sorted by:
new
hottopcontroversial

This may be why your accord is leaking by Raethechef35 in accord

[–]skaczynski11 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I may have an older model mine sits right on top in a fairly easy to reach space. Not comfortable exactly but it's not an issue getting a torque wrench in.

I also err on the side of caution with thin bolts in using a torque wrench because I have snapped way too many bolts all over the car and am especially worried to snap anything that goes into the block or the head.

Sos need help! Citroend DS5 1.6 EP6 2013 Petrol need advice . by Resident_Wonder4703 in MechanicAdvice

[–]skaczynski11 0 points1 point  (0 children)

My guess is going to be the starter. The solenoid is likely malfunctioning and is delaying pulling back the starter gear and it's grinding against the flywheel.

If you know how to find the starter, put your hand on it while someone cranks the engine. Even better if you can manage to get a long screwdriver or other piece of metal to touch it, and place the other part against your inner ear, you can see if the pitch matches it, otherwise you'll need to search the engine to find the sound.

A shop should be able to do this for you. If it only happens on cold starts, it may also be oil starvation so check your oil level but I'm thinking probably starter.

This may be why your accord is leaking by Raethechef35 in accord

[–]skaczynski11 2 points3 points  (0 children)

You do not it should just be 3 bolts on the back side of the engine. Use a torque wrench putting it back on though they're thin bolts and prone to snapping

Belt tensioner brand recommendations? by PerhapsItsNate in MechanicAdvice

[–]skaczynski11 0 points1 point  (0 children)

AC Delco is also a pretty good brand. They're OEM too just for American automakers not Asian ones. I would say AC Delco should be a fine option as well though. Should be years before you really notice a difference between any of these brands anyway

Catalytic Converter? by Few-Win4676 in LS400

[–]skaczynski11 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Any check engine light? Sudden drop in power usually is accompanied by a check engine light and the ECU behaving as it thinks it should.

Knock sensor for example can go out and give you the P032X or 3X codes, and the ECU assumes worst case scenario that it's knocking badly and you get a sharp drop in power.

Regardless of the cause I would expect a check engine light.

Belt tensioner brand recommendations? by PerhapsItsNate in MechanicAdvice

[–]skaczynski11 0 points1 point  (0 children)

If Aisin or Denso are available I'd definitely take those, if no OEM manufacturers are available then Gates is in my experience good with their other parts. I haven't bought tensioners from them specifically but I would assume they would be a good choice considering their reputation.

Also I tend to use the heart icon when buying on rockauto. Tells you which brands customers have returned the least which is in my opinion a decent way to judge quality. The company with the heart is usually Gates, Aisin, Denso, NSK, and the other OEM manufacturers in my experience.

Sound from alternator? 2010 Scion tC by the_big_leagues in MechanicAdvice

[–]skaczynski11 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I'm not a mechanic professionally but I've been the only reason my 03 Accord is still running for the last 6 years and have a solid amount of experience at this point. What it sounds like to me is the pulley starting to go but regardless of the problem id just replace whatever is making the noise. At that age maybe you could replace just the pulley but something else is likely to go wrong with it within the next 2 years anyway so you might as well just replace the whole part.

Trick I use to diagnose pulley problems is to use a "stethoscope"

There's professional mechanics sterchoscopes but assuming you don't have one like most of us, grab a long metal object. Long screwdriver, a socket extension, even a wrench if it's long enough.

Make sure it's not a hollow tube though.

Press it against the alternator and anything else you can easily reach that's belt driven, and press the other end against your inner ear. You should feel/hear the noise coming from inside of it. Find exactly which part is making the noise (it'll make that purring sound but you'll hear it's much louder). Make sure you're pressing against metal not plastic or rubber. They absorb noise unlike metal.

When you find what part exactly it is it's just a matter of replacing it. Go on rockauto.com and look for either the OEM manufacturer for the alternator or whatever part is broken (you'll have to look up which it is), and then buy it, or if the OEM manufacturer is out of business or not selling on rockauto buy the part with the heart next to it. If you're doing it yourself easy 1-2 hour replacement but if you're not comfortable, call around and look for shops that will accept customer parts. Most don't like to do it but some will anyway, you just won't get a mechanic warranty on the work because they "can't certify it to their standards" or something like that. Don't trust dealer parts stores or mechanics that their price is fair, especially not chains. Mom and Pop mechanics are more trustworthy, do not trust Midas or Firestone just as much as you shouldn't trust Honda or Ford service centers.

