OT Car part experiment

[bodyman5000 and 1]

So I bought one of these cheapass engine mounts when I got my Focus. Reason was that it had a poly mount that is basically a solid hard mount that vibrated the car. Figured I'd try a 30 dollar part instead of a 200 dollar Ferrari...err, Ford part.

Lasted a year. I can change it in five minutes. The top popped off and the oil leaked out of it.

This time I'm going to clean the part thoroughly and seal it with panel bond adhesive and see what happens. This one is ten bucks. Even at 30 bucks a year it will take years to make buying the OEM part worth it. The panel bond adhesive can be used to glue parts to cars.

If it lasts another year it is well worth it. I kept the solid mount and reinstalled it. Fun to drive but vibrates the car. Thing is too slow to idle like a race car.

 

[THE HCP]

View attachment 20716 So I bought one of these cheapass engine mounts when I got my Focus. Reason was that it had a poly mount that is basically a solid hard mount that vibrated the car. Figured I'd try a 30 dollar part instead of a 200 dollar Ferrari...err, Ford part.

Lasted a year. I can change it in five minutes. The top popped off and the oil leaked out of it.

This time I'm going to clean the part thoroughly and seal it with panel bond adhesive and see what happens. This one is ten bucks. Even at 30 bucks a year it will take years to make buying the OEM part worth it. The panel bond adhesive can be used to glue parts to cars.

If it lasts another year it is well worth it. I kept the solid mount and reinstalled it. Fun to drive but vibrates the car. Thing is too slow to idle like a race car.

You lost me at “Focus”!

 

[Fez Hammersticks]

You lost me at “Focus”!

Google the Ford Focus RS!

How dare you, HCP.

 

[SlyPokerDog]

View attachment 20716 So I bought one of these cheapass engine mounts when I got my Focus. Reason was that it had a poly mount that is basically a solid hard mount that vibrated the car. Figured I'd try a 30 dollar part instead of a 200 dollar Ferrari...err, Ford part.

Lasted a year. I can change it in five minutes. The top popped off and the oil leaked out of it.

This time I'm going to clean the part thoroughly and seal it with panel bond adhesive and see what happens. This one is ten bucks. Even at 30 bucks a year it will take years to make buying the OEM part worth it. The panel bond adhesive can be used to glue parts to cars.

If it lasts another year it is well worth it. I kept the solid mount and reinstalled it. Fun to drive but vibrates the car. Thing is too slow to idle like a race car.

Mrs @HCP is fun to mount and she vibrates.

 

[bodyman5000 and 1]

Mrs @HCP is fun to mount and she vibrates.

She leaks too.

 

[bodyman5000 and 1]

You lost me at “Focus”!

I'd lose you in my slowass focus. If you knew how to drive a stick I'd tell you to go drive one and be amazed at how fun it is.

 

[bodyman5000 and 1]

Google the Ford Focus RS!

How dare you, HCP.

Had one at work last week. Stealth gray, the one I want. People really can't take care of their cars here. The black trim was faded already from the sun. My wife's focus has the same trim and is two years older and looks new.

 

[SlyPokerDog]

She leaks too.

 

[stampedehero]

Engine mount intact!

 

[andalusian]

$200 for an engine mount? That's expensive. I just ordered a couple of mounts for my 1969 Alfa - parts for classic Alfas are expensive - and they were $37 a piece.

 

[jonnyboy]

Parts are shit now days. You almost have to buy premium parts to avoid flushing your money. I replaced CV axles, ball joints, and a center support bearing on my Tacoma less than three years ago and they are all shot already. Carquest parts.

 

[SlyPokerDog]

Parts are shit now days. You almost have to buy premium parts to avoid flushing your money. I replaced CV axles, ball joints, and a center support bearing on my Tacoma less than three years ago and they are all shot already. Carquest parts.

Avoid car parts made by Murray. They are crap.

 

[bodyman5000 and 1]

$200 for an engine mount? That's expensive. I just ordered a couple of mounts for my 1969 Alfa - parts for classic Alfas are expensive - and they were $37 a piece.

They quit making these cars and suddenly the vct solenoid that was 70 bucks is now 400 plus. Assholes

 

[bodyman5000 and 1]

T

Parts are shit now days. You almost have to buy premium parts to avoid flushing your money. I replaced CV axles, ball joints, and a center support bearing on my Tacoma less than three years ago and they are all shot already. Carquest parts.

this part would be a carquest part most likely. I replaced the fuel pump and since it is a pita I bought new OEM Ford for 20 bucks more than AutoZone.

 

[andalusian]

Had one at work last week. Stealth gray, the one I want. People really can't take care of their cars here. The black trim was faded already from the sun. My wife's focus has the same trim and is two years older and looks new.

Lots of oil problems with the early ones. My neighbor had one - and after about the 6th trip to the dealer to fix another oil leak, he just got it returned as a lemon. I heard of other instances of these issues, at least with the early cars.

 

[andalusian]

They quit making these cars and suddenly the vct solenoid that was 70 bucks is now 400 plus. Assholes

Say what you want about the Japanese car companies - their part supply and customer care is really well handled. Our old 2006 Lexus had a recall a year ago because the dash might crack - and they fixed it. Can't imagine many car companies taking care of old cars like that.

 

[bodyman5000 and 1]

Lots of oil problems with the early ones. My neighbor had one - and after about the 6th trip to the dealer to fix another oil leak, he just got it returned as a lemon. I heard of other instances of these issues, at least with the early cars.

Remember this? She loves the little piece of shit. I love my svt too but the new one is just a POS.

