HDTenEightyP/NetNews huggingface dataset:
Newsgroups: rec.autos


>fair or not all. And hopefully with this new administration, Bill
>Clinton will have some sense in dealing with the japanese the way they
>should have been dealt with in the past few years.

Unfortunately, with Ron Brown in there, I'm a bit skeptical that
anything will be done. He use to lobby for Japanese companies as
I understand it. I guess it's just business as usual...

Tom
From: kahlerm@sumax.seattleu.edu (Michael Kahler)
Newsgroups: rec.autos
Subject: rip off computer tester at J.C.Whitney
Date: 22 Jan 1993 15:17:02 -0800
Organization: Seattle University
Distribution: na
NNTP-Posting-Host: sumax.seattleu.edu


J.C. Whitney recently advertised a 'computer fault code' tester/checker. 
This hand held unit can speed diagnosis of GM computer carb and FI systems
by allowing the reading of stored codes in the computer.  Simply plug unit
into your car's data link connector and the check engine light on the dash
will read off stored trouble codes.

Hmmm, isn't this exactally what happens simply by connecting together two
of the wires of the data link connector, such as with a paper clip or
other short piece of wire, just as described in many service books? 
Interestingly enough, the picture of the tester in the JCW catalog shows
there is only 2 electrical connections made to the data link connector,
strangely enough the two used to show trouble codes when connected
together with a piece of wire.  

Seems like JCW is selling a $33.95 replacement for a standard paper clip. 
Hey, atleast it's in a nice plastic case :)  Look out for these same items
in chain stores like shucks and autoworks: any tester that does not have
some type of display or indicator on itself is merely activating the built
in diagnostics of your system, something you need no test equipment to do.

Mike Kahler
kahlerm@seattleu.edu
Organization: Penn State University
Date: Sat, 23 Jan 1993 14:32:06 EST
From: <FPZ100@psuvm.psu.edu>
Newsgroups: rec.autos
Subject: 1968 Ford Parts NEEDED

In desparate need of rear, left and right, quarter panels for an ultra rare,
are you sure your ready?

1968 Ford Galaxie 500 XL Fastback

My all original, second owner has a never touched 390 that is still running
strong with just a little over 100,000 miles on the odometer. Unfortunately
the rear quarters have seen better days.  Anyone with any parts or info where
they can be obtained, please respond. If you know of any other parts for the
'68 Galaxie, please let me know so I can finally put my baby on blocks and
take care of all the work needed.
From: frank@unixg.ubc.ca (Murray Frank)
Newsgroups: rec.autos
Subject: Re: Worst Car Award
Date: 25 Jan 93 02:23:53 GMT
Organization: The University of British Columbia
NNTP-Posting-Host: kynok.ucs.ubc.ca

In <1993Jan24.141549.16369@cronkite.ocis.temple.edu> zorro@picasso.ocis.temple.edu (John Grabowski) writes:


>I'd like to conduct an informal poll here: what do the gentle readers of this
>group think is the WORST car being made today???  (And why?)  It must be a 
>car still being manufactured, so a 1975 Dodge Dart doesn't count.  :-)

>This should generate some healthy debate...
From Consumer Reports the leading candidates would seem to include
Chevrolet Blazer
Chevrolet Camaro
Chevrolet Cavalier
Chevrolet Corsica
Dodge Daytona
Dodge Spirit
Eagle Premier
Hyundai Excel
Jaguar XJ6
Pontiac Firebird

My personal "favorite" would be the Excel. (The above list is based on the 
trouble index in Consumer Reports, and so misses out on some cars that are
simply too low volume.) 
A


the trouble index in Consumer Reports) 



>John
>zorro@picasso.ocis.temple.edu
>^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
From: krehbein@ub.d.umn.edu (kevin rehbein)
Newsgroups: rec.autos
Subject: Road Trip Info...
Date: 26 Jan 93 07:48:37 GMT
Article-I.D.: ub.1k44ilINNcjn
Distribution: usa
Organization: University of Minnesota, Duluth
NNTP-Posting-Host: ub.d.umn.edu


	I'm thinking of going on a 3,500 mile road trip with my '83 Honda
	accord. Because I have 100,000 miles on it I'm a bit concerned about
	whether it's in good enough shape to get me there and back. What
	sorts of things should I be concerned about? Does it make sense to
	stop after 15 hours or so and let the car take an hour rest? I have
	done the obvious things (change oil, check brakes, check other
	fluids) but I wonder if theres anything I'm overlooking...

