Re: [MBZ] Fwd: [Diesel-Vanagon] OT: FS, super-nice Mercedes 300 diesel, spare for your Vanagon?

2007-01-02 Thread David Brodbeck
Zoltan Finks wrote: Looks nicer than ours which has half the miles. I wonder, though, if the speedometer is reading 15 mph low, is that odometer reading low too? They work in conjunction, right? They do, but the speedometer can have a calibration error even if the odometer reads

Re: [MBZ] Trying out 0Wxx Mobil 1

2007-01-02 Thread David Brodbeck
Levi Smith wrote: I would have thought it more likely to be a spark in the vicinity during one of those charging times that caused the explosion? I wasn't aware that under normal circumstances you could blow up a battery simply by charging it... Or maybe it was possible with older batteries?

Re: [MBZ] Lobstah

2007-01-02 Thread David Brodbeck
Zeitgeist wrote: Almost always requires a reservation down here in Olympia. Probably one of the premier eateries in town, which mostly speaks to the a sad dearth of dining options. I usually go to the Point Defiance one. I usually have to wait 30-45 minutes if I don't have a reservation.

Re: [MBZ] M1 - Oil Analysis of Unused M1 0W30 (Hope it getsthruwithout being Stripped)

2007-01-02 Thread David Brodbeck
LarryT wrote: Excess gas in the oil is a common problem and IMO is caused by short trips which do not allow the oil to get hot enough to burn off the excess fuel - which is probably caused by poorly tuned carburetors or FI/ Stuck chokes will also do this, bad carb floats, bad fuel pumps

Re: [MBZ] Checking Oil Level

2007-01-02 Thread David Brodbeck
Zoltan Finks wrote: As a pump-jockey, I ran into that many times (I'm sure others have too). Sometimes it's downright irritating. I seem to see it with auto tranny fluid dipsticks more. You have to re-dip half a dozen times and sort of use the most common reading. I always have that problem

Re: [MBZ] geoduck

2007-01-02 Thread David Brodbeck
Zeitgeist wrote: Geoducks are quite tasty (especially in chowdah), but other NW bivalves are even better, such as the Razor Clam, Butter Clam and Olympia Oyster...oh, and the Dungeness Crab kicks crustacean butt, too! Mmm. I love razor clams. I didn't think I liked seafood until I moved

Re: [MBZ] New thread, used to be Re: ADMIN, foul language. Happy New Year.

2007-01-02 Thread David Brodbeck
Zoltan Finks wrote: I, and most given to contemplation, have analyzed what it is about certain words that makes them unacceptable in society. The four letter word could be buck just as easily as it could be fuck and if society has labeled it profane, it's profane. In that respect, you're

Re: [MBZ] OT: Audi Allroad?

2007-01-02 Thread David Brodbeck
Tom Hargrave wrote: My Wife bought a 2006 4WD Grand Cherokee with a V6 last year and she loves it. The system is a full time 4WD it uses the brakes to lock down any wheel that spins. She does need it since she works in Wisconsin. I've driven the jeep in the snow and the 4WD system works

Re: [MBZ] Bob Hoover

2007-01-02 Thread David Brodbeck
OK Don wrote: It's not crazy - it's precise control, and knowing EXACTLY what he's doing! Did you catch the comment about his 'late' friends who thought it was cool to fly lower than anyone else? Yeah, you don't reach Bob Hoover's age doing that kind of thing if you don't know what you're

Re: [MBZ] License plate fun

2006-12-29 Thread David Brodbeck
Zoltan Finks wrote: Would be cool if it happened to be in WA state. I might try that. That's where I saw it. I can't recall if it was a Washington plate or not.

Re: [MBZ] Puget Sound seafood joints

2006-12-29 Thread David Brodbeck
[EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Of course, there was that nifty Lobster Shop pair of restaurants in Tacoma, Neither of which offered lobster, last time I et there. And only one is in Tacoma. I kinda like Anthony's. Although I can't recall if they offer lobster.

Re: [MBZ] CLK GTR airplane

2006-12-29 Thread David Brodbeck
Christopher McCann wrote: a co-worker gave me a 1:43 model of the CLK GTR for Christmas. Did a little research and found this: http://youtube.com/watch?v=1O112Q_koGE Yikes! Wow. Reminds me of when hydroplane powerboats blow over.

