zeitgeist57

My Passat had a leaky flexpipe on the pass side exhaust (V6, longitudinalallityally-mounted) which I had replaced. Now, the drivers' side is leaking, and the weld on the pass side developed a hole. :fuuuu: I know the flex pipes absorb engine vibrations to prevent them from being transmitted into the cabin. I'd rather have a little more shake, than reduced power, noise, and CELs from O2 sensors trying to find out where the fkk all the exhaust gases are going. Is it a bad idea to replace flexpipes with straight pipes? Car is a 135k mile '00 Passat stick shift. Next up after the exhaust leak is a full front suspension rebuild using a new set of new control arms. Going to keep this car forever... EDIT: This isn't really a "tech question", more "have you had experience in a car where the flex pipes have been eliminated?" :gabe:

Dead Bees to Monsanto = "Acceptable Collateral Loss" :thumbdown I'm with other peeps: I keep at least 2 cans of WASP KILLA in my garage at all times...if it stings and is not a honey bee or bumble bee, it dies a painful chemical death with the ASAP. WASPS DIAF HORNETS DIAF YELLAJACKETS DIAF HONEY BEES FTMFW ...until Africanized bees come into town...then they unfortunately all have to die.

NO!!! Those are honeybees. Let them live or call OSU to get a beekeeper out there. They are likely protecting their queen as they establish a new hive. SERIOUSLY...PLEASE CALL SOMEONE TO SAVE DA BEES. CCD's a bitch. http://www.beeremovalsource.com/bee-removal-list/ohio/

http://www.columbusracing.com/forums/showthread.php?p=1537626#post1537626 Still having electrical problems, after it cranked over for the first time since last year...

Lengthy read below, so I have all the info... 1982 Ford, reinstalling engine, transmission, all accessories. Older battery, tested good and charged at Advance Auto. All new cap/rotors/wires/spark plug. New Starter motor, starter solenoid. Alternator tested good. Heavy duty ground from (-)batt to Starter motor bolt/bellhousing, smaller ground from firewall to engine block. Crank over engine, and it keeps cranking and cranking. Pull spark plug wire, SMALL spark spits out then nothing. Turn off, repeat...still single small spark then nothing. Crank for awhile...battery starts going dead. Pull up Passat, jumper cables to from running Passat to battery in Ford. Start cranking, but nothing catching. Turn off key...ENGINE STILL CRANKING. Run out and yank off jumper cables. STARTER MOTOR STILL CRANKING. SOMETHING BURNING? Starter motor quickly acts like battery is dead, slows after a couple of cranks and dies. Battery terminals are HOT to the touch. (+)lead to starter solenoid very hot. Starter motor is not. sadface. Could it be a bad battery? I've rewired and regrounded according to the way it was wired before. Could it be the starter, alternator? Any help appreciated. Thanks!

I like the LED taillights... . . . ...and that's about all I can say about the new Dart. Oh, I'm sure the show "16 and Pregnant" will feature the new Dart. A lot. And "Cops". And any footage of a meth lab bust. Great product shots of the new Dart. And DUI checkpoints. You'll see a few Darts on the side of the road. Oh yeah...when it snows? Darts all over the place. Everywhere BUT the road. And they'll all have Tweetie Bird stickers on the back. ...and pink tiger-stripe license plate frames. phail.

Meh...my attitude's changed over the last few years. Columbus Commons (old City Center, now a park) is really nice, so as long as we're spending money on developing the riverfront - as opposed to redeveloping doomed parts of the city, gay marriage, whatever - I'm good with that. Fat asses need to get out more anyway. The Scioto could be SOOOOO much better if they do this. It's got my stamp of approval. This + Cooper Park Complex = A Better Columbus :fuckyeah:

http://www.columbusunderground.com/scioto-river-greenway-plan-moving-forward I heard that the City is moving forward with this. Expected to be finished in 2015. As someone who spent over a year commuting into downtown by bike along the Scioto through North Bank Park, I'm very happy that the City is doing this, even though it's going to cost a significant amount of money to do so. For those of you working or living around downtown, I'm quite frankly taken aback by how much nicer the area has become. I look forward to seeing more on this project as it comes along!:thumbup:

