Installed!

[octothorpe]

This project turned out to be *MUCH* more annoying than I thought it would be. Installing the rear sway bar was no problem. The biggest hurdle there was getting the jack to lift the entire rear end high enough. That required me to put down a couple of very long 2x4s to use as a "ramp" (gas jacks move forward as they raise the car). The jack stands went on, and the procedure took about 90 minutes. Someone with more experience would have done it in about 30 minutes, but I'm a punter.

The big problem was the intake. Jeebus was that a giant bitch. Even though the TSX is a cousin of the Honda Accord (it uses the "narrow accord" platform used in the european accords), it is *VERY* different from my prior accord (now the Pagermobile). There is an almost entirely inaccessible bolt that took me over 2 hours to get out, one click of the ratchet at a time. I also had to take the battery out entirely, as there were bolts that needed to come out under it. I didn't want to take off the entire front bumper, but that may have sped things up. The thought of removing all those bolts, *and* clips was just something I didn't want to tackle, so I removed the wheel, removed the splashguard and did it that way. It took 5 hours.

Oh, and did I mention that I had to translate the directions from Japanese? Even after translating, they were *awful*. "Take the airbox off" is not sufficient. How many bolts? Where are they located? I *really* need my shop manual.

Oh, yeah, one more thing. My across the street neighbour decided to tell me that "the mechanic thing really isn't part of our community". He moved in about 2 weeks ago, and I believe he is renting the house. I may have to make his life more difficult. I told him if he knew what was good for him, he'd mind his own. Classist bullshit. Over the summer we had a mid-day blackout. One of the elderly women from down the street came up to me and politely asked if I could open her garage door, so she could get her car out. I kindly obliged. Later that week, I found out that she was responsible for the official complaint I received about my car being left in my driveway. It's good to know when my neighbours want something they're all bright and cheery on the surface, but backstabbing cunts when your back is turned. At least this bloke spoke to me directly.

Classist, racist douchebags. All of them.

Comments

[joebehrsandiego.livejournal.com]

I'm sorry to hear about your neighbors. They do reinforce the stereotypes about Greenwich.

Can I ask why you & Bill live there, or is that too long a story ... ;)

[jrjarrett.livejournal.com]

Hi there - I was just doing a friendsfriends browse when I came across this entry.

It does my heart good to know that my love/hate relationship with Volkswagens for some of those very reasons. I am part of an internet VW Scirocco group, and we've termed things like impossible-to-reach-bolts, "German Engineers I'd Like To Slap for $100, Alex!"

[kitchenbeard.livejournal.com]

The biggest hurdle there was getting the jack to lift the entire rear end high enough. That required me to put down a couple of very long 2x4s to use as a "ramp" (gas jacks move forward as they raise the car). The jack stands went on, and the procedure took about 90 minutes. Someone with more experience would have done it in about 30 minutes, but I'm a punter.

Do you have any idea how deliciously sleazy this sounds?

Glad that you got it done

[rockey1.livejournal.com]

Damn your neighbars - - I am sure glad that my neighbors are not like that. Perhps you just have too much class and you threated their boring existance.

[hwynym.livejournal.com]

I found out that she was responsible for the official complaint I received about my car being left in my driveway.

Ummm...isn't that what the driveway is for?

[furr-a-bruin.livejournal.com]

I can sympathize on the annoying neighbors point. I've lived in this building longer than anyone else - and yet some of them have the gall to treat me like an "invader".

As for the work ... well, I'm not mechanical. It took me an age to replace a headlight bulb once...

[vernnyc.livejournal.com]

I'll have to remember to wear a hoodie should I visit ... maybe buy some bling for the occasion


oh, and ay "yo" a lot!

:-)

[bear-left.livejournal.com]

Your neighbors would drive me absolutely crazy too - they'll be first up against the wall when the revolution comes (though that revolution is a bit overdue). Still, I pity them a bit for living such fearful, uptight lives.

[beastbriskett.livejournal.com]

Well, were the busted knuckles and tight-twisting spaces worth the effort? How's the results?

The neighbor sounds like a total asshat. "Mechanic thing" indeed! Start calling him Gladys Cravitz immediately.

*massages back and shoulders*

[laitechs.livejournal.com]

i know nothing about mechanics, i'll take your word it was a huge task. being able to translate japanese...to me is amazing..i tried to learn..but so many charachters, styles, and similarities, and anunciation dificaulties. also sorry you're surrounded by classist, racist, backstabbing douches. *temples and neck massage* have a cup of tea, and remember..karma comes in many flavours, they'll get theirs, envision you're neighbors rental contract being broken, and he has to move to the ghetto. envision the little old lady, getting put in a nursing home by her uncaring unloving children. and if that doesn't work, remember you're better then them. ^_^.