Re: [MBZ] License plate fun

2006-12-28 Thread David Brodbeck
Zoltan Finks wrote: The daughter of a doctor that had an account at the station. She'd come in, fill up, sign the ticket and leave none the poorer, hot chick that she was. Licence plate: SNAAB. You can guess the type of car. I saw one on a Saab recently that said 'WASAAB'. I laughed out

Re: [MBZ] [OT] Of man and machine (silicon)

2006-12-28 Thread David Brodbeck
[EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: I'm still using an old HP LJ 4M+ at a liesurely 12ppm, and have a duplexer stuck on it (cheap compared to shelves!) as well as an envelope feeder (she does some envelope stuffing for mailing out to some group she belongs to) Those are great printers, aren't

Re: [MBZ] [OT] dental surgery

2006-12-27 Thread David Brodbeck
Zoltan Finks wrote: Curt, I know the upper ones can get into the sinuses, but I thought that the risk of the lower roots getting onto or around the lower jaw area risked permanent numbness, and I wonder, maybe worse (like paralysis, i.e. drooping lip, etc.). My dentists says that the latter

Re: [MBZ] 190D pics

2006-12-24 Thread David Brodbeck
Bob Rentfro wrote: They were, after three (or was it four) making me blow chunksworse than any cheap wine hammerfest I ever was on. Ugh, that's not fun. Vicodin works fine for me. As far as I can tell its pain relieving qualities are quite secondary. After you take a couple you

Re: [MBZ] Power Plant generators

2006-12-24 Thread David Brodbeck
Jim Cathey wrote: Clash of the Titans. The new generator must be carefully synchronized with the power grid it's joining or Bad Things will happen. For a nice automotive analogy, imagine driving a stickshift car that has no clutch, nor even synchros. It _can_ be done, just like porcupine

Re: [MBZ] Mercedes vs Toyota (crash pics)

2006-12-24 Thread David Brodbeck
Bob Rentfro wrote: They're for safe plant shutdown after a loss of off site power to protect the health and safety of the public sound offical? I toured the B Reactor Building at Hanford, earlier this year. They had an interesting emergency shutdown system -- big buckets full of

Re: [MBZ] Mercedes vs Toyota (crash pics)

2006-12-24 Thread David Brodbeck
Rick Knoble wrote: Emergency generators at a power-plant Isn't that an oxymoron? LOL Not only that, substations have big battery banks. They need something to power the trip coils on the big circuit breakers, and if there's a major short circuit there may not be any voltage to speak of

Re: [MBZ] Door seals

2006-12-23 Thread David Brodbeck
[EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: The last door to be closed on a w210 must be shut firmly or it won't latch fully. I attribute this to the quality of sealing around the doors. Just like a '50s VW beetle. Reminds me of my Westfalia camper...it was nearly impossible to raise or lower the

Re: [MBZ] OT: Generator voltage spikes

2006-12-22 Thread David Brodbeck
Mitch Haley wrote: Jim Cathey wrote: Yes. This fellow had a 220V generator that did _not_ have a center tap, which meant that unless the two 110V sides of the home's wiring were _exactly_ balanced as to load (and they never, ever are) one side was going to see more than 110V, and one

Re: [MBZ] correct name?

2006-12-22 Thread David Brodbeck
[EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Yes something about a car door people think they are closing a 300 lb door on a ship, never understood the need to SLAM A CAR DOOR I think it's because everyone, at one time or another, has had an old junker where the door wouldn't latch unless they slammed it.

Re: [MBZ] Christine??? M.B. radio

2006-12-21 Thread David Brodbeck
Hendrik Riessen wrote: The problem there is you might turn the radio down while you are driving and then forget to switch it off. End result = dead battery. BTDT -- I've had a few VWs, none of which had the radio wired into a keyed circuit. It's surprising how long it'll run before the

Re: [MBZ] B1 gear-up

2006-12-21 Thread David Brodbeck
Steve MacSween wrote: on 12/20/06 11:18 PM, [EMAIL PROTECTED] at [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Of course there is, and it doesn't make any difference in incidents like this one. Once the normal sequence of things in an approach to landing has been interrupted by something, a minor distraction

Re: [MBZ] Hella Head Lights

2006-12-20 Thread David Brodbeck
Craig McCluskey wrote: 87 smackers sounds a little cheap for real xenon short-arcs, so it must be something else. I've just changed from USA spec lights to Euro lights with halogen bulbs. Makes a lot of difference. Even the Euro lights were more than 87 smackers -- IIRC they were more than 87

Re: [MBZ] These Pics Make Me Want to Buy!

