Strut Tower Brace

[onyxbfly]

She's alive. She Started albeit roughly. She had to crank a few times. Hopefully she gets me through the wkend and I can take her in first thing in the morning.

 

On a funny note this dealer ship wants to charge me a benny to install the hood pin assembly and an additional benny to program the remote keys....

 

When I inquired the service manager stated that they are two separate jobs. I told him neither of which takes an hr to complete. I said my car should be in and out in under an hr.....

[WWWPerfA_ZN0W]

And they wonder why people wanna DIY ...

[onyxbfly]

Amen. Today was an admin wk from home day. I can't say I feel confident in her starting/ sounding like an asthmatic trying to get high.

[IWRBB]

This is the cheapie battery terminal puller I use to pull wiper arms from the posts.

 

http://www.summitracing.com/parts/oes-25121

 

You should be able to pick one up at any auto parts store. It works perfect. The hooks go under the arm and the threaded portion pushes against the post, lifting the arm off the post.

 

If you think about it, the wiper arm on it's post is very similar in shape and size to a traditional lead battery terminal on it's post, so it makes sense the same tool works for both.

Edited October 29, 2015 by IWRBB

[onyxbfly]

Thanks for the recommendation. Deff cheaper than some of the alternatives I've seen. I don't mind buying tools etc but when your going to use something all of two times then it makes sense to me to not to spend a lot on it. Quick google says that they have it at advance and or autozone up the street from me. While I'm there I'll get the battery/ charging system tested.

 

Might just get it in this weekend. Weather permitting.

[onyxbfly]

Got it in and Got it done. They did not have the battery terminal puller but I did manage to find a windshield wiper arm puller. If anyone reads this in the future I would suggest going with a battery terminal puller.

 

The windshield wiper puller has a turn style knob which isn't the best for applying the torque needed to pull the arm. The top of the bolt with applies the pressure is rounded and it kept slipping off of the wiper arm bolt. I decided to loosen the nut till it was almost off and that gave the bolt room to stay on.

 

Once I did that removing the arms was relatively easy. The entire process is painless.albeit frustrating if you don't have the right tools etc.

 

Thanks to everyone who posted instructions and hints.

 

One thing I will mention that others have not is that the strut tower bracket will prevent you from fully opening the fuse box. I'd suggest removing the lid first before installing the bracket. Although I was able to pull the cover off it is broken. I'll be ordering a new one sooner than later. It currently sits on top, just doesn't open the way it normally does.

 

If its not one thing its the other and Mr. Murphy and I are becoming best friends. My DRL stop functioning. I tied the wires to the windshield wiper hose that was attached to the strut tower. I had to remove the hose to install the strut tower bracket.

 

I though I may have pulled a wire loose but I checked all of the connections and everything seems fine. I had to pull the cover off the fuse box to check the fuses.

 

Fuses are fine. I spoke with Dan from DaytimeBright Lights and we did some troubleshooting and he feels that its the controller. Hopefully I'll get the replacement in and ill have them up and running.

 

Incidentally I went to advance auto and auto zone and they tested the battery and both places said the battery is bad. SMDH Once I get the DRL debacle sorted I'll be back to the dealership for round two.

Edited October 31, 2015 by onyxbfly