HDTenEightyP/NetNews huggingface dataset:
From: dataprod@nic.cerf.net (Chuck Benson)
Newsgroups: rec.autos
Subject: Re: Braking techniques
Date: 8 Jan 1993 19:28:33 GMT
Organization: CERFnet Dial n' CERF Customer Group
Distribution: na
NNTP-Posting-Host: nic.cerf.net
Keywords: engine braking

In article <11079@vice.ICO.TEK.COM> philw@vice.ICO.TEK.COM (Philip W White) writes:
>jimf@centerline.com (Jim Frost) wrote in <1ihqs0INN5bq@armory.centerline.com>:
-------lines deleted -----
> 
>EXAMPLE: a woman I heard interviewed on Portland radio last week who
>was going downhill on an icy freeway, thought she was going too fast,
>downshifted, "swerved" (her word) and was hit by a truck.  No injuries.
>I assume she did not match revs when she declutched after the downshift,
>getting too much engine braking.  She had apparently heard it is not
>good to use the foot brake on ice...
>
>I also assume when she said "swerved" she really meant "lost traction".
> 
>We have had lots of chances to drive downhill on icy
>roads here in Portland the last coupla weeks.
>
>I agree engine braking is useful on ice and long downhills.
>But I think it's never appropriate to brake by shifting down to a gear 
>which gives you a "high" engine speed ("high" is eg. 4000 rpm in a Chrysler
>2.2liter).  Never appropriate unless your brakes are failing!
>
>      Phil White   Tektronix, Beaverton, OR
>USENET:  philip.w.white@tek.COM
> US Mail: Mail Stop 59-432, P.O. Box 500, Beaverton OR 97077-0001

You are probably right that she lost traction and skidded, but it
is also possible that she was already planing, gained traction and
really swerved (changed direction).

While I am posting on this topic...

I use engine braking frequently. Mostly out of habit. On a vehicle
without a syncromesh transmission, it is a resonably sure way to be
in the correct gear for your speed. Since that is what I learned to
drive in, I double clutch.

Someone commented that it was inappropriate to engine brake with a
2-stroke engine. This is normally true, but some such engines were
built with a oil injector that does not rely on premixing and is
a function of engine speed. These may be engine braked.


-- 
=====================================================================
| Chuck Benson | cbenson@dpc.com | (818)887-8173 | Mgr Engr Computer |
| All opinions are my own unless otherwise stated| Systems           |
================================================== Dataproducts      |
Newsgroups: rec.autos
From: vetter@mtu.edu (STEVEN J. VETTER)
Subject: Re: Braking techniques
Organization: Michigan Technological University
Date: Thu, 7 Jan 1993 14:54:21 GMT

stecz@pencom.com (John Steczkowski) writes:
>In article <1993Jan5.173313.8981@mtu.edu> vetter@mtu.edu (STEVEN J. VETTER)  
>writes:
>
>>   I've read an awful lot from people who advocate and frequently use engine  
>braking
>>   as a means of slowing down.  Whereas I admit it is sometimes extremely  
>useful, the 
>>   idea of regularly downshifting in a stick to break seems completely  
>ridiculous to me.
>>   I'd much rather wear out my brake pads which are designed to be regularly  
>replaced, than
>>   my clutch which isn`t.  Can someone please explain to me why so many people  
>insist on 
>>   using their transmissions as brakes?
>
>Who said you slip the clutch to engine brake? If you slip the clutch, you're  
>doing it wrong.  You should match revs, i.e., when doing a 4 to 3 downshift,  
>put the clutch in, rev the engine to match the engine rpms, and the tire rpms,  
>release the clutch and then release the gas.  If the car jerks, you did it  
>wrong.  It doesn't cause additional wear on the clutch (clutches only wear when  
>slipping).
>
>
>--
>  John Steczkowski                        stecz@pencom.com
>  "Achilles raised his spear, took careful aim, and hurled."


