Basketcase :: 2015 Mitsubishi Mirage DE (Garage entry)

[Eggman]

Finally, ordered a new headlight for the car so that'll be here soon so then I can replace that since the tab is broken off that holds it to the fender.

Didn't MetroMPG glue one of his back together? I'll have to look for that one...

Hopefully my slow progress on this poor car isn't too annoying haha.

It's gonna turn out great. Project cars are never done anyway.

[Eggman]

Didn't MetroMPG glue one of his back together? I'll have to look for that one...

Found it:

Overkill headlight housing repair

[Dodge Aries K]

Yeah, the previous owner hated this car and treated it like a cheap mud Jeep. What a good way to waste $13,000 or whatever they spent for the car (used, it had 16,000 miles) just to destroy it.

Fortunately, it's not cigarette nastyness... I can't stand that smell. I actually got a really nice PT Cruiser from someone I know for next to nothing but I couldn't get that nasty ash tray smell out even after scrubbing every surface with degreaser, leaving the ozone machine in there for a week, and shampooing everything. Dammit I hate cigs! So that got a few minor things fixed on it and I sold it to the local Toyota dealer to get it gone.

As for the headlight, the plastic tab thing is literally gone so I can't glue it back together unfortunately. Otherwise I would have totally repaired it to save money on the project.

And there better be an end to this project soon... I want to actually use the car instead of work on it hahaha.

[MetroMPG]

I probably would have attempted to fabricate a tab! You have another good one for reference?

That's OK. You must value your time more than I do!

[Loren]

To get rid of smells, after a good cleaning, douse everything with unscented FeBreeze. That stuff is amazing! Might not work for deeply embedded mold in a carpet or seat foam. But, for stuff on the surface, like smoke... it's great!

[Dodge Aries K]

I probably would have attempted to fabricate a tab! You have another good one for reference?

I mean, I do have three other Mirages here. The unfortunate part is the thing that broke is a load bearing part that not only holds the headlight steady it also holds the fender in the right spot AND holds the clip that the bumper attaches to. While I can appreciate some rigging of stuff, this was a spot that I felt was important to be correct so things line up properly.

And yeah, the Febreeze works but the unfortunate thing is when you have mad cig embedded into the foam of the seats or the insulation in the carpeting it's only a temporary fix.

[Dodge Aries K]

Got lucky today! A yard not far from my house had a rear ended 17 G4. They pulled the drivetrain out but instead of butchering the a/c lines they actually unbolted them so the damaged line I needed was sitting under the hood waiting for me. Best of all, only $20. Way better than the $200 from the stupid dealer.

[Dodge Aries K]

Okay, super productive today. Picked up the replacement trans and shifter cables this morning. Then tonight we pulled out the old transmission, replaced the shift cables, replaced the ac line, replaced the bumper retainer clips, installed the new driver side headlight, bent the driver fender back to the correct shape, installed the new transmission, and finally replaced the front pads and rotors. Whew! Have to get fluid for the trans tomorrow and then can finally test it, install the fender liners, and then get the bumper cover when it's ready and the car will be ready to work.

[PityOnU]

Got lucky today! A yard not far from my house had a rear ended 17 G4. They pulled the drivetrain out but instead of butchering the a/c lines they actually unbolted them so the damaged line I needed was sitting under the hood waiting for me. Best of all, only $20. Way better than the $200 from the stupid dealer.

This is what I miss about my busted-ass old Subaru. Could go to pretty much any junker near me and find a ton of parts for it for super cheap, with any trim level you could think of. Seems these Mirage's are pretty few and far between, unfortunately. Bit more of a hassle.

[Dodge Aries K]

Good news! The car drives great now! Just need to do the rear brakes, alignment, and install the bumper cover when it arrives and it's ready to work!