A Compilation of Maintenance Experiences
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Joined: Jul 2020
Posts: 7
Re: A Compilation of Maintenance Experiences
One more update since I've been enjoying the car so much after all of my recent maintenance... I think the car has taken well to the new Bumblebee battery, as I'm now averaging >41MPG with probably 2/3 highway 1/3 city driving, plenty of A/C use, and nominally-aggressive driving. (No hyper-miling, just normal acceleration, prudent regen application to minimize braking, and only exceeding the speed limit when it is <70MPH. I noticed that >70MPH is the threshold at which efficiency really starts to tank. Anything below that is easy to maintain >41MPG.) Since my last CVT fluid replacement it has remained nominal, start clutch is super smooth. A/C system continues to work perfectly, and I'm now confident there are no leaks as the pressure has remained constant. I'm now nearing 168k miles - here's to another 100k!
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Enthusiast
Joined: Jul 2020
Posts: 7
Re: A Compilation of Maintenance Experiences
Stumbled across the forum again, and figured I might as well give an update! I'm now at 184k miles, and about 1.5 years on the bumblebee 'performance' battery I installed. My check engine light came on during a drive the other day, so I scanned the codes, and observed the following: P1659 - ETCS CONTROL RELAY OFF MALFUNCTION (TACM Relay Stuck Off)
I had not noticed any abnormal behavior from the vehicle, but being that it's ~13 years old now, and relays are technically a consumable item, I didn't mind swapping in a new one for cheap. It was R4 in the #1 engine fuse box compartment, fully described as: Electronic Throttle Control System (ETCS) Control
Afterwards, I disconnected the 12V battery to reset codes. Now we'll see if anything pops back up!
Coincidentally, my maintenance minder also came up for a B13 service, so I took care of all those items too. A B13 service includes transmission fluid change among other things, and it's pleasing to feel the difference in CVT performance with new fluid. Not that my CVT felt 'off' before, but it just feels 'that much smoother' after the change. No abnormal metal shavings were found on the magnet part of the CVT drain plug. Same as usual, just wipe off the very slight coating of fine metallic particles.
Although the car remains quite reliable, and cheap to operate, I am getting closer to pulling the trigger on a new electric vehicle... Model 3 is getting very enticing these days, as they've managed to check most of my technological boxes before I would seriously consider getting one. I may consider going for it once I get to 200k miles or so... Want to treat myself at some point after many years of diligently saving!
I had not noticed any abnormal behavior from the vehicle, but being that it's ~13 years old now, and relays are technically a consumable item, I didn't mind swapping in a new one for cheap. It was R4 in the #1 engine fuse box compartment, fully described as: Electronic Throttle Control System (ETCS) Control
Afterwards, I disconnected the 12V battery to reset codes. Now we'll see if anything pops back up!
Coincidentally, my maintenance minder also came up for a B13 service, so I took care of all those items too. A B13 service includes transmission fluid change among other things, and it's pleasing to feel the difference in CVT performance with new fluid. Not that my CVT felt 'off' before, but it just feels 'that much smoother' after the change. No abnormal metal shavings were found on the magnet part of the CVT drain plug. Same as usual, just wipe off the very slight coating of fine metallic particles.
Although the car remains quite reliable, and cheap to operate, I am getting closer to pulling the trigger on a new electric vehicle... Model 3 is getting very enticing these days, as they've managed to check most of my technological boxes before I would seriously consider getting one. I may consider going for it once I get to 200k miles or so... Want to treat myself at some point after many years of diligently saving!
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Joined: Sep 2014
Posts: 5,219
From: Mesa, AZ
Re: A Compilation of Maintenance Experiences
Stumbled across the forum again, and figured I might as well give an update! I'm now at 184k miles, and about 1.5 years on the bumblebee 'performance' battery I installed. My check engine light came on during a drive the other day, so I scanned the codes, and observed the following: P1659 - ETCS CONTROL RELAY OFF MALFUNCTION (TACM Relay Stuck Off)
I had not noticed any abnormal behavior from the vehicle, but being that it's ~13 years old now, and relays are technically a consumable item, I didn't mind swapping in a new one for cheap. It was R4 in the #1 engine fuse box compartment, fully described as: Electronic Throttle Control System (ETCS) Control
Afterwards, I disconnected the 12V battery to reset codes. Now we'll see if anything pops back up!
Coincidentally, my maintenance minder also came up for a B13 service, so I took care of all those items too. A B13 service includes transmission fluid change among other things, and it's pleasing to feel the difference in CVT performance with new fluid. Not that my CVT felt 'off' before, but it just feels 'that much smoother' after the change. No abnormal metal shavings were found on the magnet part of the CVT drain plug. Same as usual, just wipe off the very slight coating of fine metallic particles.
Although the car remains quite reliable, and cheap to operate, I am getting closer to pulling the trigger on a new electric vehicle... Model 3 is getting very enticing these days, as they've managed to check most of my technological boxes before I would seriously consider getting one. I may consider going for it once I get to 200k miles or so... Want to treat myself at some point after many years of diligently saving!
I had not noticed any abnormal behavior from the vehicle, but being that it's ~13 years old now, and relays are technically a consumable item, I didn't mind swapping in a new one for cheap. It was R4 in the #1 engine fuse box compartment, fully described as: Electronic Throttle Control System (ETCS) Control
Afterwards, I disconnected the 12V battery to reset codes. Now we'll see if anything pops back up!
Coincidentally, my maintenance minder also came up for a B13 service, so I took care of all those items too. A B13 service includes transmission fluid change among other things, and it's pleasing to feel the difference in CVT performance with new fluid. Not that my CVT felt 'off' before, but it just feels 'that much smoother' after the change. No abnormal metal shavings were found on the magnet part of the CVT drain plug. Same as usual, just wipe off the very slight coating of fine metallic particles.
Although the car remains quite reliable, and cheap to operate, I am getting closer to pulling the trigger on a new electric vehicle... Model 3 is getting very enticing these days, as they've managed to check most of my technological boxes before I would seriously consider getting one. I may consider going for it once I get to 200k miles or so... Want to treat myself at some point after many years of diligently saving!
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