  This is great if you can perfectly match RPM's all the time.  However, even if
  you match them pretty well, there will still be some slippage, even if minimal.
  My point is, except for the obvious long hills and such, why do it at all?  Engine
  braking does not brake as well as the brakes do, it is less controllable, and if
  it wears on the clutch even the tiniest bit, why do it?
-- 
Steve Vetter     DISCLAIMER-  The opinions expressed here are not those of
vetter@mtu.edu                my employer,  because I don`t have one yet.  If  
                              you wish for these opinions to be your company's,
Damn it's Cold!!!             or not, send e-mail to :  vetter@mtu.edu
From: tpickett@auspex.com (Tom Pickett)
Newsgroups: rec.autos
Subject: Re: rocks from overpass (was Re: Acura Integra Bodywork. Costs)
Date: 11 Jan 93 23:50:02 GMT
Reply-To: tpickett@auspex.com (Tom Pickett)
Organization: Auspex Systems, Inc.  Engineering

In article <2443@shaman.wv.tek.com>, andrew@frip.WV.TEK.COM (Andrew Klossner) 
writes:
> 	"some little kid who had nothing better to do and dropped a 10
> 	pound rock or something off an overpass and hit my hood as I
> 	was on the freeway. the rock hit my hood, dented it, scratched
> 	off a lot of paint then hit my fender."
> 
> We had a rash of such incidents here in the Portland Oregon area.  If
> your rock had dropped a split second later, it might have gone through
> your windshield.  We've had people sent to the hospital with destroyed
> faces.


This really bugs me.  I had a friend killed about 25 years ago this way.
he was driving his Shelby 350 (1965) down Interstate 10 in the San
Bernardino area, and a 17 year old dropped a 10 pound rock onto his 
car.  It went through his brain.

They ought to prosecute to the fullest extent of the law.


Tom Pickett 
tpickett@auspex.com or 74616.2237@compuserve.com
SHO  GOZE
From: hhtra@usho72.hou281.chevron.com (T.M.Haddock)
Newsgroups: rec.autos
Subject: Re: bumpy right side
Date: 7 Jan 93 18:26:32 GMT
Organization: Chevron

In article <mxm1003.726425052@msi.umn.edu>, mxm1003@s22.msi.umn.edu (Ram V. Mohan) writes:
|> 
|> Yesterday night when I was driving I felt the right side of my car
|> bumping up and down.  It is as if the right side is moving up and
|> down with thumping noises and is oscillating on its own.  Any 
|> symptoms of problems etc?.  The car in question is mazda 323
|> hatchback.  Thanks.

 Probably just a big chunk of road kill stuck in the tire treads.
Newsgroups: rec.autos
From: rvn@icd.teradyne.com (Rafael Vidaillet)
Subject: HELP! (many)Nicks in Paint
Reply-To: rvn@icd.teradyne.com
Organization: Teradyne, Inc. Boston MA
Date: Wed, 6 Jan 1993 18:58:11 GMT

	Well, it happened!  My 8-month old 92' Eagle Talon is new no more.
I was driving in a cross-country trip these holydays (Boston -> Colorado)
and the car paint was destroyed.  I was driving along I-80 when all of the
sudden this dump-truck opened up and started trowing pebbles into the road.
I assume this was for ice control.  Anyways my car was showered in the stuff
before I could get away. 

	My hood is now full of hundreds of nicks.  The car is black and the
metallic/white nicks are VERY visible.  I have decided not no paint the car 
since I know it will just keep on happening, winters in New Englad are very
hard on cars.  So I have to 'fix it' so it is not as obvious...

	Has anyone had any experience with any products to 'fix' (cover-up)
the nicks? I was planing on:
	1. Place coat of Primer
	2. Paint black
	3. Add clear-coat
	4. Use rubbing compound to smooth it out.
	5. Probaly get a bra (kind of late.. :-( ) to coverup the worst part of the
		hood....
		
	Please if anyone has done this before and gotten good results I would appreciate 
any help possible... Also were can I get the right stuff (primer, paint, clearcoat, etc.)
Does anyone know of a book on how to do this kind of repair?

	Thanks...
	
	_RV

---
 ______________________________________________________________________
/                                                                      \
| Rafael Vidaillet--MS: H71|   Internet:  rvn@dewey.icd.teradyne.com   |
| Teradyne Inc.            |                              _            |
| 321 Harrison Ave.        |   Voice:   (617) 422-2422   |_) \  /      |
| Boston, Ma. 02118        |   Fax:     (617) 422-2837   | \  \/       |
\______________________________________________________________________/
From: aland@informix.com (Colonel Panic)
Newsgroups: rec.autos
Subject: Re: Handling of 85 Toyota Celicas
Date: 7 Jan 93 08:37:03 GMT
Distribution: usa
Organization: Helen Keller Bondurant's Performance Driving School for the Blind

In article <1993Jan6.165704.4053@wam.umd.edu> asher@wam.umd.edu (Yes it's me....Asher) writes:
>		I recently bought a used 85 Toyota Celica. Overall, it's 
>	alright, but the handling sucks. Whenever the car goes over bumps,
>							.......Asher.

