tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-47048650537164692502024-03-27T02:38:12.462-04:00Brian Early - Loose Nut Behind the WheelThe Random Rants, Raves, and Observations of a total Gearhead.Brian Earlyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04255338655061023375noreply@blogger.comBlogger129125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4704865053716469250.post-47552720906322985482023-05-18T21:37:00.000-04:002023-05-18T21:37:10.417-04:00Did you miss me?<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXdluvtHRK-XpCUG-x9tTtPcl76HunYrfHDk_op3_-D0paaSRFRppTP1I4pFq7wGIYk2ojrwTkOmILodqNCNSFQaoy_KDy11H1qvDYQWUXfO-XYY35UNTSTTXUk2X5b6RmvmldWhwFgpnaggNHOWCF9Fz6HfX4Js9HfiZVD3Nz4AcVcSGMlPvir8si0w/s1010/Google%20Dumbass%20Recovery.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="758" data-original-width="1010" height="461" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXdluvtHRK-XpCUG-x9tTtPcl76HunYrfHDk_op3_-D0paaSRFRppTP1I4pFq7wGIYk2ojrwTkOmILodqNCNSFQaoy_KDy11H1qvDYQWUXfO-XYY35UNTSTTXUk2X5b6RmvmldWhwFgpnaggNHOWCF9Fz6HfX4Js9HfiZVD3Nz4AcVcSGMlPvir8si0w/w615-h461/Google%20Dumbass%20Recovery.jpg" width="615" /></a></div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Here's a word to the wise: Before changing your cell phone number, be sure that every single account that uses the old one is updated to the new one so that you can do whatever two-step verification hoop-jumping is required while you still have it.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">With all of the other places and contacts that needed update and notifying with the switch, I forgot my Google account's recovery settings.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">At some point long after, Google's algorithms decided I was hacking my account with my valid login and demanded verification via text. Using my old cell number. Which I no longer had. Which I couldn't update without logging in... <br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Google, in particular, provides no help in this situation. Bafflingly, it doesn't allow you to use your recovery email to, um, recover your account. Despite the "More ways to verify" link, text to the old number was the only way provided.</span><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"> There's no way that I could find to contact a human being to try and sort this out.</span><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Google's solution is to simply open a new account if you can't recover the old one.<br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Genius! Why didn't I think of that? Oh - wait - because then I'd lose access to everything associated with it, like this blog, that's why!</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Thankfully, the new owner of my old number was amenable to relaying the recovery text's security code, and I've since been able to update the account to my new one. No thanks to Google.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">So you will soon be seeing new content on this blog for the first time in mmummbble-mmmmuumble years. Yes, it's about time.</span><br /></p>Brian Earlyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04255338655061023375noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4704865053716469250.post-67051169095650708332017-07-16T23:43:00.000-04:002017-07-16T23:46:32.109-04:00Shameless Self-promotion - AutoTrader<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij33NjZKeTd9pn0VxHDr6_8I1nKJfeBnPprTD_sASuTq3jZX5Am0WTjcOXxuKP-Excs-WI__VqAZJfSMJRcSWoTq1g_pa4Xf3fnKdhPjU0PfdEF0BPbTQvWFMgbs49QkmpmxfjHdeDndpi/s1600/100_6885.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij33NjZKeTd9pn0VxHDr6_8I1nKJfeBnPprTD_sASuTq3jZX5Am0WTjcOXxuKP-Excs-WI__VqAZJfSMJRcSWoTq1g_pa4Xf3fnKdhPjU0PfdEF0BPbTQvWFMgbs49QkmpmxfjHdeDndpi/s640/100_6885.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Fording a flooded road - Mercedes' surprisingly capable GLK</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Emergencies and breakdowns can occur at any time of the year, and despite the fact that winter is most associated with having car trouble or encountering treacherous conditions, summer has its own hazards.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">You can read about how to prevent, prepare for, and deal with several such scenarios in my piece for the AutoTrader <a href="http://www.autotrader.ca/newsfeatures/20170223/what-to-do-before-your-warranty-expires/#11VU2DqCqzVZjMkk.97" target="_blank">here</a>.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Flooded roads - such as the one simulated for the launch of Mercedes' GLK in Germany, as seen above - are just one warm-weather threat. Note the nice bow wave and the corresponding area of reduced depth immediately behind it that this slow-moving GLK is creating. This is what you want, not the YouTube-hit generating cascade of water a high-speed traverse will generate. Those look cool, but have a good likelihood of resulting in a similarly internet-enticing mid-crossing engine failure.</span>Brian Earlyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04255338655061023375noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4704865053716469250.post-21588675885727051492017-07-16T23:11:00.000-04:002017-07-16T23:18:39.644-04:00Shameless Self-promotion - AutoTrader<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL_lkd7M9uKi4uC8yOz18Of1DVN2WUE1-Qyz-Tmsj2cYed6uEkvfwT0GhxI02sbFqTRkbhYdRUqeyGw0-t6ZYmwvgkgoYsmxOA5X6ZlwzbqDZPNNB_ZI0TZTAosCv6lFD_D0-JBTU93bGo/s1600/20170405_125318.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL_lkd7M9uKi4uC8yOz18Of1DVN2WUE1-Qyz-Tmsj2cYed6uEkvfwT0GhxI02sbFqTRkbhYdRUqeyGw0-t6ZYmwvgkgoYsmxOA5X6ZlwzbqDZPNNB_ZI0TZTAosCv6lFD_D0-JBTU93bGo/s640/20170405_125318.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Warranty almost up? Here's some suggestions...</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Want to stir up a hornet's nest? Just bring up warranty expiry and pre-expiry inspections in an article - you can find my take on the subject for the AutoTrader <a href="http://www.autotrader.ca/newsfeatures/20170223/what-to-do-before-your-warranty-expires/#11VU2DqCqzVZjMkk.97" target="_blank">here</a>.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">It's clear from going through the feedback that many of those that commented failed to read (or at least, fully comprehend) what I've suggested and the points I made. Ultimately, here's what it boils down to:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The automaker includes what it anticipates will be the average cost of repairs and corrections fleet-wide when it sets the price for that model; you paid for the warranty when you bought the vehicle. It's there to protect you from incurring expenses relating to defects or build issues with the vehicle for its duration. Use it, and don't feel guilty for doing so. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Your end of the bargain is to do the required maintenance to keep that warranty valid. Maintenance doesn't necessarily have to be done by a dealership (accredited auto repair facilities can do it, for instance), however you must follow or exceed the manufacturer's guidelines, and you must document everything. Period. A single missed or unproven service could void the warranty on a related warranty repair.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Unresolved complaint on a warranty item? Get documentation that you tried to address it and the service department couldn't replicate/diagnose/repair it before leaving. Always. Multiple attempts at repairing a serious issue could (in rare but not unheard-of cases) justify buy-back of the vehicle - note that there are no specific "lemon laws" in Ontario and many other jurisdictions, although Ontario's OMVIC and other similar groups may exist to help consumers. At a minimum, thorough documentation may be grounds for the manufacturer to step up to cover a just-out-of-warranty failure that has a history of unresolved complaints related to it.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Unfortunately, there's also incentive for both dealerships and their technicians to overlook or dismiss warranty repairs. </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Most people, technicians included, are honest, but the system is structured to work against dealer technicians on warranty work.</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> Having a trusted service facility do an appropriate inspection (general mechanical state of health, diagnostic code check, etc.) prior to the expiry of the warranty may catch things that might get overlooked, accidentally or otherwise, by the dealership's service department if asked to perform the same inspection. Depending on your relationship with the independent facility, such an inspection may cost an hour or less shop time, which could be money well spent.</span>Brian Earlyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04255338655061023375noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4704865053716469250.post-16576190238221642332017-07-16T22:33:00.000-04:002017-07-16T22:34:16.289-04:00Shameless Self-promotion - AutoTrader<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxAyyicbv_MgkWBHcC3cmP6Es9WjUV8F83uPebTbAhmF0SBgFbz4sVICU6kqX2OpqeNHhmQ7MjJaI4mxC93xbtuVV7hnCVDXt2eh2it05HNNxe72CUXa1lslsHFqATLYPO945avGVWHobV/s1600/20170116_075235.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxAyyicbv_MgkWBHcC3cmP6Es9WjUV8F83uPebTbAhmF0SBgFbz4sVICU6kqX2OpqeNHhmQ7MjJaI4mxC93xbtuVV7hnCVDXt2eh2it05HNNxe72CUXa1lslsHFqATLYPO945avGVWHobV/s640/20170116_075235.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">2017 Honda Ridgeline - LED headlights don't melt frost or snow.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">New vehicles come with an impressive array of tech and convenience features, some of which may have unexpected benefits or even drawbacks. You can read my thoughts on some of these items in my AutoTrader article <a href="http://www.autotrader.ca/newsfeatures/20170208/unexpected-drawbacks-and-bonuses-of-modern-vehicle-features/#eHwdMir7vrR9shWg.97" target="_blank">here</a>.