Little things that make you happy

[Revelations]

I always travel with my scan tool. Many times its paid for itself diagnosing or resetting codes.

[blur911]

I always travel with my scan tool. Many times its paid for itself diagnosing or resetting codes.

Totally forgot to pack mine, I have a bluetooth ELM327 OBD2 device that I usually bring along.

[Firm]

That's irritating. I have a few of those cheap $30 small scan tools that I keep in most of my vehicles, just in case. In the US most AutoZone and O'Reilly stores will read codes for you and print out a report with the most likely cause - which is nice since those stores are everywhere down here and open long hours. As far as I know, Canadian equivalents don't do that, which is a miss IMO. It's a liability risk for sure, but we manage it in lawsuit-happy US, and it's a huge benefit to customers and the stores.

[blur911]

That's irritating. I have a few of those cheap $30 small scan tools that I keep in most of my vehicles, just in case. In the US most AutoZone and O'Reilly stores will read codes for you and print out a report with the most likely cause - which is nice since those stores are everywhere down here and open long hours. As far as I know, Canadian equivalents don't do that, which is a miss IMO. It's a liability risk for sure, but we manage it in lawsuit-happy US, and it's a huge benefit to customers and the stores.

I have three cheap scan tools, usually keep one in the main transporter, just forgot with all the chaos of packing.
Anyhow, I'm about to try and very carefully pull the spark plug...although I really don't know if that's the issue, could be injectors (apparently two per cylinder) and to get to them you have to pull off the intake and supercharger and get a special puller tool.   I don't have time for that so might just buy another SUV, go to NB and then deal with the Audi when we get back.

[Johnnymac]

Well, we made it to Cornwall before the dash lit up and the Audi started shuddering.  Limped to a VW dealer (Nissan Dealer told up they couldn't even read the codes)

Anyhow, missing on cyl 5, didn't follow the coil pack, can't get the spark plug out, decided to limp it home and deal with it rather than probably be stranded in Cornwall.

We tried to go secondary highways and was first blocked by a fallen tree, waited for guys with saws and trucks to remove it, drove another 10 minutes, road was blocked by fallen electrical wires, had to backtrack and eventually take the 401 for a stressful drive home... and now I'm having a rum beverage.

Fuck that's definitely enough to drive a person to drink.

[Firm]

That's irritating. I have a few of those cheap $30 small scan tools that I keep in most of my vehicles, just in case. In the US most AutoZone and O'Reilly stores will read codes for you and print out a report with the most likely cause - which is nice since those stores are everywhere down here and open long hours. As far as I know, Canadian equivalents don't do that, which is a miss IMO. It's a liability risk for sure, but we manage it in lawsuit-happy US, and it's a huge benefit to customers and the stores.

I have three cheap scan tools, usually keep one in the main transporter, just forgot with all the chaos of packing.
Anyhow, I'm about to try and very carefully pull the spark plug...although I really don't know if that's the issue, could be injectors (apparently two per cylinder) and to get to them you have to pull off the intake and supercharger and get a special puller tool.   I don't have time for that so might just buy another SUV, go to NB and then deal with the Audi when we get back.

Before pulling anything apart makes sure you've got power to the coils & injectors. On the DTS I had a harness get rubbed through while on the highway about a year ago, shorted and popped a fuse, which killed power to 1-bank of coils.

[blur911]

That's irritating. I have a few of those cheap $30 small scan tools that I keep in most of my vehicles, just in case. In the US most AutoZone and O'Reilly stores will read codes for you and print out a report with the most likely cause - which is nice since those stores are everywhere down here and open long hours. As far as I know, Canadian equivalents don't do that, which is a miss IMO. It's a liability risk for sure, but we manage it in lawsuit-happy US, and it's a huge benefit to customers and the stores.

I have three cheap scan tools, usually keep one in the main transporter, just forgot with all the chaos of packing.
Anyhow, I'm about to try and very carefully pull the spark plug...although I really don't know if that's the issue, could be injectors (apparently two per cylinder) and to get to them you have to pull off the intake and supercharger and get a special puller tool.   I don't have time for that so might just buy another SUV, go to NB and then deal with the Audi when we get back.

Before pulling anything apart makes sure you've got power to the coils & injectors. On the DTS I had a harness get rubbed through while on the highway about a year ago, shorted and popped a fuse, which killed power to 1-bank of coils.