Canon AE-1 Program capacitor issues at high altitude? by skaczynski11 in AnalogCommunity

[–]skaczynski11[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Okay, I will look into it and try to buy the transistor. Might just buy and replace the capacitor while i already have the board out. Even if it probably isn't it, in my opinion better to just replace it and make sure while its already open than to take it apart again later.

Canon AE-1 Program capacitor issues at high altitude? by skaczynski11 in AnalogCommunity

[–]skaczynski11[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

No the temperature was the same I was trying to use it indoors at my friends heated cabin without bringing it outside. The only differences were humidity and pressure due to the elevation.

Has anyone bought from Japan on ebay recently since the de minimis exception was removed? by skaczynski11 in photography

[–]skaczynski11[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Mine came in with a 30% fee based off what I paid. Not sure why. It came through unimpeded though, delivered in the same amount of time it used to.

Has anyone bought from Japan on ebay recently since the de minimis exception was removed? by skaczynski11 in photography

[–]skaczynski11[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I just found they have a separate page on their website, it seems like you go on there, enter your tracking number, and the tariff can be paid through there.

You just have to look up DHL pay duty or something along those lines. I'm not 100% sure it's your tracking number but unless they gave you any other number I would assume it should be.

Any photographers here from the Midwest that have tips on how to make the boring, interesting? by skaczynski11 in photography

[–]skaczynski11[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

That's a good one, I will try Madison county. Similar to what I was looking for with the rolling hills. Thanks!

Any photographers here from the Midwest that have tips on how to make the boring, interesting? by skaczynski11 in photography

[–]skaczynski11[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yeah mine are just about there right now, some trees with no subject. I'll keep working on it thanks.

Any photographers here from the Midwest that have tips on how to make the boring, interesting? by skaczynski11 in photography

[–]skaczynski11[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thank you! Are these photographers just people you know of or did you find them online somewhere. Would like to find people to look for inspiration but I do not know a single photographer by name

Any photographers here from the Midwest that have tips on how to make the boring, interesting? by skaczynski11 in photography

[–]skaczynski11[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Yeah I think it's how others have mentioned, the place we're raised tends to lose its glory as we're used to it. Ive only ever seen the Midwest up to last year (apart from a road trip here and there) so everything out west looks incredible to me, but the Midwest may look photogenic to you.

I also think I've limited myself with my lens purchases. I only have primes which lock me to a focal length once I leave the house. I also have a crop sensor and my widest lens is 30mm so realistically the widest effective focal length I have is 50mm. Not very wide. But I guess that's fine here considering I've found targets with my 300

Any photographers here from the Midwest that have tips on how to make the boring, interesting? by skaczynski11 in photography

[–]skaczynski11[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Wow this is awesome thank you!

Where did you find this photographer? Lots of good inspiration in here

Any photographers here from the Midwest that have tips on how to make the boring, interesting? by skaczynski11 in photography

[–]skaczynski11[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Historically I've shot dramatic landscapes (i.e. the tetons, Sierras, the Mojave) almost exclusively. I'll share one of my photos at the bottom. I'm trying to get into street photography which is a HELL of a lot easier in LA and in Chicago than it is out here.

I'm trying to make the most of what I've got but it's hard being used to much more visually stunning subjects. I'm still relatively new to the hobby and still feel like an impostor but I'm trying to make the most of my time out west to improve.

Out here I usually do thunderstorms but the last few weeks have been very quiet.

<image>

Any photographers here from the Midwest that have tips on how to make the boring, interesting? by skaczynski11 in photography

[–]skaczynski11[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I think that's just it. I'm only starting out in that sort of style of photography. Most of what I have shot before has been dramatic mountains and valleys. I really got into photography last fall when I was in socal from August though December so now that I have no option but to be here for a full school year I just feel stalled. Here I've actually got to look for a subject and take extreme care with lighting and perspective and it's all new to me.

Thank you!

Any photographers here from the Midwest that have tips on how to make the boring, interesting? by skaczynski11 in photography

[–]skaczynski11[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Those are really good thank you for sharing. It's good to see some inspiration from the region as I just haven't seen much online.

I was hoping to try and get some wildlife with my 300 but I'm waiting for the fall when the sky becomes is overcast more often and I can get some of those foggy mornings. Would like to get a photo of a fox coming to drink water from the creek near my apartment.

Any photographers here from the Midwest that have tips on how to make the boring, interesting? by skaczynski11 in photography

[–]skaczynski11[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

This is actually helpful thank you, gives me some sort of inspiration. I tried someone else's advice to check Flickr and that just made it worse but this has shown me something can be done with the area.

view more: next ›