	Thanx
Newsgroups: rec.autos
From: hpan@hila.hut.fi (Huachen Pan)
Subject: Help: oil pressure warning lamp ON
Organization: Helsinki University of Technology, Finland
Distribution: rec.autos
Date: Sat, 23 Jan 1993 13:53:24 GMT


Thanks for some netters' answers to my last inquiry. 

I now found the oil pressure warning lamp functions like this:
in the first 10 to 15 minutes of driving it is OK. But after that
it is ON. I have to stop the car on the road side for about 20 minutes.
After that it is OK again for the next 10 to 15 minutes.

I plan to have the car repaired on Monday. But can anyone suggest a 
reason for that? Is it the oil filter blocked? It has just been changed one
months ago. Anyone have similar experience or some suggestions please
send me a mail. Thanks.

H.P.

P.S.
Can I just change the oil filter without changing the oil itself?
It's a Mitsubish lancer 1.3 gasoline engine.
Newsgroups: rec.autos
From: ralf@iqsc.COM (Ralf)
Subject: Re: Worst Car Award
Organization: IQ Software Corp.
Date: Mon, 25 Jan 1993 19:20:14 GMT

In article <1993Jan24.141549.16369@cronkite.ocis.temple.edu> zorro@picasso.ocis.temple.edu (John Grabowski) writes:
>
>I'd like to conduct an informal poll here: what do the gentle readers of this
>group think is the WORST car being made today???  (And why?)  It must be a 
>car still being manufactured, so a 1975 Dodge Dart doesn't count.  :-)
>
>This should generate some healthy debate...
>
  I will give my opinion on one of the ugliest cars I have ever seen,
The New Pontiac Grand Am, it is just plain ugly.  The Ford Tempo is one
of the weakest in its class, and Nissan's are under - marketed.

-- 
Ralf P. Loserth               UUCP: uunet!iqsc.com!ralf
IQ Software Corporation       Internet: ralf@iqsc.COM
400 N Loop 1604 E, Suite 100
San Antonio, TX  78232        (210) 490 6684 X23 Fax: (210) 490-3590
Newsgroups: rec.autos
From: dclayton@bnr.ca (Don Clayton)
Subject: Re: Politics of car buying(Buying a Japane
Reply-To: dclayton@bnr.ca (Don Clayton)
Organization: Bell-Northern Research Ltd.
Distribution: na
Date: Fri, 22 Jan 1993 20:50:45 GMT

In article <1993Jan21.182723.19795@newsgate.sps.mot.com>, mark@wdcwdc.sps.mot.com (Mark Shaw) writes:
|> In article <1993Jan20.164827.26864@zia.aoc.nrao.edu>, gvanmoor@nrao.edu (Gustaaf Van Moorsel,,,) writes:
|> |> In Germany, where there are even fewer restrictions on importing cars than in the US
|> |> (no quota, no extra taxes on light trucks), Japanese cars are almost as successful as
|> |> they are in the US. The US car segment is vanishingly small, though it has seen some
|> |> increase in the last couple of years due to the low dollar. Still, an American made
|> |> care is something of a rarity apart from the vicinity of US bases.
|> 
|> I seriously doubt that Japan has 20% of the German market like they do in US.  
|> Germany has always been very nationalistic in their car buying habits.
|> Do you have some numbers to demonstrate this claim?

I thought the Japanese had 30%+ of the U.S. auto market (last numbers I saw - 1991 I
think).  Anyone know the new number (maybe 20% is the new number - in which case I
would have expected one of the Japanese manufactures to fold)?

