HDTenEightyP/NetNews huggingface dataset:
From: gold@imp.sim.es.com (Bruce Gold)
Subject: Re: simple starting problem
Organization: Evans & Sutherland Computer Corp., Salt Lake City, UT
Date: Mon, 28 Sep 1992 23:43:24 GMT

In article <1992Sep27.185054.21174@cmcl2.nyu.edu>, (Gary J. Rosenblum) writes:
|> 
|> from time to time when i try to start my car 
|> (whether it is cold or warm), all i get is a 'click' when i turn the 
|> ignition key.  when this happens, it can take one click, or twenty, 
|> then it starts up with no problem.  the problem goes away when i 
|> install a new battery, but starts again after about 2-3 months.  the 
|> battery voltage checks out, and of course whenever i take it to a 
|> mechanic he finds nothing wrong with it.  any ideas?

The same symptom arises in GM cars that have been started many times.  Typically
about 50,000 miles since the last fix.  The starter solenoid, mounted on the 
side of the starter motor, has inside of it a large coppor washer mounted on the
end of the solenoid's armature.  The washer contacts copper bolts to close the
circuit to the motor when the driver turns the key.  The copper bolts get chewed
up after a while and they need to be rotated a half-turn.  After both sides are
gone, GM owners need to actually spend a couple of bucks for a new bolt.  No doubt
the analagous part on a Toyota is much higher quality so you should expect to pay
more than a couple of bucks.
-- 
				Bruce Gold
				   Utah
From: ebergman@phaedrus.East.Sun.COM (Eric Bergman)
Newsgroups: rec.autos
Subject: ALLOY WHEELS - why?
Date: 2 Oct 1992 14:57:26 GMT
Organization: Sun Microsystems Inc. - BDC
Distribution: na
Reply-To: ebergman@phaedrus.East.Sun.COM
NNTP-Posting-Host: phaedrus.east.sun.com
Keywords: alloy wheels

I know zilch about alloy wheels.  What do they do for you?  
What are the pro's and con's of alloy wheels?

Eric
From: j1moody@darwin.cc.nd.edu (Humpty Dumpty)
Newsgroups: rec.autos
Subject: About my clutch?
Date: 30 Sep 92 08:21:37 GMT
Followup-To: rec.autos
Organization: University of Notre Dame

I'm worried about the clutch in my 1983 Nissan Sentra.
The pedal pushes easily to the floor. It's hard to get it into reverse.
And now I seem to be having a loss in power. It just doesn't have
the pick-up it had several months ago.I push on the gas, the engine
roars like it's supposed to, but the car doesn't move like it is supposed
to. It's almost as if I'm driving on ice. 
Is this my clutch? Do I need a fly-wheel adjustment?
How much should this cost?
Thank you much.

Joe
 
Xref: sparky rec.autos:23097 rec.autos.driving:5785
From: sly9y@cc.usu.edu
Newsgroups: rec.autos
Subject: Re: Can I get out of these 2 tickets?
Date: 2 Oct 92 11:30:19 MDT
Organization: Utah State University

In article <1992Sep30.172116.23737@sei.cmu.edu>, rjl@sei.cmu.edu (Robert Lang) writes:
> 
> 
> 
> OK. I was stopped for speeding. The cop says I was doing 45mph
> (in a 25mph zone.) So he gave me a ticket. I didn't have my license with
> me (honest, officer, I always carry it with me), so he gave me a ticket for
> that too.
> 
> I noticed on the tickets that there's a space where I'm supposed to sign my
> name--to ackowledge receipt of the ticket. I did not sign them. My question
> is: does that mean anything? Presumably, my signing the ticket is part of the
> procedure, and he didn't follow it. But the thing is, I have no defense other
> than that--I was speeding, I did not have my license.
> 
> So what do you think: can I get out of paying these tickets? Anyone else have
> a similar experience? What if I fight it and lose? Will it cost me even more?
> 
> Thanks,
> 
Well, back in my home state of Nevada, signing the tickets is not an admission
of guilt, but a promise to appear in court.  If that had happened to me, I 
would call the department that issued the tickets (city county, etc) and ask 
them about the 'promise' to appear in court.

