The accord has been replaced. Details forthcoming.
Saturday, June 23, 2012
Wednesday, June 20, 2012
300K Will Not Happen
The state of affairs is abysmal. The radiator leak has only grown, and I've resigned to adding about 12oz of coolant each time I drive. Long drives are out. Each drive could be the last.
On top of this, my wife's car has been glitching over the past week. First, an exhaust hanger broke causing her muffler to fall off. She drove my car for a few days (with extra coolant in hand) while I biked to work. Once that was mended her A/C gave out.
We started researching new cars a few weeks ago. Last night we test drove a 2011 Prius with 6,000 miles. Tomorrow we test a new Honda Fit. Maybe by the weekend we'll have new wheels and I can officially kick this bucket to the curb.
A short update, but an important one. It looks like the ticker won't push much past 295,000. I'm not sad.
On top of this, my wife's car has been glitching over the past week. First, an exhaust hanger broke causing her muffler to fall off. She drove my car for a few days (with extra coolant in hand) while I biked to work. Once that was mended her A/C gave out.
We started researching new cars a few weeks ago. Last night we test drove a 2011 Prius with 6,000 miles. Tomorrow we test a new Honda Fit. Maybe by the weekend we'll have new wheels and I can officially kick this bucket to the curb.
A short update, but an important one. It looks like the ticker won't push much past 295,000. I'm not sad.
Monday, June 18, 2012
The Roller Coaster Continues...
Put a decent amount of miles on the Honda this weekend. Drove 120 miles on Saturday and 300 miles on Sunday. I didn't see a lot of leaking from the radiator, and the resevoir was keeping level pretty well. But after arriving home late last night and pulling the radiator cap the coolant in the radiator was very low. I had to add 2 liters probably to top it off. So it's still leaking.
Right now my wife is driving it because her car needs to have the exhaust repaired, which should happen tonight. We're getting desperate about replacing my honda ASAP as the anxieties of keeping 2 POS cars running at a time when we both need cars is tough.
Right now my wife is driving it because her car needs to have the exhaust repaired, which should happen tonight. We're getting desperate about replacing my honda ASAP as the anxieties of keeping 2 POS cars running at a time when we both need cars is tough.
Wednesday, June 13, 2012
Failure is not an option - but it's the most likely outcome
About 2 weeks ago the radiator started leaking. Luckily I'm not losing a ton of coolant right now because the leak is very small and at the top of the radiator. I've been getting by topping off the coolant reservoir every day or 2 I drive (I check each time I drive, but sometimes don't need to top it off). I've also poured in various brands of stop leak but with no success.
So realistically, it doesn't appear the leak will stop any time soon. I can continue to add coolant when needed (I've successfully driven the car 3 or 4 times at highway speed for between 60 and 100 miles without trouble - also around town and to work and back). But all it takes is one time forgetting to top it off and the car is toast. Or even worse, the leak could grow - causing the car to toast.
I wish there was more to post right now, but there's not. There will however be an epic final journey post whenever that happens.
Under 6,000 miles to go.
So realistically, it doesn't appear the leak will stop any time soon. I can continue to add coolant when needed (I've successfully driven the car 3 or 4 times at highway speed for between 60 and 100 miles without trouble - also around town and to work and back). But all it takes is one time forgetting to top it off and the car is toast. Or even worse, the leak could grow - causing the car to toast.
I wish there was more to post right now, but there's not. There will however be an epic final journey post whenever that happens.
Under 6,000 miles to go.
Friday, June 8, 2012
Monday, June 4, 2012
Radiator Update
Friday evening I live-blogged a photo showing a radiator leak. At the time I was about 100 miles from home and worried first and foremost that I wasn't going to make it home to let our dog out. Luckily a trip to wal-mart for some coolant and that radiator seal junk allowed my wife and myself to limp home, apparently slowing but not stopping the leak. Over the weekend I put close to another 150 miles on the odo and it appears at the moment that the leak has stopped.
This is the kind of stuff that worries me. With around 6,000 miles left to 300K I'm not spending money on maintenance anymore. If the radiator leak was large enough (it appears to be pin-hole size) that would be a wrap on the car. but for the time being, i'll keep some extra coolant in the trunk and check the level daily to make sure nothing bad happens.
Hopefully this was just a bump in the road and not a sign of more serious problems.
This is the kind of stuff that worries me. With around 6,000 miles left to 300K I'm not spending money on maintenance anymore. If the radiator leak was large enough (it appears to be pin-hole size) that would be a wrap on the car. but for the time being, i'll keep some extra coolant in the trunk and check the level daily to make sure nothing bad happens.
Hopefully this was just a bump in the road and not a sign of more serious problems.
Friday, June 1, 2012
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