Tony Prodigy

Reminds me of something funny. I went to a local IGA to get bread and also wound up buying Tim Tams, Blocks of Dark Chocolate etc.. and the cashier woman remarked "that's an expensive loaf of bread". Damn straight !

I would love something like these but in Alloy instead of back breaking steel. Low profile and extra long so it can reach right in, especially on the Aurion rear axle as it's quite deep to access unlike the front nub. https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Trolley-Jack-Steel-2-Ton-Low-Profile-Alloy-Jacks-Garage-Floor-Extra-Long/273767087282?hash=item3fbdca3cb2:g:veUAAOSwHGJcDEVE

Don't you hate it when that happens !! Go there expecting to spend $30, walk out having spent $130 But yes, those little credits we get a re perfect for detailing products or something elso low cost.

I've been using this product too ZZT86 ( don't know your name). I still have a bit left actually and rather than getting another bottle I thought I'd try other products. Not that the Duragloss is bad, It's actually an excellent product as are all the Duragloss products, except for one I have to say though, their wheel cleaner leaves a bit to be desired though. That's the only one that will get my criticism. It's a dated product and doesn't work as well as the competitors. For wheels, I use the Nextzett brand. https://www.carcareproducts.com.au/colourtec-wheel-cleaner-5l.html This I like to use after a paint correction https://www.carcareproducts.com.au/polish-bonding-agent-236ml.html https://www.carcareproducts.com.au/total-performance-polish-473ml.html Getting back to topic. I tried this Meguiars product but found to be too messy and greasy. Slings a bit too. Overpriced. I don't recommend it. https://www.supercheapauto.com.au/p/meguiars-meguiars-endurance-tyre-shine-gel---473ml/11427.html I thought I'd try the SCA brand of tyre shine and was pleasantly surprised. It says "gloss" but in fact it dries to a nice matte to semi gloss, which I prefer. Good value too and sometimes it's on special for $10. Next time I'll grab two. You have to put it on wet so it can absorb into the tyre and once it has it's a no sling finish. This one. https://www.supercheapauto.com.au/p/sca-sca-wet-look-tyre-shine---750ml/209964.html?cgid=SCA01010403#start=8

I got that same email yesterday too Ash. I have already added to my cart that pen light. Regarding jacks.. my arch nemesis.. I wish they'd sell those low profile alloy "lightweight" jacks AND put them on special. That would be something I'd be interested in for sure

Yes Robert it does actually. The fact it's also made in Japan gives me more confidence in the product too. If there's one thing I hate having to do is a last minute rush to find and buy a part you desperately need and either have to run around or have to wait for something to arrive in the post. I'm putting together a spare parts package and keep handy for such emergencies. I can replace it at my own leisure and the time wasted trying to find and buy one, I can dedicate to taking my time and doing it properly and neatly with having to rush it. Thanks for your comments guys !

Thank you guys. The Gyeon products are the most cost effective of the ceramic coating range I've seen. It was around $65 for the Q2, others can range around the $100 mark. A highly respected and used product.

I decided to open the box up and inspect my new replacement water pump by NPW. It looks well made, a little rough in parts of the casting but overall looks like a quality item. Impeller looks to be zinc plated I think so it doesn't corrode ? Good coolant should keep corrosion away anyway. It also came with the gasket and some O rings. I also have a Genuine Toyota Gasket too.

What a novel idea ! Great thinking Geoff. I don't think water leaks are a very common problem on Aurion/Camry are they ?

Later in the day I had to do the laundry. Gotta look after those microfibre towels. A good tip for drying your towels too. DON'T hang them outside to dry. They will collect dust and dirt and you will scratch your paint unwittingly. I place them on a cloths hanger inside my house and let them air dry near a widow. I then fold them neatly and put them back in my plastic storage bin for next time.

Finally got around to using the Gyeon Leather Shield Q2, but it was for my brand new leather lounge. Even though it is a new lounge I still gave it a proper scrub down with the Gyeon leather cleaner utilising the Special Gyeon leather scrubbing brush to remove any finger marks when it was delivered. Also prepped my new Reebok Classic White Leather Sports shoes too. I figured I'd give these a hit while I had the applicator wet. Made sense to me. After a thorough clean, scrub and wipe down with several microfibre cloths, I applied the coating mainly to the tops of the couches and sides. Shoes got a licking too. It was as easy as that. Simply apply the product and walk away. No final buffing required. The hardest part was the preparation and the whole job took nearly 4 hours. I feel a lot better now knowing the leather is protected. See how it goes in time. It's supposed to be an annual application, but I suspect it will last much longer than that as they don't get any sun. Just an idea how much product I used. It was a 50ml bottle and it did 2 single seaters, a 3 seater and a 2.5 seater. These being slightly larger than a standard setting too, there was around 10 ml left in the bottle. Good for a couple of leather steering wheels.. Very happy with the result and can highly recommend this to anyone with new to newish leather. Pictures of the lounge are a little grainy, but just to give you an indication of how far roughly 40 ml of product goes.

That makes sense. I don't know how anyone could drive a car with a faulty airbag especially a fault of this kind. People have died as a result of exploding airbags sending shrapnel flying out. If this isn't enough to scare anyone, I don't know what is.

Little off topic if I may, A couple of years ago, mid winter, I spent a week at Bloomfield Hospital having to repair a Daikin VRV III system and it was pretty cold. I stayed at Turners Vineyard, nice place too, Had to keep the A/C on all night to keep the room warm despite having a thick doona and blanket in bed. Early starts meant that the car would have ice on it and so it took a little while to get going. Orange is a nice place, I enjoyed my time there. You don't have to travel far to get around and everything you need is right there.

