system:

The car still had the original radio, with an analog volume control (and old potentiometer for the electrically literated). These thing have little metal contacts on arms attached to a center rotating pole. These contacts slide on discs of semiconducting material (carbon?) to regulate the energy flow. The friction of the metal against this surface grinds the material over time and the contact itself also rusts with time. The result is a volume control that when used, randomly turns speakers on and off. Vibration also causes speakers to go crazy. You have to wait for the right combination of potholes to get a decent sound for a few seconds. And let's not even mention the condition of the original 10 years old speakers.

http://i301.photobucket.com/albums/nn53/RubenX_Longwood/Huyndai/oldspeakers01.png
Old speakers

I changed the speakers and the radio. All on the cheap of course, I'm always broke. But the new radio has a wonderful feature. It has a REAL USB port that can read and play music on any USB drive. So far I've thrown at it a varied collection of thumb drives, SD Card Readers and laptop drives and it plays them beautifully.

I still have to work on the "looks" of the radio (see video), but it works just fine :D


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0j3wlTwhELg

looks like your typical young punk car,the stereo system is worth more than the car. :)

looks like your typical young punk car,the stereo system is worth more than the car. :)

Nah... the car was 90 bucks, the car is worth at least $500... :D

Bed Intruder!! FTW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Bed Intruder!! FTW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I'll have what she's having ;)

You should have rehearsed inserting the USB reader. :)

Amazing what one can do with the correct manual eh?
With proper directions(not Bubba's advice at the junkyard)will leave you more time for booty-call at the Copa Cabana.No more drinks with fruit/parasols,you're a master mechanic now.

How about a cheap workbench out of 2x4's in the backyard.That tranny repair on the kitchen table makes my butt pucker.

See if Bubba has a totalled Accent in the junkyard in case you need to replace those rubber dampers.

Amazing what one can do with the correct manual eh?
With proper directions(not Bubba's advice at the junkyard)will leave you more time for booty-call at the Copa Cabana.No more drinks with fruit/parasols,you're a master mechanic now.

How about a cheap workbench out of 2x4's in the backyard.That tranny repair on the kitchen table makes my butt pucker.

Gawd I miss you, Spry.

So who is Bubba?

Oh wait. Ruben hasn't posted about his new gal pal lately. Maybe his exhaust pipe has back pressure. :eek:


NOT that there's anything wrong with that. But just don't foul your plugs. :twitchy:



Oh wait.


Oh geeze nevermind. I'm messin' this all up. :cry:

^
The gal is happy. Happy gal makes happy RubenX. Happy RubenX fix cars without setting them on fire. :)

Don't be pointin' at me Ruben. :notamused: And you ain't comin' no where near my cars. No way. Nuh uh.

Amazing what one can do with the correct manual eh?
With proper directions(not Bubba's advice at the junkyard)will leave you more time for booty-call at the Copa Cabana.No more drinks with fruit/parasols,you're a master mechanic now.

How about a cheap workbench out of 2x4's in the backyard.That tranny repair on the kitchen table makes my butt pucker.

Bubba say this help wid da pucker fo sho!!!!
165285

You should have rehearsed inserting the USB reader. :)
I was going to say: He can change struts on his kitchen table, but he can't insert a flash card.

Haha, great song.

What car are you having an adventure with? I saw something about a Hyundai and some mention about an Accent. but what year?

It is a 2000 Hyundai Accent if memory serves.

It is a 2000 Hyundai Accent if memory serves.

That is correct. After 5 years of neglect, I can finally go over the railroad tracks without bumping my head on the roof. New struts make a hell of a difference.

...until they come poking out of the hood. Hope you didn't put them in upside down. Or the backs on the front.

he wouldn't have done that would he?

I'm just glad he apparentlyy heeded my warning about disassembling a strut assembly...........there isn't one stuck in his head! :eek:

I'm just glad he apparentlyy heeded my warning about disassembling a strut assembly...........there isn't one stuck in his head! :eek:

have you seen a recent picture of the young lad in order to make that statement?

...until they come poking out of the hood. Hope you didn't put them in upside down. Or the backs on the front.
I could see that with shocks, but it would be awfully difficult to put in a strut up side down. Given that he did the fronts at a separate time from the rears, the auto parts store would have to mess up in order for those to be swapped.

Gawd I miss you, Spry.

So who is Bubba?

The guy at the junkyard that sold Ruben the used battery used to blow up the Taurus.
Look lady,is you not going to follow the series.........................

That is correct. After 5 years of neglect, I can finally go over the railroad tracks without bumping my head on the roof. New struts make a hell of a difference.

Incorrect Rube,you're not a hip dude now.
In S.Cal. the cars set so low people get road rash on their buns.

The guy at the junkyard that sold Ruben the used battery used to blow up the Taurus.
Look lady,is you not going to follow the series.........................

I'm guessing on his name(junk dude).Ruben Shoptalk TM.never reveals his sources or we would all be fixing our car in the kitchen.
Usually in a deep south junkyard the vendor is Jake or Bubba.

Bubba say this help wid da pucker fo sho!!!!
165285

Thanks pardner:thumb:
Always room for a new lube in Rubens Garage/Kitchen.

In all of BF,this is the only place where things get done with a sincere group effort.
Lets all give ourselves a big pat on the ass.

^
The gal is happy. Happy gal makes happy RubenX. Happy RubenX fix cars without setting them on fire. :)

I truly believe you would learn to climb Mt.Everest naked if there were some sort of reward(wink,wink)at the end.

I could see that with shocks, but it would be awfully difficult to put in a strut up side down. Given that he did the fronts at a separate time from the rears, the auto parts store would have to mess up in order for those to be swapped.

It was a joke...:rolleyes: But then again, I know Ruben pretty good and trust me, he could still mess this up somehow. :lol:

In all of BF,this is the only place where things get done with a sincere group effort.
Lets all give ourselves a big pat on the ass.

Ummm.....You're asking for trouble there, Stubbs.

It was a joke...:rolleyes: But then again, I know Ruben pretty good and trust me, he could still mess this up somehow. :lol:
I actually know a guy who put a set of struts through his rear hatch, but that's a longer story than I have time to type in.

Whats the weekend report on Rubens Tool Time TM project?

You mean he went and got tools?

You mean he went and got tools?

The "Rube" did say faster responses when he combined all his threads into:
RubenX Auto Mechanics Adventures TM

...or he just fell prey to his evil desires again and put the project on hold.

You mean he went and got tools?

{kitchen utensels**