Trickling In

In the mail came the Windshield Wiper Fluid Reservoir Motor.

I've been working a lot and not much is happening with the Hondamatic.

I have been exchanging emails with a person who read my desperate plea for a Windshield Wiper Fluid Reservoir Motor on This Old Honda (a website dedicated to and for people who love their Hondas, regardless of year).  Since I don't need the WWFRM any more we've been trying to figure out what I could use so that he can have his furnace room back.  I guess it's just loaded with various Honda parts at the moment. I think I want a bunch of fuses and maybe some light assemblies...  I've been working so much lately that I haven't even had a chance to go out to the Hondamatic and take pictures to send this kind parts person so we can see if he has any for me.  Soon though.  Maybe Sunday...

Snowmatic!

itsnoweditsnoweditsnoweditsnoweditsnowed

It Snowed Last Night!

On my "list-of-things-to-do" for what seems like forever was to take a scrubby brush and really tackle the steering wheel and clean all the built up gunk in the corners.  It's textured so, of course, any dirt, grime, dead skin and grossness gets imbedded in there good.  I did this yesterday and even got in the groves of the headlight switch to clean them out.  I think it turned out pretty good.  Like a goofball I played with the lights a little too.  I kept turning them on and off and walking out to check which ones were working.  They all do!  All parking lights and brake lights do anyway.  I couldn't tell if the back up lights worked since I wasn't backing; the blinkers didn't work either, but I also didn't have the Hondamatic turned on and only the two outside headlights turned on, not the inner two.  Again, maybe this is because the Hondamatic wasn't running.  I'll find out later I guess.

It was really nice sitting in my car again.  It had been so long since I had.  It's still clean in there from when I cleaned it in the summer.  Looking around I got inspired to make a list of all the small things I want to do when it's running:

1. Steam clean the engine compartment
2. Steam clean the underside and apply corrosion protection
3. Paint - which includes
* Removing door trim ( I hate door trim)
* Filling in the holes left when door trim is removed
* Minor dent repair
4. Fix the clock
5. Paint the wheels
6. New tires
7. Install new radio with dash extension
8. Fix rear window washer (the wiper works and I hear the motor hum but no washer fluid comes out - and yes it is full)
9. Paint over chrome-colored inner door trim
10. Replace fuel filter (maybe)
11. Fix cracks in dash (maybe - unless the fix makes it look worse - they're really not that bad)

I think Collin has a list of other things to do too.  He hasn't shared that with me yet.

Well, happy January 15th!

Hard To Find, One Of A Kind

In the process of dismantling the Hondamatic we managed to break the Front Windshield Washer Fluid Reservoir Motor. Also known as: Motor, Washer part number 38512-659-013 (NOT AVAILABLE)  replaced by 38512-659-023 for $33.18.  In the picture below, it is item 2.

This is what the Washer Motor looks like in real life and what we did to it.

Yes, that is what one Honda parts seller website had to say about that.  Not available.  Discontinued part.  Even when I called them, they assured me that they didn't even have the motor that replaced the motor I needed. 

I found a used one at a salvage yard in Colorado for $20.  I called to ask about it and they looked for it.  Long story short (I waited five hours for them to call me back until I finally called them again), they had sold the motor with the reservoir already, or assumed that is what happened since they just couldn't find the reservoir itself.

Ooookay then.

I found another site selling genuine Honda parts and they had the motor!!  In fact they had the original motor part number 38512-659-013!!  For $30 even!  I also placed an order for the water pump thermostat as well, since they seemed to be the only place that had that part too.

I'm so excited to get my parts in the mail!!  Hurry hurry!

***

UPDATE

***

I received an email from the Honda parts supplier and my heart about stopped.

Subject: Discontinued part order 80848

Message: Hello, Part # 38512-659-013 has recently changed to a discontinued status from American Honda. Please let us know if you would like to continue with the thermostat, or if you would like the whole order refunded. Thank you.

Not to be dissuaded I researched further. 

And as luck would have it I found, on eBay, an aftermarket Washer Motor by ACI/Maxair #177510 for $21.88 + free shipping.  Email confirmation came in that it's on the way.

That was a close call.

And I did continue the order for the thermostat.

The Hondamatic Lives!

My car STARTED!

I don't know what Collin did, who he has assisting (he's still keeping that part a secret - though it's likely the Itsy), or where he finds the time.  I just came home and parked my work vehicle in front of the Hondamatic like I do every day.  Collin ran to the Hondamatic, got in and when I got out to the sidewalk he fired her up!!  I couldn't believe it!!  It's been so long.  And no smoke this time! Woohoo!

The Hondamatic isn't quite done and I can't drive it yet, but it STARTS and idles beautifully.

I have all new starter oil, coolant, transmission fluid etc... and I have to add Zinc Additive to the oil from now on until forever.  For some reason that is supposed to save the cam shaft from getting stripped down.

The plan, I was later told, was to have everything done so that I could drive Collin to dinner.

We walked instead.  Maybe next time.

:-) :-)