As mentioned on Saturday, the project over the July 4th holiday was to put the new plastic parts shielding the engine bay from the cabin air and water drains back under the hood of our 2010 BMW X5 35d. I’m not sure it quiets the diesel engine all that much, but should be an improvement in filtering outside air into the cabin. I replace the cabin filters with the more expensive carbon treated ones in hope to eliminate some of the leftover smells … I don’t think the previous owner was a heavy smoker, but more than likely someone may have? (either that or the leather seats have that peculiar smell … our 1987 Mercedes Benz 560 SEL had a cabin smell from the leather).
My only reservation in putting all the under the hood parts back in place is that I haven’t really tested my latest exhaust temperature sensor fix … prior to putting in a new sensor on Saturday, the SUV continued to "throw codes." Here’s crossing my fingers … but just in case, I’m not putting the skidplates back on just yet.
The new ceramic brakes seems to be great … no problem with the special break in procedure or stopping. After adding a new sensor and resetting the warning code, everything has been perfect with the brakes AND so far no nasty brake dust on the wheels!
Most people know that Francis Scott Key wrote the Star Spangled Banner, which would become our National Anthem, as he watched the shelling of Fort McHenry. Few people know that his poem had additional verses (link – verses below)… or that the music it was eventually set to is from a 1771 English drinking song – The Anacreontic Song.
The Anacreontic Song | 1771
The Star-Spangled Banner
O say can you see, by the dawn’s early light, What so proudly we hail’d at the twilight’s last gleaming, Whose broad stripes and bright stars through the perilous fight O’er the ramparts we watch’d were so gallantly streaming? And the rocket’s red glare, the bombs bursting in air, Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there, O say does that star-spangled banner yet wave O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave?
On the shore dimly seen through the mists of the deep Where the foe’s haughty host in dread silence reposes, What is that which the breeze, o’er the towering steep, As it fitfully blows, half conceals, half discloses? Now it catches the gleam of the morning’s first beam, In full glory reflected now shines in the stream, ’Tis the star-spangled banner – O long may it wave O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave!
And where is that band who so vauntingly swore, That the havoc of war and the battle’s confusion A home and a Country should leave us no more? Their blood has wash’d out their foul footstep’s pollution. No refuge could save the hireling and slave From the terror of flight or the gloom of the grave, And the star-spangled banner in triumph doth wave O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave.
O thus be it ever when freemen shall stand Between their lov’d home and the war’s desolation! Blest with vict’ry and peace may the heav’n rescued land Praise the power that hath made and preserv’d us a nation! Then conquer we must, when our cause it is just, And this be our motto – “In God is our trust,” And the star-spangled banner in triumph shall wave O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave.
Plastic is not cheap when it comes to engine compartment parts for our BMW X5 35d, although parts for most cars are all pretty expensive … but what other options are there? Since they just came in today (Saturday), I’m hoping to work one the car Sunday or Monday – we will see since Monday is a July 4th holiday.
Initially I thought I might fabricate the pre-firewall shielding parts from aluminum since I still have a few sheet left from the Sonex project and last winter’s woodstove surround, but I was saved by online shopping. Actually I was a little bit surprise in being able to source the part with relatively inexpensive shipping, so keeping the entire order under $200 with shipping wasn’t all that bad in my opinion … I thought it might be more.
Today’s project was all about tracking down the nagging code being triggered by a sensor. Finally I squeezed in and replaced an exhaust temperature sensor that has been throwing the code. Hopefully that is it, but it is going to take more than a short 15 minute test drive to really know if the check engine light remains off for good. I’m crossing my fingers.
The 1958 Packard Hawk isn’t on the "to do" agenda for this summer, but when walking by it in the garage, it is difficult to not think about things that need to be done. One particular item I need to find is a gold "hawk" emblem just above the trunk lock mechanism (sort of like the one on the hood above, I think?) I’ve done a cursory look on Ebay but I didn’t find anything, so I’ll archive the "need" here just in case I need to look up the photos when I’m out and about OR if a reader spots something — email me here.
This is a quick test for a new computer running Open Live Writer.
I’m retiring my 9 year old Gateway notebook computer and forging ahead with a low powered and low cost Microsoft Window 10 notebook. More to come on my recent addition in a future post, but after the Gateway overheated and cooked itself to death I had to make a quick decision. I would have loved a Mac Air, MacBook or MacBook Pro … but I don’t use the notebook computers like I use to now that nearly everything is on the cloud and accessable with an iPad and Brydge Keyboard. Sof for now, it will take a little tweaking to get this new ASUS VivoBook E403SA to my liking. So far, so good.
Tinkering with a new notebook computer (tomorrow’s post) and a few Open Live Writer issues. This is at test image with the scaling set to 100% — makes no difference. Next step is to look at the WordPress style.css to see if there is anything that might be causing display issues.
Proving how difficult it is to secure soft targets from suicide committed terrorists.
Turkish investigators pored over video footage and witness statements on Wednesday after three suspected Islamic State suicide bombers opened fire and blew themselves up in Istanbul’s main airport, killing 41 people and wounding 239.
I haven’t really tested my latest exhaust temperature sensor fix … prior to putting in a new sensor on Saturday, the SUV continued to "throw codes." Here’s crossing my fingers … but just in case, I’m not putting the skidplates back on just yet.
