Test new to club, new SLE i just got

[jimmmmay]

testing to see if upload worked?

[harofreak00]

I merged your two topics together and edited the images to work. Car looks great, welcome!

[jimmmmay]

Thanks so much freak, I'm getting too old to keep up with this technology stuff (46), I think too lazy to learn! Nice SLE for $3k ha??

[PRD2BDF]

Looks great but that coolant level looks low but it may be different in the newer ones, I had an older one.

[00Beast]

Looks good! I like those wheels!

Also, the coolant should be pretty low in the tank, and it's hard to see. But always good to check it. Go look through Techinfo, especially the UIM/LIM articles.

[jimmmmay]

I thought so too PRD, but i had full service today, they checked antifreeze said I was good to -40 and didn't fill anymore? Did cabin filter, air filter, ran synthetic blend and added Lucas additive, I think its the best. Dropped 2 new Cooper Zeon tires to match the set, adding new struts, mounts, sway bar links and bushings tomorrow and alignment, debating about doing the rear shocks or not? Engine compartment is clean as can be, unreal for 135k in Michigan, winters!!

[crash93ssei]

Welcome! Michigan winters sure can be fun, all the big storms seem to have sort of went north or south of mid michigan though.

Make sure you don't do quick struts, they raise the front of our cars up almost 2" as for the back shocks, hard to say if they need replacement without being there. Do you do any of the work yourself?

[jimmmmay]

Crash I wish I could do the work but got divorced, no more big house on the golf course! Living in a townhouse no garage but i have a great mechanic with pole barn full blown repair center on his property. I think he was quoting me the quick struts too!!?? What is the alternative without going OEM and the $ tag? Gabriel vs Monroe or what do you suggest?

[crash93ssei]

I know the divorce scene all to well myself never been happier though! Never had a garage myself so I just do all of my work right in my dirt driveway... engine swaps, transmission swaps, trans rebuilds, brakes, shocks you name it! I just hate the thought of paying someone to do something for me that I can do myself.

KYB makes some good stuff though they seem a bit stiffer then stock, I have the KYB shocks on the back of my SE and love them, I would use their struts as well when I change them out. Many other people like the Monroe sensa-tracs too. Do a search for struts and you will see all the people with quick struts and increased ride height (my SE being one of them, installed before I bought it) also get many more recommendations.

Where in Michigan are you?

[jimmmmay]

Im in Rochester Hills, so you think the sensa-trac would be better then the quick strut? Does the Sensa come as one unit with spring and mounts or do you have to piece the entire strut together? Actually I will go do a search right now. I'm concerned with that height, I like that lower look and would hate to see it too high in the front. Anything will be better then the old stock ones right now, they are bad, mounts just seem worn out not really rusted but there is play in them. Bushings and sway bar links are bad, some banging and clunky noises just not except able. My guy charges $49 an hour and barely marks up parts from wholesale. I'm paying around $600 for new struts mounts sway bar links and bushings. Figured it's worth it not being able to go outside in the cold, no garage, no time, too many headaches. I look forward to doing some cosmetics this spring outside. I do have one more issue, the rear ground effects or quarter panel flare that clips into the underside of the wheel wall splash guard inside the wheel wall, where it clips into there its been cracked like something got thrown into the wheel wall like a rock maybe and the ground effect or panel isn't being held on right now so best just to get from junk yard? Anyone here? Do you know the actual name of that piece? Here is a pic kinda dark maybe you can see it.

[GotBonneBWitMe]

Welcome to the Club and Nice SLE! I do like the wheels on there as well.

[jimmmmay]

Welcome to the Club and Nice SLE! I do like the wheels on there as well.

Thank you so much, got it today $3k, got $375 into new tires, oil, filters etc.. another $600 tomorrow, struts, bushings and links, alignment so looks like $4k right now but it's as good a car as I could find, really clean.

[MattStrike]

Welcome! I'm over by Dearborn.

+1 on KYB's; worked great on my older cars.

That plastic panel is probably cheapest to get from a U-pull, but pm harofreak00 as he may have one too.

[jared4832]

Nice car! Those rims look pretty awesome! Always fun to see different rims on these cars. Very clean-looking!

[jimmmmay]

Thanks to all, did everything today. All new Monroe Quick Struts, new Monroe Air Shocks, the rear mounts were cracked so decided to do all. Also needed tie rods, sway bar links and bushings and the oil sending unit. I gave the dash the old Fonzy tap and the light came back on the cluster!! They all work now!! LOL. Man i know people complain about the front being a little higher now with Monroe Quickstruts, i think the struts will settle but wow this car rides like brand new, the handling is amazing it feels awesome and i like a real stiff performance ride and its very quiet on the road.

Now will do the valve cover gaskets and looks like slight seepage on the hose for trans cooler? Is the whats below radiator like in the front bumper? Rubber and aluminum pipe leads to it? And one more issue, Looks like fuel gauge all of a sudden bounced to low fuel and then back again, sending unit? Also if its even intermit issue will the miles to empty computer range read out not be accurate? If gauge bounces back and fourth won't that throw off the computer calculation?

Also one more question, my mechanic said he was able to get real close by eye on the alignment and i mean it tracks perfect no pulls wheel goes straight down the road, should i still do alignment? My read outs before the work were pretty close it was just the camber was affected by the strut mounts being cracked and shifting? I think i will just go ahead and drop another $60 bucks and do 4 wheel alignment just for piece of mind? Also I have had a couple just slight rough starts, not every time and once i rev it a couple times runs smooth as can be? Bad plugs? MAF?

Car $3000, oil change with filter and cabin filter, lucas additive and synthetic blend $80, Struts, mounts, air shocks, rear mounts, tie rods, sway bar links and bushings oil sending unit $1035, 2 new tires and all four wheel balance $300, title transfer and plates $80 TOTAL = $4495

I figure another $1000 and i will do heated seat repair, gaskets, tune up, remote start, fuel gauge sending unit, upgrade speakers and amp keep stock radio, seepage from trans cooler, replace oil pan gasket. 5000k xenon headlights and fogs.

[crash93ssei]

The struts won't settle nearly as much as they should. If I were you I would swap your original springs on to those struts so the monster truck look doesn't get to you over the summer.

[jimmmmay]

To be honest its not that much higher, I think at least mine it makes the car look more even, my front is not way up in the air at all. I'll post new pics tomorrow, snow storm coming tonight. Either way I'm not changing a thing, it handles awesome and very smooth over bumps, I was worried but very pleased with results. Now i need that inner rear passenger side wheel wall splash guard that the rear side skirt clips onto. On the hunt!! Don't like that skirt flopping around a little. Is there a relay under drivers side dash for the drivers heated seat? When i turn it on i hear it click on than right back off and i know its usually a bad wire but is it possible bad relay?

[CMNTMXR57]

The coolant being good to -40 (meaning it's probably pretty new), only pertains to the thermal quality of the fluid in there, not the qauntity.

[jimmmmay]

Yeah your right but they did go over all the levels, I'll check and make sure its up to proper line.

[bobgto65]

great looking car!