2006-12-20 Thread David Brodbeck
Zoltan Finks wrote: That quite possibly is the worst job of marketing I've seen in the last six months. The target buyer is, well, them and their pot-smoking buddies. ...who, almost by definition, have no money.

Re: [MBZ] 190D pics

2006-12-20 Thread David Brodbeck
Bob Rentfro wrote: (did that sound convincing? hopefully everyone will think that and no one will know it's really because I am a big friggin' baby when it comes to going to the dentist...) Ugh, I hate it too. The only thing that ever gets me to go is the fear that I'll be in for worse

Re: [MBZ] Correct tools for 124 half shaft?

2006-12-20 Thread David Brodbeck
Werner Fehlauer wrote: So this afternoon's project is to see how successful they will be in breaking loose those 16 year old Lock-Tight bolts! One of the tricks with socket-head screws is to clean the head thoroughly before inserting the tool. Pick all that grime and crud out of the

Re: [MBZ] Cafe au lait TD

2006-12-19 Thread David Brodbeck
LarryT wrote: This looks similar to the 300TD Car Driver modified and gave to David E Davis (Publisher Editor) for a while. Is that the one that collided with a television on I-94?

Re: [MBZ] Cafe au lait TD

2006-12-19 Thread David Brodbeck
andrew strasfogel wrote: I've never seen a two-tone 123 300TD before. What do people think of this work of automotive art? http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Mercedes-Benz-300-Series-83-300-TD-Turbo-Diesel-Wagon-Clean-Classic_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQcategoryZ6330QQihZ005QQitemZ150071820671QQrdZ1

Re: [MBZ] OT: Generator voltage spikes

2006-12-18 Thread David Brodbeck
Zeitgeist wrote: Would Boeing Surplus be a good source for these? Where can one locate the new gel cells? For used UPS units, RePC is often a good bet. Check out the AS IS aisle, particularly -- that's where I got three of them for $1 each. I don't usually see them at Boeing. Gel cells can

Re: [MBZ] OT: Generator voltage spikes

2006-12-18 Thread David Brodbeck
Mitch Haley wrote: 12v, 7AH, $20.50x8. I wonder what two trolling motor batteries of 40+AH would cost? And if wet cells would enjoy the charging regime of the UPS? Should be OK. You'd have all the usual disadvantages of wet cells, though -- acid drips, flammable vapors that have to be

Re: [MBZ] now THIS is a crackhead

2006-12-18 Thread David Brodbeck
Kaleb C. Striplin wrote: Yea, the crackhead is the one who won the auction. So now he's a crackhead with a cracked head?

Re: [MBZ] OT: Generator voltage spikes

2006-12-18 Thread David Brodbeck
John M McIntosh wrote: A while back I picked up a 2Kwa and 1Kwa HP powerwise UPS. These fine UPS made by HP before that division was bought out by APC run the UPS side fully isolated from the line via the inverter... Those are the ultimate in power stability. I've heard that type of unit

Re: [MBZ] Golden Age? Finding 80s Autos (now heading into a rant)

2006-12-17 Thread David Brodbeck
Zoltan Finks wrote: And that is scary. I want performance cars only in the hands of those trained or capable of handling them. A Crown Vic Police Interceptor is not really a performance car. It's got basically the same engine as a V-8 Mustang and considerably more weight. 0-60 times are

Re: [MBZ] Golden Age? Finding 80s Autos (now heading into a rant)

2006-12-17 Thread David Brodbeck
Chris Kueny wrote: A visual cue to the police package is the dual exhaust. So there are some small hardware differences. Yeah, that's good for a small horsepower gain. It's also found on Crown Victorias with the trailer towing package. It's one of the few examples of a modern car with a

Re: [MBZ] OT: Generator voltage spikes

2006-12-17 Thread David Brodbeck
Craig McCluskey wrote: http://www.apc.com/resource/include/techspec_index.cfm?base_sku=LE1200# Lots of interesting specs, but they're missing the important ones. Like, what input voltage range gives what output voltage range? It sort of does here:

Re: [MBZ] Golden Age? Finding 80s Autos (now heading into a rant)

2006-12-17 Thread David Brodbeck
Zoltan Finks wrote: That's true. Another visual cue is the rear sway bar. Or maybe all full-sized American cars come with rear sway bars now. It used to be a real rarity. All Crown Vics after a certain year have a Watt's link to locate the rear axle.(Older ones have a Panhard rod.) Dunno

Re: [MBZ] CC handle

2006-12-17 Thread David Brodbeck
LarryT wrote: I have no idea why so many system have a ON/OFF switch. I can think of two possibilities: - As a safety to prevent accidental engagement, and resulting lawsuits. - As a backup to allow disengaging the system if the brake pedal switch fails.