Pete
> -Bob 
Newsgroups: rec.autos
From: tam@eel.ocgy.ubc.ca (Joe Tam)
Subject: Car storage
Followup-To: rec.autos.tech
Reply-To: tam@ocgy.ubc.ca
Organization: University of British Columbia, Vancouver, B.C., Canada
Date: Mon, 28 Sep 1992 21:21:18 GMT

I posted this to rec.autos.tech but only got mail to summarise responses.  I
post this query here in hopes that the larger readership of this group can supply
what I need.  Basically I need to know the steps involved in the long term
storage of a car.  I recall someone posted a memo from one of the Armed Forces
to their enlisted personnel on exactly this topic.  I would appreciate anyone
mailing (or posting) any relevant information to me.

Adv(thanks)ance

Joseph Tam <tam@ocgy.ubc.ca>   \___ \___________
Department of Oceanography     \___ \___________
University of British Columbia \___ \___________
Vancouver, BC, Canada          \___     \___
V6T 1W5                \___    \___     \___
                       \___    \___     \___
Phone: (604) 822-3911   \_________  \__ \___ \__
Fax:   (604) 822-6091    \______    \__ \___ \__
Newsgroups: rec.autos
From: pacyga@rtsg.mot.com (Jim Pacyga)
Subject: Re: How much of a discount for "new" executive or demo car?
Organization: Motorola Inc., Cellular Infrastructure Group
Date: Fri, 2 Oct 1992 15:39:12 GMT

In article <shaver.717966662@convex.convex.com> shaver@convex.com (Dave Shaver) writes:
>Since I'm thinking about buying an "executive" Thunderbird SC or
>Explorer, I have lots of questions about how these "new" cars are
>sold.
>
>	- How much of a discount do dealers generally give on either
>	  demo or "executive" cars?

Usually there is some sort of factory incentive on these cars.  The Chicago
Tribune lists the cash amounts of financing deals for most models of cars.

>	- How many miles are "normal" for such cars?
>
>	- Any special tricks to negotiate a better price on these "new"
>	  cars that are really used?
>
>	- Any gotchas?  (Other than the obvious that demo vehicles
>	  might have been driven hard.)

From what I understand the original factory warranty (usually 12/12000 or 36/
36000 [months/miles]) starts from the ORIGINAL SERVICE DATE, not from when
you buy the car!!  This means the warranty clock started the minute the 
"executive" put the keys in the car.

Hope this helps,
--------------------+-------------------------------+
Jim Pacyga          | Motorola, Inc.                |
(708) 632-6903      | 1501 W. Shure Dr., IL-27-N258 |
pacyga@rtsg.mot.com | Arlington Heights,  IL  60004 |
From: holowczk@rwja.umdnj.edu (Richard Holowczak)
Newsgroups: rec.autos
Subject: Re: CAR ALARMS: My Story/FAQ
Date: 30 Sep 92 16:53:20 GMT
Organization: Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Piscataway NJ




tmkk@uiuc.edu (Khan) writes:


>In article <1602@rwja.umdnj.edu> holowczk@rwja.umdnj.edu (Richard Holowczak) writes:
>>[...]
>>Pagers
>>------
>>[deleted stuff about pages on alarms]

>A brief comment to this portion of your post:

>Those of us with LoJack or similar tracking devices installed in our
>vehicles can make very good use of an alarm pager. With the LoJack
>system, the police can't start tracking your vehicle until you report it
>stolen to them. Thus, the sooner you discover the theft, the sooner you
>can report it, and the better off you are. With a pager, there's a good
>chance that you will find out *instantly* that your vehicle is being
>tampered with, so even if you're not up to confronting the thief you can at
>least report the theft quickly, greatly increasing your chances of a
>successful recovery and minimizing the chances that your vehicle will be
>stripped or damaged before it is found.

I agree 100%!!!  In my follow up posting of questions, I made the point
that some features might not be important to me but they may be important
to you or someone you love.  :)

BTW, what is the deal with the Lo-Jack system??? I have heard from
numerous sources that the technology is easily jammable with simple
radio components.  Anyone else heard of this??  Of course the thief
has to know you have Lo-Jack *before* he can jam its transmitter.