Don Clayton
a.k.a. Admiral Maverick, DM of the Drow
My brain, my thoughts, my words.
"I'm all lost in the Supermarket.  I can no longer shop happily.
 I came in here for the special offer, guaranteed personality."
From: basiji@stein.u.washington.edu (David Basiji)
Newsgroups: rec.autos
Subject: Re: Rain-X?
Date: 27 Jan 1993 22:42:19 GMT
Organization: University of Washington
NNTP-Posting-Host: stein.u.washington.edu

tmr@wdl1.wdl.loral.com (Tim Ryan) writes:

>It works great for a while. It doesn't seem to last that long during heavy
>rain fall.  About a week at best. The windows appear to be much clearer 

I've noticed that it isn't so much the rain as the windshield wipers that
cause the RainX to wear away.  My side and back windows have gone an entire
Seattle winter without reapplication of RainX.  The swept area of my front
windshield is only good for a few storms if I run the wipers, the borders
are good for months.  

I like driving the freeway in heavy rain without wipers and getting the 
faster-than-light-effect (if you've ever seen StarTrek, The Next Generation,
you know what I mean with the stars streaking by).

David Basiji
UW Bioengineering
NeRD #3762

Newsgroups: rec.autos
From: easton@zds-oem.zds.com (Jeff Easton)
Subject: Re: Removing dealer stickers:HOW?
Organization: Zenith Data Systems, OEM Systems Engineering
Date: Wed, 27 Jan 1993 14:30:54 GMT

In article <1993Jan26.210807.52694@gmuvax.gmu.edu> ebarbour@gmuvax.gmu.edu writes:
>A simple question....
>
>Just bought a brand new SVX -- Great car.  However, the dealer attached a 
>'blemish' on the back of the car in the form of an almost radioactive
>gaudy 4x6 inch mirror sheen dealer sticker anouncing to the world where
>I bought the car.  It's just a paper/plastic variety sticker glued onto
>the back of the trunk....
>
>Anyone know of a way to 'safely' remove this eyesore -- without damaging
>the precious black paint/shine underneath?

  Sure.  Take it back to the dealer and demand that they take it off.  Tell
them you didnt give them ~$10,000 to do free advertising for them.

  I usually ask them to take it off while I'm negotiating the deal...

>ELB

-- 
  ___  ___    Jeff Easton             easton@zds-oem.zds.com
 (__  (__     Zenith Data Systems     j.easton@mi04.zds.com
 ___) ___)    Saint Joseph, Mich.     easton@andrews.edu
Monte Carlo   Z-400 Series - Team Rigel
From: awds_ltd@uhura.cc.rochester.edu (Adam Edwards)
Newsgroups: rec.autos
Subject: advice wanted on Mustang 5.0
Date: 24 Jan 93 19:35:31 GMT
Distribution: na
Organization: University of Rochester - Rochester, New York

I was looking in the picture page the other day for used Subaru
XT's when I found an '87 Mustang 5.0 Hatchback for $5k.  I called
the used car dealer to ask about it, and he said it had 48k miles.
Seeing an opportunity to own a pony car, I test drove it Friday.
It actually has 84k, the guy mixed up his digits.  It had recent
paint, and new 4-season, H-rated no name brand tires.  The interior
was kinda rough, but nothing that couldn't be fixed(except for that
cigar hole in the driver's seat).  
	Having never driven a Mustang 5.0, I noticed that it was
quite loud.  I've owned older 'muscle' cars before, so the v-8 
sounds were not unheard of, but I expected to be able to talk normally
in the cockpit.  To you 5.0 owners, is this too loud for the car?
Also, of course I'd take it the a Ford Dealer for a check-up, but 
what is the general consensus on a Mustang 5.0 with 84k miles?  Clutch
and transmission felt good and solid, but I need to get at least 40k
out of a car.  How are the v-8's on long-life, and maintenance?  Any
email would be helpful.  Thank you,

		Adam
awds_ltd@uhura.cc.rochester.edu
Newsgroups: rec.autos
From: ralf@iqsc.COM (Ralf)
Subject: Re: Worst Car Award
Organization: IQ Software Corp.
Date: Wed, 27 Jan 1993 17:47:58 GMT

  I vote for the AMC Hornet, or was it the gremlin, actually the gremlin
looked alot like todays Honda Prelude, it looks like it was hit in
the rear with a Semi. I feel bad for people who work on GM's assembly
lines, the Engineers and designers at GM have one basic goal, and that
is to: "Lets figure out what people today really want.....and then build
something totally different.  The GM cars may run ok, but heck, if the
thing runs forever but looks stupid, I'll buy something comparable that
I would like, that's why alot of people buy Japanese.  It seems the
Caprice was destined for police duty. How fitting.
From: aas7@po.CWRU.Edu (Andrew A. Spencer)
Newsgroups: rec.autos
Subject: Re: Dodge Omni 89
Date: 28 Jan 1993 05:12:53 GMT
Organization: Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH (USA)
Reply-To: aas7@po.CWRU.Edu (Andrew A. Spencer)
NNTP-Posting-Host: slc5.ins.cwru.edu