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">One such drawback belongs to LED lighting, as exemplified by the low-beam headlights of Honda Ridgeline pictured above. This vehicle made the 15-plus minute commute to my workplace with the headlights on and still had the healthy layer of frost you see, even directly over the output area of the projector-beam lamp itself. As it turns out, part of the efficiency of LED's is a greatly reduced amount of waste heat production relative to even Xenon HID lamps, let alone conventional incandescent bulbs.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Some aftermarket LED replacements for sealed-beam style bulbs are actually offered with optional heated lenses, a useful feature as they're often used in transport trucks and emergency equipment. I'm not aware of any original equipment headlights that include that function.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">This is a far greater concern with LED tail lights, which are prone to getting covered with snow in certain driving conditions. Just one unanticipated quirk of a new and improved technology...</span>Brian Earlyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04255338655061023375noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4704865053716469250.post-83213509072242139662017-03-09T23:07:00.001-05:002017-03-09T23:11:32.894-05:00Shameless Self-promotion - AutoTrader<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTKQ3_u0Ox6FDpdhQ29ng08pMR40dJkAmg8Q-qbsWQeQGRO_Vs0QyKXj3zqrFUp3Zf8dz-6uj9_4V3Sm7KrCbH9zUBFwz7IXjCSfXZYfrPpkthiLIIIzkFo5ysIdseDUHwTZHTHXVP8PgX/s1600/AJAC_2017CCOTY_LargeCar-BE01-Category.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTKQ3_u0Ox6FDpdhQ29ng08pMR40dJkAmg8Q-qbsWQeQGRO_Vs0QyKXj3zqrFUp3Zf8dz-6uj9_4V3Sm7KrCbH9zUBFwz7IXjCSfXZYfrPpkthiLIIIzkFo5ysIdseDUHwTZHTHXVP8PgX/s640/AJAC_2017CCOTY_LargeCar-BE01-Category.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Best New Large Car entries lined up at AJAC's 2017 Canadian Car of the Year event, October 2016</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Good News! I've recently begun supplying content to AutoTrader, and <span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">my</span> article covering the Best New Large Car category at AJAC's 2017 Canadian Car of the Year is the first piece I've provided. You can find it <a href="http://www.autotrader.ca/expert/20161109/2017-ajac-ccoty-round-up-large-car/" target="_blank">here</a>.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Although it's automotive content that I'm providing, it's not reviews at the moment. There's a lot of skilled people already doing that, and many of those folks don't have a second, full-time job that limits their schedule, and hence access to cars and opportunities to drive and photograph them. It'd be pretty difficult to compete for the limited number of new and available press vehicles with that crowd.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Also, with no disrespect to AutoTrader or anyone else, online doesn't pay as well as the Star did, so traveling to attend events is not currently practical either. What was once a slight profit or break-even venture after expenses and lost wages were factored in would now be self-sponsored. No can do.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">(Oh to be a US auto journalist. My understanding based on multiple sources is that we Canadians get paid a pittance in comparison to our US kin. They often get their vehicles delivered to them, too. That's very uncommon here in Canuckia.)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">While supplying material to AutoTrader is new for me, if you trace the timeline back far enough, Autotrader that was Autos was once Canadian Driver, and I did write a few pieces for them.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Anyway, I'm pleased to have been asked to write for AutoTrader. Material published there is <span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">l</span>ikely to get decent exposure once people discover that AutoTrader's website is for more than just buying and selling cars. <span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">T</span>o that end, depending on your interests, you may actually have seen Sponsored Content links to some of my articles in your Facebook feed. Keep an eye out!</span>Brian Earlyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04255338655061023375noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4704865053716469250.post-65650921962100472202017-03-09T21:16:00.002-05:002017-03-09T22:37:26.608-05:00Shameless Self-promotion - Toronto Star's DIY Garage Wrap-up<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">End of an Era? Well, not quite an Era.</span></b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">As with my vehicle reviews and coverage of new models and auto shows, the policy changes brought to the Toronto Star that eliminated freelance-supplied content also kicked the legs out from under my Star Touch-oriented DIY Garage series. Consequently, 2016 saw the last of those, too.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I have no idea how it was determined which articles made the transition to the Star's online "Autos" section (not to be confused with Wheels.ca, which was already very different from the print edition of Wheels), but five did make it there in 2016 before DIY Garage was taken behind the barn and shot.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Below you'll find those last five linkable articles. Be inspired! </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>January 29, 201<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">6 - Window Regulators</span></b></span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtRu8OJwRpmNxz0zHsQN4pKG_2HcP61SYEx06JEIb2Hd-UPudEBSNLk5XM27VT026dGHOuB0lsp8SdDjqnLY4niHyDuBCI5KLJNqNBmtQn-vH9WnF-L0RKbWAxcWudqrhJ-2BrAjMSnc_N/s1600/wh-DIY0013_Window_Regulator-BE04B-01Sierra_inner_door_arrows.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtRu8OJwRpmNxz0zHsQN4pKG_2HcP61SYEx06JEIb2Hd-UPudEBSNLk5XM27VT026dGHOuB0lsp8SdDjqnLY4niHyDuBCI5KLJNqNBmtQn-vH9WnF-L0RKbWAxcWudqrhJ-2BrAjMSnc_N/s640/wh-DIY0013_Window_Regulator-BE04B-01Sierra_inner_door_arrows.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Inside of a 1999-2007 GM full-size pickup door. This work truck was super basic, but a fully loaded Cadillac Escalade would use the exact same door.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Note my awesome photo-editing arrows; green for glass, red for regulator...</span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">You can read my Toronto Star DIY Garage article on replacing window regulators <a href="https://www.thestar.com/autos/2016/01/29/diy-garage-how-to-fix-window-regulators.html" target="_blank">here</a>.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Most of what's mentioned in this article would apply to any in-door repair work, from speakers to door check to latches or locks.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Things do get a bit funky with certain vehicles, however. In the previous generation VW Jetta and the original Saturn S-series and the ION, the outer skin of the door is removed to service internal components. Because that made sense to somebody. At least in the Volkswagen the fasteners don't break the door skin when you try to get in there. In the Saturn S-cars, the bolts seize with rust and the crappy little steel clips that they go into pull out of the flimsy plastic door panels, destroying it in the process. Fun, wow.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Another note that I didn't have space for in the Star Touch format - rather than trying to hold the glass in the closed position, it's often easiest just to remove it altogether. I prefer to stand it on edge, leaning against something in a location where it won't get knocked or fall over. <i>Do not lay it on its side!</i> I had a window shatter from just sitting that way on a workbench, and it did it after sitting there happily for several minutes. Tempered glass is bizarre stuff!</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>February 12, 2016 - 6 Important Fluids to Check</b></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF5GwkpqnbroZkPziVvBfoo6kvWoSwzrP2zR0xGw08Kiv2yn64Nq6BfMW1lbKZJhk3wQ7UsqGtvLZvRCw_9ak0wkz4gpLH3LS_6GPMrnve6JB_C0pL2TP5YAr-CR1VeBWx6CP_JWyFcInH/s640/wh-DIY0014_Checking_Fluid_Levels-BE03-transmission_fluid.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="640" /></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Transmission fluid on a dipstick. Sadly, transmission dipsticks are becoming a rarity. You wouldn't believe the tools and procedures required simply to check or adjust the fluid level in many modern automatics.</span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">You can find my Toronto Star DIY Garage article on checking fluids <a href="https://www.thestar.com/autos/2016/02/12/six-important-fluids-to-check-in-your-car.html" target="_blank">here</a>.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Assuming that your car still has dipsticks, checking fluid levels is pretty straightforward with just a little bit of knowledge. Just be sure that if you add fluid, that it's the correct fluid for the application. I strongly recommend against using multi-application fluids in any system. If the manufacturer has gone through the trouble of selecting a particular fluid type, it's often because it has specific properties or additives, or because it doesn't. Even expensive fluid is cheap, if you catch my drift...</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>February 26, 2017 - Serpentine Belts</b></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4BLEIGHUC67ZoTCMSr3Esja1NU3icYuXF18pB5q4XZudz29VpRmo7gVNVszrQTg2MXbLncZKoEsug7jXSJe3AU7npCB0cg6KBub4BRqoHJQGlJfC_yIagQYMMwYl71zlk_aNNqmWZ0zhw/s1600/wh-DIY0015_Serpentine_Belts-BE07-Bonus_Mercedes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4BLEIGHUC67ZoTCMSr3Esja1NU3icYuXF18pB5q4XZudz29VpRmo7gVNVszrQTg2MXbLncZKoEsug7jXSJe3AU7npCB0cg6KBub4BRqoHJQGlJfC_yIagQYMMwYl71zlk_aNNqmWZ0zhw/s640/wh-DIY0015_Serpentine_Belts-BE07-Bonus_Mercedes.