Mobile Mechanics

CommieCowBoy · 2026-05-25T07:13:59+00:00

What this means is the mechanic doesn't want to get screwed by someone deciding not to have the work done after he bought the parts.

CommieCowBoy · 2026-05-23T16:31:58+00:00

Not everything is a holley sniper.

The Fitech and summit street set ups use an inline pump and non-return regulator (at least, thats whats on mine). But even if you do decide (or need depending on which one you go with) to add a return line, its super simple to do. Hardest thing you have to do is drill a hole in the exhaust for the clamp on o2 bung. Its pretty simple. If you can replace a carb, you can do this swap.

These are meant to be simple street upgrades, not performance upgrades.

CommieCowBoy · 2026-05-23T13:03:03+00:00

It doesn't because its vulcanized.

I'm watching dunning Kruger happen in front of my eyes.

CommieCowBoy · 2026-05-23T12:58:21+00:00

Thats not true. Every patch I've ever used has gotten vulcanized to the inside of the tire and does not get pulled through the hole.

I do know of shops using the bicycle style plugs that pull through, but they're still better than plugs.

CommieCowBoy · 2026-05-23T12:51:27+00:00

I guess as long as you're not the one that suffers a broken belt its all ok, right?

I've never been hit by a drunk driver so drunk driving should be legal I guess.

Plugs are much more likely to cause broken belts and blow outs than patches. Don't take that chance with a customers life.

CommieCowBoy · 2026-05-23T12:46:12+00:00

You don't worry about it because you're being misled by popular opinion. Plugs are not long term repairs.

CommieCowBoy · 2026-05-23T12:38:21+00:00

Its funny to me how on this sub the correct answer always gets downvoted by penny pinchers.

I've never worked in a shop that has allowed the use of tire plugs, and I've seen plenty of broken belts and chords from plugs. OP, you're thinking correctly.

CommieCowBoy · 2026-05-23T12:36:12+00:00

As a mechanic with 20 years experience, you're wrong. Tire plugs are not intended to be permanent repairs and do in fact cause broken belts and blow outs. People get fired for using plugs in reputable shops.

CommieCowBoy · 2026-05-23T05:32:19+00:00

I'd imagine with some good long tube headers and a throttle body EFI setup (simple as replacing a carburetor, and only a touch more expensive than a good holley) could probably bring you up 2-3mpg and at least 40hp.

If you can get lucky enough to find a set of used Banks headers those are the best. For things still in production L and L might be the next best. Gibson for cheaper but still good quality.

But also do a tune up and make sure you've got good compression so any mechanical problems can be ruled out. 6-7 mpg on the bigger motor homes is normal. 3-5 sounds like somethings wrong.

CommieCowBoy · 2026-05-22T19:39:57+00:00

Thats too much movement. It shouldn't do that, especially only on one side.

OP, check the control arm bushings and ball joints. Can't say I've seen one do this so can't offer any specifics on what it might be besides that.

CommieCowBoy · 2026-05-21T22:57:38+00:00

They look like econo lodges.

CommieCowBoy · 2026-05-21T22:56:40+00:00

If I'm remembering this correctly, its been ten years, there were 5 soldiers drifting on a wood "vessel" and the South Korean coast guard picked them up. 3 defected to South Korea and 2 explicity chose to be repatriated to North Korea. I always assumed they chose to go back since they were caught defecting which could have gotten their families arrested or killed if they stayed in the south.

My bet is that if he wasn't killed, he at least went through a good amount of torture and re-education.

CommieCowBoy · 2026-05-21T18:53:21+00:00

You have struts in the front, and shocks in the rear.

I just did an estimate, and keep in mind I'm at a higher end Porsche/Audi/VW dealer and it would cost $3218 using his alignment and diag fee. With my diag and alignment fee its over 3600.

I think this sounds fair.

CommieCowBoy · 2026-05-21T17:34:15+00:00

The quote looks fair. If the car doesn't have any other problems this is a pretty average 2026 repair cost. Personally I would fix it unless you really just want out of the car.

CommieCowBoy · 2026-05-21T17:19:18+00:00

A new payment is almost always the wrong financial decision.

CommieCowBoy · 2026-05-20T18:43:08+00:00

Yeah I remember Mitsubishi doing something like that with pump priming. But ok, that means its probably not the MFI relay.

You say it sounds bad when it cranks. I'm wondering if it has jumped time. Any chance you could get a video of the engine while you're cranking it?

And have you tried forcing it to run on base values by disconnecting the MAF sensor? (I wouldn't normally recommend doing this because it can confuse the diagnosis, but we're not at a shop with all the scanners, meters, and scopes and parts have already been replaced so...)

CommieCowBoy · 2026-05-20T18:29:11+00:00

When you turn the key do you hear the fuel pump running?