In a previous article, shaikh@ee470.ee.mcgill.ca (SHAIKH/AMIR/MR) says:

>I was wondering...it's rumored that the Dodge Omni series has
>starting trouble in winter...is this true???
>
>It is also said that the 89 model of this doesn't have starting troubles...
>can anybody confirm this??
>
>late,r
>Amir
>shaikh@pooky.ee.mcgil.ca
>
sorry, no confirmation of the problem in cold weather, but i know someone
who owns an 85 model.  As they live in Texas, winter is...basically non
existant, but when the temperature drops, their Dodge hums on! At any rate,
they claim that Dodge has issued some sort of Carburater Recall for them..
dunno any details, maybe the MAP sensor the others spoke of.  I do not know
anything else than that it supposedly includes 85 models.  Just wanted to
mention it

Best of Luck!
DREW
From: kimd@gizmo.usc.edu (Kim Daugherty)
Newsgroups: rec.autos
Subject: SATURN email list
Date: 25 Jan 1993 10:42:16 -0800
Organization: University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA
Distribution: na
NNTP-Posting-Host: gizmo.usc.edu


Could somebody please either post or send me an internet address for the 
SATURN email list?  Thank you.

-- 
+---------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| Kim Daugherty                   | PhD program in Computer Science   |
| kimd@gizmo.usc.edu              | University of Southern California |
+---------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
Newsgroups: rec.autos
From: mchaffee@ux4.cso.uiuc.edu (Real Life?!?! HA!!)
Subject: Re: Q: how do i know if i need a new catalytic converter?
Organization: University of Illinois at Urbana
Date: Mon, 25 Jan 1993 04:18:52 GMT

co940@cleveland.Freenet.Edu (Nicholas E. Damato) writes:


>Hi, my milage has dropped, and the car seems sluggish. it has
>about 70,000 mi, i've looked at a lot of things, but i'm
>wondering how i can tell if the catalytic is fried.
>thank you for the info.

Weeeellllll......  The only time I lost a cat, I had symptoms not unlike yours,
except the engine had 120K miles at the time.  I thought it was the injectors,
as this particular car had had more than its share of injector/computer
trouble.  So, one day, I opened the hood with the engine running.  At idle.
It had been running, at idle only, for about 3 minutes when I noticed the ex-
haust manifold was glowing.  I don't mean like some cars do after running hard,
either.  This was a FWD Olds 98, and I swear the manifold was getting near
meltdown temperature, or at least it looked like it, with that lovely blinding
orange color.....

Short of that, I think the diagnostics (if your car has EFI) can figure out,
by the throttle/airmass/rpm/whatever if there is an exhaust blockage.

Good luck!
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Michael T. Chaffee       | mchaffee@ux4.cso.uiuc.edu  |  ______    
"It has been said - mostly by illiterates and conserv-|  \    /   HATE
atives - that the belief in God is at the base of the |   \  /  is not a
American system, and that the United States is a prod-|    \/  FAMILY VALUE
uct of Christian piety."  -  Leonard Peikoff          |
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Newsgroups: rec.autos
From: mchaffee@ux4.cso.uiuc.edu (Real Life?!?! HA!!)
Subject: Re: Anti-Lock blues
Organization: University of Illinois at Urbana
Date: Fri, 22 Jan 1993 01:18:49 GMT

theckel@col.hp.com (Tim Heckel) writes:

>What happens is an incredibly loud grinding noise
>that I can also feel in the brake pedal whenever
>the antilock is engaged.  It's so violent a combination
>of noise and grinding feel that my (involuntary) reaction is to
>jerk my foot off the brake pedal, not good!

>My question to you, especially if you own an SE-R or other
>Nissan with antilock brakes, is is this "normal"?

