EL BAN

That should be a long fun drive..but many people wont be down for it

So finally put my finger on the oil leak..

Rear main seal.. Debating if taking to extended warranty as "see if its the rear main seal" for them to authorize the fix, I pay and they reimburse..

Or just drop the tranny with a buddy and do it ourselves..

Just worried I take in to a shop or the actual stealership they will want to dismantle first and then they say its something different and I get stuck with a 1k+ bill which the warranty won't cover..

Steven Bell

iTrader: (2)

Check with a Honda dealership in your area and see what they will charge.

96SC4

damn. sorry to hear.
always something with cars.... Our 3rd vehicle is a silverado we drive once a week(if that), and the damn mice nested in my fuse box and chewed through a bunch of wires.
i feel your pain buddy...

Steven Bell

iTrader: (2)

^^^^ Ouch.....

EL BAN

Thought about it my friend, for a couple weeks, but I have had many bad experiences with the dealers services.. And I am a true believer that if you want something done right you do it yourself.. So in a couple weeks the same buddy that worked the timing belt will come over and we will tackle this over the weekend.. Perfect time for a BBQ and Beers.. Already ordered the parts.. Will get also an engine lift that way I can also have it handy when I start playing around with the track car again.. If I still have the Sol next year I will try to go K on it..

Thanks man!

Hmmm that issue you got is common on cars that stand still a while.. i need to keep tabs on that also with pest control and stuff to ensure it doesnt happen.. Hopeyou get it sorted out, wiring issues are a pain

Good news is that I am finally moving into a full house.. 3 rooms 2 baths and dual garage.. So will have plenty of room to work on the cars ANYTIME!

Need to update with a goodie I received today from Fed Ex!

96SC4

Congrats!

EL BAN

Not much going on lately.. Lots of work mostly..

Now this weekend that will change.. Doing the rear main seal

Got an engine lift to facilitate the work and also will come handy when playing with the track car.. Might go K on it next year..



Speaking of the track car, took it out for a spin, hadn't driven in months..



And something that came in for the TL recently..

StanCeD_J32

iTrader: (11)

let me know how that test pipe works out for you.

Steven Bell

iTrader: (2)

Best of luck with that rear seal operation.

EL BAN

Test pipe worked out great! Perfect fit and it gave me the tone I was looking for. I already had the Stage 3 Exhaust Mod and wanted a little more grunt, this test pipe gave me that exactly

Thanks Steven, all I can say is, if you ever have an enemy just wish him that his rear main seal gives out

Uploading some pics to update this thread now..

EL BAN

So last time I posted I was about to tackle the rear main seal leak..

What a freaking pain :/, couple of pics of the fun..







While at it, I installed the BB Test Pipe..







Also got a little something from AckTL05 aka Bruce from EndlessRPM..

Had been contacting him since before Christmas and got everything detailed via email and text, great guy to work with. Takes his time to answer all questions.. and his work speaks for itself..

Blacked out, ZKWR Lense Upgrade, Removed Diffuser, Carbon Wrapped Corner and Lamin X Treatment



Received my switchbacks today so installed, will have more pics tomorrow after cleaning the car..





Also, followed the write up on how to eliminate the hyper flashing by modifying the Flasher Relay rather than installing the load resistors..



Everything came out nicely.. more pics to come..

Only downfall, after doing the main rear seal I got the check engine light on for the Knock Sensor, not sure if we moved the harness too much or if it just was a coincidence, but will be getting to it in a couple of weeks.

Steven Bell

iTrader: (2)

Wow.....great job! I couldn't tackle all that.

MrHeeltoe

iTrader: (1)

I love reading titles like this thread's. These are are awesome and doing a job like this is so rewarding. My hat is off, sir!

I guess it looks like you didn't completely drop the trans, just moved it?

Steven Bell

iTrader: (2)

We need some final shots!

EL BAN

Thanks Steven, I have been blessed to have many gear head buddies just like me that are always available to give me a helping hand. This job was really tedious.. Many issues during the way but at the end came out as expected. Prefered this, than taking it to the dealer, this way we ensure its done correctly.


Thanks for taking the time to look at my thread and I appreciate the words.

You are correct, we placed the engine lift in a way that it allowed us to pull the tranny to the side and have enough room to work


I was just in process of loading the pics up.. All from the cell, need to still download the ones from the GoPro, never took pictures with it, just videos.. Need to also post info on my last race..

EL BAN

Gave it a nice wash.. Snapped some pics.. Front end looks more aggresive now.. Now I need the rear type s sidemarkers..

Next in the list is the full lip kit, including the front one since it has a couple scuffs so rather than painting I will probably just replace it..

