bureau13

So, yeah...fail. I got everything apart down to taking the bolt off to remove the actual bumper and get to the shocks...I can't budge them. Hosed them down with PB Blaster, still no luck. A big part of my problem is I can't get a tool with any leverage in there. It's a large allen head bolt, and I have an allen head for my socket, but anything larger than the medium-sized wrench and it's too tall to fit. With the shorter handle, I just can't budge it at all. What are you guys using for this??

While I was in there, I noticed some things. First, there is this cluster of wires behind the front wheels...it seems like once upon a time there may have been insulation or something wrapping them up, but it's long gone. Seems like something I should correct. What are these? The pic below is the driver's side, but passenger side is more scary...that cylindrical thing on the right, with the bracket...that bracket is broken, and the wires are getting pinched a little as they lay on the suspension piece right there.





Wire bundle behind wheel...ABS perhaps?

Then, under the car, I noticed that something appears to be missing in my front suspension. Note the empty screw hole...there is a matching one on the other side.





See the silver part with the empty threaded hole right behind the red cables to the alternator.

Finally...what the hell is this?? Just a disconnected U of pipe, with a temp sensor in it. Huh? Is that perhaps to measure ambient air temps with no wind disturbing it? Or am I way off...it's behind the driver's side front block-off panel at the front of the wheel well.





Mystery tube to nowhere

So my car is sitting on jack stands now, I'll either call a retreat and put it back together tomorrow sans new bumper shocks, or if anyone has any different tools or techniques I should try, I'll do that first.

Bertrand Daoust

In the last pic, you're missing the tube from the sensor to the alternator.

James Bailey

ABS , unused hole for engine shocks not used on your car , the hose was where the outside air temp sensor for the A/C connected

bureau13

Thanks...glad I'm not actually missing some front suspension!

About that last pic, with the u-hose and the temp sensor...so I'm missing something there? That would make more sense...anyone have a picture?

Bertrand Daoust

There's a hose from the sensor to the alternator.
Like shown here.
This is a pic from Dwayne's TB thread.

Speedtoys

Thats the cool air hose for the alternator with the external air temp sensor.

dr bob

Two options:

-- I've had good luck over the years using the Allen wrench (the bent one...) with the closed end of a large/long combination wrench wrapped around the leg of the wrench. That gives you a lot of leverage. There's a bit of finagling to get the wrenches set up in the right orientation, but you just need to break the bolt loose. Then "regular" tool will get you th eresrt.

-- Harbor Freight sells a 1/2"-drive ratchet with an extendable handle. Use it with a cut-down Allen driver. If you don't want to cut the driver, you can cut the end off a standard Allen key and plug it into a low-profile socket. A bit of tape will hold the bit end in the socket.


Either way, make sure the tool fits all the way into the bolt head. For sure you don't want to round out the hex hole in the top of the bolt.

bureau13

Those sound like good ideas...I was worried about rounding that hole, given that I couldn't get the tool in there properly. I don't think I have an allen wrench that size so I'll run to the store in the morning.

I guess if I can't get it this time, I will likely have the nose off again for paint at some point.

bureau13

Thanks for the pics/description of that hose...I guess that is to prevent my current setup of sucking up air and road debris into that alternator "intake." I had no idea!

James Bailey

Yup cleaner cooler dry air is good for your alternator Just imagine what happens now if you drive into a puddle of water !

bureau13

Nothing good, I suppose! The damn alternator is already clacking up a storm though...still seems to "alternate" just fine, but it's making a racket. I suspected the fan blades on the front, but with the belt off and turned by hand, it makes no odd sounds.

Thanks to the advice on this thread, I successfully changed out my bumper shocks, My fog lights now line up properly with the rest of the nose, and I've bolted my grill in, rather than zip-tied it.

dr bob

Sounds like great results. Which method did you end up using?

bureau13

I used the allen wrench, but found a very long piece of thick-walled PVC that I slipped over the handle end. That gave me plenty of leverage on the first bolt, then the second one saw that defeat was inevitable and just surrendered to the allen wrench on the first try.