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Serpentine belt living up to its name - 2007 Mercedes-Benz E300. Somehow this same photo was captioned to read that it required 3 belts in the online article. Guess they couldn't count.</span></span></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">You can find my Toronto Star DIY Garage article on serpentine belts <a href="https://www.thestar.com/autos/2016/02/26/how-to-replace-a-serpentine-belt.html" target="_blank">here</a>.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The time is coming when the ubiquitous accessory belt will join distributors in the great pile of outdated auto technologies. Toyota's Prius has already done away with it, and I doubt it's the only one. These days serpentine belts are typically only used to drive alternators and air conditioning compressors, since most power steering systems have gone electric (as have air and vacuum pumps), and many vehicles drive their water pump with their cam drive (be it a belt or chain).</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">With the added onboard oomph of hybrids and a need for everything to remain working even with the gasoline engine shut off, a hybrid's a/c compressor is usually electrically powered, and an alternator is redundant in a vehicle with one of more large motor/generators, so a DC/DC converter handles that job. Add an auxillary electric water pump and Presto! no belt required.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">That still leaves the roughly 95% of new models that aren't hybrids, and they still have belts. So they may be around for a little while yet.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>March 11, 2016 - Repairing a GM Key Fob</b></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfMyDJQcf7Lh2PCyPxNJS1L_iimoMXNQP8YfVqxxj5ceLnzcwfHswVsWtDzx_J-7FPL20V32_xItCu6xF-OwWgpDtyLu3y8tzmg0jF3NV4PPd3Q3FAFT2q44pW4ZRyjY-04Abb9HBuvcX8/s1600/wh-DIY0016_GM_Fob_Repair-BE04-clip.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfMyDJQcf7Lh2PCyPxNJS1L_iimoMXNQP8YfVqxxj5ceLnzcwfHswVsWtDzx_J-7FPL20V32_xItCu6xF-OwWgpDtyLu3y8tzmg0jF3NV4PPd3Q3FAFT2q44pW4ZRyjY-04Abb9HBuvcX8/s640/wh-DIY0016_GM_Fob_Repair-BE04-clip.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">It's not a model of a Klingon Bird of Prey - this little tab is the single biggest failure point for at least two generations of GM key fob, and it's a simple, cheap repair.</span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">You can find my Toronto Star DIY Garage article on repairing GM key fobs <a href="https://www.thestar.com/autos/2016/03/11/how-to-fix-a-key-fob.html" target="_blank">here</a>.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Want to look like a hero? Have even basic DIY and soldering skills? Know somebody who owns a GM vehicle produced between the mid-nineties and roughly 2012? Ask them if their keyless fobs work properly. If they say "not at all" or "only some of the buttons", split that sucker open (preferably over a surface where the little steel clip shown can't easily hide), and you'll probably find at least one of the contact points for the battery retainer clip has popped off of the circuit board. Blame lead-free solder, a dumb design, and the hellish life of anything attached to a key ring.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>March 28, 2016 - Water Pumps</b></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy-CiRBO1iCNv-8WjZxvLqVo1cCF9nVvCMQ_y-LIV-JhHgTEpS3aye0rOML4MVjxN6fhspgaHvZf6Iw0ItTmIq87BWd-bajVn8dLOz5UgFweYWKnzUJ-qZHWmAmxzBsY_bFg6xn8n8odgN/s1600/wh-DIY0017_Water_Pump_BE04-clean_surface.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy-CiRBO1iCNv-8WjZxvLqVo1cCF9nVvCMQ_y-LIV-JhHgTEpS3aye0rOML4MVjxN6fhspgaHvZf6Iw0ItTmIq87BWd-bajVn8dLOz5UgFweYWKnzUJ-qZHWmAmxzBsY_bFg6xn8n8odgN/s640/wh-DIY0017_Water_Pump_BE04-clean_surface.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Got a wicked turbo on it... Actually, the same centrifugal action used in turbochargers is used to move coolant. Coolant is continuously pulled from the centre and flung outwards, pumping it.</span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">You can find my Toronto Star DIY Garage article on water pump replacement <a href="https://www.thestar.com/autos/2016/03/28/diy-garage-how-to-replace-a-water-pump.html" target="_blank">here</a>.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Though the replacement covered is the pump in my 1987 Nissan (which uses a still-old 1993 motor), this article remains relevant for many modern vehicles, despite the fact that quite a few run the water pump with the timing belt or chain - in itself, not a new thing. Even in those models, the process is comparable, just with the added complexity of the cam drive.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">This
was the last of my DIY Garage series to find its way online. Maybe it
was a good thing, as it was becoming difficult to find topics that were
both realistic and interesting, and that wouldn't cost me a ton of money
in buying parts for the sake of installing and photographing them.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">So long, DIY Garage... </span></div>
Brian Earlyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04255338655061023375noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4704865053716469250.post-79229997195352010202017-03-07T23:44:00.001-05:002017-03-07T23:48:56.106-05:00Shameless Self-promotion - Toronto Star's DIY Garage<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoT6gY_DZmxA8hvV02-zyXuEtJ9gVkI8l8eQXYhqZoKZoBFg8taPPaGjIT4NDOgmE2ChhB2nR-kORlktoEPyk0QR_NwSaPQy2Aaol_X-ersbqDrqJ9z1wkNOalm8rj3T7wptKlsfhHZ4Cw/s1600/wh-DIY0004_Tire_Pressure-BE01-TPMS_warning_BMW.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoT6gY_DZmxA8hvV02-zyXuEtJ9gVkI8l8eQXYhqZoKZoBFg8taPPaGjIT4NDOgmE2ChhB2nR-kORlktoEPyk0QR_NwSaPQy2Aaol_X-ersbqDrqJ9z1wkNOalm8rj3T7wptKlsfhHZ4Cw/s640/wh-DIY0004_Tire_Pressure-BE01-TPMS_warning_BMW.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Ah, TPMS. This was actually a false warning, proof that even a $120,000 BMW isn't flawless...</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">You can find my Toronto Star DIY Garage article on correctly setting Tire Pressures <a href="https://www.thestar.com/autos/2015/12/18/whats-the-proper-tire-pressure-for-your-car.html" target="_blank">here</a>.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">It is amazing just how many people don't understand that the correct pressure to set your tires at is not on the sidewall, but on the car. This goes for technicians, too. Most got into the trade years before TPMS (Tire Pressure Monitoring Systems) became common, and the techs that they apprenticed under almost certainly were never taught this. I know I wasn't.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">To be fair, standardized tire pressure labels didn't appear until the mid-2000's (when US law required them to be located in the driver's door jamb area). Before that point, if your car even had such a label, it could have been hidden damned near anywhere - glovebox, fuel filler door, front door or jamb, rear door jamb, inside the trunk lid, inside the centre console lid... you get the idea.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">In reality, the same size and load index of tire might fit several dozen very different vehicles, and the sidewall only lists the maximum working pressure for that tire, which is what determines that tire's maximum load capacity. Automakers regularly use different pressures front and rear to adjust handling and wear characteristics, even using the same size tires at both ends. Setting the pressure to the sidewall max can result in a 44psi tire on a 26 psi car; it'll get awesome fuel mileage from the lower rolling resistance, but at the cost of greatly reduced grip, far harder ride quality, and substantial wear to the centre section of the tread.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">(Trivia factoid: stunt drivers often crank the pressures up to make their cars slide around more easily.)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">TPMS makes setting pressures accurately more important, but it's worth noting that not all TPMS systems will flag overinflation.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">F</span>ind</span> your label, get a decent quality tire gauge (I like digital <span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">myself), and check your tires occasionally. They'll last longer, you'll be safer, and you may even save a little bit of fuel in the process.</span></span>Brian Earlyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04255338655061023375noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4704865053716469250.post-81023070548261272672017-03-07T23:24:00.000-05:002017-03-07T23:25:30.369-05:00Shameless Self-promotion - Toronto Star's DIY Garage<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs09qx1oCrQBikLGTDOKgzFCbelhvoiBNDzQK-dEZaPQORxsN-QLj2l9UmimV4t3vNrqyMCwr-SJkNC0PpfjfMi6y0tV7YsyGFIGP849PuTOYukXO5I4uX04I5UgPUzJvkEc1qBrMn2p36/s1600/wh-DIY0010_Seasonal_Tire_Swap-BE04-removal.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs09qx1oCrQBikLGTDOKgzFCbelhvoiBNDzQK-dEZaPQORxsN-QLj2l9UmimV4t3vNrqyMCwr-SJkNC0PpfjfMi6y0tV7YsyGFIGP849PuTOYukXO5I4uX04I5UgPUzJvkEc1qBrMn2p36/s640/wh-DIY0010_Seasonal_Tire_Swap-BE04-removal.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Yes, there's a safety stand - look just above my air gun.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">You can find my Toronto Star DIY Garage article on Seasonal Tire Swaps <a href="https://www.thestar.com/autos/2015/12/04/how-to-change-your-tires-from-summers-to-winters.html" target="_blank">here</a>.</span><br />
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Not all of my DIY Garage articles made the leap from the Star Touch tablet format that they were originally published in to the Star's online content, but this is one of those that did.<br />