Re: [MBZ] CC handle

2006-12-16 Thread David Brodbeck
[EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Sure they are, and it's the best design and easiest to use of all of them. No on switch to find or buttons to press. Just a touch with the left index finger or thumb. The GM and Ford designs are awful. I dunno, I like the ones that put buttons on the steering

Re: [MBZ] Golden Age? Finding 80s Autos (now heading into a rant)

2006-12-16 Thread David Brodbeck
Steve MacSween wrote: Now I see your comment on US cars and raise you by the experience of our local taxi fleets. For a long time the (verrry cheap) owners purchased whichever US car was cheapest to get at the time (mainly Luminas and Malibus and Transport/Montana minivans). Here they all

Re: [MBZ] OT VW rabbit conv w/1.6L diesel engine!

2006-12-16 Thread David Brodbeck
Tony Wirtel wrote: WIth the 1.6 NA diesel the convertible was a dog- I think it had something like 300lbs extra reinforcement to make up for the lost roof structure. That way, the car only folded up in an accident, and not just driving down the road! Yeah, 300 pounds is almost exactly

Re: [MBZ] OT: Generator voltage spikes

2006-12-16 Thread David Brodbeck
Zeitgeist wrote: I'm presently without power, and may be for some time, due to recent wind storm activity. My generator blew up my surge protector, so I'm running my DSL modem off of the battery from my van, and using our laptop w/wireless. I strongly suspect our generator is malfunctioning

Re: [MBZ] O.T. GM in Dark Ages

2006-12-16 Thread David Brodbeck
Kaleb C. Striplin wrote: I guess I dont see whats wrong with having the cruise controls on the turn signal Me either, really...I think it's just what you're used to. It can be kind of confusing if you're used to cars with different functions on the stalks, of course.

Re: [MBZ] OT '91 Isuzu Rodeo fast idle

2006-12-16 Thread David Brodbeck
Mitch Haley wrote: I can't remember if a high resistance connection in the circuit would make it read lean or rich, but the wiring is always a possibility, but I think it's more likely to be the oxygen sensor itself. Generally a short causes the O2 sensor to indicate full lean, causing

Re: [MBZ] OT '91 Isuzu Rodeo fast idle

2006-12-15 Thread David Brodbeck
kevin kraly wrote: When the flooding occurs, it's INSTANT, and when it's not flooding, the engine runs perfectly. It's like someone turns on a switch, and BAM! Would I be able to figure out what's going on based on trouble codes? They might point you in the right direction. I would

Re: [MBZ] OT '91 Isuzu Rodeo fast idle

2006-12-14 Thread David Brodbeck
kevin kraly wrote: It's warm enough not to have the cold starting problem, but not hot enough to have the fast idle/overfueling problem. The minute it reaches normal temperature, it's BAAACK! I'm bouncing this off the Isuzu guys as well, but I figured that one of yous may have some

Re: [MBZ] OT '91 Isuzu Rodeo fast idle

2006-12-14 Thread David Brodbeck
kevin kraly wrote: Thanks! I do have a service manual so someone can point me to where the O2 sensor is. It should be on the exhaust manifold somewhere, right? It will be on the exhaust manifold or downpipe. Since this is a V-engine you may have two, one for each bank. It will probably

Re: [MBZ] Golden Age? Finding 80s Autos

2006-12-14 Thread David Brodbeck
Zoltan Finks wrote: I've often wondered on the subject of procuring and owning the type of automobiles some of us favor (early to mid 80s European). What will it be like to try to find one 10 or 15 years from now? I think for the answer to that, you just have to look at the market in old

Re: [MBZ] 240D Battery

2006-12-14 Thread David Brodbeck
Marshall Booth wrote: Virtually ALL of the batteries you mention are made to virtually the same standards by Johnson Controls! The differences found in testing different labeled Johnson Controls batteries are the same differences that exist within the individual batteries sporting each