I learned - err...was reminded of - the importance of electrical grounds last night... Picked up a new starter solenoid with my charged-up battery. Installed solenoid on firewall and connected battery. Turned key and solenoid clicked :thumbup:. Happily turned hey off/on a few times, and solenoid stopped clicking. Hit the turn signal stalk, no lights. Battery is fully charged?????? Remembered a ground strap running from firewall to the engine block. Found the strap lying on the driveway under the truck (probably been there since pulling the engine in November...classy!!!) and bolted it back in. Get back in the cab...interior lights pop on, turn signals work, solenoid clicks loud and proud. HOW ABOUT THAT?!?!? Little old stringy wire strap made a big difference in grounding the interior circuits! However, the starter motor didn't turn a lick. I took JUMPER CABLES, grounded the starter housing, and tapped the positive lead to the starter terminal. Nothing. Going to take the original starter to Autozone for a test and possible replacement as necessary; found an Autozone gift card from Xmas when I was doing my taxes last night. Engine is tight, everything hooked up...ready to go! I'm hoping the starter will crank and I can break in the cam...

PM'd Tim for more info...thanks for resurrecting this thread, guys. I've been using the janky old mower I have for the last couple of weeks...it's fine, although I wear work gloves and headphones and I still have wierd "sizzling" nerve sensations in my hands after doing the yard....WHOLE LOTTA SHAKIN' GOIN' ON... If I can get the Craftsman II repaired, I'll probably just keep it. Regardless, I'm not doing anything until I get Cleetus repaired. I GOTTA GET THAT TRUCK RUNNING/DRIVING BY END OF MONTH... So...check back with me in May.

Wow. Monstah indeed!!!

Could you send pics of wagon? Very interested...

Good to know. I emailed my buddy.

Emailed my buddy "around $1250" for the job. Will let you guys know. Rocky, please PM me your contact info. Thanks!

Mad Hatter on Sullivant I've heard?

Any idea how much it would cost to swap out? Thanks, guys... EDIT: Rocky, do you work with Sean at Northend Wrench?

Harbor Freight Sawzall with battery pack. I just got their circular in the mail and this month is their fire sale...

Buddy's wife drives a 2001 Suburban LT with the 5.3L V8 and push-button 4WD. Firestone at Reed/Henderson says the "transferring case is falling apart" and needs to be replaced for $4k. Does anyone know what type of transfer case is in there? He's looking for someone to put in a used/rebuilt one to keep the 'Burban going another 25K+ miles. Looking for parts sources, as well as someone/shop to do the repair. Thanks!

http://www.columbuscarsandcoffee.net website has been updated. Big thanks for Ryan (Forevermaker) for ALL the work. Check it out and let me (us) know what you think. Content to be changed, and I'll have a few updates as well once I get comfy and Ryan finishes teaching me Wordpress. THanks!!!

I worked on it a bit this afternoon. Got it buttoned up enough to at least fire the engine up and run it for 30 min to break in the cam. Clutch linkage connected and secured, exhaust downpipe from manifolds bolted up, starter motor connected, radiator in, hoses clamped, all electrical/sensor connections complete, fluids filled... However... When I went to kick off the engine, NOTHING. Not even the click of the starter solenoid. I thought it was a dead battery, so I left my Odyssey running and connected the battery terminals (battery went to Advance Auto for an overnight charge) and still no clicking. Oil light comes on the dash, but nothing else (including lights!). So, I figure I'm missing a connection somewhere, or a ground...no big deal. Wrapping up the day and I thought that just jumping the starter motor wouldn't be a bad idea...I take jumper cables from my running Passat now to the (-) engine block via alternator bracket, and (+) to the cable directly to the starter. Still, nothing. I'm clearly missing something major here. Will investigate further this week...

Dude...slomo vids and replays crack me the fkk up. SLOMO FTW.

+100. No sure-fire single answer from this thread, I'm afraid...

Welcome to the site!

Focus on the basics first: reading, spelling, sentence structure. Welcome to the internet. Another Pro-Tip: Don't ask a question at 7:30pm ON A SATURDAY NIGHT and expect serious answers by 8:09pm. :fa:

March: "Out like a lamb" LOL Methinks it's going to be a brutal summer storm season...