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Seasonal tire changes are among the more basic DIY tasks, and don't require a huge investment in tools. That said, these are your wheels and tires, so if you aren't entirely confident in your ability to do it correctly, pay a professional and consider it money well spent. You don't get do-overs when a wheel falls off.Brian Earlyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04255338655061023375noreply@blogger.com21tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4704865053716469250.post-88554918049693064262016-08-30T23:39:00.000-04:002016-08-30T23:46:32.710-04:00Shameless Self-promotion - DIY Garage (Toronto Star)<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The <i>Toronto Star</i> introduced a new Tablet-based publication called <i>Star Touch</i> late last year, itself a nearly verbatim version of the layout and design of Montreal's<i> La Presse</i> newspaper's own very successful French-language tablet edition. Initially available only on iPads, the app was later expanded to include Android tablets as well. (It was not and still is not available for phones of any flavour. The <i>Star</i> has a revamped online edition for those devices and <span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">computers.</span>)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">While I won't delve into the relative merits and drawbacks of <i>Star Touch</i>, one of the characteristics of its layout is that it allows, arguably encourages, the use of photos and interactive content. This creates new opportunities for the type of material that can be presented. I was asked to provide a regular Do It Yourself type feature for <i>Wheels</i> based on my experience as a full-time working mechanic and lifelong gearhead.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The result was "<i><b>DIY Garage</b>"</i>. In my head, DIY Garage was intended to fill two primary roles; a general "how-to" on some basic car maintenance tasks, and providing the sort of information that might result from someone chatting up their car-savvy friend or neighbour.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNKJu3d_f-7zsSJ4fs4UoLy5payyHHavvLuNEZIHuB6l_YB3ud2qH2koUOt22KzZz8I8TasNwf2K2fspfj5L_VX7R18SetyReGnXMrM1rNzTNsuJORgxu6TdrZrvQtlFa49ZaLTAUdrf5N/s1600/IMG_1412.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNKJu3d_f-7zsSJ4fs4UoLy5payyHHavvLuNEZIHuB6l_YB3ud2qH2koUOt22KzZz8I8TasNwf2K2fspfj5L_VX7R18SetyReGnXMrM1rNzTNsuJORgxu6TdrZrvQtlFa49ZaLTAUdrf5N/s640/IMG_1412.PNG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">This is how DIY Garage looked on an iPad: this is the page as it appeared when landed on. (Screencap image of TorStar content is used for editorial purposes only.)</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">There were, of course, limitations to just how in-depth I could get with the constraints of both the format of the features (which eventually settled on a brief introduction and generally 4-6 captioned photos) and the bounds of just what sort of stuff your average DIY'er would likely tackle in an average residential garage or driveway.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Video had been discussed, and I did in fact create two (oil changes and spare tire basics), however it was quickly determined that adding video content to <i>Star Touch</i> rapidly ballooned edition downloads to unrealistic sizes, so <i>DIY Garage</i> stayed strictly text and photos, which was fine by me. With my skillset and equipment, filming and editing videos is a ton of work and takes forever. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I
did send in actual photos of my considerably less photogenic two-car
residential garage after seeing this background in my first piece;
strangely, those pictures were never used. This is clearly some European
(guessing German...) commercial workshop space that came from the
internet. Doesn't really say "DIY" to me. More like "OCD". Still, it
does look nice.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL4Ds_ANdmlcrxjX-XOo0x2Il3nQQntOIFdUozjPFk2iSuHzEmA29vSMZI0oc_EgXAQgB-J-mckB59KrKyq738jGejdXz3UKXrnhvosp2MsnWySS9H9V4vOIuMOzESWEESWh1rsClS8iSi/s1600/IMG_1414.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL4Ds_ANdmlcrxjX-XOo0x2Il3nQQntOIFdUozjPFk2iSuHzEmA29vSMZI0oc_EgXAQgB-J-mckB59KrKyq738jGejdXz3UKXrnhvosp2MsnWySS9H9V4vOIuMOzESWEESWh1rsClS8iSi/s640/IMG_1414.PNG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Initially, the left-hand text box could be scrolled. Most later articles had a short intro instead. Scrolling the centre of the screen or selecting the right-hand buttons would open up captioned photos, which could also be individually expanded. </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">(Screencap image of TorStar content is used for editorial purposes only.)</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">With the <i>Star</i> deciding to no longer use freelance-supplied content for <i>Wheels </i>as of mid-May of 2016, <i>DIY Garage</i>'s days were numbered. A total of 15 appeared in the <i>Star Touch</i> editions of <i>Wheels</i>, while 7 seem to have made the leap to the <i>Star</i>'s broader online edition. I'll be supplying links and commentary to each of those in some future <i>Loose Nut</i> updates.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I won't lie - it was becoming increasingly difficult to find topics that were realistic, interesting, and importantly, didn't require me to just buy parts for the sake of changing them. I actually did that for the spark plug story seen here, as none of my family's vehicles were due for them. Four plugs are one thing; I wasn't about to hang new brakes to accomplish the same goal. Thankfully, m</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">y employer is very supportive of my writing, so I was able to photo-document a few jobs at work that would fall into the realm of DIY-plausible. Window Regulator Replacement was one of those. Doubtless I could have found a number of additional stories there.</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">It's a pity that things went the way that they did. I have provided technical content for a trade publication called CarCare Business, however those are aimed at technicians, so they're typically jargon dense and not well suited for a layman audience. There's something </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">enjoyable about sharing knowledge and passion with people that are simply interested in it. </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Hopefully I'll have another chance to do something like this for a major outlet in the future. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i>More on DIY Garage to follow. Thanks for reading. See you soon!</i></span><br />
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Brian Earlyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04255338655061023375noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4704865053716469250.post-72444434203491813252016-08-28T23:56:00.002-04:002016-08-29T00:06:05.938-04:00Shameless Self-promotion - Toronto Star Content Update (part 4) - The Final Reviews<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid5Iwd10gO63-V3LFpI8GOERrLX2GwvcOTMRiIb_mz9Tw74nxCAMWSEFgvpUwVxNuk9zXDtUl8o38v4UlZxRJQnQ4mDjCAwRtsEjphraqLV-CesEpnapDWPWIzKfA8FRDms5-JSWscVKIE/s1600/wh-2016_Mazda6_GT-BE04-dr.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid5Iwd10gO63-V3LFpI8GOERrLX2GwvcOTMRiIb_mz9Tw74nxCAMWSEFgvpUwVxNuk9zXDtUl8o38v4UlZxRJQnQ4mDjCAwRtsEjphraqLV-CesEpnapDWPWIzKfA8FRDms5-JSWscVKIE/s640/wh-2016_Mazda6_GT-BE04-dr.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">2016 Mazda 6 GT in Soul Red. See? Sedans don't have to be boring appliances...</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>May 27, 2016</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">You can read my Wheels review of Mazda's 6 sedan in GT trim<a href="https://www.thestar.com/autos/2016/05/27/review-dont-forget-the-other-6.html" target="_blank"> here</a>. (You can tell that this one sat in the Star's archives for a while. Not much snow in May.)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">It's true that I have a fondness for Mazdas, but it's just as true that I'll call a spade a spade. This is no spade. It's a diamond.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Sure, there are some glaring omissions. While heated seats both front and rear are standard, a heated steering wheel isn't available. This is Canada, Mazda. I can get a heated steering wheel in a Kia Forte. Optional engine? Nope. No such luck. You can, however, get a manual gearbox in all three of the 6's trim levels, even if the top GT model's advanced safety and adaptive cruise package is automatic only. If my previous experience is any indication, the manual box would be a joy to use.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">How it is that this nicely made, stylish, well-equipped, and fun to drive car gets continuously overlooked in this segment baffles me. Then again, plenty of people bought the previous generation Chrysler 200 and Dodge Avenger. Maybe midsize sedan buyers just prefer shoddy build quality and crappy dynamics.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy0MyIkVSHxvVAxY7tKn6g-dSVlh21dvi33K911TEDeu1W6o1EP31HlboHm7Pxvc31utsQZwl0uwdXEquYP3tI5r7pXJaCZYWVp-6EuUhsKun3PcVXyVqRnLBgMLyJiHQQ8GvTEsRhyWSD/s1600/wh-2016_Polaris_Slingshot_SL-BE10f.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy0MyIkVSHxvVAxY7tKn6g-dSVlh21dvi33K911TEDeu1W6o1EP31HlboHm7Pxvc31utsQZwl0uwdXEquYP3tI5r7pXJaCZYWVp-6EuUhsKun3PcVXyVqRnLBgMLyJiHQQ8GvTEsRhyWSD/s640/wh-2016_Polaris_Slingshot_SL-BE10f.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">2016 Polaris Slingshot. A vehicle so unusual that it deserves two photos...</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ74rL7ckYaQ9pvUM8RDmY2Muo7Cq-jSZt_LqWkaYCQdGVFTJ66bL-EFP0UmZ9v3x9chv9qoLRVZUT_qY6am-nqm5Y1ideDOht0pABOvjv6TMT_g6Xb31cUFJ4VnVCOWSplFTVqOafItKY/s1600/wh-2016_Polaris_Slingshot_SL-BE11r.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ74rL7ckYaQ9pvUM8RDmY2Muo7Cq-jSZt_LqWkaYCQdGVFTJ66bL-EFP0UmZ9v3x9chv9qoLRVZUT_qY6am-nqm5Y1ideDOht0pABOvjv6TMT_g6Xb31cUFJ4VnVCOWSplFTVqOafItKY/s640/wh-2016_Polaris_Slingshot_SL-BE11r.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">...because this is where it gets really weird. Yep. It's a trike!</span></td></tr>
