What are you doing today? Thread

[knappyfeet]

Picked up this lap timer/GPS for my XR1200. It is so early 2000's but so cool.

Any cell phone will probably have an app that will be superior to this device...... but it's not the same.

Will probably mount the GPS antenna to the rear tail and route it through to the front. It's got a 6 ft cord.

I like Koso devices

[ATC King]

I've seen that brand before, but don't have any experience with their products.

What's the accuracy of the GPS? I don't know what the average phone has for accuracy, but all GPS devices aren't the same. Like GPS units for scientific data and construction are more accurate than consumer grade devices, but they're also much more expensive.

I figure if it's for lap times, it has to be pretty accurate.

[knappyfeet]

I've seen that brand before, but don't have any experience with their products.

What's the accuracy of the GPS? I don't know what the average phone has for accuracy, but all GPS devices aren't the same. Like GPS units for scientific data and construction are more accurate than consumer grade devices, but they're also much more expensive.

I figure if it's for lap times, it has to be pretty accurate.

I don't know the accuracy. I haven't used it yet....other than hooking 12V to it to see it on

It can learn a course/track/route, etc. For my sake just remembering a trip up the mountain or your favorite rip area.....that should be nice.

[ATC King]

Clearing up some brush

[ATC King]

I do a bit of vehicle mechaneckn here and there, on my own terms, choosing what I work on.

I just finished up another GMT400 and there are some serious realizations needed when working on these early electronic fuel injected pickups, and what it means for the future of new vehicles if they happen to still be on the road in 25+ years.

Because I pick and choose what to take in, I have customers who just want it fixed, with quality parts, without trying to nickle and dime the repairs. That's the only way I can tolerate working on the older vehicles, but that's not even close to what the majority of uneducated owners expect, and there's some serious wake-up calls coming in the near future.

To make it short, when these pickups have fuel system issues and there's any rust in the tank (metal tanks the owners don't keep near full), anything short of replacing and rebuilding the entire system is extremely likely to be nothing but a patch, and there will be more problems. Basically, a waste of money and time, and a big headache for everyone.

One and done, if the tank is ok, new fuel pump, all rubber fuel hoses replaced, rebuilt throttle body with NEW injectors. If the tank is rusted, that needs replaced (It's cheaper to replace than try fix), and ALL fuel lines, from the pump to the throttle body.

A money saver is they only have two injectors, but they are $100 apiece. Of this post, all the parts are available new, so it's not an issue yet.


I've yet to see one that had good brakes and the overwhelming majority of the time the brake fluid looks dark like engine oil. The system has been seriously neglected and these have an early, very basic ABS system, which is pretty much useless anyway. I won't be removing the ABS on someone's vehicle though, just won't do it, won't take on that liability. So if that's shot, dig in the pockets a little deeper.

To stand a chance of getting the neglected and aged brakes working as good as possible, the first time, it's already a given the hoses need replaced. Every five years is a good idea, but I guess ten isn't too bad. When the hoses go bad, they usually cause the brake on that wheel, or both rears to lock up. It's much less common for a hose to blow out and loose the brake/s.

When the fluid looks like sewage, full stop, let the customer know it's going to need everything replaced, with a maybe on the hard lines. New wheel cylinders, shoes, hoses, master cylinder, calipers, pads, and turn or replace drums and rotors. This is the reality of neglect. If the fluid was flushed every two years, this wouldn't be an issue, but I don't know a single person who dose that maintenance. Brakes are arguably the most important part of a vehicle, even horse drawn carts needed brakes, but people cannot be convinced to spend a little money every couple of years to prevent a large bill down the road. Not mentioning whether they value their life or not, because bad brakes tend to wait to rear their nasty little head during an emergency stop, not sedate driving. Mountain driving will quickly expose water saturated fluid, as it boils and the pedal goes to the floor. Brake fluid is hygroscopic, it absorbs moisture and that lowers the boiling point of the fluid. The higher the DOT rating, the quicker is absorbs moisture, with some exceptions for certain products. DOT3 will generally last longer than DOT4, and a lot of everyday vehicles now are using DOT4. That's just a tradeoff for higher performance brakes, or at least a slightly higher performing fluid.

Anyway, when these neglected systems need repaired, the only way to do it right, is to do it right. Fortunately, most of the parts for the GMT400s are readily available and since the pickups are relatively simple, there's fewer parts than newer vehicles and at lower prices. Still, rolling one of these old pickups into the shop can easily cost thousands to drive it out, and that's not large single components like engines and transmissions, that's fixing the other systems that support function.

Most of these aren't worth the money to put into them, except for a small group who appreciate them for what they are, and prefer to keep them going instead of buying something newer. They are a very popular platform with those people, and they are pretty simple and dependable vehicles, if cared for.

The one I just got one repair session done with, and have some more to do later, but it's fiddley stuff, like recalibrating the speedometer, looks like it's no more than five years old. It was a one owner and garaged all it's life, but it sat a lot, low mileage. That was about a $2,000-$2,500 bill so far. The decade old tires need replaced, but he's putting new wheels on it too, doesn't like the stock ones (I do).

I got it lined out, then as soon as the owner got in it, it had issues starting. Sticking injector or something else, but these tend to have injector issues when old, even if it's just a terrible spray pattern. Don't know yet, but the process continues, after I got paid. Totally sucks, all around, and certainly aggravates me, but I'm not dealing with some rando public vehicle and they know how I work, so there isn't some yelling customer in the shop to deal with.


