GS500
This is my first motorcycle - a 2001 Suzuki GS500k1. I bought it in October of 2003, with about 3000 miles on the odometer. All I have to say is that it's the most fun I've had out of 37hp ;o]
If you're looking for information on GS500s, try the
GSTwin site and their
forum.
Modifications: National Cycle F18 screen; Progressive springs; Srinath case savers.
Mazda3
My first new car, woo! It is a 2005 sand Mazda3i. I bought it after a nice lady
folded my old car in half. So far, aside from a little trouble seeing anything when backing up, I have only good things to say for it :). I'll have a photo up as soon as I'm not lazy (that's not going to be very soon, so don't hold your breath).
Modifications: FIAMM low-tone horn addon to beef up the tiny beep.
If you are curious, you can view my
greasemonkey work log.
|
Model ↑ |
Date |
Mileage |
Job Type |
Job Name |
Comments
|
|
Mazda3 |
2005.04.20 |
42 |
Miscellaneous |
Purchase |
show
|
[hide]
After much hastle -- the dealer trying to screw me several times -- I finally bought a new "shimmering sand" Mazda3. |
|
Mazda3 |
2005.08.10 |
5045 |
Maintenance |
Oil Change |
show
|
[hide]
First oil change. Perhaps I should have done it a little sooner, but I was not able to. The old oil was fairly clean when it came out.
Castrol GTX
Napa filter |
|
Mazda3 |
2005.12.02 |
8575 |
Modification |
Horn |
show
|
[hide]
The car comes with one "high-tone" horn, which sounds wimpier than my tiny gs500 horn.
Installed a FIAMM "B"-note low-tone horn (AM80/#72012) in addition to the OEM high-tone horn. Used a 1m->2f splitter to get power to both horns.
Used these instructions (second set of pics) to jack up the car. |
|
Mazda3 |
2005.12.03 |
8585 |
Maintenance |
Oil Change |
show
|
[hide]
Second oil change, this time at a dealer.
4.3qt of Mobil 5w20. (They could not give me more info, but if I had to guess it was Mobil Clean 5000.)
Mazda filter cartridge. |
|
Mazda3 |
2005.12.03 |
8585 |
Maintenance |
Tire Rotation |
show
|
[hide]
Dealer rotated my tires: front to back; back to front. |
|
Mazda3 |
2005.08.16 |
5426 |
Repair |
Wheel |
show
|
[hide]
I hydroplaned and cracked a rim (OEM Toyo proxes are horrid on wet roads).
Replaced with factory 16in rim. |
|
Mazda3 |
2005.08.16 |
5426 |
Adjustment |
Alignment |
show
|
[hide]
4-wheel alignment |
|
Mazda3 |
2006.01.01 |
12590 |
Maintenance |
Oil Change |
show
|
[hide]
motocraft 5w-20 (4.2-4.3qt)
mazda filter #LF10-14-302 (screw on, NOT cartridge)
could not get the floor jack under the front of the car (not enough space). jacked each side separately and put the car on stands (under the cylindrical wheel/shock couplings).
CAUTION: oil shoots out far (toward the back) and slightly to the right (if facing front of car). |
|
Mazda3 |
2006.07.24 |
16728 |
Maintenance |
Oil Change |
show
|
[hide]
motocraft 5w-20 ~ 4.3qt
mazda filter #LF10-14-302
old oil was pretty nasty-looking. perhaps 4000mi is too long an interval. |
|
Mazda3 |
2006.11.04 |
19666 |
Maintenance |
Tire Rotation |
show
|
[hide]
rotation done at Big10Tires; $20 with coupon; i believe they did front to back, same side. |
|
Mazda3 |
2006.11.23 |
20160 |
Maintenance |
Oil Change |
show
|
[hide]
motocraft 5w-20 ~ 4.3qt
mazda filter #LF10-14-302 |
|
Mazda3 |
2007.04.04 |
23884 |
Maintenance |
Oil Change |
show
|
[hide]
motocraft 5w-20 ~ 4.3qt
mazda filter #LF10-14-302 |
|
Mazda3 |
2007.08.19 |
29065 |
Maintenance |
Oil Change |
show
|
[hide]
motocraft 5w-20 ~ 4.3qt
mazda filter #LF10-14-302 |
|
Mazda3 |
2007.09.14 |
29847 |
Maintenance |
Tire Change |
show
|
[hide]
Went to Discount Tire (discounttire.com) and had my tires replaced with Goodyear Assurance TripleTred.
It was hella expensive, but I hope the 80000 mile tread warranty will be worth it.
I also purchased their Free Replacement certificate -- basically if the tire is damaged by road hazzard, etc., I get a free replacement.
I was also thinking about getting Yokohamas YK520s, but they had a lower tread rating for not much less money. |
|
Mazda3 |
2008.02.02 |
34052 |
Maintenance |
Tire Rotation |
show
|
[hide]
Done at Discount Tire (free). Front-to-back, same side; 32psi; torque: 90. |
|
Mazda3 |
2008.02.02 |
34060 |
Maintenance |
Oil Change |
show
|
[hide]
motocraft 5w-20 ~ 4.3qt
mazda filter #LF10-14-302
changed gasket |
|
Mazda3 |
2008.04.16 |
35735 |
Maintenance |
Air Filter |
show
|
[hide]
Replaced air filter with Mazda part #LF50-13-Z409U |
|
Mazda3 |
2008.05.02 |
35850 |
Maintenance |
Cabin Air Filter |
show
|
[hide]
Just finished replacing my cabin air filters - Mazda part #BP4K-61-J6X. The filters cost me $25 at the dealer.
Although I've read that it takes anywhere from 30 minutes to an hour, it took me about an hour and a half. Maybe I am bigger than I realize, but 30 of those minutes, I spent trying to get my hands/arms/shoulders/head and the rest of my body crammed into a cubic foot. Otherwise I could not visualize the filter slot and fit them in there.
Overall, it was not hard, but way more tedious than it should have been.
I followed this guide. There is a different one, if you do not wish to remove the glove box. Although I have to say, it took all of 5 minutes (total) to take it off and put it back on, and if I had not done it, I do not think I would have been able to cram the new filters in there.
Here is the official guide, which has a nice diagram on how to disconnect all the fuse wires.
Oddly enough, I had a pair of "blanks" in the filter slot. They were basically the plastic frames like the filters, only without the actual paper filter part... odd. |
|
Mazda3 |
2008.06.30 |
37920 |
Maintenance |
Tire Rotation |
show
|
[hide]
Done at Discount Tire (free). Front-to-back, same side; 32psi; torque: 90.
Replaced all four valve-stems due to possible defect. Balance. |
|
Mazda3 |
2008.06.30 |
37930 |
Maintenance |
Oil Change |
show
|
[hide]
motocraft 5w-20 ~ 4.3qt
mazda filter #LF10-14-302A
changed gasket |