>>steering wheel locking bar (The Club).  Now all of you locksmiths
>>can now tell me how easy it is to defeat these! :)

>I'm no locksmith, but I can easily defeat the club simply by cutting
>through the PLASTIC steering wheel and slipping the Club right off.

Once again, right on!  This comment is a nod to the CLUB thread
going on over at alt.locksmithing. As I was posting, I read about
20 articles on different ways of defeating thiese. (Well, not exactly 20
but you get the idea . . .)                :)

Thanks for all of your comments and suggestions. I will be posting a
follow up in the near future incorporating all of these new ideas.


R.H.
From: walkerr@yaya.WPI.EDU (Robert A Walker)
Newsgroups: rec.autos
Subject: Re: downforce and cornering g's (was which car handles the best?
Date: 30 Sep 1992 02:24:12 GMT
Organization: Worcester Polytechnic Institute
NNTP-Posting-Host: yaya.wpi.edu


>	Of course, the Porsche used a small flat-6 engine (albeit it
>	turbo-charged) while the Cobra used a huge V-8...  

Thats the American way, if it isn't a V8 then i don't want to drive it, I
might look, but I like a nice big V8 sitting right in front of me.  
Nothign compares.  Maybe Its because I was born and bred American.  
My wife ever bought a Jap car, I'd divorce her in a second and that would
be my grounds.  "But your honor she bought a HONDA, isn't that enough for 
the death penalty?"
From: paul@eye.com (Paul B. Booth)
Newsgroups: rec.autos
Subject: Re: Custom steering wheels = theft deterrent?
Date: Tue, 29 Sep 92 13:25:46 GMT
Organization: 3D/EYE, Inc.  Ithaca, NY

In article <80494@ut-emx.uucp> gainer@ccwf.cc.utexas.edu (Larry Gainer) writes:
>Does anyone have any experience with removable "custom" steering wheels..
>
Seems like a royal pain to have to remove the wheel all the time.  Plus, if
it's a nice 'custom' wheel, perhaps that's temptation enough for the thief to
break into your car or pry open your trunk to look for it (he's got to assume
that you're not carrying the thing around with you).  Seems to me that a 'club'
or other kind of steering-wheel blocker bar is just as effective (especially in
the highly visible neon colors!) and much less hassle. 

Just my $0.02

-- 
Paul B. Booth  (paul@eye.com)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3D/EYE, Inc., 2359 N. Triphammer Rd., Ithaca, NY  14850    voice: (607)257-1381
                                                             fax: (607)257-7335
Newsgroups: rec.autos,rec.autos.driving
From: ashaw@cbnewsg.cb.att.com (andrew.shaw)
Subject: Re: Ticket for running stop sign
Organization: AT&T
Date: Tue, 6 Oct 1992 18:59:22 GMT

From article <1992Oct5.155340.29843@photon.com>, by jbn@photon.com (Joe Naiman):
> [On trying to defeat rolling (aka California) stop ticket by arguing
>  that no public benefit is secured by full stop, since failure to
>  yield also covers the case].
>
> I would have concluded by comparing the rolling stop with the right turn
> on red, asking the judge to declare the rolling stop law unconstitutional
> and making the rolling stop the turn on red of the 90's.
> 
> Whether this would have worked, I couldn't tell you.  But if I ever get a
> ticket for a rolling stop, this is my plan of action.
> 
The judge might argue: If the state had wanted you to yield only, it
would have put up a yield sign rather than a stop sign.  Since stop
signs are ubiquitous, there must be some reason for them.  What is 
the reason?  Whereupon some traffic expert (not me) will tell him,
and he will be convinced.
From: pu@earth.njit.edu (Chamin)
Newsgroups: rec.autos
Subject: Car damage during police chasing theft
Date: 28 Sep 92 18:08:49 GMT
Distribution: usa
Organization: New Jersey Institute of Technology

I want help from you. I parked my civic on drive way. On the early
morning, during a chasing theft action, my car was damage on the hood.
I reported to police station, they said that was from Newark police
department and they also reported that car was damage during chasing.