Re: [MBZ] OT '91 Isuzu Rodeo fast idle

2006-12-14 Thread David Brodbeck
[EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Hey Kevin, I'm not totally familiar with the 3.1 in the Rodeo and I notice everyone mentions the O2 sensor as being the culprit here. I can't help but wonder because your engine floods so much it sounds like a faulty fuel pressure regulator. The O2 sensors are

Re: [MBZ] OT: Movie Reviews

2006-12-13 Thread David Brodbeck
Sunil Hari wrote: Tokyo Drift is awesome just because they used real cars and drivers, instead of the CGI of the second movie. Hmm, I might have to actually see it, then. I saw the first one, and the amount of CGI work kind of turned me off. I prefer movies with real stunt driving in

Re: [MBZ] lane sharing and lane splitting

2006-12-12 Thread David Brodbeck
I think the terms are used to refer to motorcycles and narrow vehicles like that. If I understand properly, lane sharing would be riding two-abreast in the same lane. Lane splitting would be riding in between the travel lanes, like to squeeze between cars that are stopped in traffic. I'm sure

Re: [MBZ] Batteries

2006-12-12 Thread David Brodbeck
On Tue, 12 Dec 2006 10:04:53 -0500, Werner Fehlauer wrote Levi - cooking batteries is definitely NOT healthy! The heat generated internally can warp plates and do other internal bad things. This is especially true of sealed batteries like Optimas. If they get too hot, the safety vents pop

Re: [MBZ] Scary pix pinched from the Ritter list

2006-12-10 Thread David Brodbeck
Luther wrote: How the %#$*# fast were they going when that thing cut loose? #(#%)($#%'in morons! The article sez 60 mph. I don't know if that's an actual 60 mph, or an uhm, yeah, I was only going '60 mph.'

Re: [MBZ] Scary pix pinched from the Ritter list

2006-12-10 Thread David Brodbeck
Zeitgeist wrote: This is interesting. The other day, I picked up a large driveline by the side of the road near my house. One end was buried about 3' in the ground, as if it flew off and torpedoed in there at a high rate of speed. What's interesting about the unit, is that it's entirely

Re: [MBZ] Ritter vs Stern

2006-12-08 Thread David Brodbeck
Michael Hall wrote: On 12/7/06, Steve MacSween [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: he is quite an authority on Iacocca-ero Mopars and vintage Volvos. Iacocca-era Mopars? Like the Dodge Omni and Plymouth Horizon, or the K-Car's? Am I missing something - who would WANT to be an expert on

Re: [MBZ] Wind Chill (was Block Heater)

2006-12-08 Thread David Brodbeck
LT Don wrote: My '83 VW Quantum diesel kicked right over (Mobil-1 15-W-50) at lunch time in +1F, after being driven two blocks from the garage at 7:30 am and then sitting until noon. Two quick hits of the glow plugs and pulled the cold start handle (have no idea what that does, but it works).

Re: [MBZ] 1972 220D Black smoke

2006-12-08 Thread David Brodbeck
Jeff Zedic wrote: I thought black smoke indicated that the fuel mixture was too rich. Oil was blue. If the air cleaner is dirty and restricting airflow it will richen the mixture.

Re: [MBZ] Update Re: Red dash light for Battery is staying on

2006-12-07 Thread David Brodbeck
Michael Hall wrote: Nope, def'n a loose belt. Go ahead and replace all the belts on the car, and while you're at it, any rubber hoses or other components. Then and only then will the light go out. Except you may also need new injectors, and a headlight switch. But first change the belts.

Re: [MBZ] Good feelings

2006-12-07 Thread David Brodbeck
Tyler Backman wrote: ABS certainly saves a lot of lives, and prevents a lot of accidents between normal drivers that don't take the time to study and practice emergency maneuvers. Research that supports that assertion is surprisingly hard to come by. Every study I'm aware of seems to

Re: [MBZ] Good feelings

2006-12-07 Thread David Brodbeck
John M McIntosh wrote: Standing on the brake is easy but what most people don't realize is our benzs (even my w140) is quite capable of doing a sudden lane change in a *very* short distance. On the other hand, cars in the next lane over will not thank you for involving them in your

Re: [MBZ] Wind Chill (was Block Heater)

2006-12-07 Thread David Brodbeck
Werner Fehlauer wrote: Jim - at the risk of starting a whole new thread, Wind Chill applies only to living things (animate) that have a circulating system (blood). Ah, but we're talking about an engine being actively heated by a block heater. Kinda like how your body is actively heated.