I should probably move this from "Things that make you happy"   

[TheHire]

Had a really nice trip to my in-laws new lakehouse in Gull Lake Alberta. kids had a blast, lots of visiting and good times. We returned home without the nice 2013 Suburban LTZ we left with though. Apparently crime is a thing in those nice, upper crust lake communities. Darn thieves    

I'm very sorry to hear. Our '25 GX550 Executive got swiped last week too from a driveway in Richmond Hill, and recovered on a side street in Brampton a couple hours later with a smashed window and ripped dash wiring. Go figure - now it'll have a theft claim and be worth less on resale.

[Johnnymac]

After a couple of weeks of road blocks I finally was able to find a vehicle for my elderly mother in law.  The main hurdle being the high mileage pickup she was trying to trade in.

We decided to private sale and freed me to search for the best option.  She lives in northern NL so not really any options up her way other than GM, barf.

Really limited inventory and the price point was on the lower end.  I didn't want to go used due to having no one to have eyes on it or a trusted mechanic.  We figure this might be her last vehicle.

She really wanted a CUV so the one we chose was a 2025 Mazda CX-30 GX.  Having them swap the tires from the all seasons to the Goodyear Assurance Weather Ready all weather tires.  This way she won't have to change tires for different seasons, just regular rotations.

[Blueprint]

After a couple of weeks of road blocks I finally was able to find a vehicle for my elderly mother in law.  The main hurdle being the high mileage pickup she was trying to trade in.

We decided to private sale and freed me to search for the best option.  She lives in northern NL so not really any options up her way other than GM, barf.

Really limited inventory and the price point was on the lower end.  I didn't want to go used due to having no one to have eyes on it or a trusted mechanic.  We figure this might be her last vehicle.

She really wanted a CUV so the one we chose was a 2025 Mazda CX-30 GX.  Having them swap the tires from the all seasons to the Goodyear Assurance Weather Ready all weather tires.  This way she won't have to change tires for different seasons, just regular rotations.

Excellent choice! The upgraded 2025 base model offers tremendous value. Solid awd, and smaller tires with more sidewall for rural use. Proven model, no turbos and plain-jane automatic. The neighbour's daughter also bought a new one, so now we have three of these in front of the house 

[Johnnymac]

After a couple of weeks of road blocks I finally was able to find a vehicle for my elderly mother in law.  The main hurdle being the high mileage pickup she was trying to trade in.

We decided to private sale and freed me to search for the best option.  She lives in northern NL so not really any options up her way other than GM, barf.

Really limited inventory and the price point was on the lower end.  I didn't want to go used due to having no one to have eyes on it or a trusted mechanic.  We figure this might be her last vehicle.

She really wanted a CUV so the one we chose was a 2025 Mazda CX-30 GX.  Having them swap the tires from the all seasons to the Goodyear Assurance Weather Ready all weather tires.  This way she won't have to change tires for different seasons, just regular rotations.

Excellent choice! The upgraded 2025 base model offers tremendous value. Solid awd, and smaller tires with more sidewall for rural use. Proven model, no turbos and plain-jane automatic. The neighbour's daughter also bought a new one, so now we have three of these in front of the house 

Yeah it was super appealing to have an NA engine paired with a traditional 6 speed torque converter automatic. 

As long as she does the maintenance and undercoats it, I would think it'll be fairly trouble free for many years.

[Firm]

Had a great day with the family at the annual 'Eurofest' in Germantown TN....Weather wasn't insanely hot, the cars took home some hardware again, and kids had a blast. Really glad we have an event like this locally, as it almost kinda makes up for all the good ones I miss in the GTA.

[Revelations]

Nice! Car show season lasts a bit longer way down south I bet.

[Firm]

All year really, big shows like this start to fade out in November, but weekly cars & coffee meets run all year. I just find that with very long work weeks, and all other life's responsibilities, I am less and less interested in getting out of bed early on Saturday morning for C&C....So it's a once every couple months thing for me.

[Revelations]

 Living in the Okanagan there seems to be a big car show every weekend. My 8yr old car crazy kid loves going, if it weren't for him id probably take in one show per year. I find the shows here to be very boring...miserable old men with impeccable 60's muscle cars, rinse and repeat.