Not just Nissan.  All ABS systems have the consequence of a "grinding."  I
found this very unremarkable the first time I used ABS; of course, that was
on snow-covered gravel, and a grinding noise would have happened anyway.  So
get used to it; you have a lot of very rapidly oscillating mechanical doo-
dads at work and some odd noise is to be expected.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Michael T. Chaffee       | mchaffee@ux4.cso.uiuc.edu  |  ______    
"It has been said - mostly by illiterates and conserv-|  \    /   HATE
atives - that the belief in God is at the base of the |   \  /  is not a
American system, and that the United States is a prod-|    \/  FAMILY VALUE
uct of Christian piety."  -  Leonard Peikoff          |
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Newsgroups: rec.autos
From: rdb1@cbnewsj.cb.att.com (ronald.j.deblock..jr)
Subject: What is a Volvo 265 GL?
Organization: AT&T
Distribution: na
Date: Wed, 27 Jan 1993 19:41:19 GMT

I saw a Volvo 265 GL wagon with a "For Sale" sign yesterday.  It looks like
an old 240.  What is the difference between a 265 and a 240?

Thanks.
-- 
Ron DeBlock  rdb1@homxb.att.com  (that's a number 1 in rdb1, not letter l)
AT&T Bell Labs   Somerset, NJ  USA
From: klui@corp.hp.com (Ken Lui)
Newsgroups: rec.autos
Subject: Re: Best Car ads (was RE: Lexus Commercials)
Date: 27 Jan 1993 06:39:04 GMT
Organization: Hewlett-Packard Company
NNTP-Posting-Host: klui.corp.hp.com

In article <1993Jan27.032452.266@mprgate.mpr.ca> tasallot@mprgate.mpr.ca (Mathew Tasalloti) writes:
>Ever noticed that the Honda commercials seem real peaceful.  The music
>is mellow, the lighting is moderate and the salesman speaks in a soft
>easy tone.

In a word, conservative.

In a certain way, Honda did the right thing when they created the
Acura division in the US.

Personally, I like the Nissan "Bob" commercials.


Ken
-- 
Kenneth K.F. Lui, klui@corp.hp.com                  3000 Hanover Street MS20BJ
Corporate Administrative Information Systems        Palo Alto, CA  94304   USA
Core Application Technologies                1(415)857-3230 Fax 1(415)852-8026
From: blu@cellar.org (Dan Reed)
Newsgroups: rec.autos
Subject: Re: Q: how do i know if i need a new catalytic converter?
Date: 26 Jan 93 18:15:23 GMT
Organization: The Cellar BBS and public access system

hellmann@cs.scarolina.edu (Doug Hellmann) writes:

> DEVILBISS@OCTAVE.LARC.NASA.GOV (Dave) writes:
> 
> > co940@cleveland.Freenet.Edu (Nicholas E. Damato) writes:
> 
> >> Hi, my milage has dropped, and the car seems sluggish. it has
> >>about 70,000 mi, i've looked at a lot of things, but i'm
> >>wondering how i can tell if the catalytic is fried.
> >>thank you for the info.
> >>n.e.d.
> 
> >When the catalytic converter gave up the ghost in my JEEP, the symptoms were
> 
> >1.  Oil  & lots of it in the aircleaner. (due to exhaust valve blow by)
> >2.  Lack of power.
> >3.  It would rattle due to loose bits & peices inside.
> >4.  The exhaust was excessively hot.  Also, the converter itself will get ra
> 
> >Good luck . . . Dave
> 
> Also you might want to hold your hand over the end of the tailpipe when
> the car is running.  If you don't feel much air coming out, your
> converter is probably clogged.  Also, they say to smell the exhaust and
> if it smells like sulfur, some sort of terrible chemical reaction has

Well, the BEST way to really "test" it is to A>remove the converter, and 
replace it with a "test pipe".  or B>(my way) just loosen the bolts off of 
the converter.  

If you get more power (and you *will* feel it), then your converter is 
shot.  They fill up with sulfur within the converter "guts" (looks like a 
honey comb pattern).  Either replace the converter, just replace it with the 
test pipe, or "punch" it out.

Mind you, aside from replaceing it, the other two ways are against the law is 
most (all?) states, and could get you some big fines.

