20180715-DIY Tire/Wheel Lifter

One of the hazards for a DIY car mechanic like me is hurting the lower back or shoulders by lifting wheels/tires.
Unfortunately I have to deal with that quite often when I work with brakes/rotate tires/ change snow tires for multiple cars...
Thus, I hope to find a cheap tire lifter but Commercial Tire/Wheel Lifter usually cost $1500+ which is way above my budget. So, I decide to build one myself. 

Revision: actually a Hydraulic Table Cart + a pair of rubber wheel chock may be an easier but even better (versatile) alternative solution. See illustrations in the bottom.  

Mover's Dolly+Scissor Lift Jiffy Jack is my basic concept.

Actually this bike Scissor Floor Jack Lift hoists Center Stand is almost perfect except it is a little bit high for me. Because most time i use a floor jack on the drive way, the minimum height should be as low as possible.

I decide to go for the lower profile version of  bike Center Scissor Lift Jack Hoist Stand $80

plus roller bracket $25 x 2

Piece them together with some 2" hex bolts and nuts, then Ta ta... Here it is



Testing



Spin the tire easily



essily move to position ( the minimum height)

Rise to catch the tire securely and so nice to my back!


alternative replacement: Hydraulic Table Cart+ 2 wheel chocks

plus

If you put a pair of wheel chocks on the table, you will have the similar functions of the wheel lifter. Unfortunately, a higher clearance from the flat ground is required. That is the catch! 

This combination may cost around $200 (500LB capacity)-$300(1000 LB capacity) but the Hydraulic Table Cart alone will help you to achieve more. 

20191117-change oil and filter on 2006 Saturn Vue (81843 mi)

就是換機油和濾心，原廠用油是5W-20，但羅城天寒地凍的，我採用0W-20，更有利於冷車發動，也算是升級吧!車主手冊說換濾心機油容量只要4.5Qt，我加了4.6Qt。

20191110- change coolant on 2006 Saturn Vue

乘客座前的水箱下方有塑膠螺絲可洩水箱液，但流量很慢，所以我又解開駕駛座前方的水箱水管，又開動引擎讓水磅浦帶出更多水箱液。之後直上GM美國車50/50的橘色長效水箱液。

20191026-change transfer case fluid on 2009 Mercedes W350 4MATIC

保養完太座的車之後，想到我的09’MB也應該來換一下分動箱的齒輪油(理論是6萬英哩要換一次)。趕快上網訂一下2瓶Mercedes Transfer Case Fluid - Genuine Mercedes 001989230310(雖然原廠罐裝印ATF用油，但是金黃色油液不是紅色的變速箱液，而且車商出貨明細其實是寫Gear Oil)。此外，也需要手動輸液幫浦或大型注射筒，female E12 Torx、16號套筒，和長短不一的wrench。 

過程不難但要有耐心，這次我的油壓頂車機派不上用場，因為分動箱在中間剛好被頂車機本體檔住。所以要露天車道架起來，水平抓好。然後再用千斤頂架上2x4木板頂分動箱，這樣才不會傷到分動箱的散熱鰭。接下來用16號套筒解除護架crossmember(先解中間2顆，旁邊一顆再解左右各3顆，鎖上時也一樣先從中間2開始但不鎖死，好調整位置旁邊一顆)。

然後解除千斤頂將分動箱放下來，這樣才有位置解除鉛製的避震片上3顆E12螺絲，最上面很難搞，沒有手路，我是靠手上長短不一的wrench挑一把可以換手把方向的轉動版手才能施力。那鉛製的避震片極重大約有5公斤吧，小心不要被砸中，否則手指一定會被打斷。最後，可用公的6角板手hex wrench把加油孔跟泄油孔打開。先用300ml 沖洗舊油，再補上650ml，雖然只要600ml即可，但鎖上加油孔過程估計一定會耗損50ml左右。 