Which model?  The ST and GT were pretty lame, I thought, but the GT-S 
actually handles quite well -- it's just underpowered.  The GT-S has
4-wheel independent suspension with struts in front -- if a GT-S, have
you checked the front struts?  (Mine are still decent after 118K miles).

Also, what tires?  The GT-S came stock with Potenza P226/60HR14s.  I later
replaced them with Michelins (XZX?).  (For that matter, I'm due for tires
again -- anybody have recommendations in this size?)

--
Alan Denney      aland@informix.com      {pyramid|uunet}!infmx!aland

"The mist clung to the mountain the same way a thirteen-year-old girl clings
 to her boyfriend, although the mountain wasn't thinking about "getting lucky."
                                 (1990 Bulwer-Lytton Fiction Contest entry)
Newsgroups: rec.autos,misc.consumers
From: hhm@cbnewsd.cb.att.com (herschel.h.mayo)
Subject: LUMBAR SUPPORT is a pain in the .... er..back.
Organization: Chicago Home for the Morally Challenged
Date: Tue, 12 Jan 1993 22:47:28 GMT
Followup-To: rec.autos
Keywords: BRAINDEAD


Maybe my spine is weirdly shaped, but why is it that seats with lumbar
support always have the hump in the middle of the seat instead of the
bottom where it's supposed to be. I've driven two cars lately, a 
Thunderbird and a Saturn SC, that have seats designed by a sadist.
While I loved the car, the Saturn lumbar support pushed me so far out
that I actually had to arch my back in order to touch the seat top with
my shoulders.  Yes, it was on the lowest setting, and no, I'm over six 
feet tall.

   Am I deformed, or are the morons who design these seats unaware of 
where the lumbar vertebrea really are?? Has anybody else had this 
problem?

                                                  Larry Mayo
From: mcostell@oasys.dt.navy.mil (Malcolm G. Costello)
Newsgroups: rec.autos
Subject: Re: Fixing Rear Defroster?
Date: 11 Jan 93 17:25:13 GMT
Reply-To: mcostell@oasys.dt.navy.mil (Malcolm G. Costello)
Distribution: usa
Organization: Carderock Division, NSWC, Bethesda, MD

In rec.autos, huesmann@wam.umd.edu (Joseph Edward Huesmann) writes:
xHey all,
x
xIs it possible to fix lines on a rear defroster that are not working? I
xhave a few that don't work (the others do), and I assume that it's
xbecause the lines have been scratched or something. Is there any way
xto sort of patch a scratch (assuming that's what it is)? Thanks!
x
xJoe

Yes, if you can find the breaks in the grids you can fix them. You
can get a special purpose kit from a local discount auto parts store
that among other things contains a special conductive liquid that you
paint over the breaks using masking tape to outline the grid. Never
tried it myself but it's worth a try. If you can't find it locally,
try the J.C. Whitney catalog.
x
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Mack Costello <mcostell@oasys.dt.navy.mil> Code 65.1 (formerly 1720.1)
David Taylor Model Basin, Carderock Division Hq. NSWC    ___/-\____
Bethesda, MD 20084-5000   Phone (301) 227-2431          (__________>|

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
From: siqif@hpnmdla.sr.hp.com (Siqi Fan)
Date: Mon, 11 Jan 1993 18:27:36 GMT
Subject: Re: Altima/Nissan
Organization: Hewlett-Packard, Santa Rosa, CA
Newsgroups: rec.autos

If you add A/C, auto... It is not low anymore.
Organization: Central Michigan University
Date: Sunday, 10 Jan 1993 12:39:05 EST
From: Don Turnbull <32HEN4B@CMUVM.CSV.CMICH.EDU>
Newsgroups: rec.autos
Subject: Re: Any opinions on mini-vans?
Distribution: na

It is true that mini-vans are very convenient vehicles.  They also
tend to be priced well for their size.  However, as a paramedic
for the last four years, I can't tell you that they are safe cars.

In accidents involving mini-vans, it has been my experience that
injuries are often worse than if the passengers were in a station
wagon.  In fact, (I am also a college student) a professor in my
department is suing Ford because when his Astro was t-boned at
surface street speeds (25-40mph), two of his four children were
ejected out the back and killed.  One of them was even in a safety
seat.

In other accidents, I have noticed that minis are less likely to
maintain interior integrity in roll overs and they seem to roll
quite easily.  Finally, if the mini you want is not classed as a
station wagon, it is not required to meet the same standards as a
station wagon.  In effect, minis are, in my opinion, not a good
family car.  They are better suited as work vehicles for small
businesses and for small jobs in larger businesses.


