--------------- FIDO MESSAGE AREA==> TOPIC: 246 AUTOMOTIVE Ref: F2E00021 Date: 02/07/98 From: ALAN MORRISON Time: 09:48pm \/To: RONNIE THOMPSON (Read 0 times) Subj: OX sensor -=> Quoting Ronnie Thompson to Alan Morrison <=- AM> I've got over 100k on mine now Ronnie, but don't know if it might run AM> any better with a new one. What did you notice most when changing one, AM> and what were any problems that caused you to decide on replacement? RT> The ones that went bad...all of a sudden the car started running RT> REALLY crappy. It could be driven, but it spit and sputtered really RT> bad and had very little power. Had another one where it started to RT> feel like I was driving into a strong wind. Pulled the O2 sensor and RT> put a new one it, cleared the problem up. Now, I replace them every RT> 40K. They only run around $21-22 for the Bosch brand. I think they're about $28 here last time I got one for another car. It wasn't the problem with that one though. I think yours must have had a substantial difference from what the fuel map calls for and what it needs, if it ran really badly. I notice mine has gotten a little cold-natured recently, but just for the few moments after it goes closed-loop but still isn't warm. This lasts for about a half mile, or perhaps a minute. It runs fine when first started and is peppy for about the first minute. I noticed it got a lot better when I changed from Citgo premium to Conoco or Exxon premium. Since then it is only a very slight hesitation if I get stopped at the first light or two from the house in the morning. Mine is a multi-port system and I can monitor the O2 sensor feedback by putting it in diagnostic mode before starting out. In this mode it blinks the light on more often, or on less often, when the sensor tells the computer to make a mixture correction. I think I'll check it out next time I remember to do it. Maybe it has gotten enough contamination in 13 years to need one. :^) --- Blue Wave/386 v2.20 [NR] * Origin: River Canyon Rd. BBS Chattanooga, Tn (1:362/627) --------------- FIDO MESSAGE AREA==> TOPIC: 246 AUTOMOTIVE Ref: F2E00022 Date: 02/07/98 From: ALAN MORRISON Time: 10:02pm \/To: TOM WALKER (Read 0 times) Subj: OX sensor -=> Quoting TOM WALKER to ALAN MORRISON <=- RT> Sorry, but I've never seen one go 100K. I routinely change mine RT> every 40K, as I have had two (one on each car) go bad -> I've got over 100k on mine now Ronnie, but don't know if it might run -> better with a new one. TW> Since the Computer monitoring of the SMOG devices is so good I just TW> don't see the sense of replacing it until you get the Replace Oxygen I don't have any codes set, and will check it out in diagnostic mode the next time I think about it. TW> sensor. And since "Limp Home" is a required portion of the TW> computerized engine control system, Nothing would get a manufacturer TW> in bigger trouble than a Sudden death computer program when a sensor Mine runs nearly imperceptibly different if put in limp-home mode. The main thing you notice is no TCC lockup. TW> fails, I can't see any problem at all. And on the two I have had a TW> problem with the biggest problem was a drop in Fuel Miledge. The car TW> still ran reasonably well with a bad oxygen sensor. Same here, I haven't checked the mileage recently, but it seems normal. A slight cold-natured hesitation for the first few moments of closed- loop operation, and only in the morning. I'll check into it though, it is getting fairly old. --- Blue Wave/386 v2.20 [NR] * Origin: River Canyon Rd. BBS Chattanooga, Tn (1:362/627) --------------- FIDO MESSAGE AREA==> TOPIC: 246 AUTOMOTIVE Ref: F2E00023 Date: 02/07/98 From: ALAN MORRISON Time: 10:16pm \/To: ROY J. TELLASON (Read 0 times) Subj: Vehicle Confiscation -=> Quoting John Pummill to Roy J. Tellason <=- RT> How easy would it be to build a small electronic circuit RT> that could alert you to a bulb having burned out? Maybe RT> even which one? I'll bet it wouldn't be all that difficult, Hey I had a thought... How about a circuit that trips when any bulb goes out. Tie it into a rotating blue light, so that you can have the car in front of you run to the parts store for a bulb. ;^) --- Blue Wave/386 v2.20 [NR] * Origin: River Canyon Rd. BBS Chattanooga, Tn (1:362/627) --------------- FIDO MESSAGE AREA==> TOPIC: 246 AUTOMOTIVE Ref: F2E00024 Date: 02/07/98 From: ALAN MORRISON Time: 11:43pm \/To: ALL (Read 0 times) Subj: Cadillac OnStar System New Technology: Cadillac Deville with OnStar By Steven D. Gatt, Automotive Editor The Cadillac Deville Concours is a very big and comfortable car. The Concours edition of the Deville is an upgrade providing even more standard features. The most important feature evaluated here is not just the car but the OnStar System. More later on this great technology. The Deville Concours is comfortable to drive; it doesn't drive as big as it looks. It handles most tasks with ease and precision. Only when pushed hard will you notice the lack of lateral support in the seats and body roll in the car. The variable assist power steering even makes most parking chores