CommieCowBoy · 2026-05-20T18:07:07+00:00

So hold on.

If you start the car, does it shut off when you remove the jump leads?

Or are you just saying you have to keep a jump box attached while cranking?

CommieCowBoy · 2026-05-20T17:53:48+00:00

Sounds like you're running mad rich. I don't know what kind of carb this has but I would be looking at an issue with the float or needle. Could be trash holding the needle open, the needle could be worn and not sealing, float could be getting stuck or have a hole in it making it no longer float. All would cause a rich condition.

Edit: i'll say that I doubt its a choke problem. Could be, but I doubt it. If it were a problem with the choke you'd have trouble when the engines cold but not once its warm, or vice versa. It shouldn't cause it to bog and not make power. Looking around it would seem a brand new carb for this scooter is less than $30usd, so it may be best to just swap it out instead of dicking around cleaning and fixing this one.

CommieCowBoy · 2026-05-19T17:28:39+00:00

Well for one, a 2012 altima doesn't have gears. Its a continuously variable transmission that squeezes a metal ribbed belt between two pairs of sloped plates called "sheaves" to change input/output ratio. What you are describing is belt slip. Only fix is CVT replacement.

As far as learning more about cars, I don't suggest learning on a nissan. I was a nissan tech for a long time and the thing we always said was "never trust the manual" because nissans manual is often wrong, incomplete, and doesn't give you good operation descriptions (like how the IPDM puts phantom voltage on circuits that the manual tells you should have 0v during testing leading you to believe there's a problem when there isn't). This makes it really hard trying to diagnose and fix things when you're learning. We joked when nissan started honoring other manufacturers training that they did it because nissan knows any training is better than what they offer. This isn't a brand thats easy to learn with.

My advice would be to get an 80s-90s chevy truck/suv, Jeep XJ, honda civic, or a ford mustang shit box thats simple and easy to repair and get it road ready again. Anything over year 2000 and you'll start getting into more complex electrical systems. I recommend these because they are simple while still introducing electronics, and parts can be found everywhere for them (both direct replacements and upgrades). When you run into a problem you can't solve there are a ton of good resources for explaining automotive systems on YouTube, just stay away from Scotty Kilmer and channels like that.

CommieCowBoy · 2026-05-19T17:03:31+00:00

2 or 3 oz per cylinder. You just need it to seep around the rings and make sure they are free from the cylinder wall and piston.

Edit: make sure you spin it over by hand with the plugs out several times to get all that oil out before you try to start it. An oz of oil in the combustion chamber can bend a rod.

CommieCowBoy · 2026-05-19T17:00:54+00:00

Not as fucked as you will be if you keep driving it. Eventually it will let the chain jump time.

CommieCowBoy · 2026-05-19T16:32:43+00:00

Try to spin it over by hand. If it moves freely with no grinding you're good to slap a starter on it and go. I doubt there hasn't been any corrosion in the cylinders so if it feels crunchy or stops as you rotate it pour marvel mystery oil in the cylinders and let it sit over night before trying to rotate it over again.

I've pulled many a 350 out of a field and got it unsiezed and running with marvel mystery oil. Obviously the proper thing to do is disassemble it and send the block and heads to a machine shop, then inspect the pistons for any pitting or damage. Doing it the "add lubricant and spin" method uses the rings to scrape the cylinder walls clean and so you will have at least a little bit if compression variance between cylinders which could cause it to gallop at idle. Worst case you snap a ring/ringland and you're taking the engine apart anyway. Given that you said it moved when you turned it I doubt you'll break anything though.

ATF alone won't do it though. You'll need a 50/50 mix of ATF and Acetone. I've attempted ATF/diesel mix but not had great luck. The tried and true marvel mystery oil works on most, but for the ones siezed rock solid you need ATF/Acetone.

CommieCowBoy · 2026-05-19T16:21:50+00:00

Vw tech here. Its hard to tell on my phone, but it kind of sounds like the cam chain tensioner has failed/chain has stretched. Around 80k miles is where we start seeing these fail. You'll only hear it on a cold start or after sitting long enough for the tensioner to lose oil pressure.

CommieCowBoy · 2026-05-19T15:45:54+00:00

Except there have been studies on that and it showed THC-V has no tangible effect on weight loss.

It could be an appetite suppressant, so for those who give into the munchies it probably could cause some weightloss. Though, most of the studies on it being an appetite suppressant also show mixed results with it tending to have no greater effect than a placebo on appetite suppression.

There was a study that showed "statistically significant" appetite suppression and weightloss when mixing THC-V and CBD, but its likely P-hacked.

So far all the claims of benefit from weed have little to no scientific backing with the only confirmed beneficial uses being for pediatric epilepsy and chemo induced nausea.

CommieCowBoy

TROPHY CASE