[MBZ] Group IV Synthetic (Was: Re: Block Heater)

2006-12-07 Thread David Brodbeck
Marshall Booth wrote: Group IV or IV/V synthetic oil (all the Mobil 1 oils are IV or IV/V mixes) will increase cold cranking speed by 30-50% and low minimum start temp by about 10 degrees (or a bit more) other things equal. Marshall, I'm curious if you've heard any of the rumors that

Re: [MBZ] Totally OT Ford Explorer

2006-12-07 Thread David Brodbeck
Donald Snook wrote: Has anyone replaced the dash lights on a 1997 Explorer. The lights in the cluster (behind the speedo and other gauges) are out on my Wife's car. Just wondering if anyone has any idea how to change them? I believe the cluster has to come out. It's a real pain, especially

Re: [MBZ] Wind Chill (was Block Heater)

2006-12-07 Thread David Brodbeck
Werner Fehlauer wrote: David - Bzzzt! An engine block, whether standing in the wind or in an unheated shelter, will never get below ambient temperature, no matter how hard the wind blows. I realize that, but the original question was what temperature the engine will reach WITH THE BLOCK

Re: [MBZ] Group IV Synthetic (Was: Re: Block Heater)

2006-12-07 Thread David Brodbeck
Marshall Booth wrote: There have been rumors that Mobil 1 has be switched to group III oils every year for almost 20 years. I expect that most of those rumors were started by people that made their living selling group III synthetics. It hasn't happened as of the last time I checked (about

Re: [MBZ] Good feelings

2006-12-07 Thread David Brodbeck
ernest breakfield wrote: you should already *know* whether or not there's someone in your blind spot; when it becomes time for an Emergency Avoidance maneuver, it's far too late to start figuring out what's going on around you. Ideally, yes, but in heavy mixed freeway traffic it's not

Re: [MBZ] OT: Big Brother is Nearby

2006-12-06 Thread David Brodbeck
LarryT wrote: I can only imagine the uproar that would results if the fees to get a drivers license were raised to $1500 -$2000! For one thing the number of teen drivers would be dramaticaly cut as would the number of high school students filling the parking lots of the local schools!

Re: [MBZ] In need of a new rig

2006-12-04 Thread David Brodbeck
Tyler Backman wrote: I would be interested in knowing what the stumbling blocks are, if you have time. Do you think the syncro running gear could be installed on a pre-vanagon bus as easily That's a major project. Among other things, the Bus is considerably narrower than the Vanagon.

Re: [MBZ] OT: Big Brother is Nearby

2006-12-04 Thread David Brodbeck
Lee Einer wrote: There are many EXTREMELY fuel efficient vehicles, many of them diesel, that are blocked from import to the US by the EPA, which is ostensibly about environmental protection but somehow allows 7mpg Hummers while blocking 50 MPG 4wds. I suspect it has as much to do with NHTSA

Re: [MBZ] Gumball Rally

2006-12-04 Thread David Brodbeck
LarryT wrote: There seems to be a common misconception to not realize Ill has many snowcapped mountain tops. Through the magic of Hollywood you can learn the Truth. Unfortunately too many kids get much of their education from TV. Watch old episodes of Gunsmoke and you'll quickly learn

Re: [MBZ] leaky trunk 1983 300sD

2006-12-04 Thread David Brodbeck
kevin kraly wrote: Grab a flashlight and have someone (that you trust implicitly :^) ) lock you in the trunk and then squirt the car with a hose. Since I can't see, even with a flashlight, I guess I'll be the one holding the hose. Unfortunately, finding the rust in the trunk under the rear

Re: [MBZ] Decent US Car

2006-12-03 Thread David Brodbeck
Tyler Backman wrote: .Everyone I know who has owned one of these had the transmission suddenly and unexpectedly fail, with repair costs over the worth of the vehicle. I know of about 5 that this has happened to with Taurus (es?) and Sables What's really weird is that it always seems

Re: [MBZ] OT: Big Brother is Nearby

2006-12-02 Thread David Brodbeck
Jim Cathey wrote: The present system stinks, of course, but so do the others. I'm absolutely opposed to any proposed solution that doesn't embody real competition in providing service. As far as I know, most single-payer systems allow you to pick your own doctor. It's not like you're

