Wednesday, February 2, 2011

Auto Maintenance

I have a 2007 Mazda 3i with a standard transmission. I bought it about two years ago now, and it's the first car I both financed and actually chose and liked.

The problem: Due to a few small accidents, both my fault and not, and regular maintenance requirements, my car needs a minor cosmetic overhaul which has been overdue now for some time. 



It's mostly because I'm lazy, already did some modifications a while back, and I like playing video games instead of working on my car. So, this is sort of a reminder for me to get going on this shit whenever the weather improves, but before it's 90+ degrees out here in Houston.

What happened:

  1. This dumb motherfucker who runs and/or owns the restaurant in the basement at work unloads his supplies every so often in the morning at the front of the building. One morning while pulling into the parking lot behind him, I waited for him to park in a spot perpendicular to the driveway on the right. My car was right behind him, and he decided to back into a space directly across the parking lane. He dented my hood and bumper cover, and had expired insurance. The good: paint-chipped bumper cover and hood replaced by newly-painted bumper cover and hood. The bad: the hood doesn't fit like a stock hood, and it probably aftermarket. I have yet to find an adjustment that allows for it to line up with the grille without leaving a gap. The passenger headlight was also damaged, but was replaced with an Eagle Eye aftermarket housing. The light beam does not match the stock housing.
  2. I destroyed the driver side fender in the apartment parking garage at home. I opted for an aftermarket fender, which of course didn't fit right, and have yet to replace the cracked marker light cover, which has condensation inside
  3. While I was getting the fender replaced, the shop also replaced my cracked windshield. Aside from some minor water/wiper marks that were remedied with Rain-X, the windshield is a very good replacement
  4. A while back I bought two Eagle Eye headlight housings, as well as a set of two tinted headlight films to protect the new housings from debris damage, but I have yet to install them
What I want/need to do:
  1. Buy all the necessary small parts and accessories for the repairs and upgrades listed below
  2. Replace the side marker light housing
  3. Replace the heat shield surrounding part of the exhaust under the car
  4. Replace the headlight housings, apply the films, and aim headlights
  5. Install a front mask until which time I can pay for a replacement fender
  6. Replace the chrome upper grille assembly with a painted version 
  7. Replace several missing plastic fasteners in the trunk and back seat area
  8. Replace a missing plastic hood strip fastener 
  9. Clean rust/dirt/stains from exhaust tip and end of pipe
  10. Replace front brake pads
  11. Check rear brake pads and possibly change


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