Check in once a week for a new post. Best day is Monday. All comments are published. ask questions, criticize, state your opinion.
Posted on August 31st, 2009 by Geekwrench
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Just to be clear up front, I like Toyota, they build a good car. Kinda boring for the most part, but under the hood, they make one of the most reliable drive assemblies I have ever seen.
Here is a link to a story, but it’s blah blah. The thing to look at is the photo. If this is the actual problem, it makes sense. It looks like the gears tend to wedge themselves together and stick. The fix looks decent, but it’s too early to tell. In my opinion, the proper fix is to replace this design with an older one that doesn’t use gears. In reality, this would cost millions of dollars to do, as there are over a million cars with the problem.
However, there is an even more simple solution that can be done in software. Volkswagen has, built into the software in the control module, instructions to ignore the gas pedal signal if the brake pedal is pushed for a number of seconds. this can be done through Toyota with a software update.
I can tell you that this is not an electrical problem. Almost all cars are “drive by wire” now. So are some newer jumbo jets. This means there is no mechanical function from the gas pedal to the engine. The sensor is actually 3 separate resistors that the computer looks at. The position of that sensor is seen by the computer, and the appropriate position is actuated by a stepper on the throttle assembly on the engine. If there is a problem with any one of them, the check engine light will come on, and the car goes into “limp mode”. The throttle automatically returns to a ‘just above idle’ position (its designed natural rest state). Same thing if the throttle body itself sticks, and your foot is not on the pedal at all. In this Toyota situation, the computer has no idea that your foot isn’t there, it just sees that the pedal is down.
In any fly by wire car, the proper thing to do is put the car in neutral and step on the brake to stop, then call a tow truck. The engine will sound scary as it revs up, but there are controls that keep that revving from destroying itself. similar to how the RPM in a race car is limited.
I do not recommend this, but my own response is to turn off the ignition. When you do this, you lose all the power assist that the engine provides making it harder to stop and steer. However, many newer cars have a push button instead of a key. To shut the engine off in an emergency, hold the start button for 3 seconds.
The very idea of putting yourself in a metal box that turns small explosions into bone crushing speeds is a risk. What I’m tired of hearing about is that its all Toyota’s fault. No, its the drivers fault, driving is a risk. Anyone killed in a car took the risk to get in it in the first place. Many innovations reduce that risk, but none eliminate it. If anything goes wrong in a car, its panic and stupidity that will kill you faster. Think. Get to know your car. Learn how it works, learn how to drive it, how to stop it, and what breaks it. Stop treating it like an inconvenience you tolerate. Oh, and RTFM!
Posted on February 4th, 2010 by Geekwrench
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How the World Was Made.
News broke today, that another element of Al Gore’s Inconvenient movie was false. The UN admitted to the artificial creation of data about Iceland icebergs and how fast they are melting. This comes months after data came out about a lake in the Middle East, that supposedly dried up from global warming, actually dried up because of nearby water demands, very similar to how the Owens Valley lake disappeared.
I watched a Netflix release of a History channel documentary last night called “How the Earth Was Made.” While much of the early science of the earth’s history is still in doubt, it did make some clear points about how silly Humans are in their efforts. Here are a few points.
The planet has already gone through 3 phases of extinction of life.
The planet has gone through a snowball age, and several ice ages. The current position of the tectonic plates effects the ocean currents such that a 15-20 thousand year cooling and warming cycle occurs. Human activity will only delay the inevitable. (by maybe 20 years)
Most of the world’s volcanic activity has caused greater destruction than anything mankind has invented, several times over.
Pangaea was not the first super-continent.
We, and most life on the planet can be wiped out in many ways, including entire sections of the mantle blowing apart due to magma bubbles in the core, ice sliding across New York, Asteroids, and even shifting plates shuffling continents like folding rugs.
The Matterhorn is made from chunks of 2 different continents. (not the one at Dizzyland)
Scientists have “proven” things about the earth many times, and then “proven” them wrong. Despite all we have learned, we still simply don’t know that much.
Also on the disc is a long documentary about volcanoes. The special features end with a disguised apology for the human race with global warming, in which the scientists contradict what was said in the feature.
