150,461 MILE UPDATE: Oily, Tired, and Tense...

Vic 3.0 has been getting some attention lately.  First new shocks/struts, then a new fan belt, then a new fan belt tensioner, and then today a nice (overdue) Mobil 1 oil change and a set of brand spankin' new Goodyear RS-A tires.  

The belt tensioner wasn't planned.  When we installed the new belt, we noticed that it took more effort than usual to move the tensioner to get the belt on/off.  On the belt went, and out into the ether emanated a horrible screech when I started the car.  I assumed the belt just needed to seat itself into position.

Wellp, the next day the sound was SO bad, not just when the car started, but every time I had to use the throttle from a stop.  I dropped by Upholstery Guy's shop and he suggested I get a can of belt dressing.  I took his advice, and it seemed to help.  By the end of the day, the sound was gone.  BUT every time the car started up cold, that screech was there, scaring birds and neighbors.

On to Rock Auto I went, and ordered a Motorcraft belt tensioner.  I planned on installing it myself as all I needed to do was remove one bolt, but Taxi Guy did it for me before I knew what had happened!  (150,327 miles)  Now, everything is nice and quiet.  I almost think I can hear a difference as well.  

As for the tires, I waited and searched and scored a set for a decent price.  RS-A's don't have a high treadwear rating (it's about performance, not longevity) but even so, they made me realize the old set NEEDED to be replaced.  They were all over 10 years old so had some age-cracking, and had worn enough to be good for dry weather speed, but NOT safe for rain.

Now, the last time I put this much money into a car, it ended up being totaled by my mother.  I sure hope nothing happens to this one, too!!  

132,509 Mile Update: It Will Now Snow...

Yesterday, Mystery Mechanic and I noticed Vic 3.0 was riding pretty badly on the highways and byways of Massachusetts.  We've been keeping an eye on one snow tire that he picked up at a junk yard (not something I myself trust).  The tire must have sat for a long time in one position, possibly low on air, because one patch of tread has a roundy-softy-wornish-rotted look.  It made it feel like an out of balance tire, probably bouncing off the pavement ever so slightly over and over.  After yesterday's trip, we said "BAH!  Might as well put the RS-A's back on".  It's March and we have had pretty much NO snow in the Boston area all season.

Which means we will get whacked with a major Nor-easta' next week.

Once all the snows were off, we also noticed another one for the junk-pile... that one has cracks on the rear sidewall that look scary.  So next season I will have to do some shopping!

On the 9th, Vic finally got it's oil change, after 9 months and about 3,500 miles.  The mechanic pointed out that there were traces of "animal activity" under the hood.  Sure enough, while we had the air compressor going today, I took a peek myself and there were piles of nuts and birdseed on the intake manifold.  It took a while to blow it all out. 

The exhaust leak is still there but hasn't changed much.  Still need to source that issue out.

Doesn't look like much, but this patch was enough to make the car ride badly.

UPDATE: Snow Tires Off

May 10th saw Vic's snow tires come off, and alloys with Goodyear RS-A's go on.  The spring ritual resulted in the revelation that I now need front brake pads.  Those got ordered today.  The day also included starting up Todd's '04 Mustang after it's winter slumber, getting an inspection sticker for it, and the mass murder of a huge flock of what looked like winged ants that had infested his garage.  As of this second, Vic is outside with a car-cover on, due to trees dumping "propellers" and general shmoo all over the place.   

UPDATE: Snow Tires On

Originally, the weather forcast said snow this week.  Now it looks like less of a chance, but Todd and I figured it was a good idea to initiate the annual Snow Tire Blitz. 

We started off taking off my alloys and Goodyear RS-A's, and put on steels and Goodyear Ultra Grip Ice's... The two front ones may have to be junked after this winter, but the rears are still good.

Next, we had to plug one Firestone snow tire, move the cars around, and swap the Firestone with a police spec Goodyear Ultra Grip from Todd's mother's car that was originally his.

Next, we moved cars again, sifted through Todd's collection of tires and rims, and installed two Goodyear Ultra Grips on Todd's car. 

THEN we tried to make heads-or-tails out of all those tires laying around the place... some junk, some good, some on rims, some not. 

Lastly, back in my own driveway, I managed for the first time to get all 4 center caps on my wheels all by myself!  The key seems to be a rubber mallet and no fear of denting them. 

I hope you followed all that!

UPDATE: Going Nowhere Fast

Yesterday morning I stepped out of the house, ready to run some errands, and I noticed the car didn't look right.  It seemed to be slanting in one direction.  A peek around to the passenger side and there it was, a very flat tire.

After some worrying and fretting, things ended up working out.  I used my life saving little portable air pump and got the tire back up to pressure.  I drove down to my old mechanic's shop, and his son did a real pit stop.  Tire off, fixed, and back on car in less than 20min.  That includes the time we spent taking the spare tire out of the trunk.  I didn't expect him to offer to plug the tire right then and there. 

The tire had a slow leak for months, and now I know why.  It was the beat up 3/4" brad/nail he pulled out.  The big leak was from the 1 1/2" screw.  I could actually hear the air blowing out after I pumped it up in the driveway.  I had driven the car the day before with no issues, so I must have picked it up close to home...