Trunk Monkey
Moderator
Last night several of us got together and tackled our PHHs. A friend that's a Toyota MDT (Will Carroll) did mine, and another friend (Dave Connors) did his with me stepping in occasionally. Here's our lessons:
- getting to the tab that holds the rising metal pipe on the back of the block is nearly impossible. Will knew where it was and was able to get mine fine. Both Dave and I tried to get his, but never could. I think it's a blind thing and you have to be able to visualize where the tab is and where your wrench is going. Dave ended up doing his without loosening the tab, which ended up making getting the hose on/off a little more difficult.
- my best friend in doing what I could to help were long needle nose pliers with a right angle bend at the end. I was able to get the cotter pin out and spring clamp off using these, and eventually was able to rip the old hose out using them as well.
- Will is a skinny guy and both Dave and my forearms hurt like hell. I scraped the crap out of mine on the fender skirt trying to push my arm up by the block.
- Dave had a wrench slip and unforunately knocked the plastic top off a knock sensor. Turns out those sensors are WAY more expensive than you'd think.
So, I'm glad it's done and glad to have had the experience. It took Will about 1.5 hours to do mine, it took the combined retardedness of Dave and myself about 3 hours to do his. I am a mechanical moron and now I think I could do this myself (except for that damn pipe bracket), but it would take longer and I would have to force myself to be patient and methodical about it.
And anyone who tries to make a "How to" DVD of the PHH, be prepared for lots of editing to cut out the mandated profanity.
- getting to the tab that holds the rising metal pipe on the back of the block is nearly impossible. Will knew where it was and was able to get mine fine. Both Dave and I tried to get his, but never could. I think it's a blind thing and you have to be able to visualize where the tab is and where your wrench is going. Dave ended up doing his without loosening the tab, which ended up making getting the hose on/off a little more difficult.
- my best friend in doing what I could to help were long needle nose pliers with a right angle bend at the end. I was able to get the cotter pin out and spring clamp off using these, and eventually was able to rip the old hose out using them as well.
- Will is a skinny guy and both Dave and my forearms hurt like hell. I scraped the crap out of mine on the fender skirt trying to push my arm up by the block.
- Dave had a wrench slip and unforunately knocked the plastic top off a knock sensor. Turns out those sensors are WAY more expensive than you'd think.
So, I'm glad it's done and glad to have had the experience. It took Will about 1.5 hours to do mine, it took the combined retardedness of Dave and myself about 3 hours to do his. I am a mechanical moron and now I think I could do this myself (except for that damn pipe bracket), but it would take longer and I would have to force myself to be patient and methodical about it.
And anyone who tries to make a "How to" DVD of the PHH, be prepared for lots of editing to cut out the mandated profanity.
