How did retirement lead to fixing cars??!!

No, we don't do preemptive HG replacement; only if it's blown. That's an all-day job for a trained mechanic. But any Gen 3 with over a certain number on the odometer (I don't remember the exact miles), whether it's from auction or a trade-in, does get a EGR system cleaning that includes the cooler, valve, pipe, and intake manifold.

And yes, we do take trade-ins. Obviously, the value will depend on how much work it will take to make it ready for sale. We don't do full restorations, but we make them as good as is reasonable. Often it involves a new HG and sometimes even a replacement engine. (But we hope not! ) Todd's the owner, so he decides whether we want a car or not, of course. I have seen him send one Ford back to the auction house because it wasn't worth fixing.

Prepping a used car for sale is generally a pretty extensive process that takes one of us all day under normal conditions. Add another day if it needs a HG. More if it needs paint, upholstery, etc. Fleas and roaches take another day or two to de-infest. And then most of a day for the on-site detailers. It's a job to turn some of these into something nice enough that someone will want it. And once in a while a creampuff shows up like the Chrysler Pacifica PHEV we just got. Ya never know what the day will bring. That's part of the fun.

 

Got to run through some tall grass yesterday. One of the other guys and I replaced the hybrid battery in a Lexus NX300h. First time for all of us. Sheesh! They worked hard at making that thing a lot of work. Buried under a cage. And several cables pass through the bottom center of the battery case.

 

It's less than 150k. Seems like either 100 or 130. Not sure, but I was prepping an inventory car this week (2010) with 130k miles and replaced the EGR system with one I'd cleaned last week. Also new spark plugs, PCV valve, and engine oil. But that's what we do with Gen 3 inventory cars and trade ins that we plan to sell. Customer cars get what the customer asks for, of course.

Sometimes they come with blown head gaskets. Our guys do a lot of HG repairs.

 

Since I don't see a forum especially for "weird things you find while fixing cars," I'll just drop this one in here.

In prepping a used car for sale yesterday, I needed to replace the catalytic converter and piping between the exhaust manifold and the muffler because it was all wonky looking and one section was sticking way down. Whoever welded it up wasn't very particular -- to say the least. One front bolt was the wrong one and the other wouldn't come out. Upon closer inspection, I found yet another bolt. Sheesh!! Time to break out the reciprocating saw. ... And replace the exhaust manifold.



This morning, before it gets too hot, I need to go out back and remove a manifold from one of our parts cars since we don't have a spare manifold on hand.

 

We have a monster check list.

It was a 2005 with 171k miles. I replaced the exhaust from the engine to just in front of the muffler, installed a cat shield, changed the spark plugs, PCV valve, engine and cabin air filters, replaced the torn rear wiper blade, cleaned the hybrid battery fan, replaced the rusted spare tire hold-down bolt (after cutting and ripping off the plastic handle), cleaned the throttle body & MAF sensor, polished the headlights, reattached a loose plastic piece behind the right front wheel, pumped up all four tires, checked the rubber parts, checked for leaks and replaced a dead fob battery. Oh! And someone had ripped open the hood insulation to apparently replace the windshield washer hose, misrouting the hose in the process. I removed the insulation, re-fed the hose, and put on an insulation panel from one of our parts cars. Before I started on the car, a coworker had checked all the lights and controls. When I was done I took it on about a 15 mile test drive. Tomorrow the detailers start on it. Oops! I just remembered that I forgot to replace one of the vanity mirror bulbs that's burned out. I can do that tomorrow when the detailers get done.

Like I said, we don't restore them, but we make them as nice as we can and still make money on them.

Edit to add: on a car that old, there's no limit to the work that COULD be done, but there is a limit to what's practical if you want to price it to sell.

 

With used car prices what they are, it might not cut into profit all that much. Here's the car I prepped Thursday. The detailers did another great job. I did more to it than is described and it took most of the day, but it came out nice. It better, for that price, but I'm sure it'll sell pretty quickly. Looks nearly new.
Tampa FL - 2008 Toyota Prius Hybrid #2 Touring Leather Camera BRAND NEW HYBRID BATTERY 108K Miles - Car for Sale - Tampa Hybrids Inc.

 

When I saw this one, I laughed out loud. It was an inventory car from auction that I was prepping to sale.



Then I wondered if I'd be able to get it off. The filter wrench was really on there and wasn't moving. The hex part was too buggered up to get the right socket on it. Thankfully, it wasn't over-tight like happens so often. Came right off with and adjustable wrench and a piece of pipe. After two quick attempts to get it apart, I 86ed it and put on a new cap.

 

Yup.

Apparently so. I never paid attenntion before, but another picture shows a stud and nut on the near corner as well. And thanks, @Mendel Leisk for looking that up.

No kidding!! However, I don't think it was ever going to fall off. That puppy was STUCK. A coworker jokingly suggested I leave it there. He was just kidding, but I think a lot of people would. Well at least one person would since they did. I can only imagine what a buyer would think of us if they saw that when they changed their oil for the first time. Thankfully, we had one new cap in stock. Time to order some more.

 

Well, actual retirement is about to begin. I have been having a ton of fun working with the guys at https://www.tampahybrids.com. But it will be been one year on Feb. 28 and Todd has a super good crew working for him now. So, to complete the regular work week, I'll work March 1 and that will be my last day there.

I've made some great friends, learned a ton of stuff, and hopefully been able to be a positive influence on some terrific young guys.