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<b><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> June 17, 2016</span></b><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">You can read my Wheels review of Polaris' unusual Slingshot roadster trike <a href="https://www.thestar.com/autos/2016/06/17/slingshot-sl-surges-into-action.html" target="_blank">here</a>.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Many thanks to Dave Todd, owner of Spoiled Sports in Bowmanville, Ontario, for providing the test vehicle. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Make no mistake, this thing is unconventional. Particularly now, as this vehicle configuration has not been available in Ontario, the level of attention it garners is astounding.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">It is simultaneously a blast to drive and tiring - both driver and passenger have to wear a motorcycle helmet (and a full-face type helmet is a <i>very</i> good idea given the low height and lack of a real windshield) - and there's a lot of noise from the belt-drive transfer unit and snowmobile-style exhaust. You have to rethink the car strategy of straddling potholes and bumps, as the central rear wheel will encounter what the front wheels miss, and it doesn't always enjoy it.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">While the Slingshot actually is pretty quick, and it handles better than the odd number of tires would suggest possible, this is more of a cruising and socializing vehicle than a three-day, Tail of the Dragon road-tripper. It would do it, no problem. Whether you'd want to is the question.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Just recognize it for the fun, attention-getting toy that it is and enjoy the sunshine. Through your visor.</span><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDD335hkCaBvD-hb3UjgrEnTp9BjmQ5NnMUnkged5z0EbhFyzHSfgbKlaci-0MsoyZg5nSv8l2etYJUKlE9ko_sU1xk7vOHNxgKHhMq-ESIybGeY2AKB8ici6xAdEMMbBdp15edufMKWlB/s1600/wh-2016_Nissan_Sentra_SL-BE07-pf_Ernie_Harmer.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDD335hkCaBvD-hb3UjgrEnTp9BjmQ5NnMUnkged5z0EbhFyzHSfgbKlaci-0MsoyZg5nSv8l2etYJUKlE9ko_sU1xk7vOHNxgKHhMq-ESIybGeY2AKB8ici6xAdEMMbBdp15edufMKWlB/s640/wh-2016_Nissan_Sentra_SL-BE07-pf_Ernie_Harmer.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Ernie Harmer and his 2014 Nissan Sentra, "Stingy" (background), with Nissan's</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> 2016 Sentra SL</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> <b>July 22, 2016</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Hard to believe, but after over 13 years of proudly providing content for the Toronto Star's Wheels section, this review was my last.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">My take on Nissan's refreshed for 2016 Sentra can be found <a href="https://www.thestar.com/autos/2016/07/22/review-nissan-sentra-a-sensible-solution.html" target="_blank">here</a>.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">And why is Ernie Harmer in the above photo and my story? You'll have to read it to find out...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I'm a Nissan fan, having not only owned seven of them over the years, but having had one or another as a daily driver since I was a teenager, longer ago than I care to think about. Unfortunately, <span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">as</span> happens with every automaker, some models are better than others. Nissan has struck out with this one as far as I'm concerned; I wouldn't own this generation of Sentra, certainly not one with the available CVT, anyway.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">A recent Car and Driver 5-way comparo summed up the dead-last ranked, CVT-equipped Sentra thusly: "<i>Faster than walking, shelters you from the elements.</i>"</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Nissan needs to either start using the Brazillian market Sentra's 2.0 litre engine here, or plunk in a version of the Juke's 1.6 turbo, because the current 1.8 is simply under-equipped to motivate this car with anything approaching enthusiasm. While they're at it, they ought to pull the engineers that designed and tuned the early 90's era Sentra SE-R and NX2000's "B13" chassis out of retirement and get them to do an emergency rework of this one - this Sentra has both zero verve and unimpressive ride quality. Bizarre, because the basic ingredients are good: it's roomy, it offers the latest safety tech, it's well-equipped for the money, and (in the right hands) it can return good mileage. The recipe just needs some serious tweaking.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i><b>Stay tuned! While this is the last of my Toronto Star Wheels reviews, there is more Star content for me to share. See you soon.</b></i></span>Brian Earlyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04255338655061023375noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4704865053716469250.post-24851011170357274592016-08-28T22:26:00.001-04:002016-08-28T22:26:26.720-04:00Shameless Self-promotion - Toronto Star Content Update (part 3)<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiyMIxmZLcBieATzByNs_YscXLalFIVTZkATP-FyPbEkJaQOvlXEcuOPpoPzWZ96TFcjPYnZmoUoD-JcCWzYJTSbFcztEg9zVRNtd3WPTz2vzZYxJXdvVhSSQrC5fLgZMlHZGhcVnXHpmR/s1600/wh-2016_Mazda3_Sport_GS-BE03-df.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiyMIxmZLcBieATzByNs_YscXLalFIVTZkATP-FyPbEkJaQOvlXEcuOPpoPzWZ96TFcjPYnZmoUoD-JcCWzYJTSbFcztEg9zVRNtd3WPTz2vzZYxJXdvVhSSQrC5fLgZMlHZGhcVnXHpmR/s640/wh-2016_Mazda3_Sport_GS-BE03-df.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">2016 Mazda 3 Sport GS</span></td></tr>
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<b><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">February 12, 2016</span></b><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">You can find my Wheels review of Mazda's compact 3 Sport hatchback in GS trim <a href="https://www.thestar.com/autos/2016/02/12/review-mazda-3-appeals-to-the-driving-enthusiast.html" target="_blank">here</a>.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Production of some Mazda 3 models switched to the company's brand new facility in Salamanca, Mexico recently. Would there be a noticeable difference in build quality relative to the Japanese-sourced models available previously?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">As it turns out, at least in the short term, no.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The 2.0/manual Sport might be the best all-around configuration of this vehicle, though I'd be hard-pressed to argue against having the extra oomph of the GT's 2.5 litre engine. Truly one of the most engaging mainstream compacts available. </span><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbOnWbvFPfDZEnGV13qU3icjojBUjS8ifL3P9SmoYxG0UJwH3A88mSHSrxc_PdEm3_vYFv5xBmXfrrWsst2eznrq67m3uIArXM8vprw6vYpiPc6NXwuGHPuezSQw1wKqzLxXawna5_TLae/s1600/100_1179.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbOnWbvFPfDZEnGV13qU3icjojBUjS8ifL3P9SmoYxG0UJwH3A88mSHSrxc_PdEm3_vYFv5xBmXfrrWsst2eznrq67m3uIArXM8vprw6vYpiPc6NXwuGHPuezSQw1wKqzLxXawna5_TLae/s640/100_1179.JPG" width="640" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The 2017 Honda Ridgeline's Canadian introduction at the Canadian International Auto Show in Toronto by Honda Canada’s Jean-Marc Leclerc</span></td></tr>
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<b><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">February 16, 2016</span></b><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Auto Show time again!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">You can find my Toronto Star coverage of what Honda Canada unveiled at the Canadian International Auto Show in Toronto <a href="https://www.thestar.com/autos/toronto_auto_show/2016/02/16/honda-canada-introduces-redesigned-2017-ridgeline.html" target="_blank">here</a>.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">With Honda having just been awarded AJAC's Canadian Car of the Year that morning, Jean-Marc's presentation began with well-deserved kudos to Honda's staff for the winning product. The other big news item was the new Ridgeline, seen above. It will be interesting to see how the combination of the obvious relationship to the Pilot crossover (shared forward sheetmetal and headlights) and far more conventional-looking box (no more odd sail panels between the box wall and rear of the cab) will be received by mid-size truck buyers. Truthfully, the Ridgeline is all the truck many folks shopping the segment need, and it's bound to be better at a lot of the everyday things that people actually use these things for. Let's hope it's better received than the previous one.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQrsKhC2z-5VZlTuxPp-wbs5LuJlllGL5jlWdHXsZcq3DrWpZTEq9yFYvFdxFaQyh8ha6qbPqkGHJ4TKhl6sTBjiqCw2oNiqNBidW_BvwBorVL0hP8-IeFqAk5LGLMPwUn_fnz7MEjqBMf/s1600/100_1113.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQrsKhC2z-5VZlTuxPp-wbs5LuJlllGL5jlWdHXsZcq3DrWpZTEq9yFYvFdxFaQyh8ha6qbPqkGHJ4TKhl6sTBjiqCw2oNiqNBidW_BvwBorVL0hP8-IeFqAk5LGLMPwUn_fnz7MEjqBMf/s640/100_1113.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Subaru Impreza 4 door Concept - precursor of the 2017 Impreza sedan, presented by Subaru Canada's Ted Lalka</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>February 17, 2016</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">You can read my Toronto Star coverage of Subaru Canada's presentation at the 2016 Canadian International Auto Show in Toronto <a href="https://www.thestar.com/autos/toronto_auto_show/2016/02/17/subaru-unveils-impreza-sedan-concept.html" target="_blank">here</a>. They really should have used my pictures.