MAS

iTrader: (3)

Lookin good. Love the tag.

Steven Bell

iTrader: (2)

Brother, that looks great! I love the plates too.

EL BAN

Thanks guys!!

96SC4

yes!
headlights are sick!

Steven Bell

iTrader: (2)

Had to come back fro a 2nd look......

EL BAN

Thanks to both of you!!!

I think I might need to adjust the headlights, have used the car a couple nights and people keep flashing me like Im on my high beams when I am not. Used to happen a lot when I got the car brand new.. Maybe its just the fresh lense that is just showing a really crisp output.. Not sure.. I am having trouble finding a flat surface where I can measure at the 25 feet mark and set them.. My garage and others I have access to have a slope in front..

CLtotheTL32

iTrader: (3)

Damn those headlights look great

MIKe30

Nice job on all the DIY. Just adjust the lights a tad lower until you stopped getting flashed on the highway :P

EL BAN

Thank you Sir , and yes Bruce did one hell of a job, I am very happy with how they came out!

Thanks! Definitely will adjust, I dont want to be blinding people on the road.. Need to read a bit more since I know you should adjust them from a 25' distance but need to know if there is a lower distance reference since I can pull off probably six feet at home before the slope.. If not I will sort out at a big parking lot facing the side of a building..

EL BAN

So right after we did the rear main seal the car turned on the check engine light and after reading with the Torque application it was the Knock Sensor.

Was so tired from that session of wrenching so almost a month after I tackled this yesterday, thank God I have a short commute to work, the car was really sluggish and doing around 18mpg..

Followed a couple DIY I saw around..





Lucky I have skinny hands and was able to remove and reinstall without pulling that lower runner..



Sensor was snapped off cleanly.. No idea how.. Maybe the past bad engine mounts had started to take a toll and when moving around the engine to do the rear seal it came off completely.. All good again.. Was able to finally give it a good run and hear the difference with the test pipe.. Growls nicely now..

MIKe30

You probably won't find a shorter distance as one inch of height at 6' will be a several inch difference at 25'.


Good luck. I know it's a pain finding a flat surface/wall as I just had to adjust my a4 lights. I had the opposite problem, mine were pointing straight down!

Steven Bell

iTrader: (2)

Nice work.

EL BAN

You are correct, up that close a slight move can throw it off completely.

That might be my best option going to a mall parking lot and finding a nice flat area in front of a wall, I think I can pull it off in a Walgreens I have close by..

Glad you fixed yours, having them point down is just as dangerous for you and others..

Thanks Steven!

Steven Bell

iTrader: (2)

TLMNICK

EL BAN,

When you installed your new rear main seal, did it go in easily, or did you have to tap it in? I did mine just last week, but found it a little odd that I was able to seat it with my hands and push it into place with my fingers.

EL BAN

Hey, thanks for looking at my thread!

I did not install it, left my trusted buddy and mechanic to install it, but being that said, it will go in with your fingers but you'll have to put some pressure to it. No need to tap. The bracket is holding it in place anyways.

TLMNICK

No problem at all,

Sounds good. I've just been paranoid that I didn't seat the seal properly since I didn't tap it lol. I had taken the bracket off as well to change the O-ring. The bracket itself is pretty thin, so there isn't really a whole lot of room to push the seal in.

EL BAN

You should be good then!

Steven Bell

iTrader: (2)

It's good to have trusted friends.

yeeluvspizza

I just noticed my 08 TL-S's head lights need adjusting too. Will have to give it a try and do it myself.

EL BAN

Sooooooo.. its been a while.. let me update this a bit..

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Been away for some while but I've been doing tons of stuff in my personal life and work has been going extremely well hence keeping me busy..

Bought my first home in Florida back in May.. still have the house in PR as well, market is bad there so I probably wont sell in a while so i will look to rent it..

House here in FL has been keeping me busy!



Also became a doggy Dad mid year.. so this is my girl Arya whom has been taking lots of my time also..



Here she is shotgun in the track car..



Haven't done much to the cars lately other than basic maintenance..



And some cleaning!





Suspension did settle in a bit more and car probably dropped another 1/4"



Will try to update some more.. have some Christmas self gifts coming in for the TL

Steven Bell

iTrader: (2)

Good pics-congrats on the new house, dude!

EL BAN

Thanks Steven! Now if I could only sell the one I have in PR I could probably buy one or two more here in FL and Rent!

EL BAN

So these were part of my self gifts these Christmas.. to see if I finally finish my exhaust setup which I started years ago and been piecing it slowly..





Will load some more pics after they were installed and also made some clips..