The problem is that I only had liability insurance so the insurance
company will not involve in such a case (damage is not caused by another
party which insure the car, i.e. is not hit by another car). 
So what can I do now? Is it work that I go
to Newark police department to ask them repare my car  or there is some
good way I can do?

If you have good idea or comments please send me a mail:
pu@earth.njit.edu

Thank all of you and God bless you.

Chris
Newsgroups: rec.autos
From: eric@advansoft.com (Eric Rindner)
Subject: Goodyear GS-C vs Dunlop SP8000
Originator: eric@arc
Organization: Advansoft Research Corp, Santa Clara, CA
Date: Fri, 02 Oct 1992 17:48:06 GMT


I need to replace the (225/50VR16) tires on my '89 supra 
and am considering the Goodyear GS-C and Dunlop SP8000.

The Goodyear GS-D is also a possibility, but I was told (by
Goodyear) that treadwear is only 170 (vs. 220 for the GS-Cs) 
and that they are noisier than the GS-Cs.

Does anybody have any experience with these tires? 
I'm especially interested in how they compare noise-wise
with each other and also with the old Eagle Gatorbacks. My
Gatorbacks hum at about 40mph and 65mph (or is that the differential?!)


Thanks!
-eric (eric@advansoft.com)

Newsgroups: rec.autos
From: sahul@loading-zone.Stanford.EDU (Zakir H. Sahul)
Subject: Re: GEO METRO
Organization: Stanford University
Distribution: su
Date: Tue, 6 Oct 92 20:17:45 GMT

In article <1992Oct6.170021.10103@koko.csustan.edu>, james@koko.csustan.edu (Jonas Grumpy) writes:
|> In article <1as2c3INN5f2@bigboote.WPI.EDU> beuf@wpi.WPI.EDU (Richard J Fuller) writes:
|> >
|> >  [article about Geo deleted]

|> 
|> 
|>    How about a VW Fox. At least it has crumple zones. How about a dodge
|>   shadow.
|> -- 


Pardon my ignorance, but could someone please explain crumple zones?  And
which cars don't have them?

Thanks.

-Zak.
Newsgroups: rec.autos
From: mark@wdcwdc.sps.mot.com (Mark Shaw)
Subject: Re: flat engines
Organization: Motorola Western MCU Design Center, Chandler Arizona
Date: Tue, 6 Oct 1992 19:52:27 GMT

In article <3881@unisql.UUCP>, wrat@unisql.UUCP (wharfie) writes:
|> In article <Oct06.055649.20215@engr.washington.edu> eliot@lanmola.engr.washington.edu (eliot) writes:
|> >disappear.  Horizontally opposed engines are the best kind to have, whether
|> >they number 2 cylinders, 4, 6 or even 12; but they are very expensive.."
|> 
|> 	Why?

        Why?
From: jfox@hooksett.East.Sun.COM (John Fox - SunExpress IR)
Newsgroups: rec.autos
Subject: Re: Why not a Taurus SHO Wagon??
Date: 6 Oct 1992 16:34:28 GMT
Organization: Sun Microsystems, Inc.
Distribution: world
Reply-To: jfox@hooksett.East.Sun.COM
NNTP-Posting-Host: hooksett.east.sun.com

In article 110118WJT101@psuvm.psu.edu, <WJT101@psuvm.psu.edu> () writes:
> Hello,
> I was wondering why Ford hasn't offered the SHO engine on the Taurus
>  Wagon.  Especially now that the Taurus SHO is available with an automatic
>  transmission, I would think many "30-something"  wagon buyers would be
>  interested in this type of setup.  Is there some engineering reason why the
>  SHO powertrain can't be placed in the wagon??
> 
> 
> --RICK

I remember a thread kicking around dec's carbuffs notesfile in reference
to an SHO wagon. I think it turned out to be a Ford exec who had it built...

My feeling on it is that it would hurt the overall SHO image. For the same
reasons you don't take the Mustang 5.0 platform and make a wagon out of it,
or put the M5 motor in the 5 series wagon, you don't want to spread the
SHO name in cars whose purposes generally stray from the hi-po sedan
market.


John
From: stuart@ee.fit.edu (William Stuart)
Newsgroups: rec.autos
Subject: RE: FWD vs. RWD
Date: 6 Oct 92 02:18:11 GMT
Organization: Florida Tech, CP/EE Dept.

