What have you done to your car today?

Meatball · 6 Apr 2020 at 20:03

So this WEEK I have done the following to my Civic:
- Installed a reverse camera
- Got my heated seats functional. I installed a leather interior from a donor last year and it’s annoyed me that the front seat heaters weren’t functional as my car was missing the loom. I finally sourced a donor loom but I had to strip so much other wire to get just the heater loom.
- Treated my plastic trim to make it black again:

Dis86 · 7 Apr 2020 at 10:26

What did you use on the trim?

mrk · 7 Apr 2020 at 14:58

I usually replace the cabin filter once to twice a year depending on how grey the white side gets regardless of what service may or may not be due. I recall from the manual the cabin filter should be changed every 15k miles but some cities/seasons see a lot of pollution in the air and under a year's of use highlights the state of the old one!

The other mad thing is how much these have gone up in price. I used to buy the exact same one for £11 18 months ago, it's the later generation with the additional filtration for fungus/bacteria and stuff yet as of this month even the standard activated carbon one from BMW is ~£60. Thankfully ECP sell them with the usual DFS codes but still ends up a tenner dearer than previous years.

Axeboy · 7 Apr 2020 at 16:31

Wired up the solar panel on the van with an AGM battery, sorted various other bits, used the good weather to good effect

King4aDay · 8 Apr 2020 at 13:31

Changed a couple of the more dubious looking coolant hoses on the wedge and in the process resolved what I think was an air lock it had had for a little while. Coolant temperature now comes up much quicker and the fan actually engages!

HoneyBadger · 8 Apr 2020 at 13:51

mrk said:
I usually replace the cabin filter once to twice a year depending on how grey the white side gets regardless of what service may or may not be due. I recall from the manual the cabin filter should be changed every 15k miles but some cities/seasons see a lot of pollution in the air and under a year's of use highlights the state of the old one!

The other mad thing is how much these have gone up in price. I used to buy the exact same one for £11 18 months ago, it's the later generation with the additional filtration for fungus/bacteria and stuff yet as of this month even the standard activated carbon one from BMW is ~£60. Thankfully ECP sell them with the usual DFS codes but still ends up a tenner dearer than previous years.

Like you, I tend to change the cabin filter twice a year and I’m awaiting mine from ECP. Like you I also noted the increase in price!

Akagi · 8 Apr 2020 at 14:38

I always forget to change cabin filters, then I remember when I see someone else has done it.

Plus I've had several cars which don't have a cabin filter at all.

mrk · 8 Apr 2020 at 14:42

I wonder what else has doubled/tripled in price in recent times now

Acme said:
Plus I've had several cars which don't have a cabin filter at all.

Coke cans won't hold them in place man

HoneyBadger · 8 Apr 2020 at 14:43

Yeah, they're normally overlooked, even by dealers. It's amazing how quickly they collect the crud.

Ours isn't too bad to change, despite being located behind the glove box.

tom_e · 8 Apr 2020 at 14:50

mrk said:
I wonder what else has doubled/tripled in price in recent times now

Coke cans won't hold them in place man

ECP seem to have increased their brake fluid prices massively, used to be able to pick up 500ml pagid stuff for under £3. It's nearly a tenner at the minute.

HoneyBadger · 8 Apr 2020 at 14:53

tom_e said:
ECP seem to have increased their brake fluid prices massively, used to be able to pick up 500ml pagid stuff for under £3. It's nearly a tenner at the minute.

Even after spring60 sale discount?

King4aDay · 8 Apr 2020 at 14:54

tom_e said:
ECP seem to have increased their brake fluid prices massively, used to be able to pick up 500ml pagid stuff for under £3. It's nearly a tenner at the minute.

I noticed that earlier. Discount code doesn't work either. Ended up on ebay instead .

mrk · 8 Apr 2020 at 14:55

I always get the Typ200 brake fluid. It's a shade over a tenner (or was) but an entire can gives you enough left over at the end.

Edit*

Just checked and typ200 on ECP is now £25!!!! I still have a full can remaining with the leftovers from previous fluid flushes meaning the extra price has valued itself into a full flush for the 3rd fluid change I guess.

Akagi · 8 Apr 2020 at 15:18

mrk said:
Coke cans won't hold them in place man

Excuse me but that was a masterful piece of engineering.

kurosagi01 · 8 Apr 2020 at 16:25

Used some loctite sealant to try repair my air straightener on the corksport MAF housing..so far it seems promising, gave it a wack and shake test its not falling off so good start.

tom_e · 8 Apr 2020 at 18:02

King4aDay said:
I noticed that earlier. Discount code doesn't work either. Ended up on ebay instead .

I got 1l next day delivery from Amazon for £6, so it doesn't even seem to just be a general increase in brake fluid price

Meatball · 8 Apr 2020 at 20:16

Dis86 said:
What did you use on the trim?

cherry blossom ready wax, £2 a bottle

Wash and dry the trim with soapy water before applying. It takes at least two coats but the finish is better than any car products I’ve used :cool:

.

Frozennova · 8 Apr 2020 at 20:32

kurosagi01 said:
Used some loctite sealant to try repair my air straightener on the corksport MAF housing..so far it seems promising, gave it a wack and shake test its not falling off so good start.

Buy a new one, not worth the risk of it coming apart and being ingested the the turbo and beyond

Diagro · 8 Apr 2020 at 20:35

I washed it.

Wet waxed it to help drying.

then some Super resin polish and the Deep Shine Wax ontop. My arms hurt

sideways14a · 8 Apr 2020 at 21:06

20mm spacers on the mx5 today, 40mm per axle - the wheels just flush with the plastic bit of trim now although it will be tucked back in a little after the springs go on as a 30 odd mm lowering should pull them in by 5-10mm.