But that has never stopped me.  Ive done it to two cars so far, an 84 RX-7, 
and a 89 Jeep YJ.  Right now, Im thinking about doing it on my VW...

     Dan Reed - blu@cellar.org - AutoCAD Geek -Industrial Music Lover
      68'Cougar, 89'VW Golf, 74'Honda Cb360, 89'Rollerblade Zetras'
  "Anyone can get a gun Otis. You can make a phone call and get a gun."
From: zorro@picasso.ocis.temple.edu (John Grabowski)
Newsgroups: rec.autos
Subject: 1987 Toyota Camry
Date: 28 Jan 93 03:53:48 GMT
Organization: Temple University
X-Newsreader: TIN [version 1.1 PL8]


I'd like to hear any info at all on the 1987 Toyota Camry.  What are its
strong points?  Weak points?  I'm not talking about styling, I'm talking 
about reliability, power, quality, etc.

Does it differ significantly from the '88, '89, etc?

Any anecdotes about them?

Thanks!


John
zorro@picasso.ocis.temple.edu
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Organization: The American University - University Computing Center
Date: Wed, 27 Jan 1993 12:44:27 EST
From: <CARIAN@auvm.american.edu>
Newsgroups: rec.autos
Subject: Re: Removing dealer stickers:HOW?
 <1993Jan27.143054.739@zds-oem.zds.com>

Taking it back to the dealer may not work.

When I bought my car I read the contract very carefully and there was a
clause in there giving them the right to put the advertising sticker
(actually in my case a plaque) on the car.

If I cared I suppose I could have negotiated the clause out of the
contract, but I didn't care.

Anyway if you signed a contract with such a clause I doubt whether the
dealer will remove it on demand. I know I wouldn't.

Charles Arian
CARIAN@american.edu
From: gregb@hpfcso.FC.HP.COM (Greg Begay)
Date: Fri, 22 Jan 1993 16:26:02 GMT
Subject: Re: Help!! Toyota truck won't start
Organization: Hewlett-Packard, Fort Collins, CO, USA
Newsgroups: rec.autos


>My 1991 Toyota XCab 4x4 (4cyl - 15K milels) will randomly decide not 
>to start.  Symptoms vary from absolutly no response when I turn 
>the key to a spinning sound to a annoying grinding sound, with the
>grinding sound being the latest.  This has been happening 3-4 times 
>the last couple of months.  It has always started after several tries 
>or after left to sit for awhile.
>
>Took it to the local dealership and the goofs claim that they
>cannot find any problems with either the electrical system or the 
>starter.  I get the impression that all they did was hook my truck 
>up to their silly computer.  I was told to "wait till something 
>really bad happens, then bring it in".
>
>The truck as been acting up as described since I purchased it 1.5 years 
>ago.  Last summer the alternator belt went bad resulting in a screaching
>sound and all of the engine warning lights coming on in the dashboard.
>
>Any ideas on what the problem is??  A friend has suggested that the
>problem has to be related to the starter.  Any other Toyota owners
>with similar problems/experience??

Thanks to all who emailed or responded with suggestions.  My
truck wouldn't start again last weekend and I had it towed to the 
dealer (at dealer expense).  But, it *started* when they tried it at 
the dealer! (Good thing I had the tow truck operator verify that
it wouldn't start)  I got a chance to talk to the dealer mechanic
and he agreed that the starter was bad and agreed to replace it.

GregB

Newsgroups: rec.autos
From: hhm@cbnewsd.cb.att.com (herschel.h.mayo)
Subject: Re: Politics of car buying
Organization: Chicago Home for the Morally Challenged
Distribution: usa
Date: Fri, 22 Jan 1993 14:33:12 GMT


> 
> >In Germany, where there are even fewer restrictions on importing cars than in the US
> >(no quota, no extra taxes on light trucks), Japanese cars are almost as successful as
> >they are in the US. 
> 
> I don't think so; I have the figures in the library, but I seem to remember
> that Japanese car market share in Germany is at best in the low teens %,
> while in the US is in the upper twenties or low thirties...


That sounds bogus to me, too. I was in Germany two summers ago, and I asked my
German host why there were so few Japanese cars. He stated that they are limited
to 15% of the market, and no more. It was my impression that the common market
is heavily protected.

                                                  Larry Mayo