Re: [MBZ] Fw: Too much screwing around

2006-12-02 Thread David Brodbeck
Mike Canfield wrote: I'd suggest cutting a groove in it with a Dremel tool for the screwdriver if you can get in there with one. If that doesn't work, it occurs to me that a common technique for removing broken bolts and stuck studs is to weld a nut to them. Maybe you could carefully epoxy

Re: [MBZ] Big Brother is Nearby --- WAS---- W140 Vs W126

2006-12-01 Thread David Brodbeck
Rich Thomas wrote: If you come here illegally you get free health care, as much as you can use, any ER has it. Well, sort of. They'll give you emergency care. They won't give you anything else. If you have a chronic disease, like diabetes, you're pretty much out of luck...except that

Re: [MBZ] Gumball Rally

2006-12-01 Thread David Brodbeck
LarryT wrote: The movie Gumball Rally will be shown on SpeedVision Fri at 8PM (ET) and again at Midnight - in case someone has missed this cult classic it has something for all of us Thanks, Larry. I haven't seen it. I'm going to set the PVR to record it when I get home tonight.

Re: [MBZ] Glasses

2006-12-01 Thread David Brodbeck
LT Don wrote: At the risk of sounding like a smart-ass, have you guys tried contact lenses? I haven't. My dad has them, and they seem like so much trouble...they have to be cleaned every day, they get dust under them, they pop out and have to be searched for on the floor... I like the

Re: [MBZ] Big Brother is Nearby --- WAS---- W140 Vs W126

2006-12-01 Thread David Brodbeck
John M McIntosh wrote: Well that's not quite true anymore in some places down there, I heard a report on the radio that hospitals in Dallas (I think) wised up and discovered that their repeat emergency offenders without health care usually had diabetes. Therefore they realized it was

Re: [MBZ] little metal (?) balls in the cylinder

2006-11-30 Thread David Brodbeck
Fmiser wrote: rumor has it that Michael wrote: I STILL need the part number and torque specifications for the swirl balls. Anyone know where to get a deal on headlight fluid? I buy my headlight fluid at NAPA - supposed to be the same as the MB spec. stuff, but a lot cheaper. However, I

Re: [MBZ] autodimming mirrors

2006-11-30 Thread David Brodbeck
Curt Raymond wrote: If its bad enough out that I can't get somewhere in my 190D I shouldn't be out on the streets because its not safe no matter what. I'm guessing you live somewhere flat. When I lived in Houghton, MI, there were sometimes places I couldn't get to because I didn't have enough

Re: [MBZ] A380 Crosswind certification

2006-11-30 Thread David Brodbeck
OK Don wrote: Talk about crabbing until the last second! It looks like they might be using the same sort of procedure as 747s, which are allowed to touch down while still in a crab. The landing gear is built to withstand the side loads from this kind of touchdown. Large four-engine jets

Re: [MBZ] OT Mazda RX7

2006-11-29 Thread David Brodbeck
John Freer wrote: Having had 3 RX7's (2 ist generation and 1 2nd) I loved the cars. There is nothing to break on a rotary. The only rotary repair is the front engine seal which mine started throwing oil at 200K miles. It was a 400 dollar repair. Gas mileage with the rotary suffers as compared

Re: [MBZ] Glasses

2006-11-29 Thread David Brodbeck
[EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: If you are having problems, the lab always makes them over at no further cost. I can't tell you many lenses have been done over for me. True. Unfortunately by the time I noticed the chromic aberration in the lenses I'd already moved out of the area. It isn't obvious

Re: [MBZ] autodimming mirrors

2006-11-29 Thread David Brodbeck
John Freer wrote: I know you don't have anything like this up in the Seattle area so you are lucky that some redneck driving a jacked up 4X4 who was last heard yelling watch this guys as he broadsided your MB. It's the other guy I always worry about in those conditions. I saw lots of 4x4s in

Re: [MBZ] OT: Glasses

2006-11-29 Thread David Brodbeck
Jim Cathey wrote: Yeah, but glass lenses don't like welding spatter. Nor do the plastic ones! Yeah, but the plastic ones are less likely to turn into razor blades if they get hit by it. ;)

