The aging of various car parts is unavoidable. Accumulated dirt and deteriorated areas, even if they're just small issues, can make the entire car look old. Brake dust stuck to the inside of aluminum wheels cannot be easily removed, but by using ○○○○○ that can be easily purchased at drug stores, you can clean them to the condition shown on the right side without damaging … [Read more...] about What You Can Do to Make an Aging Car Look Clean and Tidy
What happens when you cool long-unchanged coolant? – An experiment with Super LLC past its replacement period –
Currently, many vehicles use Super Long Life Coolant (hereafter, Super LLC) as engine coolant. Similar to the previous Long Life Coolant (hereafter LLC), the main component is ethylene glycol, a polyhydric alcohol (ethylene glycol is a divalent alcohol because it has two hydroxyl groups in the molecule). While conventional LLC required replacement every 2 years, Super LLC … [Read more...] about What happens when you cool long-unchanged coolant? – An experiment with Super LLC past its replacement period –
Is Early First Replacement Best? Convinced After Seeing the Extracted Gear Oil (Subaru Impreza G4 DBA-GJ2)
This is a statutory inspection of an Impreza G4 with extremely low mileage, over 8 years old. 2013 model DBA-GJ2 FB16 CVT with 9,000km mileage The owner requested an inspection focusing on lubricants, as the vehicle will be driven more frequently in the future. First, I opened the hood to visually inspect the fluids. The first thing that caught my attention was the … [Read more...] about Is Early First Replacement Best? Convinced After Seeing the Extracted Gear Oil (Subaru Impreza G4 DBA-GJ2)
OEM Parts with Delayed Supply of Consumable Components (During Inspection and Maintenance of DBA-L275S Daihatsu Mira)
When thinking about vehicle inspection and maintenance, some of you may remember having to leave your car at a repair shop for 7-10 days over 30 years ago. Recently, with improvements in various vehicle performances including durability of parts, it's not uncommon for inspection and maintenance to be completed on the same day for newer vehicles. However, depending on … [Read more...] about OEM Parts with Delayed Supply of Consumable Components (During Inspection and Maintenance of DBA-L275S Daihatsu Mira)
Why Are Ball Joint Dust Boots Strictly Inspected? (Daihatsu Mira DBA-L275S)
In the mandatory vehicle inspection, there is an inspection item described as "cracks and damage to dust boots of ball joints in steering rods and arms." Ball joints have a structure similar to human joints and are essential components at the pivot points of steering and suspension systems. Ball joints are mainly lubricated with grease and are covered with rubber dust … [Read more...] about Why Are Ball Joint Dust Boots Strictly Inspected? (Daihatsu Mira DBA-L275S)
How to Restore Rusty Wiper Blades to Like-New Condition
Around the time a vehicle exceeds 10 years of age, "rust" and "fading" of wipers become particularly noticeable, especially on vehicles parked outdoors. Since this is in a location visible from the driver's seat, if the deterioration progresses to red rust as shown in the photo, the entire vehicle will appear shabby. The wipers located outside the vehicle consist of … [Read more...] about How to Restore Rusty Wiper Blades to Like-New Condition
Toyota’s 300,000 km Problem – The Odometer that Stops at 299,999 km on the SCP10 Vitz and Vehicle Inspection
I wrote an article about a year ago explaining that while it's not uncommon for vehicles to exceed 300,000 kilometers with proper maintenance, some Toyota vehicles from certain model years stop at 299,999 km due to odometer specifications. The owner who was eagerly awaiting the 300,000 km milestone focused on the odometer to not miss this special moment, but no matter how … [Read more...] about Toyota’s 300,000 km Problem – The Odometer that Stops at 299,999 km on the SCP10 Vitz and Vehicle Inspection
Causes and Solutions for Occasional Engine Warning Light (Mazda Demio DBA-DE3FS)
We received a third-generation Demio with an occasionally illuminating engine warning light. From the Familia to the current Mazda2, Mazda's lightweight vehicles have always featured remarkably mild and straightforward rear-end behavior. I always find it interesting to see how this consistent tuning is inherited within the manufacturer whenever I drive a Mazda lightweight … [Read more...] about Causes and Solutions for Occasional Engine Warning Light (Mazda Demio DBA-DE3FS)
What Happens When Engine Mounts Are Used for Over 300,000 km? (Toyota Vitz UA-SCP10)
Typically, when engine mounts (engine mounting insulators) deteriorate, uncomfortable vibrations occur during idling, or loud "thud" sounds are heard during initial acceleration, making it impossible to leave them unattended. Toyota's first-generation Vitz, which never had its engine mounts replaced and never exhibited such discomfort, has approached a mileage of 320,000 … [Read more...] about What Happens When Engine Mounts Are Used for Over 300,000 km? (Toyota Vitz UA-SCP10)
Easy to Replace?! Volkswagen Golf 7 Headlight HID Burner (DBA-AUCZJ, VW GOLF 7)
"One of my headlights wasn't lighting properly, so I decided to try replacing the headlight bulb myself, but I was surprised by how tight the working space was when looking from under the hood. When I searched for reference information, the proper method apparently involves removing the front bumper and headlight unit. This was beyond my capabilities, so I researched … [Read more...] about Easy to Replace?! Volkswagen Golf 7 Headlight HID Burner (DBA-AUCZJ, VW GOLF 7)