In article somethingorother, Robert Haar writes that I wrote:
>|>In <13355@texsun.Central.Sun.COM> dbernard@thewho.Central.Sun.COM (Dave Bernar
d) writes:
>|>
>|>>How many new RWD automobiles are still offered? There's the huge
>|>>GM line (Buick Roadmonster/Caprice/new Fleetwood).  Is the Crown Vic?
>|>>The trend seems clearly toward FWD, but don't know if that's mostly
>|>>fashion or not.
>|>
>|>  Fashion?  No.
>|>
>|>  Bean Counters? Yes.
>|>
>|>  The fundamental reason cars are FWD these days are because it is cheaper to
>|>  manufacture the car, while prices remain high.  Ala higher profit margins.
>
>(:-) Profits, what profits?  (:-(
>
>Partially true. assembly costs are lower because the entire powertrain
>and front end can be mated to the body as a single unit.
>
>But front-engine/FWD also reduces vehicle weight, which helps
>fuel economy.

Hmmm...  IMHO, GM built the best big cars in the world.  Nobody could build
big cars like GM.  When the bean counters and politicians forced econo-boxes
down our throats, the Japs were much better at building them and kicked our
butts.  Now that the big three have all but abandoned the big car market,
the Japanese have gotten smart and produced some superior bigger cars to
fill the vacuum.  See Lexu$, Infiniti, Diamante, etc.  

GM has expended alot of time and money choking old technology engines with
emission controls and making cookie-cutter cars.  If all that energy had 
been spent on projects like the LT-1, the Northstar V8, and the Quad 4, all
of which have come too late, GM could have kept the big, comfortable, safe
cars AND reduced gas comsumption AND reduced emissions AND made profits...

My emission-choked old-tech 1982 307ci V8 makes a paltry 130 hp STOCK, gets
shitty mpg, and spews more crap into the atmosphere than Congress.
That verges on criminal stupidity.

I'm too broke/cheap to get rid of it, though.  Hmmm, LT-1 transplant? 

( Soapbox OFF!  Sorry guys. :-b )

>|>  Somebody may correct me, but I cannot think of one Ultra-high performance
>|>  car that is not RWD.  STOCK, that is.  Or street prepared (SCCA definition)

>What about the Audio Quattro and Porche Carrera 4 (and other probably) that
>are AWD?

Whoops! AWD should have been included.  I stand corrected. :-)

>---
>        Robert Haar               InterNet : rhaar@gmr.com 
>        Computer Science Dept., G.M. Research Laboratories
>DISCLAIMER: Unless indicated otherwise, everything in this note is
>personal opinion, not an official statement of General Motors Corp.


- Bill
        stuart@ee.fit.edu
Newsgroups: rec.autos
From: steven@syacus.acus.oz.au (Steven Malikoff)
Subject: Re: Right hand drive cars
Organization: ACUS Australian Centre for Unisys Software, Sydney
Date: Thu, 1 Oct 1992 23:31:33 GMT

cf947@cleveland.Freenet.Edu (Chun-Hung Wan) writes:
: I come from a country that drives on the left hand side.  I want to buy one
: back but none of the car dealers here import right hand driven cars.  Are
: there any places where I can go and convert the car?  Also, is it legal to
: drive a right hand drive car or at least get a permit for doing this on a
: temporary basis?

  I'm not completely sure, but I believe the US is not nearly as strict about
driving right-hand drive cars as other countries. Here in Oz, I happen to
drive a left-hand drive (ie. not normal) vehicle, and this is allowed to
be registered without undergoing conversion (special case, it's vintage) but
if you happen to bring in a LHD car here, then conversion is neccessary.
Talking this over with a recent visitor from the US (whom I met through the
net BTW) she told me that RHD vans etc. are used by the US postal service.
  By law, I have to have 'LEFT HAND DRIVE' in minimum 3" high letters disp-
layed on the back, but apparently no similar thing is neccessary in the US.