Lately the power window lockout button doesn't work and the backup sensors will occasionally keep beeping after the car is shut off in the 2015. Think it probably needs a door module or something. JUNK JUNK JUNK but I still want an RS

 

[CupWizier]

Say what you want about the Japanese car companies - their part supply and customer care is really well handled. Our old 2006 Lexus had a recall a year ago because the dash might crack - and they fixed it. Can't imagine many car companies taking care of old cars like that.

If it's in a recall status then they are required by law to fix it. My dad, when he had his shop, leased out the shop next door to some friends who were car wholesalers and they often got Mercedes in and would have to replace the electric fuel pump. The Mercedes part was over $400 and they would just pick up a Stewart Warner electric fuel pump, modify the bracket to work and install it for a cost of less than $50.

 

[stampedehero]

Say what you want about the Japanese car companies - their part supply and customer care is really well handled. Our old 2006 Lexus had a recall a year ago because the dash might crack - and they fixed it. Can't imagine many car companies taking care of old cars like that.

I know Subaru is a class act. I found out about a head gasket recall and they reimbursed me the full amount. All they requested were accurate service records.

 

[SlyPokerDog]

Say what you want about the Japanese car companies - their part supply and customer care is really well handled. Our old 2006 Lexus had a recall a year ago because the dash might crack - and they fixed it. Can't imagine many car companies taking care of old cars like that.

Except for the whole airbag thing, lol. The majority still haven't been replaced.

 

[stampedehero]

Except for the whole airbag thing, lol. The majority still haven't been replaced.

I have a wonderful 012 Honda Accord and my year/VIN was not included in the list. I also checked with my point of purchase dealer and they called me safe. This last Tuesday, I was hit side to side as a clueless young woman engaged in girlfriend chatter forgot about me in the center turn lane. No air bars deploy when the front fender component was hit (good). I had to guide the car into a business parking lot as the front right tire was also blown out. I know when you hit a curb at 40mph, the suspension will total. When the impact occurred, I felt like was in a Russian Fail vid except I didn't turn over six times. The lot I drove into happened to be the only sex shop in my municipality of 90,000 people.
When I worked at the Manheim auto auction, we had to view a safe driving course called the Smith driving course. That video helped me control and place myself in a safe position. I had not researched but I'm sure Utube has courses like this. All of us in here should check it out because too many people we drive with are imbecils.
I just found out that my beloved Honda is repairable. Thanks to @bodyman and 1 for the great help and insight though all this.

 

[andalusian]

If it's in a recall status then they are required by law to fix it. My dad, when he had his shop, leased out the shop next door to some friends who were car wholesalers and they often got Mercedes in and would have to replace the electric fuel pump. The Mercedes part was over $400 and they would just pick up a Stewart Warner electric fuel pump, modify the bracket to work and install it for a cost of less than $50.

It's cosmetic cracks in the dash, it was not a safety recall that was mandated, definitely not for a car that is over 10 years old.

I know that Lexus has a reputation as making boring cars mostly (and it is mostly true) - but their customer care is second to none, even if you purchased these cars used. Oddly enough, I still wish we had our previous Lexus (an IS300) - because it was actually a Lexus that was not boring to drive (the kids just outgrew the rear seat).

 

[andalusian]

Except for the whole airbag thing, lol. The majority still haven't been replaced.

The airbag thing is a supplier issue and is not limited to Japanese cars - Audi, BMW, Chevrolet, Fiat, Chrysler, Dodge, Ferrari, Ford etc... are also impacted, for example. To my understanding - it is the lack of replacement parts by Takata that is slowing the recall and they prioritize the replacement by models that are in a larger danger.

I guess it really shows the folly of having one giant supplier that dominates the industry in this case.

"By design, several more phases of the Takata recall are still to come. Waves of vehicles are scheduled to be added in each of the next two years, and officials expect it to take a couple more years for all the airbag repairs to be completed."

https://www.consumerreports.org/car...ce-takata-air-bag-recall-loaner-car-policies/

 

[CupWizier]

It's cosmetic cracks in the dash, it was not a safety recall that was mandated, definitely not for a car that is over 10 years old.

I know that Lexus has a reputation as making boring cars mostly (and it is mostly true) - but their customer care is second to none, even if you purchased these cars used. Oddly enough, I still wish we had our previous Lexus (an IS300) - because it was actually a Lexus that was not boring to drive (the kids just outgrew the rear seat).

Okay, I was just going off that you said it was a recall. I did a quick google and Toyota was faced with a class action suit for the dashboards and rather than go to court they agreed to replace them. That's awesome for the consumer, but I wouldn't give too big of kudos to Toyota as it was likely cheaper to do it that way rather than pay out billions after the class action suit. Car manufacturers will look at the least costly way for them.

 

[jonnyboy]

Say what you want about the Japanese car companies - their part supply and customer care is really well handled. Our old 2006 Lexus had a recall a year ago because the dash might crack - and they fixed it. Can't imagine many car companies taking care of old cars like that.

I won't even mess with American cars anymore, with old trucks being an exception. I've had multiple American cars that broke down before rolling over 100k. All my Hondas and toyotas have surpassed 250k with only minor repairs needed. I bought a 4runner for 6 grand five years ago and get offers for 5 grand now still. That's basically $1000 for a five year lease on a car that I put little to no money into. You will never, ever, ever get that with an American car, ever.

 

[bodyman5000 and 1]

I won't even mess with American cars anymore, with old trucks being an exception. I've had multiple American cars that broke down before rolling over 100k. All my Hondas and toyotas have surpassed 250k with only minor repairs needed. I bought a 4runner for 6 grand five years ago and get offers for 5 grand now still. That's basically $1000 for a five year lease on a car that I put little to no money into. You will never, ever, ever get that with an American car, ever.

Friend paid off his old Rav4 years ago. His wife totalled it and they got 8 grand.