上面這個就是手動加油幫浦

黑色那一片就是護架crossmember

分動箱的加油孔，最後還是用圖一的手動幫浦加油，因為我不想新油汙染到自製加油器裡面殘留的紅色變速箱液。

20191019-2006 Saturn Vue 80,950 mi Transmission Fluid change, transfer case fluid change

這週末完成一些大保養，大致等同車主手冊上的10英哩大保養提前完成(除了沒有換正時皮帶(內皮帶),水幫浦和火星塞)。總計做了更換cabin filter，煞車調整，防鏽，更換變速箱油，更換分動箱油和後差速器油。若非這款變速箱filter屬seal in，除非分解變速箱，要不然換不到，否則我也會一併更換，不過換了全新的變速箱油之後，換檔變速時幾乎感覺不出來，已經非常滑順了，既然換不到變速箱filter就忘了吧。

前面提到本車最大賣點是採用Honda 3.5L V6(J系列)引擎，配上Honda A5自排，但是畢竟是美國GM旗下的車款，所以其他元件仍為GM零件或規格。這樣在備料時要特別小心，尤其是這款車前後期的動力元件不同。這讓我產生一些困擾，例如引擎機油和自排油要採用符合本田規格的產品，事實上，GM的供應商就有出以下的專屬料件，例如機油，但缺點就是貴，專屬料件其中以Versatrak Fluid最貴，16.9 oz竟然要$25，可是偏偏非它不可哩，因為GM論壇都有提到用其它品牌的產品，結果後差速器壞掉的慘劇。還好，這也不須常常換，而其它的東西都可找到替代品。

ACDelco 10-4058 Versatrak Fluid - 16.9 oz---供後差速器 rear differential用
ACDelco 10-4016 75W-90 Synthetic Axle Gear Oil - 32 oz---供分動箱transfer case用
ACDelco 10-4056 Honda Z1 Automatic Transmission Fluid - 1 qt ( 最後我買出光供應本田的變速箱油，便宜又安心，因為本田的變速箱油就是由出光提供的Idemitsu
Fits Equivalent to Honda Z1 6-Quart Type H Automatic Transmission Fluid)

分動箱transfer case通常位於transmission之後,其功能是把transmission输出的動力按照一定的比例分配给前驅 (的differential )和後驅(的differential )，通常transfer casefluid就是比較黏的齒輪油，黏度指數要照原廠規定。

MB新車都是把transfer case and transmission 整合到一起了，這時應該就添加原廠變速箱油即可。但我的W211 E350 4MATIC仍有分動箱transfer case，而且要加Mercedes Transfer Case Fluid - Genuine Mercedes 001989230310(雖然就是原廠變速箱油，但其實車商出貨明細是寫Gear Oil)。

最後，全車底盤除銹，上rust convert primer，在上防鏽橡膠漆(用了5瓶噴漆)。

分動箱在變速箱片旁邊，用3/8 wrench extension 就可以開

朝駕駛輪的變速箱泄油孔

變速箱泄油螺絲附磁鐵，擦出濃濃的油泥

變速箱油泄掉約4.5l

自製油壓加油器很好用

自製油壓加油器很好用

座艙濾網其實是在前乘客座車外

掀起來就看到座艙濾網

新舊比一比。out with old; in with new

20191012-2006 Saturn Vue replace front strut assembly (Oredy) and rear shock absorber (KYB)

換前彈簧避震器套組與後避震器，剎車來令片除塵潤滑並且添加補充後差速器齒輪油，最後底盤局部噴上防鏽膠漆。行車路感大幅提升。

彈簧避震器套組直上

彈簧避震器套組直上，此車的機油濾心在乘客座前輪後方

換下來的原廠前彈簧避震器套組

KYB油壓後避震器

換下來原廠的油壓後避震器

20190923-2009 Mercedes E350 里程碑

125,000 mi Still pretty young!

This is for a 2008 E350 4Matic.