Steve Malikoff.
steven@syacus.acus.oz.au
Newsgroups: rec.autos
From: jim@mwhhlaw (James P. Cavanaugh III)
Subject: Re: tips on buying used TAURUS
Organization: Martin Wade Hartley & Hollingsworth
Date: Thu, 1 Oct 1992 11:30:10 GMT

In article <1992Sep30.131435.15294@genrad.com> sully@genrad.com (Mark  
Sullivan) writes:
> 
> 
> in a few months i intend on buying a used 1986,87 TAURUS. does anyone  
out there
> have any suggestions on things to be aware of ??  how many miles does  
one 
> expect to get out of motor & trans. ??  noises indicting "early life  
failures" ??		
> 
> thanks in advance,	mark sullivan 	sully@genrad.com

	A friend bought a high-mileage 86 Taurus a couple of years ago.   
The only real problem has been a leaking rack and pinion steering unit.   
The Ford rebuilt unit was expensive, and it started leaking after a  
couple of months.  A second replacement has been fine, I understand.   
Otherwise, he is happy with the car.

Jim Cavanaugh
Newsgroups: rec.autos
From: Augustine C Chin <achin@magnus.acs.ohio-state.edu>
Subject: Honda Civic
Organization: The Ohio State University
Date: Fri, 2 Oct 1992 01:39:33 GMT


Hi There,

	I am planning to buy a Honda Civic LX, but it cost about 13,000, and
that is a little too expensive for me( I am a college student ).

	Does it really cost that much?  And are there any other cars out
there that are around that price range or less which handles better

	By the way, is there an Acura or Honda newsgroup?

	Any comments are welcome.

	Thanks in advance.

Augustine

Newsgroups: rec.autos,rec.autos.driving
From: lairdb@crash.cts.com (Laird P. Broadfield)
Subject: Re: Ticket for running stop sign
Distribution: usa
Date: 2 Oct 92 01:25:50 GMT
Keywords: court help 4am curvy right turn

In <1ae4raINN4qf@lasso.crhc.uiuc.edu> peercy@crhc.uiuc.edu (Mike Peercy) writes:
>Can any of the following be used as grounds for anything?

>(1) The stop bars (indicated by ...) on the right turn are at such a
>    point that it is _impossible_ to see traffic from the left.  A
>    "legal" stop would be absolutely worthless.  However, if one slows
>    as she approaches 150, her car is directed virtually west and her
>    visibility is perfect.  A stop here when no cars are coming is
>    (it's the only word that comes to mind) unnatural.

Touching only on this point, I'd say you were toast anyway.  This is
a quite familiar situation for anyone who has driven in San Francisco;
virtually every uphill stop in the city is such that you cannot see
the traffic on the cross street.  Indeed, you could not even see 
Andre the Giant if he were standing six inches in front of your
bumper at many of them, you are tipped back so far.  The "mandated"
procedure is to stop behind the limit line, and then inch forward
(stopping or not as appropriate) untill you can see the cross-traffic
and decide whether or not to go.  The limit line exists not to say
"here is a safe and/or appropriate place to stop and look", but to
say "here is a line, this is the legal line, stop here or you're
toast."  

Whether or not you could make a case for capricious enforcement,
and whether or not that would help you with *this* ticket, might
be a separate issue.


-- 
Laird P. Broadfield     lairdb@crash.cts.com    ...{ucsd, nosc}!crash!lairdb
Hi!  I'm a shareware signature!  Send $5 if you use me, send $10 for manual!
From: ujmli@memstvx1.memst.edu
Newsgroups: rec.autos
Subject: Timing belts on Honda
Date: 4 Oct 92 22:26:44 GMT
Organization: Memphis State University

I have an '89 Accord LX with 45k and i'm concerned that the timing belt might
break soon. Its suppose to be replaced at 60k, but i know lots of people with
older Accords that had them break around much before 60k. One even had it break
around 35k. Now i'm scared to take my car out of town cuz i'm thinking that
my timing belt will break out in the middle of nowhere.

i'd like to know how many people have had their Honda's timing belt replaced
before 60k, especially on the 88/89 Accords. Should I go ahead and change mine
before the recommended 60k? or would it be unneccesary?

Also, i have a '92 Civic CX and i heard that its timing belt is suppose to
last til at least 90k. Is that true?


Jason