down right easy. The transmission is a smooth shifting 4-speed automatic that puts the 305 horsepower of the NorthStar 4.6L, V8 to the pavement in a hurry. You won't have trouble merging on the expressway with this power train. EPA ratings for the Deville are decent at 17 city, and 26 highway. During our testing we achieved 24 mpg. The Deville Concours is front-wheel-drive unlike the foreign competition (Mercedes, BMW) and even the domestic Lincoln Town Car; the only real American competition. The front-wheel-drive, combined with traction control and four-wheel anti-lock brakes makes for a very safe driving experience, in most any weather. Our test Cadillac Deville Concours featured an extensive list of standard features, and many optional amenities. Some of those features and amenities were: remote keyless entry, power heated front seats, electronic leveling control, large power sunroof, automatic headlights and an electronic compass. Two exceptional features are the retained accessory power. This means the radio will continue playing after the car is shut off, until the door is opened. The other feature is rain sense windshield wipers that monitor the amount of precipitation on the windshield and wipe when necessary. Safety is also provided inside the car for all three front passengers. Cadillac has dual airbags' up front with the passenger airbag being oversized to provide protection to the middle occupant. This system is known as airbank. New for 1997 are front door mounted airbags for even more occupant protection. Power door locks with child security locks on the rear doors provides yet more safety; along with power lockout on the rear window controls. One more safety feature is the OnStar system. What is the OnStar System? Not exactly an easy question to answer; it is a lot of things. Here are just a few of the things OnStar can do. It provides navigational support; this alone is reason enough to get the system for that stubborn man that won't stop and ask for directions. Those directions anywhere are now at your fingertips. Lose your car in the parking lot? Just call the 800 number provide the personalized password and OnStar will set off the horn and lights so that you can find it. I tested the system with unlocking service. The OnStar advisor I spoke with politely asked for the password then unlocked the Deville. One of the most important things OnStar does is automatic emergency personnel notification of airbag deployment. If you are injured in an accident and unable to summon help the OnStar system does it for you the system will even tell the police where the accident is. It also provides stolen vehicle tracking. Some of the other capabilities include ordering flowers, making hotel reservations or finding the closest Mobil gas station. The only thing other onboard navigational systems have over OnStar is the digital map screen inside the car. OnStar makes up for this with the vast array of other abilities. Fortunately, the system will become available on more GM products for 1998 so more people can feel secure with OnStar by their side. Normally this is a car that more mature adults drive, and some would say they drive it just because it's big. Well, that's not necessarily true. The Cadillac Deville Concours is an exceptional value with a total price as tested of only $45,727. For size, comfort and value, you really can't beat the Cadillac Deville adding the OnStar system only enhances this king of Cadillac's. --- Blue Wave/386 v2.20 [NR] * Origin: River Canyon Rd. BBS Chattanooga, Tn (1:362/627) --------------- FIDO MESSAGE AREA==> TOPIC: 246 AUTOMOTIVE Ref: F2E00025 Date: 02/09/98 From: ALAN MORRISON Time: 01:49pm \/To: ALL (Read 0 times) Subj: Buying Imports; Free Trade? Report to President William Jefferson Clinton of the Interagency Enforcement Team Regarding the U.S.-Japan Agreement on Autos and Auto Parts, October 21, 1996 Prepared by: The United States Department of Commerce and The Office of the United States Trade Representative ------------------------------------------------------------------------ APPENDIX B: Explanation of Data Sources Japanese Automobile Manufacturers Association (JAMA) Data In 1987, the USG and GOJ signed the Transportation Machinery Market- Oriented, Sector-Selective (MOSS) Agreement, the main goal of which was to substantially increase U.S. sales of automotive parts to Japanese automakers. As part of this accord, the Japanese agreed to voluntarily submit to the Department of Commerce semi-annually the value of U.S. parts purchased by Japanese automakers. The data includes totals for purchases for use in the United States and in Japan and is broken out into six major parts categories. In a side letter to the Framework Agreement, MITI renewed its commitment to supply the purchasing data and agreed to further break the data out into categories for OE and OES use. The OES data include only those aftermarket parts purchased by dealers in Japan, and do not include parts purchased for the independent aftermarket in Japan. --- ... Foreign Trade Zone (FTZ) Data FTZs are areas under U.S. Customs supervision that are considered outside the customs territory of the United States. (These zones are located in the United States. For example, the Toyota plant in Kentucky is an FTZ.) Under FTZ procedures, the usual customs entry procedure and payment of duties are not required upon admission of foreign imports into the zones. Every U.S.