When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
I assume that works if the O2 Sensor isn't dead as in it's got a CEL due to a bad CAT, or you have removed the CAT so you reduce it's ability to sample the exhaust so it thinks it's fine. But if it's just a really old O2 sensor and gone bad, should I expect that to sill work? The cheap $10 OBDII scanner I have I THINK I'm seeing the front O2 sensor.. I'll have to mess around with it a bit and see if I can find the rear, the software kinda sucks but it's a $10 thing so what can I expect lol. If it is dead, I don't expect that would do anything for me then.
Is that what that's for? LoL when I got it from my brother it was hanging down due to a broken clip, I just took some clear gorilla glue went around the edge of it and stuck it back on so it didn't look near as crappy. I guess whoever is doing the towing just bolts in some sort of eye there to hook onto then? Maybe I should be all race car like and make one, then paint it BRIGHT RED lol. I kid....
BTW I put all the crap back in my car, spare, jack, back seats etc. all 105lb of it. It had a noticeable effect which was more what I wanted to see. I'll get silly when I get a manual one, keep this one with it's full interior and A/C etc. for the daily with it's auto. Once I get in a better spot and get a bunch of maintenance knocked out on it... the manual one I get may get a tail of the dragon decal... These things seem to be the "FWD Miata". Just can't get over how much I like these stupid things LOL. My wife forbade me from selling our other cars (we have 5) and replacing them all with Fit's lol. She said she didn't want a fleet of them... I'm like, but...that would be awesome!.... The other cars are for the kids encase you're wondering, we have 3... all of which will be driving before long.
Is that what that's for? LoL when I got it from my brother it was hanging down due to a broken clip, I just took some clear gorilla glue went around the edge of it and stuck it back on so it didn't look near as crappy. I guess whoever is doing the towing just bolts in some sort of eye there to hook onto then?
Yeah, there is (or there should be) a large bolt with an eyelet on it in the spare tire well. Some people like to put other kinds of hooks there instead, or straps.... Or they mount their license plate there. Myself, I prefer the clean look of just the plastic cover.
I assume that works if the O2 Sensor isn't dead as in it's got a CEL due to a bad CAT, or you have removed the CAT so you reduce it's ability to sample the exhaust so it thinks it's fine. But if it's just a really old O2 sensor and gone bad, should I expect that to sill work? The cheap $10 OBDII scanner I have I THINK I'm seeing the front O2 sensor.. I'll have to mess around with it a bit and see if I can find the rear, the software kinda sucks but it's a $10 thing so what can I expect lol. If it is dead, I don't expect that would do anything for me then.
Yeah, your sensor got to be working for the spacer...
If your primary sensor is bad, this one needs to get replaced has it is used by the computer to adjust air/fuel so your motor runs OK.
I'm not able to give you an exact length of time, but I can say, a pretty good while. If I had to put a range on it, depending on exposure and such, 1 - 4 years? Just don't get to crazy with it, steady speed of movement and reasonable flame waved over it is all you need, a pass or two and move on, if it needs more come back to it in a bit after you moved around the grill some to so it doesn't get to hot.
Best car I've ever owned died Tuesday but was still driveable so...
I dropped off my friend and came home in sorrow
17 years and 2 months of faithful service ended by a dufus in a Scion FRS at a 4way stop
Snark has been with me since the death of my 03 Civic HX by PT Cruiser
Thru retirement, trips to reunions in Alberta and Saskatchewan, death of my wife, son and brother
I will watch my driveable friend hauled on a flatbed for evaluation soon
I could be sad but why? I can revel in my 22 Niro plug-in Cerulean
RIP 2nd gen Sport 5 speed SSM 195 Verdestiens 116k 38.1 mpg
I loath car insurance companies as of late... They're going to say it's totaled and write you a check for $900-$1500 and it will go the the junk yard... When likely, two new doors, MAYBE a pull on the frame in a spot or two and then the doors and tada, sure it's not cosmetically perfect but plenty usable safely still I'd bet.
I loath car insurance companies as of late... They're going to say it's totaled and write you a check for $900-$1500 and it will go the the junk yard... When likely, two new doors, MAYBE a pull on the frame in a spot or two and then the doors and tada, sure it's not cosmetically perfect but plenty usable safely still I'd bet.