As for newer vehicles, people aren't going to be able to afford to keep them on the road much past warranty. When headlight assemblies are costing over $1,000, instead of a $10 bulb, when it's essentially a computer on wheels and vehicle settings are through a touch screen, that won't be available new in twenty years. When the software isn't available from the manufacturer anymore, because it's behind a paywall even now. It doesn't even matter if there are people who can repair the complicated electronics, people aren't going to pay what that ability is capable of earning elsewhere. Maybe we'll start seeing hodgepodged TEMU tablets in lieu of the factory screens, taped to the dash, just so the vehicle will function, as a vehicle, and not a home entertainment system and massage chair, on wheels.


Mechanics already know this, they see where it's going, but it falls on def ears. I think there's going to be a lot more motorcycle and scooter sales in the future, because that'll be the only new vehicle people can afford, and they can't afford a 10yo car, can't afford the repair cost or unavailable parts. Heck, even with a warranty, owners are still getting screwed, still making payments on car that takes weeks to get back, maybe even longer. Techs struggle to stay up with the ever changing vehicles, don't get the benefit of 10yo platforms that have been time tested and problems known, and common parts that can be stocked instead of ordered, if they're even available. Shops are being screwed by warranties too, but that doesn't fit the narrative of the 'shops are bad' crowd.

The main thing is, old or new, there is no free lunch and that's going to be only a saltine cracker in the near future. The people who refuse to be hooked into expensive, financially damaging, lost money of lifetime payments to a large corporation are going to have to figure something out pretty quick. Start taking exceptional care of the vehicle they already own, or planning to downsize to two wheels, powered or not. They'll have to get their lifestyle in order to suit their transportation options. 15-minute city?


Maybe spend a little, take some mechaneckin classes, buy an older vehicle, repair and properly maintain it. May as well be money in the bank. O'reillys has automotive courses, even does them in person, but those may be only for current techs, not remedial. Trying to study random Google garbage isn't a good idea, need professional instruction, but it doesn't have to be for years or cost a whole lot, there are options. If not going to work in a shop, it doesn't need a diploma attached. Basic code readers and even some more affordable bi-directional scan tools are within reach of many people's budget now, but those don't fix vehicles, only give information that needs interpreted.

Stay away from anything OBD-1 though. Too old and even the old diagnostic equipment is still expensive. I think that's anything 1995 and older. I don't imagine many people are looking for a 30+yo vehicle though. 00-10 or so was good years for a lot of vehicles. Not too much of the infotainment junk and mostly buttons to work the functions, few/small/no screens or deeply integrated systems. VVT came into play too, so no EGR valve and associated piping to mess with, and no pumps. Bulbs instead of whole lighting assemblies. That little bump in the parking lot just requires a $40 housing, not a $1,000+ assembly. Not having to tape a flashlight on the front to just avoid a ticket or use a credit card for what should be an inexpensive repair.

I'd like to see more people out of the new car trap. Wheels are not freedom anymore.

[ATC King]

The joy of cats, they kill everything they can.

Ours are always getting birds, mice, rats, and moles. There's the frogs and lizards too, and always terrorizing the skinks during their mating season. Tonight, I watched one of them chasing something in the dark, congratulated her on a good catch, then seen it was a small rabbit. Ugh. It's not as bad as when a dog ripped the entire skin from a live rabbit and seeing it suffering, but still.

The other cat, as soon as I said 'There's enough for both of you' she went following to get some. I just fed them some tuna this morning. Hungry, vicious creatures.

The circle of life, I guess, but they're not putting a dent in the foxes, coyotes, and bobcats.

[knappyfeet]

I'd like to see more people out of the new car trap. Wheels are not freedom anymore.

They are house payments. Even after 30K down you could still be at a monthly payment of $1500 for some Kings Ranch or Raptor.

I do miss my old 93. I practically gave it away after my son incurred some damage to the drive train after a minor collision. I guess I was using that as an excuse because I was sick of the 305 it had in it....it was a tired dog with those tires.

There's one for sale locally for 7K with 300,000 miles and painted purple. I'll pass.

[ATC King]

Was that a Baywatch set truck? I'm joking, but I can see it.

I know a lot of people would be drooling over that truck today. Like you said, the 300K mile one for sale, for way, way too much. That's the common theme now, worn out and dreaming, needing $15k or more just to bring one back to dependable, because of all the deferred maintenance. Sounds expensive, but that would have been less than $500 a year for maintenance since new. Or, less than $45 a month. Much easier to keep up than catch up.

You're right about the 305, especially a TBI version. Heck, the previous 305s had a four barrel carb, and I think that's all every 305 ever got, no two barrel versions (except the TBI). Maybe that's the Olds 307 I'm thinking about. Anyway, that would have needed 4.56 gears just to feel peppy. I worked on a 305, C2500, LWB with something like ~3.52 gears, maybe ev en something nuts like 3.08. That combination made no sense, wouldn't be good for pulling much of a trailer or even hauling much. Dang 3/4 ton is a whole lot heavier than a 1/2 ton to start with. Back when a lot of trucks came with an inline six, those nearly always tended to have lower gears to make up for the power difference from a V8. 3.73 was real common.

Those GMT400s had a nice clean look though and small thinks could really change the look of them. Kind of like a nice blank slate. The 90's custom paint schemes...were a bit over the top. Too many sideways license plates on the tailgates too, and terribly installed roll pans. I'm having flashbacks.

[Red Rider]

Oil & filter change, and fuel filter change, on the Dodge Ram 3500.