Re: [MBZ] little metal (?) balls in the cylinder

2006-11-29 Thread David Brodbeck
Rusty Cullens wrote: Bearing gone bad, piston or ring meltdown, vacuum pump coming apart, the list goes onand on Seems like those would have ended up in the sump, not the combustion chamber. Maybe pieces of disintegrated glow plugs? Sometimes if the injector spray pattern

Re: [MBZ] Funny boo boo among MB owners

2006-11-28 Thread David Brodbeck
Jeff Zedic wrote: I know that I don't have any glare problems when I'm driving at night in the UK. I still wonder why the USDOT wants us all to be blind at night! I think they've based their syandard on some 50 year old nonsense..AGAIN! That's pretty much it. They claim the European

Re: [MBZ] Another divided Enzo

2006-11-28 Thread David Brodbeck
OK Don wrote: Ouch. Seems those Enzo's always split in half when encountering trees and the such - wonder if that's a design feature? Gets the engine away from the passengers? Not that it did him much good --- I suspect they're following the same design theory as Indy and F1 cars. The idea is

Re: [MBZ] [MB] Please help me to find another maillist

2006-11-28 Thread David Brodbeck
OK Don wrote: The Bosch Fuel Injection and Enigine Management book by Probst (http://www.amazon.com/Bosch-Fuel-Injection-Engine-Management/dp/0837603005/sr=8-1/qid=1164721835/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/105-4223530-6188429?ie=UTF8s=books) is good - and will help you understand what parts are for what. You

Re: [MBZ] lights

2006-11-28 Thread David Brodbeck
ernest breakfield wrote: i don't find it difficult to look at the road instead of oncoming lights,... why would it be difficult? it's not like my eyes are drawn to overly bright lights. I find it helps to deliberately look towards the right shoulder when going past cars with HID lamps,

Re: [MBZ] Glasses

2006-11-28 Thread David Brodbeck
[EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: I hope you are working with an Opthalmologist on this and not an Optometrist. I have just gone through this recently with my new lenses. The first try produced just about what you describe and so my Doc re-examined me and modified the prescription a bit and the

Re: [MBZ] [MB] Please help me to find another maillist

2006-11-28 Thread David Brodbeck
Hendrik Riessen wrote: Yeah I'm working my way through the Probst book at the moment, however to test a jetronic system you need a fuel pressure test kit with two gauges to see the difference between the fuel pressures in the system. Actually, one gauge and a valve will work. The valve

Re: [MBZ] GP Infant Mortality ('91 300D 2.5T W124)

2006-11-27 Thread David Brodbeck
Jim Cathey wrote: A fast-reading DMM, especially with the analog bar graph (like the Fluke 8x series) works fairly well for that. Cheap DMM's might convert slower, they might be harder to use. Don't trust the accuracy of cheap DMMs, either. Mine reads about 10% low on the voltage scales,

Re: [MBZ] Funny boo boo among MB owners

2006-11-27 Thread David Brodbeck
ernest breakfield wrote: properly adjusted quality front fog lights wouldn't blind anyone, and add a great deal to the conspicuity of your vehicle in traffic (with or without fog). given the caliber of our average fellow motorists as evidenced by what they will pull out of and then claim

Re: [MBZ] parking/driving/fog lights

2006-11-27 Thread David Brodbeck
Werner Fehlauer wrote: Now for dumb ideas, try the Daytime Running Lights, which in some cars were initially the high beams! Generally they're the high beams operated at a lower wattage. I've never found them to be a glare problem in daylight, and they do make cars much more visible. (I

Re: [MBZ] Funny boo boo among MB owners

2006-11-27 Thread David Brodbeck
ernest breakfield wrote: daytime use of running lights (what you and many Amerikuns call parking lights) helps make you more easily seen in shadows of trees or buildings, on overcast days, under bridges and overpasses, etc.. since it's not likely anyone could complain that those are

Re: [MBZ] parking/driving/fog lights

2006-11-27 Thread David Brodbeck
Mike Canfield wrote: Never heard of such a thing. Ridiculous if you ask me. I haven't heard of that one. In some states you're legally required to have your headlights on when you're using your windshield wipers, though -- an attempt to coerce drivers into making their cars more visible

Re: [MBZ] Funny boo boo among MB owners

2006-11-27 Thread David Brodbeck
ernest breakfield wrote: in general, you seem to be contradicting yourself WRT where you stand on use of lights; you complained headlights were too dazzling but suggest using them instead of running(/parking) lights,... Where did I say that? My complaint was that using fogs *along

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