I wouldn't say usable safely. Maybe usable for off-highway, but not safe for on-road. Sorry to say, but there's a reason vehicles are totaled when they are. Side airbags deployed means there was a significant force. Maybe if it was a front or rear impact, that would be different. But if there's any damage to the side bolsters, pillars, etc, it's toast. And it's really not possible to straighten a unibody car. You can't pull on the frame if the vehicle doesn't have a frame. Unibody cars are designed to destruct so the passengers can walk away. In most cases they can only do that, safely, once.
Last edited by Detergentcandy; Nov 23, 2025 at 04:07 PM.
Reason: Added quote
I wouldn't say usable safely. Maybe usable for off-highway, but not safe for on-road. Sorry to say, but there's a reason vehicles are totaled when they are. Side airbags deployed means there was a significant force. Maybe if it was a front or rear impact, that would be different. But if there's any damage to the side bolsters, pillars, etc, it's toast. And it's really not possible to straighten a unibody car. You can't pull on the frame if the vehicle doesn't have a frame. Unibody cars are designed to destruct so the passengers can walk away. In most cases they can only do that, safely, once.
I'm aware, I just used the term frame, as the unibody is acting as the frame, and they can be repaired. It's been done plenty to newer $$$$$ cars that are unibody, it's just the insurance isn't going to both on a older car that from their perspective is totaled if the paint is damaged. Ignore me, I'm just still pissed over my wife's car being totaled when all it needed was like two suspension parts replaced, and the only reason I didn't just "buy the car back" and do the work myself and then have it inspected and re-certified for on road use was a lack of time and she needed a car ASAP to be able to go to work. scammy BS ensued as the repair shop expected it to be repaired even, then magically one or two addition BS things were added that just pushed it over that threshold of repair / car value to total it.
I'm aware, I just used the term frame, as the unibody is acting as the frame, and they can be repaired. It's been done plenty to newer $$$$$ cars that are unibody, it's just the insurance isn't going to both on a older car that from their perspective is totaled if the paint is damaged. Ignore me, I'm just still pissed over my wife's car being totaled when all it needed was like two suspension parts replaced, and the only reason I didn't just "buy the car back" and do the work myself and then have it inspected and re-certified for on road use was a lack of time and she needed a car ASAP to be able to go to work. scammy BS ensued as the repair shop expected it to be repaired even, then magically one or two addition BS things were added that just pushed it over that threshold of repair / car value to total it.
Nah, it's all good! I probably overreacted with my response. I'd be pissed too if I went through what you and your wife went through.
Now to investigate why the drivers side still goes from very dim to increasingly brighter over the course of 1-2 seconds when going from actual headlights to the I guess driving lights when parked.... The OEM wiring had been cut and re-done with the connections being butt spliced together so I'm wondering if I go and solder the connections and shorten the wiring about to where it should be if that will help...Otherwise I have no idea why it's doing it. (that's not why I replaced the headlights)
Cut out the radiator support with a sawzall. Wish I actually had anything to do to the engine other than an oil change. Access is easy right now. I tagged a deer a few weeks ago and just got the car back. Insurance totaled it, but in my state, anything over 8 years old doesn't get a salvage title. So bought it back and am fixing it. The deer was low and went under the car, so no damage to the frame rails, bumper support, or headlights. Just needs a new rad, condenser, rad support, and drift stitch the crack in the bumper and call it good.
Cut out the radiator support with a sawzall. Wish I actually had anything to do to the engine other than an oil change. Access is easy right now. I tagged a deer a few weeks ago and just got the car back. Insurance totaled it, but in my state, anything over 8 years old doesn't get a salvage title. So bought it back and am fixing it. The deer was low and went under the car, so no damage to the frame rails, bumper support, or headlights. Just needs a new rad, condenser, rad support, and drift stitch the crack in the bumper and call it good.
And here I thought we had the beginnings of another J swap.
Hitting a deer with anything but an old farm truck really sucks...
She said she didn't want a fleet of them... I'm like, but...that would be awesome!.... The other cars are for the kids encase you're wondering, we have 3... all of which will be driving before long.
