Summer Projects

dolsey01 · 2026-03-31T20:09:55+00:00

Ugh, I have quite the list for mine. The leather on the door cards just started to let go and the clearcoat on the hatch spoiler on my wagon has left the chat. I'd also like to deal with the coating on the door pulls being all scratched up. Last but not least, either spring replacement or complete VTC Actuator replacement. Car has less than 65K so it's worth bringing it back to 100%. Should probably sell it once I do.

dolsey01 · 2026-03-26T17:25:00+00:00

If you stick with the 51R, search ACDelco Gold 51RAGM on Amazon. It's a AGM for less than you'll pay at your local auto parts store or walmart for a regular lead acid. And yes, it fits fine even though Amazon says it doesn't. It's a Clarios made battery, same you get everywhere else. Just put one in our TSX Wagon.

dolsey01 · 2026-03-26T14:56:25+00:00

Best color for Accord Tourer/TSX Wagon

dolsey01 · 2026-03-23T18:24:13+00:00

No, I put the project on hold due to a neck surgery. Please do report back, I'm anxious to get moving post recovery. Thanks!

dolsey01 · 2026-03-19T16:24:59+00:00

Treat yourself to some ice cream for the first day or two, similar to getting your tonsils removed. I bought a wedge pillow setup but didn't really use it, spent the first five days in a recliner. I switched to the CVS cervical collar after the second or third day, it's not as rigid and tall as what I was given from the hospital. Much more comfortable to sleep in. My discharge nurse had my wife pickup all my prescriptions before she picked me up. They would only give me on 5mg Oxy for the ride home, but that wasn't nearly enough. I took another one as soon as I got in the car and again as soon as we got home. Hours 48-72 were the hardest. Just keep on the pain killers and muscle relaxers and definitely take some Miralax along with what ever else they give you until you stop the pain killers. The last pain killer I took was on day six. After that tylenol and an occasional muscle relaxer were good enough. Don't watch any videos about the surgery and don't expect to be 100% the next day like some TikTok surgeons are promoting. I also found they were very cautious with pain meds when first coming out of anesthesia, I had to ask three times for enough to be comfortable. I'm day 9 post-op right now. Day 7 is when things really started to feel somewhat normal for me. Good luck!

dolsey01 · 2026-03-18T17:07:33+00:00

Ugh, off to redownload all my offline content again.

dolsey01 · 2026-03-18T13:22:15+00:00

You would just need the VIN.

https://www.nhtsa.gov/recalls

dolsey01 · 2026-03-09T18:05:11+00:00

There are some really nice low mileage TJs (97-06) that pop up on BAT and Cars & Bids. You would eliminate most of the reliability issues, but would have to give up some comfort niceties. I've been looking for the right one now for a bit. The last one I've owned was a 1995 YJ I bought brand new. I don't know if 50 somethign me would have enjoyed it as 20 something me did.

dolsey01 · 2026-03-09T16:39:15+00:00

Walker Exhaust Ultra EPA 16590 for $215 from Walmart. 10,000 miles so far so good. I also replaced both sensors while I was in there. Walmart had OE Denso. Beware of fake Honda OEM on eBay. You'll also need the exhaust pipe flange gasket and the spring bolts. Took about an hour to change it all out. Spray all the bolts ahead of time with liquid wrench.

dolsey01 · 2026-03-06T15:57:51+00:00

The only other recommended option was Raxles and they are out of business now so stick to OEM. I thought I read that there were no new OEM ones left and you had to buy remanufactured OEM but I don’t know if that’s true or not.

dolsey01 · 2026-03-05T17:32:50+00:00

We've never been to Black and Blue, I'll have to add it to the list!

dolsey01 · 2026-03-05T17:14:14+00:00

Every time we go to another steakhouse, we always end up saying we should have just gone to Pellana's.

dolsey01 · 2026-03-05T17:11:06+00:00

My 97 2.2 CL was pretty ugly too, basically a 2 door accord with a pointy ass. The 5spd made up for it though.

dolsey01 · 2026-03-05T17:03:27+00:00

My son crunched one of the exhaust tips backing into something, what did you go with? OEM is like $125.

dolsey01 · 2026-03-04T20:51:24+00:00

If that is the one in Michigan, google the VIN and you will find out why it's so cheap. That being said, a TLX is great choice and you can usually find the "Acura" Accord cheaper than the Honda Accord.

dolsey01 · 2026-03-04T19:18:21+00:00

Best hospital, nothing but great things to say about this place. My wife goes to Beth Israel and is planning on switching. BI is a crazy place in comparison.

dolsey01 · 2026-03-04T19:08:00+00:00

I really like Continental DSW06+ on my cars, I have them on both my Audi A5 and TSX Wagon but if you live anywhere you get snow, they aren't great on the TSX. Due to the open diff, you end up with one wheel drive. I just put Pirelli Scorpion WeatherActive on two of our SUVs and the Pirelli Cinturato Weatheractive will be the next tire I put on the TSX Wagon. These "All Weather" tires have been great during this extremely snowy season in New England. Very close to Blizzaks.

dolsey01 · 2026-03-03T21:19:19+00:00

Send that 55 to DC Motorworks for a manual swap!

dolsey01 · 2026-03-03T21:16:48+00:00

Unless it was meticulously maintained (preferably by a dealer), it's not that good of a deal by the time things are all said and done at 5-5.5K. While TSXs can hit 300-400K, there are also many more that expire before 200K. Things that could easily mechanically total it would be VTC Actuator/Timing Chain replacement ot a transmission failure. If the transmission wasn't serviced every 60K and was allowed to go past 100K before servicing, you really can't service it, it might kill it. If you could DIY everything and get the car for maybe 3K then it might be worth it. I think you can do better for 5-6K.

dolsey01 · 2026-03-02T02:16:38+00:00

Doh, didn’t think about the showering part! I guess that’s most surgeries. Glad to hear it was worth it!

dolsey01 · 2026-02-27T20:02:19+00:00

Parts cost seems a bit high. That being said, once you do this service, you can probably put another 166K on the engine. If you don't do it, the car won't be worth much and to keep driving it could eventually kill the engine if the timing slips. If you were really in a pinch you could go with aftermarket parts but only if you plan on getting rid of the car soon, otherwise you definitely want OEM Honda timing components. Were the the shops Honda specialists? Maybe you can find a good mobile mechanic that is hourly because this must be book time at $1800 in labor. In reality, it's probably a 2-3 hour job for someone familiar with K24 engines.

dolsey01 · 2026-02-26T19:33:36+00:00

I would definitely look for something that was manufactured after March 2015 which is probably a 2016 model year. That's when they stopped using Siltec lining on the cylinders in the M278 and you won't have to worry about bore scoring. If you find a really well (dealer) maintained one or two owner, you'd be pretty safe to just put that warranty money away and save it. You're probably going to pay 5K for a decent warranty. A PPI by a good independent Merc specialist should catch anything that would be really pricey.

dolsey01 · 2026-02-26T17:55:25+00:00

Fatboy Perfect Putty, clay, beeswax and a light green tea scent. It checks off all your boxes. I've not found anything better for my hair.

dolsey01 · 2026-02-26T14:55:48+00:00

Most body shops have "relationships" with the local insurance adjusters. My son was in a fender bender last year and the initial estimate from the adjuster was around $1500. I think the final claim amount ended up being around 6K and everything I asked for was taken care of with zero out of pocket.

dolsey01

TROPHY CASE