Truck Maintenance

[QuarterMillionMan]

I use this $69 Viair portable 12V compressor which can inflate a 31 x 10.5 x 15 truck tire from 0 to 36/lbs psi in 3 minutes. Rather than pay $1.50 at gas stations for 1 minute of compressed air I recommend everyone who owns a car to get a similar portable compressor most of which runs about $50 but not the cheap $25 emergency air compressors which takes a lot longer to refill air in the tires. It is worth it and will pay for itself over time and keep your tires in optimal conditions and very convenient not having to keep going to the gas station to buy air.

[QuarterMillionMan]

My car is currently at a muffler shop in Los Angeles near where I live. Before the mechanic took the job he went to his computer to ascertain that the new catalytic converter matched the specs that is compliant with the California Air Review Board, which everything matched along with my engine tag under the hood. The cost he said would take 3 hours for a total of $250 to install which I accepted graciously. He even knew the engine light code asking if I got PO420, which I said yes. The catalytic converter was $899 so with the install my total will be $1150. A far cry from Pepboys $4000 or the Dodge dealer at $5000.

[kork13]

My car is currently at a muffler shop in Los Angeles near where I live. Before the mechanic took the job he went to his computer to ascertain that the new catalytic converter matched the specs that is compliant with the California Air Review Board, which everything matched along with my engine tag under the hood. The cost he said would take 3 hours for a total of $250 to install which I accepted graciously. He even knew the engine light code asking if I got PO420, which I said yes. The catalytic converter was $899 so with the install my total will be $1150. A far cry from Pepboys $4000 or the Dodge dealer at $5000.

Looks like reason finally prevailed .... Congrats on saving a bundle on it.

[QuarterMillionMan]

I told the mechanic that he can keep the old OEM catalytic converter. In California the law requires proof in documents before selling catalytic converters to cut down on the thefts so he'll be able to sell it legally which I estimate he can get $200 for the old OEM catalytic converter. This was one heck of a project of a head ache and I'll be relieved once it is completed and done with.

[QuarterMillionMan]

Thanks Kork, yes I'll be happy when it is over.

[QuarterMillionMan]

This is the new $899 catalytic converter out of the box.

[QuarterMillionMan]

All done w/no extra surprises, labor $250 OTD. Saved ~ $3000 to ~ $4000 declining Pepboys & the Dodge dealership installing only OEM parts.

[QuarterMillionMan]

Just bought two of these 1 oz gold bars at $1936 each with the money that I saved to reward myself with the extra work that I did on this project.

[james.hendrickson]

Good for you QMM, thats a nice reward sir.

[QuarterMillionMan]

Thanks James.

[LivingAlmostLarge]

wow you saved a lot.

[QuarterMillionMan]

Change oil due light popped up today, Just routine maintenance so no biggie. Crawled under chassis to see how the muffler guy connected the outlet of the catalytic converter connected to the existing pipes on the right. Looks like the muffler guy had to cut off a short piece at the end of the outlet of the catalytic converter and welded on a reducer (left side of clamp) in order to do a male to female connection along with a clamp to connect to the existing pipe (right side). This would have been too big of a job for me to DIY. The inlet of the catalytic converter uses a flange with 4 bolts which I would have been able to DIY but not the weld on the outlet.

[QuarterMillionMan]

Add another problem albeit a small one but one tire has a slow leak and 5x's the low tire indicator comes on so I refill the air. Today I took it to a Tire Depot and the guy said no visual screws or nails using a light. I told him the tire needs to go in a water tub and air bubbles might be seen. He said today is raining and air bubbles would show on the wet tire. I gave up and told the guy that I will take it somewhere else. I told the guy that I used to fix tires and used to always put the tire in a water tub which is the only way to check for air bubbles. The guy was lazy and didn't want to pull off the tire to check it the proper way. Sheesh wasted 2 hours today at the Tire Depot in the rain.

Today I took my car to a tire repair shop, the guy took off the tire and submerged it into a water tub and found this nail and repaired it for $20. Remember the lazy guy on 1/30/23 who only visually inspected my tire and couldn't find any leak, he was so lame.

[james.hendrickson]

Really good tire places will fix leaks for free. Customers like it, it keeps them coming back.

[QuarterMillionMan]

Correct and especially if the tire is bought new with the flat repairs and tire rotation package which I bought and paid extra for from the Tire Depot place so i returned to the Tire Depot place on 1/30/23 and the lazy guy didnt want to take off the tire. Next time I need new tires I will decline the extra payments for the free flat repairs and free tire rotations.