When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
I will need to go up the mountain today, and check if my Vanden Plas is still ok after 3 weeks of my absence.
Taiwan has seen torrential rains for most of the last weeks, and although I am not that much afraid of flooding, the 99% humidity kills interiors without circulation.
Spent my first full day as my X308's owner (58k miles) and got a bit of scare with a brief "Restricted Performance" code. Turned off the engine for a few minutes, turned it back on and it was fine. Took another 20 minute round trip a little later and no problems. Still, I'm having the dealer (thankfully only 3 miles from my house!) check it out tomorrow to look for replaced tensioners and just give it the general once-over.
Spent my first full day as my X308's owner (58k miles) and got a bit of scare with a brief "Restricted Performance" code. Turned off the engine for a few minutes, turned it back on and it was fine. Took another 20 minute round trip a little later and no problems. Still, I'm having the dealer (thankfully only 3 miles from my house!) check it out tomorrow to look for replaced tensioners and just give it the general once-over.
If you do not already own one, buy an OBD-2 reader. It will pay for itself.
I upgraded the speakers in my 98 XJR with the Premium Harmon Kardon system. The stock speakers had no visual defects but the crisp sound just wasnt there so I replaced them with Focal RSE 165 6.5” components. The door card speakers were are perfect fit and the harness’ Crutchfield supplied were perfect. The rear door tweeters were basically a perfect fit, the front a-piller tweeters required some hot glue but the sound
quality is perfect.
Car's showing her true diva nature lol, freshly polished & hand waxed(via me) outdoors in 90° FH heat w/ 93% humidity, grueling lol. She throws me the annoying PO442 evap. code. I got this code once last year, but twice in one day/today. Always happens on a sweltering day w/ the AC laboring on the lowest temp. setting & just below a half tank of gas. I'm going w/ a new gas cap even if it doesn't remedy it, it's due for one.
I'm having the rear end looked @ to diagnose the exact rear shaft issue(creaking) soon, if the new cap doesn't work then I will have them check the canisters while on it.
But the car looks so damn fine right now lol.
Originally Posted by Carnival Kid
KC, I bet a new gas cap will cure that P0442, like you say, it's probably time for a new one anyway. I replaced mine a little while ago, the seal was starting to look its 17 years and I figured a replacement was good insurance.
So I took the kids on a extended weekend pre-fourth of July excursion to the NC barrier islands for some fishing & resort activities. I put the car through it's paces w/ the AC sat @ the lowest settings(100° FH weather) to recreate the scenarios where the code has surfaced previously. Good news w/ the new cap, zero codes , she performed flawlessly. Well other than my passenger mirroris now rotating all the way down when I set my seat position #, I also know I need to go in the arm rest & pull the controller out as it has been erratic every since I had someone go in & replace all the bulbs in the door switch pack. It was a tolerable nuisance when I had an operable controller to tweak it back to my liking, now the controller's out I must fix both lol.
Last edited by King Charles; Jul 3, 2019 at 12:28 AM.
Washed it ! Haven't driven it in a month. Still getting used to the 08 Mercedes Benz CL 550. Model T is down waiting to get softer rear coil over shocks.
Did another home alignment with tape and string, degreased & sprayed the wheel arches, and even slapped on a little caliper paint.
Got a professional alignment in Jan but it never felt right, esp with the steering wheel well over 10 degrees out. Locked the steering wheel with a strange little device, found that the professional alignment had toe out on the front left, but was otherwise OK. Maybe the steering rack not being totally tight back has thrown the pro alignment. Corrected it to 4mm toe in and it drives beautifully now, apart from needing a slightly rebalanced front left too.
Caliper paint needs better prep than I did, so I'll have to get the paint stripper out or lightly sand it and try another coat. I guess you live and learn! Brushing it on was quite difficult.
Steering wheel lock, strange but it works 3-4mm toe in makes for a better drive than toe out!
Brushing on caliper paint isn't my forte. Needs another go
Sprayed the wheel arches, but should have used the red nozzle for heavy application
Last edited by chris-jag; Jul 7, 2019 at 04:04 AM.
I have come to terms with the fact that I have more projects than I can possibly accomplish in the years I have left to stalk the earth, and I keep looking for more, so I have begun winnowing the ones with a lower likelihood of easy completion, and my old daily driver, the gold one, has gone to a new, younger, and more enthusiastic owner, willing and able to pull out the ZF 24 and repair/replace it. He got a good running car with great tires for very little money, and I got a fresh parking space just in time to avoid license plate and insurance renewal. I would rather concentrate on the silver VDP, and will have more car with fewer miles, when it is finished. Winners all around.
Note to self: Edit the signature line. Still missing the leaper.
I have been messing around with under-hood tool kits, trying to get the right materials, and items at the best prices. I think I finally have it right.
I ended up making three different designs. You can check them out on the Member Marketplace section of the forum.
I like version C! Now I know what to tell my wife to get me for Christmas! lol
As for me, today i installed a brand new OEM Denso alternator and a Continental Platinum series battery. No more 11.99v idle issues or 12.2v battery resting voltages. Knew it was only a matter of time before it left me stranded. Now its 12.67 resting and 14.02 at idle with AC on max and all lights on.