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">As you can imagine, the 2017 Impreza was a large part of the news, with the model's Concept being introduced. The switch from Japanese production to this new generation car being manufactured in the US at Subaru's SIA facility in Lafayette, Indiana was also significant.</span>Brian Earlyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04255338655061023375noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4704865053716469250.post-47214619511513278582016-08-28T17:48:00.001-04:002016-08-28T22:28:40.350-04:00Shameless Self-promotion - Toronto Star Content Update (part 2)<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDHsLlUquIJ24OS27puzik_IEbmAX0IBHCiRkJVIAQuJFp18Sx3dTieB2gnuc4NNQiwREIw_OiRLfm7kavMRKUVPWqbqHqpCX5Z109USzl3P9eiJQdE_JXgzSvI4F5J6C-cXkFU_0P9UQM/s1600/wh-2016COTY_CUV-SUVu35k-BE07-2016_Mazda_CX-3-pf.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDHsLlUquIJ24OS27puzik_IEbmAX0IBHCiRkJVIAQuJFp18Sx3dTieB2gnuc4NNQiwREIw_OiRLfm7kavMRKUVPWqbqHqpCX5Z109USzl3P9eiJQdE_JXgzSvI4F5J6C-cXkFU_0P9UQM/s640/wh-2016COTY_CUV-SUVu35k-BE07-2016_Mazda_CX-3-pf.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">2016 Mazda CX-3. Spoiler Alert - This one won Category, Canadian Utility Vehicle of the Year, and Canadian Green Utility Vehicle of the Year</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>November 6, 2015</b></span> <br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">You can read my Wheels synopsis on the entrants in the Best New SUV/CUV (under $35k) category <a href="https://www.thestar.com/autos/2015/11/06/testfest-best-new-suvscuvs-under-35k.html" target="_blank">here</a>.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Every time that I cover AJAC's Canadian Car of the Year for the Star, I'm asked to guess which vehicles will win their categories. You'd think that being part of the program's organizing committee would give me some insight. All that I can say is that it's a good thing that I don't have a gambling habit, because I'd have dug myself a pretty big hole by now with the accuracy of my predictions.</span><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlPqtjgHdU4GZf8NrvxOYeH2fVjsLLAOdZ1vCGrKXAjI_QYiGwq6kSwwexGyhyphenhyphen5JE_uXrxENWLZA78oxWRElxz_EAhm5wHYTcpTaZpaI89iY9kemzOuCcwIdIYUS0hFOzaS6avR16QjEc-/s1600/20151029_161642.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlPqtjgHdU4GZf8NrvxOYeH2fVjsLLAOdZ1vCGrKXAjI_QYiGwq6kSwwexGyhyphenhyphen5JE_uXrxENWLZA78oxWRElxz_EAhm5wHYTcpTaZpaI89iY9kemzOuCcwIdIYUS0hFOzaS6avR16QjEc-/s640/20151029_161642.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">2016 Honda Civic. Spoiler Alert - This one won both its Category and Canadian Car of the Year. Deservedly.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>November 21, 2015</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">You can read my take on the best small cars in Canada for the Toronto Star <a href="https://www.thestar.com/autos/2015/11/21/best-new-small-cars-of-2016-under-21000.html" target="_blank">here</a>. A heads up: you'll also be treated to a video advert, followed by a short video of yours truly explaining why we track test mainstream cars.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">For several years now, the Wheels section at the Star has done a "Best of" guide that loosely follows the category structure of AJAC's Canadian Car of the Year program, but that opens up eligibility to any models on sale for the year in question (Canadian Car of the Year only permits new or substantially updated models for a variety of reasons).</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">These choices are just that - choices - based on no criteria beyond fitting in the assigned segment. Totally personal opinion based on experience.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">As it turned out, my top pick this year also happened to win its category and, eventually, overall Canadian Car of the Year honours. That vehicle is the redesigned Honda Civic.</span><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbtAV5nWbU9FjFjI2YFsIfDUQc3J1qU3EViiHTNBdDQzSOxuGWQpOprhyphenhyphenfiEPbCN_Fn82LcMHCMLJ7JRZoDRQYl3FgLPLi7QgdybZMnB0514QF3l2pqtyqdNi9b2fmt2TtqoyMHEe1_8qL/s1600/100_0421.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbtAV5nWbU9FjFjI2YFsIfDUQc3J1qU3EViiHTNBdDQzSOxuGWQpOprhyphenhyphenfiEPbCN_Fn82LcMHCMLJ7JRZoDRQYl3FgLPLi7QgdybZMnB0514QF3l2pqtyqdNi9b2fmt2TtqoyMHEe1_8qL/s640/100_0421.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">2017 Chrysler Pacifica and Pacifica Plug-in Hybrid.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>January 14, 2016</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">You can read my coverage of Fiat Chrysler Automobiles' North American International Auto Show (Detroit) news for the Toronto Star <a href="https://www.thestar.com/autos/2016/01/14/fca-at-detroit-hopes-pinned-on-windsor-built-minivan-pacifica.html" target="_blank">here</a>.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">FCA's biggest news in Detroit was the unveiling of the firm's next generation minivan. Arguably the creator of what we recognize today as a minivan - as distinct from earlier, typically commercial-based small passenger vans - the company clearly remains committed to what is now a shrinking segment with fewer players. For our market at least, the new Pacifica will be available alongside the existing Dodge Grand Caravan, though possibly only briefly. It is effectively the replacement for the previous Chrysler Town & Country, lone holdout of the ampersand in a model name, and the far better selling of the company's vans in the US market.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">In spite of the unfortunate name - "Pacifica" was previously worn by a poor-selling, oddly configured large-ish crossover - this new model does have great promise. It will also offer a minivan first - a plug-in hybrid version.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhngp-tMw_CySDyoJhntMcTwB0xBSnM-pVky97HEgEJnysWH9Aou1dcokWZ38ajUGaLvYzWX7XYiibpYRNsnbN3-YQrfV9N8p0nH7tJ4AjKn3KYCjhrc9KOrHFq91n7i5EESKNyAcYRxZLz/s1600/100_0090.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhngp-tMw_CySDyoJhntMcTwB0xBSnM-pVky97HEgEJnysWH9Aou1dcokWZ38ajUGaLvYzWX7XYiibpYRNsnbN3-YQrfV9N8p0nH7tJ4AjKn3KYCjhrc9KOrHFq91n7i5EESKNyAcYRxZLz/s640/100_0090.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Volkswagen Tiguan GTE Active Concept - Our next Tiguan, sort of.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>January 15, 2016</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">You can read my Toronto Star coverage of Volkswagen's news from the North American International Auto Show in Detroit <a href="https://www.thestar.com/autos/2016/01/15/vw-at-detroit-tiguan-gte-active-concept-introduced.html" target="_blank">here</a>.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">With Volkswagen's Diesel Scandal still fresh, Volkswagen's Detroit presentation was heavy on apology, light on news. The Tiguan GTE Active Concept ticks most of the current auto show concept boxes - a hybridized drivetrain, electric-only capability, lots of connectivity. It also happens to be a lightly gussied-up version of the ROW's (Rest Of World's) next-generation Tiguan. The North American model, just like the current Passat, will be slightly larger, and probably have styling differences to suit our tastes. It is also likely to be manufactured on this side of the Atlantic.</span>Brian Earlyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04255338655061023375noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4704865053716469250.post-18661915640944796872016-07-06T23:15:00.001-04:002016-07-06T23:15:56.272-04:00Shameless Self-promotion - Toronto Star Content Update (part 1)<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy36uiGd9oRSEGSBsgo7FHConN_3Uix-v3OlqDaionFmY5S6sTYSF_GiBBH1bXz4hLw-rFLvLvbIRU7rgJbY_L_UOswC-qvDZeXB93o6o7hPNyhyphenhyphenqXDyATJw7INxPp6c54n3-8lQoaeeNm/s1600/105_5706.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy36uiGd9oRSEGSBsgo7FHConN_3Uix-v3OlqDaionFmY5S6sTYSF_GiBBH1bXz4hLw-rFLvLvbIRU7rgJbY_L_UOswC-qvDZeXB93o6o7hPNyhyphenhyphenqXDyATJw7INxPp6c54n3-8lQoaeeNm/s640/105_5706.JPG" width="640" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Eco-Run 2015 - Vancouver, B.C.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><b>April 10, 2015</b> </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">You can find my Toronto Star coverage of AJAC's 2015 Eco-Run event in British Columbia <a href="https://www.thestar.com/autos/2015/04/10/ecorun-an-efficient-rally-to-the-island-and-bac.html" target="_blank">here</a>.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Eco-Run is an event that highlights efficient technologies, even those that appear in vehicles whose overall efficiency may not seem that impressive compared to a Prius or Tesla (ironically, both products from manufacturers that did not participate...). As examples, the Chevy Colorado uses a direct-injected 4 cylinder engine that's far more efficient than the previous generation's port-injected powerplant, the Jeep a turbodiesel V6 to provide gas V8 capability and 4 cylinder economy. There was also a hydrogen-powered Hyundai Tucson and a three cylinder Ford Focus.</span><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4TxkVX5uVHY7hgF4jI-4Ra4qoz069le6DiLOQXRnxxsuOXMXOQRZv4lUNHGkqE_XG2kABWjzWtYKSfdy5U2fLJkqCWOeHifvJrlLDE7T-CVPr3NCCo_NJjaZG6-OUFvQH36NfFJTIoQ6Q/s1600/wh-VIAS15_BMW-Sandy_McGill-BE01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4TxkVX5uVHY7hgF4jI-4Ra4qoz069le6DiLOQXRnxxsuOXMXOQRZv4lUNHGkqE_XG2kABWjzWtYKSfdy5U2fLJkqCWOeHifvJrlLDE7T-CVPr3NCCo_NJjaZG6-OUFvQH36NfFJTIoQ6Q/s640/wh-VIAS15_BMW-Sandy_McGill-BE01.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">BMW DesignworksUSA's Alexandra (Sandy) McGill in Vancouver</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><b>April 17, 2015</b> </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">You can find an excerpt of my interview with BMW Design's Sandy McGill for the Toronto Star <a href="https://www.thestar.com/autos/2015/04/17/designworksusas-sandy-mcgill-sculpting-in-colour-and-materials.html" target="_blank">here</a>. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Sandy is a very talented, deeply creative person whose resume includes guiding design choices in materials and colours for numerous BMW Group products, including the first generation of the modern Rolls-Royce Phantom, several BMW models, and a couple of Mini concept vehicles. If that weren't enough, she's also really nice, and great fun to chat with.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdnRR36WkkGD6ygu426ZU6iQKAsU6k-jRuLQhSym7oXtNnq-nklOvFyztgLsldgvMFt2Dm9i95Vu6TCe_f9PnEntuMyJgJnxMTVCEb2nDIiuzkS9eNSU_2UfFDKznd5p9VkdYefTGDjQCp/s1600/wh-RVs_BE02-TentTrailer_open.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdnRR36WkkGD6ygu426ZU6iQKAsU6k-jRuLQhSym7oXtNnq-nklOvFyztgLsldgvMFt2Dm9i95Vu6TCe_f9PnEntuMyJgJnxMTVCEb2nDIiuzkS9eNSU_2UfFDKznd5p9VkdYefTGDjQCp/s640/wh-RVs_BE02-TentTrailer_open.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">The Early family's 8-foot Viking tent trailer</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><b>June 26, 2015</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">You can find my RV and camper guide for the Toronto Star <a href="https://www.thestar.com/autos/2015/06/26/rvs-make-camping-easy-but-which-vehicle-is-right-for-you.html" target="_blank">here</a>.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">There are a myriad of permutations of trailer and motorhomes - which one suits your needs best? My brief guide attempts to explain some of the pros and cons, while breaking down the meaning of RV terms like "Super C" and "hybrid".</span><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkkubrkRgJLthXwoeOpJfoT9a_v3qvxdPk6gIzPljXJNnlL5TlHCsSaZdwdsx4H24_n5ymzzSbtYo333Z6cgcQLP_vvna7qPiKPMdT04Bv_H7i5F3eZIlzNlnpFoavXZCvhQymn4mGxszc/s1600/wh-2015_HondaCBR500R-BE04-BrianOn401-rf.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkkubrkRgJLthXwoeOpJfoT9a_v3qvxdPk6gIzPljXJNnlL5TlHCsSaZdwdsx4H24_n5ymzzSbtYo333Z6cgcQLP_vvna7qPiKPMdT04Bv_H7i5F3eZIlzNlnpFoavXZCvhQymn4mGxszc/s640/wh-2015_HondaCBR500R-BE04-BrianOn401-rf.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Yep, that's me. I quite liked Honda's CBR500R</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"> <b>July 17, 2015</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">I did it - I finally completed my training and testing, and earned my motorcycle license. You can read all about it, and the two Honda motorcycles that were involved, in my Toronto Star article <a href="https://www.thestar.com/autos/2015/07/17/getting-my-full-motorcycle-licence.html" target="_blank">here</a>.</span><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjos4hjmakmMDH7svjkFEOKSXdhcfV-HEK5EFyx1UFze8m_8MhSVVvqKzL9M83MbK8ywSwckEBzGgQ5DrNoJcvlnbPUtBVke2Lvhc2XOZOS7zFaL_6lHt33b1WOtUiAYEXzjBaFL113zt8b/s1600/wh-2015_RamRebel-BE04df.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjos4hjmakmMDH7svjkFEOKSXdhcfV-HEK5EFyx1UFze8m_8MhSVVvqKzL9M83MbK8ywSwckEBzGgQ5DrNoJcvlnbPUtBVke2Lvhc2XOZOS7zFaL_6lHt33b1WOtUiAYEXzjBaFL113zt8b/s640/wh-2015_RamRebel-BE04df.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">2015 Ram Rebel in Ipperwash, Ontario. Clifford the Big Red Truck</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><b>September 25, 2015</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">You can read about Ram's 2015 Rebel pickup in my Toronto Star review <a href="https://www.thestar.com/autos/2015/09/25/rams-rebel-has-character.html" target="_blank">here</a>.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">If FCA were to allow you to equip the Rebel with the 3.0L diesel that's available in other Ram half-tons, it might just be pickup Nirvana. As it stands, it's a damn good effort that falls down a little on some details and a lot more on its price.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><i><b>I'll be updating my Star content further in a future post. Thanks for reading!</b></i></span>Brian Earlyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04255338655061023375noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4704865053716469250.post-33769639356794354282016-06-23T23:05:00.000-04:002016-06-23T23:05:22.441-04:00Hello again, and other news<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZF-Y6XafQKpT8qo-xrsXtV8LPPKaS07pornjsslWUUdkeQ_DJ5KoGIZGbtwW-tApDhirNJdyXqMfnNfHgYH3g7apYsal2m9xP037UtpRaGGjlvExXQVKAH8ihnLOO_cykyKsKapvJVBVh/s1600/105_8009.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZF-Y6XafQKpT8qo-xrsXtV8LPPKaS07pornjsslWUUdkeQ_DJ5KoGIZGbtwW-tApDhirNJdyXqMfnNfHgYH3g7apYsal2m9xP037UtpRaGGjlvExXQVKAH8ihnLOO_cykyKsKapvJVBVh/s640/105_8009.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Smiling dog is smiling - how can you stay mad?</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">March 4, 2015. That was the last time that we talked. Altogether far too much time has passed.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">A blog can serve many purposes. For me, it has been a place to vent, as well as a place to share and promote my written work. The latter has suffered quite a bit in the past while; the demands of life have focused my attention elsewhere, while Facebook has sufficed as an outlet for my rants.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">I have not been silent, though. In a post to follow you'll find links to as many Star articles as I'm able to provide - again, there is not a 100% correlation between what was published in print or the Star's "Star Touch" tablet app relative to online.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">I also have the sad news that I will no longer be providing content for the Toronto Star, as it has decided that effective May 14, 2016, it would no longer use freelance content. This is a financial decision based on the fact that the Star's parent company, Torstar, also owns the automotive website Autoguide, which will now provide Wheels' content. Short-term, this will save them several thousand dollars per week, however I'm not certain that the possible long-term loss in ad revenue or readership will make it worthwhile. Better educated people than I apparently think it will.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">This decision also affects other popular Wheels contributors, like Peter Bleakney, Jil McIntosh, Mark Richardson, Lee Bailie, and Mark Toljagic. Jil has moved on to the National Post, Mark to the Globe and Mail, and I wish them well. Good people, all.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Since May 14, the Star has continued to publish articles that they had already received from us, however once that supply is used up, that's it. Only long-time contributor Jim Kenzie, a man whose automotive review history with the Star actually pre-dates the Wheels section, has been kept on, likely as much to maintain some kind of continuity as for the quality of his content (I say that only because if content quality was that valuable to the Star, they'd have kept the others).</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">This parting of ways does not detract from how proud I am to have been a published journalist for the Star, and I remain grateful for the opportunity that I had in writing for it.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">As soon as I manage to secure a new outlet, I'll share it here. Wish me luck!</span>Brian Earlyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04255338655061023375noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4704865053716469250.post-57313048985699666032015-03-04T00:28:00.000-05:002015-03-04T00:30:48.016-05:00Shameless Self-promotion<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7dHys8Z9Jb-DdjqngI8jA-ApJzao7CrJ6DC2hAkATV7rD7xQijm8FjWw_Q3OiWj-UA30vbGBqtc135po6X4ai8gjUZ931IaCfm0mY-v6v_hGDw9_XAxnDadJLpXufQ3q4t2Q5YrrzodUl/s1600/20150129_184825.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7dHys8Z9Jb-DdjqngI8jA-ApJzao7CrJ6DC2hAkATV7rD7xQijm8FjWw_Q3OiWj-UA30vbGBqtc135po6X4ai8gjUZ931IaCfm0mY-v6v_hGDw9_XAxnDadJLpXufQ3q4t2Q5YrrzodUl/s1600/20150129_184825.jpg" height="360" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dexter</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Blame the dog. It's all his fault. He kept me from regularly updating this blog and providing links to my content in a timely fashion.<br />
<br />
Actually, like the proverbial dog that ate my homework, poor Dexter here had nothing at all to do with my lackadaisical web-keeping.<br />
<br />
Part of it has to do with ongoing changes at the Toronto Star in terms of its online content. Where once pretty much anything that saw print in the Wheels section would find its way onto the Wheels.ca website, several reworkings and some personnel and strategy changes made that hit and miss. Now, content can sometimes be found there, or sometimes at the "Autos" tab on the Star's home page, or sometimes neither.<br />
<br />
I'll try to stay on top of this. In the meantime, here's a back catalog of many of the articles that I have not yet linked to.<br />
<br />
Good Doggie!<br />
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-9tFXn819myucA2Ra3D4oZE45zirboOdcYf2OwKi6iphC9cw_XLM0B5UBi6nHUFrmzG1bV-lmbkKmF5m8TdP56GZGImWvS7matYf2Q4IBoGsiUGi9PBf4bT97n_uK4AWf0McUOduPyLuS/s1600/105_5279.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-9tFXn819myucA2Ra3D4oZE45zirboOdcYf2OwKi6iphC9cw_XLM0B5UBi6nHUFrmzG1bV-lmbkKmF5m8TdP56GZGImWvS7matYf2Q4IBoGsiUGi9PBf4bT97n_uK4AWf0McUOduPyLuS/s1600/105_5279.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">2016 Mazda MX-5 (a.k.a. Miata)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<b>2015 Canadian International Auto Show (Toronto) - Small Cars to expect - February 20th, 2015</b><br />
<br />
Find my coverage of what interesting small cars to watch for - including Mazda's latest generation MX-5 - at the Toronto auto show <a href="http://www.thestar.com/autos/toronto_auto_show/2015/02/20/auto-show-volkswagen-golf-gti.html" target="_blank">here</a>. <br />
