Scion xA aero mods

[RandomFact314]

I know a while ago I asked if you idled until your "cold coolant" light went off or just drove. I was wondering which one was better for the car. I actually looked in the car's manual and it says "Engine should be warmed up by driving, not in idle" and a little later says to warm by driving smoothy and never "race the engine" while that light is on

It also has 2 specific spark plugs that it calls for, either:
Denso K16R-U or NGK BKR5EYA

[NeilBlanchard]

I think I try to get it warm up as quickly as possible - unless I can do a nice long EOC, or if the traffic light cycle is going to be 1+ minutes and I can see when it going to turn green.

[RandomFact314]

Just a little interesting information about my Scion so far:
400ish days of owning my Scion it's cost me:
$201 in maintenance, $47 in repairs, and $80 for rims

My last car, a CRX cost me $4,480 in repairs and maintenance in about the same amount of time O.o

[NeilBlanchard]

I have had only a couple of things happen that were unexpected: the right rear wheel bearing had to be replaced, and the bracket at the manifold into the exhaust system is now leaking for the second time. They replaced it relatively recently, and now it is "sputtering" again.

The most pressing thing right now is when the gas tank is full, and it is cold overnight, I smell gasoline when I start up the engine, for a few minutes.

Lastly, the light switch on the hatch door doesn't work anymore.

Now too bad for ~156K miles. Still on the original clutch, and the engine is doing fine.

[Oceanic815]

Long thread, good read. Thanks.

Regarding the turbulators/ZZ tape, is this not something worth the effort on other than the top of the front window and mirrors?

[NeilBlanchard]

Yes, the zigzag tape seemed to have a small effect at the top of the windshield, and on the side mirrors - though I took the side mirrors off, anyway.

[NeilBlanchard]

Okay, big update - I had to rebuild the rear wheel skirts and the Kamm back, because the old ones were very ratty and the strakes were literally falling off. I built the left side and the top first, then took the left side pieces back off to trace them to make mirrored pieces for the right side.



Though I need to split the side panels so I can open the hatch, and I have to decide to either make the entire skirts and strake come off to change the wheels, or cut in a panel. I also want to add a leading strake, and a partial rear belly pan (again) and an inside skirt for each wheel.

I will hopefully be able to fiberglass this soon; as the 1/4" XPS foam is quite flexible and won't hold up to lots of travel time. And paint ...

[Cobb]

Wow, maybe mold this into a new rear bumper and see how many you can sell. I use to own an xa and they had very few body mods in relation to the xb.

[NeilBlanchard]

I need to seal up the inside of the wheel strakes, and despite my best intentions, today I managed exactly nothing on this project (or CarBEN EV5, either). I drove it briefly, and I took it all off, so I don't damage anything. Nekkid agin ...

[NeilBlanchard]

I made a bit of progress on my new aero pieces today - I added a piece that will curve up in side the wheel well behind the tire, blocking dirt and debris, and I foamed the wheel strakes on the inside. I also marked out the access panel to take the wheels off, and I'll cut that next; and then add a lip to support the panel. Then the sides get split so the hatch can be opened, and then fiberglass them.