Some things do not make sense to me, like the existence of water before oxygen. considering the composition of water, and the existence of lightning, there must have been oxygen before the first signs of life. Also, since the existence of iridium is due to asteroids, and its breakdown is slower than uranium, why is most of the iridium around today from newer asteroids?
While this video leaves unanswered questions, I still found it an enlightening learning experience.
Posted on January 21st, 2010 by Geekwrench
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Posted on December 24th, 2009 by Geekwrench
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On Wednesday morning, I got to work early to find 2 cars in the parking lot. One was a ford ranger that has been around for a month, waiting for someone to get around to it. It was a lean-sale that needed major engine work. The other was a Mitsubishi Id never seen before. One tire from the truck was replaced with a bagel spare, and resting on a scissor jack. That tire was on the front right of the Mitsu. strange, we don’t work on mitsus, what was going on? I called The Man, he new nothing, but told me to call another guy that had already invested money in the truck. He knew nothing either. I went back out and looked at the car. It was hard to see inside, due to tinted windows. peering in, i saw lots of crap and then i saw a leg. That was all i needed. I called the cops.
Minutes later, a single black & white pulled up and walked around the car. after peering inside, he backed up quickly and drew his upholstered gun up to his shoulder level, approached the car again, pointing his hand canon through the windshield, and banged on the windshield. I kicked myself for not making a video, I was holding the camera in my hand. he backed up as a scroungy tweeker stumbled out of the car. Then to my surprise, another, rather old guy piled out behind him. A backup car arrived, and they were cuffed and stuffed.
We became more popular than a do-nut shop for the next 3 hours. Apparently, they had decided to nap before finishing their work and forgot to wake up. Every new cop that showed up heard the story and laughed. It became the dumb criminal story of the day. The car was full of stolen mail and tools missing from all around the city. They were on parole, and experienced criminals. Not experienced enough, i guess, they told the police they only wanted to borrow the tire.
Posted on December 21st, 2009 by Geekwrench
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During the slow seasons, we often take up projects we normally wouldn’t touch with a 10 foot pipe wrench. Some cars do not age well, but these old cars teach us the physics of auto wear, and often, quite a bit about the people behind the pile.
Pile 1: 1994 Jaguar XJ6.
This is actually a pretty nice looking car. We bought it from people that did not want to deal with registering it in the grand mafia that is the California DMV. It needed minor work, and The Man drove it as his personal car for a few months.
Pile 2: 1994 Volvo 960
This is another car we bought, came in with a broken timing belt and bent valves. customer didn’t want to spend the money to rebuild the head. We fixed it, and The man drove it as his personal car for over a year.
Both of these piles have in common that they were built around the time that the big blue oval bought their companies. While this has been an improvement for Jaguar, this was a disaster for Volvo. IMHO, the last real Volvo was built in 1994, but that model was the 940, that still had the bullitproof 2.3L engine. The post Ford Volvo’s just do not stand up to the tough image of the old ones. This poor old 960 has had wire harness issues, ignition problems, hard starts and crumbling parts. While these same problems were prone to many Volvo’s, The older cars manage to stay running, and are easier to fix. The Jaguar, however, is still a tough durable car. It has some interior issues, but the engine is strong and reliable. English electronics have always been complicated, but this Jaguar is easier to figure out than some other Brit buckets like Rolls Royce. Sad to say, as Jaguars got more Ford-ed up, the quality and image appears to have gone down.
Today, the Jaguar is more pleasant to drive, holds its style, and has greater overall value than the Volvo.
Posted on December 13th, 2009 by Geekwrench
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Always carry a spare tire that is at least as adequate as the four bolted on.
Most cars come standard with a spare tire that has the range and capacity of an American Idol reject. Too many times, I have seen people take these things too far, and drive down the freeway at 80 mph. If you see this, stay away. You’re looking at someone who will soon suffer consequences. RTFM. That can lid with the rubber-band around it, is good for 50 miles at 50 miles per hour in most cases. On some cars, driving farther or faster than this can cause mechanical failure. I have a customer right now who is suing a tire store for thousands of dollars in new drive-train parts, because they put a smaller than stock tire on an AWD system.
If you have room, you should carry an actual tire on a steel rim as a spare. You should check this tire frequently for air, and change it every so often. (You shouldn’t use a tire more than 6 years old as a spare). It should be the same type and size as the other tires on your car. This way, replacing that spare isn’t an emergency, you can wait a while, get where your going and back, and wait till your next Christmas bonus to replace it.
