Remember when it was 2 bolts and 10 minutes? alanby alanrw - Car Talk
I wonder why she never smiles in any of the pictures? Bad teeth? alanby alanrw - Community Forum
Obviously, the best bet is the license plate number, but nowadays, anti-stalker laws protect the citizenry. alanby alanrw - Community Forum
Exactly, consumer expectation also drives the marketplace. alanby alanrw - Car Talk
Well, the problem is that many of the cars today need to go on the computer after part replacement to initialize or reset/relearn for the cpu. In some instances, if you don't follow protocol, you might even damage something. On my 2002 PT Cruiser, I had to replace the automatic transmission solenoid pack. Not a bad job but before you start the car, you have to initialize and do a "tranby alanrw - Car Talk
The problem for any car manufacturer is that they can not appear to be technologically inferior to the competition. If one manufac. is using canbus, then ultimately, they all will. My feeling is at this point, they might as well weld the hood shut. You pretty much need the dealer scan tool to see what is going on and each year they get more and more complex. alanby alanrw - Car Talk
Well, tell you what Rick, if I ever decide to part with my 84 325E, I will contact you. She is a true California car, no rust and just purrs (until you put your foot into it). alanby alanrw - Community Forum
Is it lug nuts or axle stubs? Eh, they will fix it. At least it is not the Chevy Volt debacle. alanby alanrw - Car Talk
I think the Volt is about to become GM's Ford Pinto exploding gas tank. alanby alanrw - Car Talk
Cmon Peter, everyone knows you keep 4 skateboards in the trunk. You just lift the nose and rear of the car, slide the skateboards under the tires and slide her right in. alanby alanrw - Car Talk
Congrats Peter. It looks like a breeze to parallel park as well. alanby alanrw - Car Talk
I think the original goal was to hold Wall St. and the banking industry responsible for the financial meltdown. Many innocent (people who up to that point had led fiscally responsible lives) got caught in the vortex and found themselves unemployed and in the streets when they were forclosed on. Meanwhile, Wall St. and Main St. continued to earn large salaries and nice bonues (the so called 1%).by alanrw - Community Forum
Peter, just a thought....that E30 mentioned at the top of this thread, if you buy it, service items aside (tires, brake pads, belts etc which you have to consider with any car you buy), do you think you would end up putting $10K into it over the coming years for repairs? Coupled with the driving pleasure derived from an E30.....just thinking out loud. alanby alanrw - Car Talk
That is a fine looking car. Usually when the owner keeps everything in a binder, it is a good sign the car has been meticulously maintained. I drove by a park today that had an all BMW car show going on. There were tons of E30's (Peter, I looked for an Ix, but couldn't see one). There were also a bunch of 2002's. Now those were really fun cars to drive. alanby alanrw - Car Talk
Is anyone looking for an E30? Every now and then I see them for sale here in sunny SoCal. The nice thing about SoCal cars is no rust. alanby alanrw - Community Forum
Eh, just got yelled at by a friend today for not answering my cell phone when he calls. I told him I keep my cell in my glove box for weeks on end. I try not to answer it as if it rings, it usually means something at the office broke or a car registered to me won't start. I think he was dumbfounded. alanby alanrw - Car Talk
Agreed Rick, wind in hair, gears clicking along, zooming down hills, the only problem is that riding a bike around here is akin to air combat. Too many drivers texting while they drive. I gave up riding after having a few close calls, I do miss it. alanby alanrw - Car Talk
As to the oil service indictator leds not working, the batteries on the instrument cluster need replacing, minor issue. alanby alanrw - Technical Forum
Art, i am only making an assumption here. I believe the test is with a DVM (digital volt meter) set to Ohms. Pull off the connector, place the 2 meter probes on the 2 terminals and measure the Ohms. When cold you have one value, when the engine is warm, you have a second value. Not sure what the cold-hot values are, perhaps someone can help out? alanby alanrw - Technical Forum
Bad coolant temp sender. Sender thinks the car is warm when it's cold. After the car warms up, the data is now correct. When the car is cold, it should be running slightly rich. As it warms up, the mixture is leaned out. alanby alanrw - Technical Forum
Not only that, but the Neon is the mechanical platform for the PT Cruiser. Same crappy parts, same crappy design. Ask me how I know........................ alanby alanrw - Community Forum
Peterr, I have trued wheels before, no biggie but how do you start from scratch and keep the hub concentric to the wheel? Is it just trial and error? alanby alanrw - Car Talk
Well, not quite for free, there is the beer tariff. alanby alanrw - Technical Forum
If it is when the lights are on then you need to replace the 2 bulbs in the OBC. Check here: and here: alanby alanrw - Technical Forum
We just got a new Toyota Camry. It was what my wife wanted but I am impressed with the level of finish and engineering the car presents. Toyota has a lot of cars in their stable, I assume with the same level of engineering as the Camry. The VW's do look interesting. alanby alanrw - Car Talk
My favorite for all time!! The fabled Seiko 6139 chronograph. Seiko 6139 Chronograph alanby alanrw - Community Forum
A friend of mine who once upon a time was a BMW factory/dealer tech opened an independent Mini repair shop. He owns a Mini and swears by them. They do have a few issues but for him, still the car to have. There were a few kinks in the first evolutions, but they are being designed out of the new ones. I am seeing him today and will ask him again and re-post. He did lend me his Mini when I had hby alanrw - Car Talk
As the somewhat abivalent owner of a PT Cruiser, all I can say is if Chrysler is behind Fiat, the odds are 50-50 the car will crap out on the test drive. And everything at the certified Chrysler repair facility is pretty simple. You just multiply $800 by an integer. My wife just had to have a PT Cruiser. She thought they were so cute. alanby alanrw - Car Talk
Before you know it, he will be asking for the keys to your E30. That is the definition of "moral dilemma"!!! Congrats!!!! alanby alanrw - Community Forum
Glad you are OK. The money spent is well worth it. It could have had an entirely worse outcome. You can't put a price on safety. alanby alanrw - Car Talk