Paying for today with one sore body... replaced both Lower Control Arms, and right side strut link, snapped off locking pin for the trailer mount, and replaced cabin air filter. The hitch is still rusted in place as is the rest of the pin... maybe tomorrow (??) It may just get chopped off since I don't plan on towing any trailers with this little guy. For an old man working on a sloped street, I'd say I got quite a bit done. And all in 79 degree weather. The cabin filter was kind of an after thought as it arrived today. Now I am limping off to bed

 

Yesterday, I loaded up the SS rims and cruised over to Sanborn NY to deliver to fastsuv, toured his shop, had a test drive in one of his SS’s , thanks Steve, had a great visit. Maybe next time shmoo can get some over too!

 

What did I do to my HHR today ??? DROVE IT !!! About noon headed toward Tullahoma, Tennessee, on the backroads. Destination "Granny Fishes" for lunch. Had a taste for whole Catfish and they cannot be found in Historic Murfreesboro, Tennessee, so you got to go to Granny Fishes or Uncle Bud's in Donelson (Nashville) Tennessee. 45 miles either way. Didn't want to encounter the Music City traffic on Saturday afternoon so I chose "Grannies" Busy, busy, busy. Cook, I mean the Chef overcooked my Channel Cats and they (2) were served with "plastic ware" ... did you ever try to pick well done catfish apart with a plastic fork ??? Sure wish I'd gone to Uncle Bud's. But, I had fun tooling down the back roads thru Christiana, Bell Buckle and Wartrace before arriving at Granny Fishes. "LUV" my HHR !!! See the U S A in your SHIV RO LAY !!! Gas $4.29.9 in the the 'boro !!! ($55.88 to fill up).

 

SISU crossed over the 186,000 odometer reading.
First car that has done that with me.
This says something about 'take care of your car and it will take care of you'

 

Thanks, Steve, for bringing over the rims (through a border crossing no less) !

It will be fun to get together with Shmoo and maybe some other HHR folks in the area.

Now to get those Blizzaks off and the summer tires on.

Steve

 

I would have done the complete frontend. Struts, Tie Rod ends, CV axles and bearings. Since 80% of the labor is common to all of these tasks. That way I don't have to worry about any of it for a long time

 

Today, I’m at my AC specialist to have the 11 year old R134A evacuated and fresh R12A pumped in. I figured might as well change it while the system is working good, no leaks to deal with.

 

Funny you should mention this. I have an appointment right after lunch today to have the AC checked and topped off, if necessary. It feels like it isn't working at 100%.

 

According to the MSDS, R12a is highly flammable

https://www.es-refrigerants.com/docs/0570_44.pdf

 

I stand corrected , pretty common lately! They vacuum out the old stuff, and put in new oil and R134A not R12A like I thought. He said the low side Schrader valve was questionable, he heard a pop when he removed the cap. And the low side was low, the high side was good, he said he pulled a vacuum for 20 minutes, no change, refilled to factory specs, it’s blowing nice cold air again. Awesome, predicted high today is 84F .
He advised to change the Freon when the system is working, less chances of needing parts replacement and like Dexcool he advised to do it every 5 years, as the it does work less efficiently.