Crazy Cat Lady

They surely must be the nicest standard wheels by far for a Gen6

That is a fabulous looking example, nice to see them clean and original. I like the wheels too, they don't look original but they suit the car really well.

Thank you for responding All fairly straight forward then (which is what i was wondering) Pretty sure the garage guys doing this job know what they're doing, but there is something odd going on. The job included replacement with new rear back plates, new rear wheel bearing units, and new brake shoes & springs set. I got the impression the actual handbrake adjustment would be thrown in for free... Handbrake worked okay initially but by the time i got home it no longer did (?) and the reason for this isn't clear yet. It was thought the issue maybe the old and badly corroded cable end interface with the brand new back plates, so 2nd visit went armed with a pair of new cables. These were fitted okay, and again the handbrake worked initially but after a couple of days ...didn't. So 3rd visit to the garage booked on Thursday for some serious head scratching action. They be clever guys at the garage, can't doubt or fault their ability and knowledge, but blimey what a kerfuffle!

Recently had an overhaul of handbrake assembly to include new back-plates, drum blocks and spring kit, and a pair rear wheel bearing units. Everything seem to fit and go on okay but after leaving the garage the handbrake did seem to work okay but by the time i'd got home it didn't. We thought the issue could be the highly corroded ends of the original cables so new cables were ordered and fitted at 2nd visit at the garage. On leaving the garage after this 2nd visit, the handbrake did work okay, ...but then gradually lost grip, a couple of days later no grip at all. Now booked into garage again this coming Thursday for the 3rd time lucky... Is handbrake adjustment a straight forward job on a Gen 7? ...or is there some unforeseen gremlin lurking in the works?

More goodies for the cat-mobile arrived here today Won't fit the new spark plugs until the annual service in Autumn, firstly need to replace and see if the new 02 pre & post pussy cat sensors fix the occasional bogging down issue. Plus new handbrake cables due to the originals too far gone corroded on the old rusty backplates. Despite new backplates, rear wheel bearing units, drum brake blocks and spring set, all recently fitted the handbrake is not holding with the original cables; having been doctored up and reused...

Play spot the difference! Purchased new backplates, drum brake blocks and new springs set, and new wheel bearings over two years ago so about time i had them fitted! On the way home the cabin noise is noticeably quieter, wasn't sure if new bearings would improve this and it has, not hugely but definitely noticeable

This is how mine ends up on the lift (an photo taken in 2016)

The guy i go to only has a 2 post lift, and he doesn't have any problem lifting my G7 on Eibach 30mm lower springs. Is there not a way to adjust the attachments on the end of the lift arms to get them low enough as to fit under the car?

You maybe correct, 'stringer' is a nautical term meaning the fore-and-aft girder running along the side of a boat or ship. Your punter maybe a pirate who has changed his mind after finding a galleon instead. Those diagram parts you show are essential jacking points so if they were rotten the Celica certainly wouldn't be sea worthy.

Summer is here! Well at least the summer wheels are on! The winter wheels cleaned and stored away in the garage ready for October which is years away yet.

That's no frost, it's sugar coated

The Edition wheels look very classy and suit the Gen 7 really well IMO

This is easy to answer: The best looking OEM wheel is usually the one in the boot wheel-well that never been used!

Winter wheels are back on the catmobile, after having an acid bath clean and new powder coating in a rather glossy metallic anthracite. Spent this afternoon cleaning and polishing up the summer wheels, and putting them in the garage for hibernation. Meanwhile, another MOT pass (with no advisories), and recent oil/filter change It is really nice having the winter wheels refurbished, most of the weights had fallen off and it was no joy to drive with them on like that. However, a very nice job done by a Wheelworks of Newtown in Powys: Tyre removal - clean up and powdercoat - refit tyres - rebalance wheels for £65 a wheel (£260 for all four).

Thanks for the suggestion! Where about exactly on the bulkhead is it?

Update on the car sanitiser: First time i've been out in the car since the sanitisation on Wednesday, and regret to report the smelly sock smell is still guffing out of the vents, although it smells like a partially sanitised and flowery sweaty sock smell now Whatever is causing the nasty niff obviously hasn't been dealt with yet, perhaps an invasion of a microscopic alien lifeform that don't wash their socks (?) this maybe a job for Professor Quatermass.

Was recommended Nissens by my mechanic, and can't fault the one i have, does the job. However i paid £96.64 for one in July 2021, the same dealer (via eBay) is now charging £142.82 https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/303480494346

Ordered a can of Holts LOYTEC1 Air Car sanitiser via Amazon late last night; it was delivered here 3 PM this afternoon, 4 PM the operation went ahead successfully as planed. The empty can and packaging now in the recycle bins. Will update later on the result

The previous owner got the monies worth, was left to me to buy a new one, but that's often the way it goes. Easy to check it again, the 'new' one is nearly 4 years old so will be interesting to examine it. Although it maybe remaining filth in other (difficult to reach) parts of the air ducting (?)

Thanks for the tip to cover the seats over. Mine are red leather and i still treasure them. I like the plan of nuking the car with a cloud of bug killer. Cabin filter replaced in November 2018, and which would be less than 10k miles ago. The one it replaced was absolutely disgusting - probably the original Easy enough job to visually re-check the cabin filter, may change it again they don't cost a lot. photo from 2018

Thanks for the sanitiser recommendation! Just ordered one, should arrive here on Wednesday, those minging microbes have their days numbered

Just an update but since changing the A/C condenser (about a year ago) i can confirm the A/C works okay now it works mildly which IME is preferable to A/C that freezes one into stage of hypothermia ...like wot the one in my old Corolla used to. The only issue that remains is the smelly sock smell that seems to emanate (?) usually more noticeable just after turning the A/C off

LA Auto Repairs have relocated to an industrial unit somewhere near Hadnall off the A49 (so on the near side of Shrewsbury if coming from Chester). I haven't been to the new out of town place yet, but will soon need to contact Lee to sort out the failing reluctor rings and fit new front Avensis rotor shields.

XtremeAuto® Universal Black Large 40cm Car Whip Aerial The original OEM aerial finally disintegrated into a fatigued state of complete uselessness after 17 years of swishing to and throw up there. Will see if this cheapo replacement (purchased on Amazon) lasts that long. It actually works very well with reception, and my first impression is £5.95 well spent and it looks rather cool too