In contrast, any of the full size station wagons (Ford Taurus,
Chevy Caprice Classics, etc...) are excellent family vehicles
with long, safe histories behind them.  They all come with proven
components and enough room for a den of cub scouts or a pan (whatever
they are called) of Brownies.  If you need more room, Suburbans
and Wagoneers are also very good, safe vehicles.

Finally, most minis are a class unto themselves.  The class of 'minivan'
is largely unregulated as opposed to full vans and cars.  The result
is an inexpensive vehicle with lots of space but little substance.
From: mcostell@oasys.dt.navy.mil (Malcolm G. Costello)
Newsgroups: rec.autos
Subject: Re: dodge shadow - fuel problem
Date: 8 Jan 93 17:10:28 GMT
Reply-To: mcostell@oasys.dt.navy.mil (Malcolm G. Costello)
Organization: Carderock Division, NSWC, Bethesda, MD

In rec.autos, leonglaw@hpsgm2.sgp.hp.com (Lawrence LEONG) writes:
xIn rec.autos, mcostell@oasys.dt.navy.mil (Malcolm G. Costello) writes:
x
x[fuel tank problem deleted]
x
x| By taking off the cap when you fill up you're "fixing" the problem.
x| The vapor cannister sometimes gets messed up if you're in the habit
x      ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^                 ^^^^^^^^^
x| of overfilling the tank. When the automatic nozzle cuts off, don't
x| try to squeeze in more gas.
x| x
x|
x
xHow does this happen?
x
xThankx
xLawrence

I've read several articles in local newspaper's  auto columns about
these symptoms and what causes it. They don't go on to explain
exactly what happens when you overfill the tank though. I can only
speculate that the extra fuel enters the vapor line and backs up
into the vapor cylinder and saturates the charcoal and/or whatever
else is inside. Somehow this prevents the system from admitting
outside air to compensate for fuel pumped out of the tank and you
end up with a vaccuum in the tank. Any time you remove the cap, you
allow air to enter and relieve the vaccuum. Then when you restart
the car, the fuel pump doesn't have to work as hard and the symptoms
go away. I think that the damage is done over a period of time.
Once in a while won't hurt but the more often you do it the faster
you saturate the vapor cylinder.
Anyone got there have a better or more precise explanation?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Mack Costello <mcostell@oasys.dt.navy.mil> Code 65.1 (formerly 1720.1)
David Taylor Model Basin, Carderock Division Hq. NSWC    ___/-\____
Bethesda, MD 20084-5000   Phone (301) 227-2431          (__________>|

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
From: scott@psy.uwa.oz.au (Scott Fisher)
Newsgroups: rec.autos
Subject: Re: bumpy right side
Date: 8 Jan 1993 01:46:52 GMT
Organization: The University of Western Australia
NNTP-Posting-Host: wapsy.psy.uwa.oz.au

mxm1003@s22.msi.umn.edu (Ram V. Mohan) writes:


>Yesterday night when I was driving I felt the right side of my car
>bumping up and down.  It is as if the right side is moving up and
>down with thumping noises and is oscillating on its own.  Any 
>symptoms of problems etc?.  The car in question is mazda 323
>hatchback.  Thanks.

Possible causes:

1) Road Bumpy on the RH side...it is quite common for roads to develop
corregations (like gravel roads) on the edges (if they are tar).

2) Wheel thrown a balance weight or developed a bulge?

What's the fewquency of the bumping....when and where does it occur...all the
time?

_______________________________________________________________________________
Scott Fisher [scott@psy.uwa.oz.au]  PH: Aus [61] Perth (09) Local (380 3272).                
                                                             _--_|\       N
Department of Psychology                                    /      \    W + E
University of Western Australia.      Perth [32S, 116E]-->  *_.--._/      S
Nedlands, 6009.  PERTH, W.A.                                      v       

Joy is a Jaguar XJ6 with a flat battery, a blown oil seal and an unsympathetic 
wife, 9km outside of a small remote town, 3:15am on a cold wet winters morning.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------


Newsgroups: rec.autos
From: chris@lightnin.Columbia.NCR.COM ()
Subject: Re: Why is US engine technology so retrograde?
Organization: NCR Corp, E&M-Columbia, Columbia, SC
Date: Fri, 08 Jan 93 15:42:26 GMT

In article <lkpk2eINNeo4@exodus.Eng.Sun.COM> tut@cairo.Eng.Sun.COM (Bill "Bill" Tuthill) writes:
>
 < lots deleted>

>When Ford needed a DOHC engine for the Taurus SHO, they just had
>Yamaha build it.  I know Saturn produces some very nice SOHC and
>DOHC engines, but GM doesn't seem to use these anywhere else in its
 ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^         
>product line.  And Chrysler still produces mostly pushrod engines.