-based passenger vehicle plant - including those operated by the Big Three, Japanese, and German transplants - is located in an FTZ, which affords them considerable savings in duties. Under the FTZ system, automakers can import parts into zones without paying the average 4 percent U.S. duty, then ship completed passenger vehicles out of the FTZ, paying only the lower 2.5 percent duty assessed on passenger vehicles. (Since the United States assesses an 25 percent duty on pickups trucks, there is no incentive for manufacturers of these vehicles to produce in FTZs.) If the vehicle is exported, no duty is paid at all. FTZ regulations require that automakers report the value of parts shipped into the FTZ from U.S. locations ("domestic status inputs"), as well as the value of parts imported from foreign countries ("foreign status inputs") annually to DOC's FTZ Office. Thus, FTZ data are useful in monitoring trends in two areas of the U.S.-Japan Automotive Framework Agreement: 1) Japanese automakers' reports on domestic status inputs can be used as an indicator of Japanese transplant purchases of U.S. parts, and 2) Japanese automakers' reports on domestic status inputs, combined with foreign status inputs, can be used to crudely estimate the percentage of domestic content of transplant production. --- American Automobile Labeling Act (AALA) Data The AALA requires that all vehicles sold in the US be affixed with a label stating the percentage of U.S. and Canadian parts content, the place of Final Assembly, and the origin of the Engine and Transmission. AALA data have been collected since the 1995 model year, thus 1995 is used as a benchmark year. ... TOYOTA- Too Often Yankees Overprice This Auto --- Blue Wave/386 v2.20 [NR] * Origin: River Canyon Rd. BBS Chattanooga, Tn (1:362/627) --------------- FIDO MESSAGE AREA==> TOPIC: 246 AUTOMOTIVE Ref: F2F00000 Date: 02/09/98 From: DEVIN DIMITRI Time: 02:55pm \/To: KENNY HENDERSON (Read 0 times) Subj: Re: 1999 Cars KH> I have been in a late model Cobra, a '95 with 5.0. While my car is KH> definately faster (especially on the highway) the Cobra is a nicer all KH> around car. The interior is nicer etc. The extra $$ goes towards KH> quality Hmm, i've heard that, but still, they should pop a 351 in it as an SVT option. Oh, and what do you drive? There's too many people to keep track of. Speaking for quality, i've heard that the Firehawks, in the similar price range of the SVTs are good cars. -Lates --- Telegard v3.09.g1/mL * Origin: The Rapid Eye - 913-393-4104 - Olathe,KS (1:280/183) --------------- FIDO MESSAGE AREA==> TOPIC: 246 AUTOMOTIVE Ref: F2F00001 Date: 02/10/98 From: MICHAEL SHARON Time: 01:50pm \/To: JOHN FAERBER (Read 0 times) Subj: Re: Oily Plugs -=> Quoting Jay Emrie to John Faerber <=- JF>I was asked to if I knew this, since I don't, I am posting this here. JF>What does it mean when a person pulls their plugs andd they are oily, JF>what would that mean? Big $$ repairs, or something simple to cure? JE> It simply means the engine is burning oil - much too much - and a ring JE> job is not inexpensive nor simple to do! I agree, although slight oily film on the plugs will often occur with new engines. You didn't mention what year the vehicle was. However, in most cases, Jay is right. Poor oil control may be the cause for the condition you have. However, one other cause may contribute as well. A "plugged up" PCV valve can often be the culprit. It's best to try changing a $1.98 PCV valve first, then consider more expensive repairs if that doesn't solve your problem. ;) Sincerely, Michael Sharon ... Happiness is not a station you arrive at, but a manner of traveling. ___ Blue Wave/DOS v2.30 [NR] --- Platinum Xpress/Win/Wildcat5! v2.0 * Origin: Tonys Corner Wildcat! Warren, MI. 99:1/530 (1:120/13) --------------- FIDO MESSAGE AREA==> TOPIC: 246 AUTOMOTIVE Ref: F2F00002 Date: 02/09/98 From: SEAN DUNBAR Time: 11:54pm \/To: ALL (Read 0 times) Subj: Mileage Finished a full tank of gas (finally) tonight. Just shy of 250 miles out of it. 9.099 gallons to fill it up ($9) About 27-28 MPG or so, hey? I'm impressed, specially when you consider I've been rodding it a little bit (just seeing what it's capable of.. yeah.. that's the ticket... 80 in 3rd @ 6000 RPM anyone?), and most of that 250 miles were city miles ... "Homer Sexual? C'mon, one of you guys must be Homer Sexual!" -- Moe --- Telegard v3.09.g1/mL * Origin: tos * 972-818-0339 - dallas texas (1:124/6630) --------------- FIDO MESSAGE AREA==> TOPIC: 246 AUTOMOTIVE Ref: F2F00003 Date: 02/09/98 From: SEAN DUNBAR Time: 12:42am \/To: KEVIN RELKOFF (Read 0 times) Subj: Re: New car. Tada. KR> mustangs =] Heh Well Did You check to see fi it was in a KR> accident, or anyhting? With my car