Peter Anderson from youtube is in Melbourne somewhere and he's had two Toyota Starlets condemned by the government due to the Takata debacle. Rather than Toyota retrofitting these older cars at great expense, it would be cheaper to buy them back off the owner and scrap the cars. I haven't read too much about it, it was brought up in a couple of his videos. Not sure how other States are handling this.

Yep. I guess people have to take a minute and read the disclaimers or any policy for a given company. It is also reasonable to assume that a bulky item will be more to ship than a small item and for this there's some due diligence involved. Never assume otherwise. It also depends what arrangements the company may have with a given logistics company. Some may have better discounts than others hence they all can't offer the same shipping deals. I'm hoping that my next tax refund is decent enough to hit the credit card and be able to purchase more tools

I totally agree Ash. I'm starting to really like Trade Tools, not only for their tools but as an Organisation.

Does anyone know if the GSV-40 share the same fuel filter assembly as the 50 ??

I've also been looking for a decent laser thermo gun and I found this: https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/INGCO-Infrared-Thermometer-Non-contact-Laser-LED-Indicator-Temp-Meter-30-550/383159565641?ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649 Handy in my line of work, but it can be used in a variety of ways. I love that not only is the quality very nice, but it has a colour screen too. Not a common thing to find actually. They all sold out but I'm sure they'll restock soon.

I always had the unfortunate experience where a certain socket just doesn't give you that amount of confidence when trying to undo a bolt that someone has overtightened to buggery. So I decided to try a set of impact sockets. Rather than going full cheap I decided on these high quality sockets from a Taiwan based manufacturer instead and I can say I'm impressed. Also got me various adapters too for 1/4" to 3/8" or 3/8" to 1/2" when the time requires it. https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Selta-Taiwan-15pc-1-2-Dr-6pt-Cr-Mo-Regular-Air-Impact-Socket-Set-10-32mm/202429988349?ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649 https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Impact-Socket-Adaptor-Increaser-Reducer-Convertor-1-4-to-3-4-Ratchet-dr-Taiwan/163926315837?ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&var=463540038064&_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649 Also got these handy things: https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Hexagon-Reducer-socket-Extension-Rod-Chrome-vanadium-steel-Adapter-New/323859456268?ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649 Oh, and you can never have enough extension bars too. https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/3pcs-1-2-Drive-Impact-Extension-Bar-Air-Mechanics-Long-Socket-Adaptor-3-5-10/322903005650?ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649

I just realised I posted this in the wrong thread. Sorry Ash. I can't move it now. Some time ago I decided to purchase a set of wheel protector sockets and on the very first use of the 19mm on my BMW I managed to crack the socket to my total disbelief. These: https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/5pc-1-2-Alloy-Wheel-Nut-Deep-Impact-Socket-Set-Deep-Wheel-Protector-15-22mm/263947899607?ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649 E36 BMW's use 19mm wheel nuts as opposed to the 22mm for the Toyota. I don't recall using that much force either. It was a relatively cheap set from you guessed where... China and being touted as "high Quality" being described as For heavy duty construction, made of Chrome Molybdenum steel, and heat treated for strength and durability Protective sleeves, plastic insert design prevents wheels and lug nuts from scratching Yeah right. I undid the first wheel ok, then by the time I got to do the second it cracked. So I contacted the seller and he graciously sent me a replacement socket. Not that I will attempt to use them again but just to have the set complete. They are nice to look at, but absolute rubbish. Don't bother with these sockets. It will end in grief. So I ended up looking for a better quality set and ended up with the Bahco range. Now these are proper quality. Made to impact spec these will serve me well for a very long time. https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Bahco-Wheel-Socket-Set-5-Piece-1-2-BWSS12P5/362682241242?ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649 I also have these on the way. I love the way they look and the specs look promising too. https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Mag-Wheel-Nut-Deep-Impact-Sockets-3-Piece-1-2-Drive-4-5x-Stronger-17-19-21-mm/282987361687?ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649

Now this tool I could use. I've been meaning to get one and forgotten till now. I love this thread !

Definitely very handy to have Ashley. I don't recall, but do need to access the serpentine belt from wheel well too ?

Good deal mate. So, did they interrogate the old tranny to see what it was exactly ? Would be good to know what the failure point is on these U660E transmissions. Glad to hear it's all better now. Enjoy your TRD Deyrick ! Post up some pics if you like.

Purchased some Gyeon Leather Shield Q2 for a new leather lounge I just purchased. This is an Automotive product, but it won't stop anyone using it on furniture either. I also have a brand new set of Reebok Classics I also plan to put it on too. Anything leather. I also Purchased the Gyeon Leather cleaner and the brush to go with it. It's always good practice to do the correct prep work before applying the protection layer. Car Care Products are the only supplier in Sydney at the moment if anyone is interested. https://www.carcareproducts.com.au/q2-leather-shield-50-ml.html Watch this:

That's an interesting thought Adrian. Never thought of it that way. I see your point though. I haven't investigated the process yet myself, but couldn't you apply some compressed air to the heater core inlet/outlet and push the old fluid out ?? Just a thought. How about the engine drain plug. Is it difficult to get to ? All this talk about water pumps has made me slightly paranoid so i purchased a new one to keep as a spare seeing my car has 120K on it now. I'd hate to get a phone call from the mrs telling me the car's broken down or if I spot some coolant on the ground before it sets off. I opted for the NPW brand. Toyota is asking way too much in my opinion for what is virtually identical. https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Water-Pump-For-Lexus-RX350-Toyota-Aurion-Kluger-Rav-4-Tarago-2GR-FE-3-5L-V6-NPW/282440041077?ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649 He's got one left at this price too.