What did you do to your jimny today?

Did the jobs the useless mechanic said he couldn't.  Diffs and transfer box topped up and new filler plugs* fitted.  I don't think they'd been out since the factory and all needed quite a bit of oil before it started running out again (I used big syringes).

Alternator belt was slipping slightly on startup but he's overtightened the bolts and I still can't move them given the limited size of spanner it's possible to wield with the radiator in place**.  Belt seems within spec anyway (the PAS one was too slack but I was able to tighten that one) so I have sprayed it all with belt cleaner/stickifier.

*the secret to undoing the diff plugs is to use BIG mole grips/Vise-Grips and a tap with a mallet.  The 10mm square key on the end of a 1/4" driver is too long, applies torque off-centre and makes the plug resist unscrewing even more.  The mole grips shifted the rusted, rounded-out front one in a jiffy.  The square drive is ok for corectly torquing the new plugs.

**he used a big socket driver and created a huge coolant leak when the top hose got in the way!

 

Got motivated and gave the chassis a paint as it bothered me looking so tatty.  So I gave it a fresh clean coat   Gave the chassis a wipe down with thinners, then used 1 coat rust convertor, 1 coat zinc phosphate primer and then a coat of chlorinated rubber to finish.  Hopefully that will last a while.
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I had the stupid idea of smearing the new filler plugs with vaseline to prevent rust, since they suffer badly from road salt spray.  This works brilliantly on the steel parts (nuts, bolts, saddle rails) of bicycles ridden in winter.

I'd forgotten how hot diffs get in use, so it melts and drips off!  Will wipe the plugs clean again and use Cera-Tec grease, which is clear(ish), very waterproof, and good for 1000 deg C.

Fitted the larger custom throttle body and hose kit, the icv and tps bolts were made of cheese and had to be drilled out, sounds different and feels more lively, will know more over thr next few days, then the same kit is to be fitted to gv42s jimnys!

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Changed the battery (for a Yuasa YBX5057, thanks for the confirmation).

Tried to fix the two broken elements in the rear window but the eBay kit was rubbish as the conductive paint was dried up.  Have ordered the proper Electrolube silver paint.

Took the front bumper off and slapped lanolin over every bit of metal I could see. Quite pleased as it was the first time I had taken the front bumper off and I expected a lot of rust. Luckily all was quite solid.

Got 12 months MOT, Jimny sailed through again. I also get the car serviced, MOT was £45, parts for service was £76 (half of that was the oil) and only £100 labour. I can't be bothered to lie underneath in the street changing the oil to save £100.

Good news indeed!

Finally got around to fitting this, and new indicator/wiper stalks.