Out of Pod Experience

Wife got me a cheesecake last night for all the work I did on her Chevy Trailblazer yesterday evening.

I had to change out the plugs and fuel filter. Figured it would take about 30 minutes, 60 at the most. 3 hours and several pisswater American beers later, I was ready to put everything back together and start the truck. The engineer who designed the vehicle must of really hated mechanics.

You could always go with Pontiac who refuses to do anything to standards. Wanna change a radio, gotta remove the entire dashboard. Black, white, blue, and red wires? Hell no, lets do Brown, yellow, purple, and green. Oh look, the compartment is larger than the standard size radio, gotta get a universal kit. Oh hey the antenna also needs an adapter.

And then there's my first vehicle, a '84 Ford Bronco 2. Wanna change the rear spark plug? Put the truck on a rack and go in through a wheel well. The oil requires a contortionist. The horn is located on the turn signal. And the cup holders on the center console were engineered in such a way that they could not hold any drink.

I was also a heavy equipment mechanic (so... diesel, some gas) in the Air Force... worked for a few years between enlistments as a top tier field mechanic for united rentals, and had a couple engine repair ASE certs...

the thing that came to mind about the engine work is the frustration I have when my family still thinks I am the family mechanic, I hate that.

I feel for ya.

After last night's fight with the Trailblazer, it won for all these wondering, I will never again complain about working on my 99' Toyota Tacoma. Which is still a pain compared to my 93' Chevy S10 with a carb 2.8l V6.

After resetting the ECM last night to clear the engine codes.... not only are the codes back, but now it has a new problem. Though, the plugs and filter did fix a couple other problems she was having.

Fortunately for me, only a very small group of my wife's family know I'm an auto/heavy vehicle/equipment mechanic. However, many many more people know I'm an electrician. Still trying to convince them I "know nothing".

I started it up and everything was running just like new. Should of stopped there, but noooooooo, my alcohol soaked mind said, no, demanded that I reset the ECM to clear the check engine light. A tiny little voice in the back did say "leave it alone, it'll clear".

But, do I listen, nooooooo..... I shut down the truck, disconnected both battery cables, and proceed to short them together. While reconnecting the negative lead, there was a nice little shower of sparks. That in itself was a potential problem as I was still a bit flammable from that small "shower" of gasoline when I installed the new fuel filter.

When I started it up again, it stalled out twice right away. Pumped the throttle twice, turned the key and hit the throttle. Runs fine at idle and speed. Likes to stall at stop lights and in reverse.

Now my wife and her cousin are laughing at me and her cousin's husband and saying "what do you expect from two drunk white boys?"

After doing a little research today, it may be the purge solenoid, or the PCV, or the EVPA or whatever. I don't even know where they are **runs off to find a little corner to have a good cry in**

You and me both. I'm pretty tired of messing with all the new ECM stuff auto manufacturers have added to cars to control emissions and fuel economy and yadda yadda

The S10 had similar problems as the Trailblazer, but since it has no ECM what so ever. We're no longer have issues with it.

Being an American, I'm about as much in love with cars and trucks as I am with my love. So is she, so what better way for me to show her my love then by fixing her truck.

More on topic....

What happened with Pontiac girl?

I'm always rescuing my sister's cars-- long block engine replacement for a 2002 camry, and some cooling/hose issues on a 2005 Grand Am. I was about to buy her a FR-S because of it.

toyotas are a good idea because the Japanese often have their engines replaced for safety inspections... the old motors are sold here and aside from a mount or two they're running long blocks. found one for $450 at a place two blocks away. did that job for free (i should have charged. i'm still sore about it).

my main point to my parents being, having her drive a crummy car is making it hard to sell her off... cuz I know what I think when I see a cute girl in a crummy car. it makes me happy inside. yes, my precious, right where i want you.



nippon motors has motors for your tacoma, and they're very 'i give you good price'. it's a korean-owned business, helps if you speak it.

hahahah spooning

i love when the punchline is the very last word

Like the back of a volkswagen?

you haven't seen these. my roommate doesn't work there anymore, but he used to do the paint on these replicas which are built on VW frames with VW motors. This reminds me, we're supposed to go halfsies on one

couple more pictures as proof this car makes you instantly more sexy

I'm thinking about working there over the summer, possibly sooner