You should also know how to change this tire. Not just the mechanical aspect, but the safety. Your rim is cheaper than your life. If you get a flat on the freeway, drive it OFF the road. No one wants to hose you off the blacktop.
Posted on November 29th, 2009 by Geekwrench
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Posted on November 24th, 2009 by Geekwrench
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No, not my wife. I technically do not have a trunk to house her in, since I drive a pick-up. Since room is cramped behind the seats, and I don’t drive that far anymore, I no longer carry an old bag.
This is an overnight bag, with a change of clothes and a small bath kit. The clothes are a pair of black $10 walmart jeans and a wrinkle free golf shirt. (and of course, socks and draws. It’s also good to get the pants a bit long to hide your socks) This tends to look better than the money and conditions that brought it about. The bath kit is for what I call a “car shower.”
I still keep a “car shower” kit in the glove box. Its just a small travel deodorant, body spray, mouth wash, folding comb/brush, and a packet of soap. Enough to look presentable at church when you can’t make it home after a night at the sleaze den.
While in China I learned to keep, in even the smallest of glove-boxes, a “gas station bathroom” kit. It’s a small zip-lock bag with a travel pack of kleenex, hand soap, and a butt gasket. I’m still waiting for the tiny “breath spray” size of Lysol, but a tiny bottle of Listerine works ok. I cannot find it, but someone has invented a clip that fits over the travel kleenex that doubles as a stall door lock. If your in a bad ‘hood, or your really paranoid, prop a travel mirror on top of the urinal to see behind you. However, I can’t imagine what you would do about it, if you saw anything behind you mid-stream.
Posted on November 15th, 2009 by Geekwrench
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There has been much upheaval in the local media about water conservation. None of it seems to focus on 2 simple facts: 1. This is a desert, there is no water here, we import our water. 2. There are too many houses built on it. If the authorities want any real impact, the solution would be to completely outlaw all sprinkler and irrigation systems for recreation. This would kill all the lawns, close all the golf courses, and dry up all the flowers in front of the old peoples houses. Suddenly everyone could see for themselves; this is in fact, a desert. We have taken over like a virus, injecting our own little pockets of reality to hide our patch of dirt’s true identity.
I have a lawn. Well, I have a patch of grass, anyway. It’s so small that a dog could step over it without noticing. It gets water for about 4 minutes a day early in the morning. I got a broken weed-wacker that I fixed with some parts from a car alternator. It needs a couple of swipes from this twice a month to not look like a shrub, so its doing fine. I have various other plants, a couple of trees, all growing more than I would like them to. Others however, seem to think their lawn needs half an hour of drenching at 2 in the afternoon. This is more effective at cleaning out 6 blocks of gutter, as the grass is dead. I think the “water saving” landscape installed across the street uses more water than I do.
Every night on the news out here, there seems to be a water main rupture from a helmet haired reporter with a name like “Brock”. IMHO its just sizemic activity acting against old pipe, but it still bothers me that the next story is from a nasally plasti-blond about a new law that says we can only water our grass on a Thursday morning, unless you do it by hand, holding a rock over your head, wearing a politically correct t-shirt.
The real problem? there’s too many people here. maybe we need to make it less inviting.
I just had an epiphany; maybe that’s what they are trying to do.
Posted on November 8th, 2009 by Geekwrench
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Some of you are about to be amazed. Well, at least some people that haven’t seen me in a while.
I no longer have crooked teeth, but I may still be subject to the name “Can-opener”
Last Monday, the dentist said that my teeth were ready for the next phase. The following conversation between the D and the assistant was mostly ignored until i heard him say “blah blah put a power chain between blah blah”… I suddenly awoke from my stupor “Excuse me, did you use the word ‘power chain’?” Yup, he did. Never heard of such a thing before. “couldn’t they use a more comfortable word?” “like what”, he said “the cuddly comfy chain?”
Welp, as you can see in the picture, across the gap is a small chain. Its job is to pull the front teeth apart. For the next three weeks, I will have this “bling” along with my now straight teeth. The next step is the bridge to fill in the hole.
Oops, that’s the wrong tooth missing picture. here ya go
Posted on November 1st, 2009 by Geekwrench
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