Items you need:
-ONE liter of Transfer Case Fluid. It is NOT ATF. It is a form of ATF, but not the same as whats in the transmission. Part # 001989230310 -- $20 cost at the dealer.
-Female Torx set
-Torque wrench
-Fluid transfer pump ($5 at harbor freight...any will work. If it fits on a bottle then great, otherwise no biggie.)
-Patience...estimated time from start to cleaned up should be about 1hr 30mins first time. My next time will take me 45mins I bet.
-Cold car

It wasn't as hard as half of the threads on here...Some show you have to remove the driveshaft...I didn't touch it. I also don't see any reason to touch the fill port at all since the manual states to fill via fill port til it drips out of the inspection port...so just fill via the inspection port to begin with.

1) Put the vehicle LEVEL on jackstands. Remove engine/transmission shield with 8mm bolts.

2) Put jack under the transfer case, NOT the transmission, NOT the crossmember. USE a 2x4 so not to bend the "fins".

3) Remove silver metal driveshaft shield with the two 13mm bolts. You don't have to remove the bolts, just loosen and slide the shield out.

4) Remove two 17mm nuts from the bottom of the crossmember that attaches the transmission mount.

5) Remove six 17mm bolts that holds crossmember in place. Lower the jack down a few inches to give space for step 6.

6) Remove the anti vibration damper. This item is HEAVY. Be CAREFUL. It is solid lead and weighs 5-7lbs. If it hits you in the head or lands on your arm it will bruise, a finger it will break it, a head it will knock you out. There are two E-12 bolts on the bottom, and one at the top. Use short extensions and it will give you enough space so you do not need to remove the driveshaft. If you don't have a good selection of extensions, go to harbor freight and get a bunch. If there isn't enough space, lower jack further, but not too low.
This requires an E-12 female torx piece you can get at harbor freight/sears.

7) Remove inspection port FIRST. Now remove drain plug. I believe it was a 6mm hex. 30nm torque

8) Total fill amount is 0.6L, so use about 0.2l to flush the old stuff out after its drained, then fill til it comes out of the inspection port.

9) Reverse of removal. Done for another 60k whatever is your fancy.

#2 •

I did this half year ago, similar with yours, only difference is step 8, I found after filling 400ml, oil will drain from inspection hole, that's not enough oil in the case. So I use paper tape wrap the end of hose, pressure in another 300ml, and quickly pull out hose and screw in the nut, about 50ml drain out, as a result, totally about 650ml oil filled in the case. So far so good.

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20190820-喜迎新歡2006 Saturn Vue 3.5L AWD

入手一手車才跑78,888英哩，最大賣點是該車採用Honda 3.5L V6引擎，配上A5自排，很會跑。個人已為這台其實是第一代Honda Pilot的翻版，CP值頗高(雖然內裝陽春，組裝公差很大)。

20190820-再會舊愛

雖然耗時耗費的照顧這台小車，車況是一級棒而且才開82000mi，但是太座為了接送凸哥上游泳隊練習，每天開的距離頗長，考慮下雪開長途，還是決定幫她換一台AWD的SUV，所以只好不捨的將它開到雪城trade-in。

雪城的車商

再會舊愛(旁邊就是新歡)

20190811-2009 MB E350 transmission filter change

先訂了以下備料
Mercedes Automatic Transmission Filter (722.6) - Genuine Mercedes 1402770095

Mercedes Transmission Connector - Genuine Mercedes 2035400253

Transmission Oil Pan Gasket - Genuine Mercedes 1402710080

然後把車袈好上油壓千金頂，廢油桶放上板凳，泄油剛好可接到。

雙重保障准沒錯，避免油壓軟腳

舊的接頭

底部完全是厚重的油泥

擦了好多次了，還是全黑。

終於還以清白

全新的濾網直上

設9nM  結果手殘還是有一顆滑牙，但是螺絲M6. 1.0沒事，竟然孔崩牙，還好這扭力值不大，不用攻牙用套片修即可。

最後只加了3L不到原廠變速箱油。