  Please excuse me if I am not understanding this correctly.  I have
an Olds Calais with a H.O. Quad 4 engine.  It is a 2.3L DOHC 185 hp
engine.  It is a nice engine but a bit loud.  It is my understanding
that Olds is the developer of this engine (where it was developed I don't
know).

From: gregb@hpfcso.FC.HP.COM (Greg Begay)
Date: Tue, 5 Jan 1993 23:54:12 GMT
Subject: 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??

GregB

Newsgroups: rec.autos
From: bqueiser@magnus.acs.ohio-state.edu (Brian J Queiser)
Subject: Re: Taurus tops Accord as #1 Seller in U.S.
Organization: The Ohio State University
Distribution: usa
Date: Thu, 7 Jan 1993 18:37:13 GMT

rogers@calamari.hi.com (Andrew Rogers) writes:

>According to the Boston papers, the Taurus outsold the Accord by about
>409,000 to 393,000.  They also point out, however, that Ford took a financial
>beating ($2000/car in rebates, fleet deals, etc.) in order to achieve this
>goal.  I point out that it would have been politically impossible for Honda
>to have offered similar incentives without being charged with "dumping".
>
>(Auto industry analysts had been predicting all year that the all-new '92
>Toyota Camry would siphon off enough sales from the aging Accord to yield
>the #1 position to the Taurus by default.  I don't have figures on '92 vs.
>'91 sales of any of the three cars, though, so I don't know if their
>reasoning was correct.)

The actual numbers according to TWSJ, Jan 7, 1993:

Total 1993:       Ford Taurus     409,751
                  Honda Accord    393,477
                                 ---------
          for a difference of      16,274


Percentage of Total U.S. Car Market:

               1992      1991      diff
              ------    ------    ------
GM             34.5      35.4      -0.9
Ford           21.6      19.9      +1.7
Honda           9.3       9.8      -0.5
Toyota          9.2       9.0      +0.2
Chrysler        8.3       8.6      -0.3    (These numbers include imported
Nissan          5.0       5.0       0.0     and domestically made models,
Mazda           3.4       3.3      +0.1     with the exception of Hyundai.)
Mitsubishi      1.9       2.0      -0.1
Hyundai         1.3       1.4      -0.1
Subaru          1.3       1.3       0.0
Suzuki          0.1       0.1       0.0
Other imports   4.1       4.3      -0.2

Total US       66.0      65.0      +1.0    (These numbers reflect the
Total Japan    30.0      31.0      -1.0       _nameplates_.)
Total Europe    4.0       4.0       0.0


A $2600 hit per car is no big deal when it's a temporary situation.
Don't forget, they sold over 400,000 Taurii and probably 80-100K Sables.
Ford was aggressively advertising in my area and offering fantastic
lease and buy prices.  Even the Sable was being offered at my local
dealer for $248/mo lease with $1250 or so down for 24 months with an
option to buy at the end for 53% of MSRP.  For you people who think
leases are scams, that was a GD good deal.

Keep in mind, I can spit to Marysville from here.

Maybe I will.  :^)

Regards,

Brian

bqueiser@magnus.acs.ohio-state.edu
------------------------------------------------------------------------
I am the engineer, I can choose K.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Department of Engineering Mechanics
Ohio State University
Columbus, OH
Newsgroups: rec.autos
From: barry@geovision.gvc.com (Barry Comer)
Subject: Re: Tricks for cold weather?
Organization: Not officially GeoVision Systems Inc., Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
Distribution: na
Date: Tue, 12 Jan 1993 17:53:03 GMT

Folks:

Ever had to clear the ice off from inside the car in the morning?
I found that this happens in really cold climates when the driver has
been using the heater on a high setting to make it nice and warm in the
car.   Try opening the windows a crack for a minute or so before you  
are ready to get out of the car.  This give the inside air a chance to
cool down before the car is locked up.  This should lower the chance
of having ice on the inside of the windows in the morning.

Cheers
Barry

-- 

===========================================================================
	I would write a signiture file but I don't have the time.  Then again
	I guess I just did, go figure.  Funnier things have happened.....