We already knew that turn signal DRL's were a bad idea...
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From: Ulf on 2 Nov 2007 17:35 N8N wrote: > On Nov 2, 3:22 pm, Ulf <a...(a)asdf.com> wrote: >> Arif Khokar wrote: > > <snip> > >> I've never experienced a problem with my turn signal DRLs. > > Other than signal ambiguity... a good enough argument in and of itself > for disabling them. Nope. I have white DRLs which makes them impossible to confuse with turn signals if one bulb were to burn out. While, when other drivers see one flashing, they realize it's a turn signal. Much safer if one bulb stops working. The only issue with combined DRLs/turn signals is when signaling in traffic circles IME, but that's easily solved by not signaling at all. > > <snip> > >>> What would really be nice is if the car companies lost a class action >>> lawsuit over the glazed polycarbonate headlamp assembly lens issue that >>> affects practically all vehicles that have them. Or better yet, the >>> NHTSA should have to pay out (if they didn't have sovereign immunity to >>> such legal action). >> Don't buy a vehicle with plastic headlight lenses. I haven't. > > Impossible in the US, unless you buy a vehicle with sealed beams. > Unless I'm behind, the only glass lenses allowed are on sealed-beam > type headlights. Aero-style *must* be polycarbonate. ECE regs allow > replaceable glass lenses for headlights, so you can blame NHTSA for > this one. IIRC, it was/is Canada that required plastic headlights, unless they were hidden. The same people that allowed 7000 cd, and turn signal, DRLs in the first place, mind you. They could have made up for it a few years ago by allowing ECE vehicles, but of course they chickened out... > > nate > Ulf
From: Ad absurdum per aspera on 2 Nov 2007 17:37 > Jeeps have an unbelievable mix of standard, metric, and torx > fasteners, and I'd never needed a T-55 or T-60 before My Jeep had the front seats held on, or together, or both, I forget which, with large External Torx fasteners. (Imagine a bolt with heat- sink ribs up its length instead of a head.) Off I went to Sears for a set of External Torx sockets, which seemed exorbitantly expensive. Well, sure. There isn't much call for those, and they look like no fun at all to manufacture. Thought I'd better get a set of the most likely-looking sizes, though I'd never needed one before. Haven't used one since. Fortunately there was a klugey but secure way to press the passenger seat into service on the driver's side while I figured out how to weld the broken seat frame. Getting back to the original problem, some people have harshed on recent GM products for allegedly excessive voltage, which is tough on lamp lifetime (perhaps explaining why the fleet average number of working DRLs appears to be about 0.75) and might cause excess heat as well (which probably doesn't help lamp lifetime in its own right). Still, it seems like the manufacturer's duty to know about this and, if they can't change it, create designs that can dump the heat, or, at the very least, specify plastics that can take it. Then again, engineers responsible for one subsystem not communicating with others regarding specs and placement does indeed explain quite a few things about a lot of cars... --Joe
From: Brent P on 2 Nov 2007 18:35 In article <1194030123.677770.42430(a)o38g2000hse.googlegroups.com>, N8N wrote: >> most GM's I've had to do work on used torx... wonder why that car is >> different. Then again I don't think I've touched a GM newer than the 80s... > > Seems to be common everywhere, there's a lot of Torx on my '93 F150 as > well. Interesting, outside the hotwire sensor (security torx, which I have not had need to touch, but did notice) and the seatbelt bolts I haven't encountered any on my mustang.
From: Brent P on 2 Nov 2007 18:38 In article <1194032267.699300.221420(a)50g2000hsm.googlegroups.com>, N8N wrote: > Impossible in the US, unless you buy a vehicle with sealed beams. > Unless I'm behind, the only glass lenses allowed are on sealed-beam > type headlights. Aero-style *must* be polycarbonate. This must be false or a relatively recent idiotcy added to the code. The torqueless wonder car (1986 mazda 626) had GLASS aero-style headlamps. 1985 626's have sealed beams.
From: Brent P on 2 Nov 2007 18:42
In article <1194034397.638735.58520(a)o3g2000hsb.googlegroups.com>, Garth Almgren wrote: > I picked one of these up last weekend so I could clean out my IAC, > which is held on by four T-10 security screws: > http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=91310 > on sale for $5.99. Guess even the security type is getting more common... hmm... the IAC on my mustang is just held in by a couple I think 8mm hex bolts. Had it so the car wouldn't idle when I went to leave work one day... took it off, gave it a good shaking, put it back on all was fine. Cleaned it out good when I got home. Probably should buy a spare. > Jeeps have an unbelievable mix of standard, metric, and torx > fasteners, and I'd never needed a T-55 or T-60 before I got the > Jeep. :) I bought a T50 to replace the steering wheel on the mustang... damn, that's a torx I forgot... probably because I can use the same bit for the seat belt bolts. |