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj11Xa2uqMNAFbUZ4LuPEpW3uPrP91d6H4qRnxMDNL2EwyPvRSpAkKpDjL-ydGYD_r2aD3g8ovuEYRbo49Bd4GQ7Rm5A4IQ4200MjLcoxyGwV4gU8ZUCGRrtuiHqi8dILv79zDSUgcjn0zI/s1600/105_5224.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj11Xa2uqMNAFbUZ4LuPEpW3uPrP91d6H4qRnxMDNL2EwyPvRSpAkKpDjL-ydGYD_r2aD3g8ovuEYRbo49Bd4GQ7Rm5A4IQ4200MjLcoxyGwV4gU8ZUCGRrtuiHqi8dILv79zDSUgcjn0zI/s1600/105_5224.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">2016 Cadillac CTS-V</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>2015 Canadian International Auto Show (Toronto) - Cadillac press conference coverage - February 16th, 2015</b><br />
<br />
Find my coverage of Cadillac's new from the Toronto auto show, which included the CTS-V, <a href="http://www.thestar.com/autos/toronto_auto_show/2015/02/16/cadillac-ups-the-ante.html" target="_blank">here</a>. <br />
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjgKX7SElrRJmkCRX8tFjTRT0NzA8yg9mQn8hchPW4cVVQdLPC5v4JiJL5KKUNr3-lPKSTDTKh17IYMHzRTg1NsDwKp6_GUs4lXj9Fk6ezZc9jCCtBr8Ztmf0mUWX8GwKLBShENWSZmu5w/s1600/105_5574.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjgKX7SElrRJmkCRX8tFjTRT0NzA8yg9mQn8hchPW4cVVQdLPC5v4JiJL5KKUNr3-lPKSTDTKh17IYMHzRTg1NsDwKp6_GUs4lXj9Fk6ezZc9jCCtBr8Ztmf0mUWX8GwKLBShENWSZmu5w/s1600/105_5574.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">2016 Nissan Titan XD</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<b>2015 Canadian International Auto Show (Toronto) - Nissan press conference coverage - February 15th, 2015</b><br />
<br />
Find my coverage of Nissan's news from the Toronto auto show, which included the Nissan Titan XD, <a href="http://www.thestar.com/autos/2015/02/15/nissans-the-big-and-the-small-at-the-toronto-auto-show.html#" target="_blank">here</a>. <br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ7wgvDoqDn5inAw18OMF_ibEFDzdtxt4Fh8I_aeYISSXpnxWG8XF1DjzxXfbh6Dc7CQuKsjWTtSDNBBPDkyzdqh0YlnpajXdk1LZprdB-CDNGOG0ayMcUUAGRdsrdMh3T5sMwdpdQb-f8/s1600/105_1413.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ7wgvDoqDn5inAw18OMF_ibEFDzdtxt4Fh8I_aeYISSXpnxWG8XF1DjzxXfbh6Dc7CQuKsjWTtSDNBBPDkyzdqh0YlnpajXdk1LZprdB-CDNGOG0ayMcUUAGRdsrdMh3T5sMwdpdQb-f8/s1600/105_1413.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">2014 Cadillac ATS4 2.0T at speed</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<b>2014 Cadillac ATS4 2.0T - December 12th, 2014</b><br />
<br />
Find my review of Cadillac's very good ATS sedan <a href="http://www.thestar.com/autos/2014/12/12/cadillac_ats_a_serious_alternative_to_the_european_stalwarts.html" target="_blank">here</a>.<br />
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEAhQ9rC-hBEL6q4EJvaJ_xLX3_XvXfAJyp6y_E-jCOzJHXDWTy_xzT4fsiD_219LvqwQ3am_Bkjp1FerqsJCbVWnZE1hpN1OhvZAQUO9OqoJ0Mams28Od7lUwNSUkm6PtrqJizgbLWST7/s1600/IMG_20141024_095510.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEAhQ9rC-hBEL6q4EJvaJ_xLX3_XvXfAJyp6y_E-jCOzJHXDWTy_xzT4fsiD_219LvqwQ3am_Bkjp1FerqsJCbVWnZE1hpN1OhvZAQUO9OqoJ0Mams28Od7lUwNSUkm6PtrqJizgbLWST7/s1600/IMG_20141024_095510.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">2015 Honda Fit</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<b>2015 Canadian Car of the Year Test Fest coverage (Best New Small Car Under $21k) - November 3rd, 2014</b><br />
<br />
Find my coverage of the Best New Small Car (under $21k) in AJAC's 2015 Canadian Car of the Year, which was later won by the Honda Fit, <a href="http://www.wheels.ca/news/test-fest-best-new-small-car-under-21000/" target="_blank">here</a>.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghudJ9_gjCI4aRYJdvglXJ8-cjJXArfqfskQgK-DBDYBLJg978nL05etmXL4EL31vnQRMCwXrAOdYexsROIIpd8vbjM_c1DFiRxKlm48an1IQTo4u6DIdzlrLn5PPQaMzycNHwk9vpGMow/s1600/105_2796.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghudJ9_gjCI4aRYJdvglXJ8-cjJXArfqfskQgK-DBDYBLJg978nL05etmXL4EL31vnQRMCwXrAOdYexsROIIpd8vbjM_c1DFiRxKlm48an1IQTo4u6DIdzlrLn5PPQaMzycNHwk9vpGMow/s1600/105_2796.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">2015 Buick Enclave</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<b>2015 Buick Enclave - August 26th, 2014</b><br />
<br />
Find my review of Buick's 2015 Enclave <a href="http://www.wheels.ca/car-reviews/preview-2015-buick-enclave-premium-awd/" target="_blank">here</a>. <br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizj0XEdK8jBO9soTlBpyzvLMKhfw0cPpFiSGLYSSgqGaGrjZDcF7TAJJUFjnBGTsoM66delhNkC2e1bnl2C8ozGLf8hg5CkCDkE4c1tswC9-HMapWtWUxUz3akEH8H_0eZF7jJSruStTDE/s1600/IMG_20140731_090517.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizj0XEdK8jBO9soTlBpyzvLMKhfw0cPpFiSGLYSSgqGaGrjZDcF7TAJJUFjnBGTsoM66delhNkC2e1bnl2C8ozGLf8hg5CkCDkE4c1tswC9-HMapWtWUxUz3akEH8H_0eZF7jJSruStTDE/s1600/IMG_20140731_090517.jpg" height="640" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Speedbump/Chevy the cat</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>Cat-astrophe - A tail from the dark side of cars - August 22, 2014</b><br />
<br />
Find my story about the surprise that I had at work one day <a href="http://www.wheels.ca/news/cat-astrophe-a-tail-from-the-dark-side-of-cars/" target="_blank">here</a>.<br />
<br />
Sadly, though it looked like it would be a happy ending at the time the story was published, it ultimately did not end well. After coming down with some sort of respiratory infection, Chevy, as he became named by the shelter, was put on antibiotics, but did not respond to treatment. As his condition deteriorated, they had no real option but to put him down.<br />
<br />
If there's an upside to this, the story did generate considerable foot traffic and awareness for the shelter, so it is doubtless that several of Chevy's peers found good homes as a result.Brian Earlyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04255338655061023375noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4704865053716469250.post-58660924074803464782015-02-01T23:23:00.003-05:002015-02-01T23:43:26.301-05:00Jackass Award - Canadian Tire's Core Charge Policy<div class="_5pbx userContent" data-ft="{"tn":"K"}">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja51F4OgfsoafLHJCt9esXtCDY_bjdZD2zIQ2J5uqS1IXnKF2PpHn_yyPbhLR21kF1yn3j7Zsl1E6eOUv3KqRNfW4T0dD3n8rEWNy8ksAFtg1ZOy6yhg6pyjvxLKP35p-vPJf_fwsqjMtk/s1600/IMG_20140222_123359.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja51F4OgfsoafLHJCt9esXtCDY_bjdZD2zIQ2J5uqS1IXnKF2PpHn_yyPbhLR21kF1yn3j7Zsl1E6eOUv3KqRNfW4T0dD3n8rEWNy8ksAFtg1ZOy6yhg6pyjvxLKP35p-vPJf_fwsqjMtk/s1600/IMG_20140222_123359.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A Canadian Tire store - this is <i>not</i> the one where this adventure takes place.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<b>In my opinion, Canadian Tire is pulling a scam.</b> </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
(Be warned: A Tolstoy-rivalling epic follows.)</div>
<br />
Always seems to happen on the weekend, right after my "first call"
parts supplier is closed, that I end up needing some kind of auto part
for one of my fleet.<br />
<br />
This time, the battery in my wife's car, a two
and a half year-old Interstate "5 year" battery that ironically replaced the previous battery that died on a weekend. That's why I ended up with an
Interstate (another one of my suppliers that was still open carries them). The only other Interstate battery I've ever bought died young too. This will be my last.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7iKE1HY84B6jSrH4d_PjpskrzDkncQoA2I9XNFBQilllafH6jWSJZ-QCSzun0V8C1MMQF_Trzp7XLUzhP0DohDObKv9hPduKHBwH7il0asERRlF74EPePJGge1LskkEOwBmInqwc0A7rM/s1600/20150131_152345.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7iKE1HY84B6jSrH4d_PjpskrzDkncQoA2I9XNFBQilllafH6jWSJZ-QCSzun0V8C1MMQF_Trzp7XLUzhP0DohDObKv9hPduKHBwH7il0asERRlF74EPePJGge1LskkEOwBmInqwc0A7rM/s1600/20150131_152345.jpg" height="360" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Old and New - Note the core tag still on the new one's negative terminal.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
I figured
that Canadian Tire would be likely to have both the best selection and
the freshest stock, so I headed there. Their nationwide warranty doesn't hurt
either. I also needed to buy a 10mm wrench and a battery terminal brush
to do the swap, as my tools were at work and home, not with me, so
one-stop shopping, right?<br />
<br />
First off, the parts counter guy looks
up her '96 Nissan Maxima, pulls up listings, and says about my choice of a 48 month
mid-range battery, "this one will be way better than original, because
the original only had 360 cold cranking amps." Look close at the image
and you'll see that it clearly indicates that <i>all</i> Canadian models used
the optional, 585 CCA battery, a fact I already knew from owning 7
Nissans. (We also got standard low washer fluid lights - yay Nissan
Canada!)<br />
<br />
It doesn't change the outcome, but I'm of the mindset that if you really don't know something, trying to sound like you do and being wrong is much worse, so say nothing.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU0oIEHqKfiwi6JRh0gD6pGkxo5DaDFn8nEYrUQxy7zcuiEPB4yxikP-i7FnDSJXLuTTQt9XoMBiy5tPozAXmWgSDcuyXr4eAtYTD08NFSKFJfMg8UMyg0H6PYijd8TnzEYjYyTR3JG5qu/s1600/20150131_150744.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU0oIEHqKfiwi6JRh0gD6pGkxo5DaDFn8nEYrUQxy7zcuiEPB4yxikP-i7FnDSJXLuTTQt9XoMBiy5tPozAXmWgSDcuyXr4eAtYTD08NFSKFJfMg8UMyg0H6PYijd8TnzEYjYyTR3JG5qu/s1600/20150131_150744.jpg" height="360" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The original look-up result - a Group 75DT battery. The wrong right battery.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
He comes back with a dual-terminal Group 75 battery - a
standard size for most pre-2005 GM vehicles. Would it fit? With enough
screwing around, I could certainly make it function. That doesn't make
it right.<br />
<br />
"This car takes a Group 24F battery", I inform him.
"Oh," (fiddles with the computer) "you're right." Goes and gets it. It's
slightly more expensive. I don't care. It's correct for the application.<br />
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjisc1zqTdVCbHJ2ntl2-1y1Te_qWLczyIhlCeMQA7ZBDStunJFdFaEhEbTQLYD2cR8sp_aVU5kkR6gQqeXpIHvvUEhz6xdSvfus3uFla1tdTlU_5sVFWujAt7dANHGziubu-EROPK5M2JL/s1600/20150131_151050.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjisc1zqTdVCbHJ2ntl2-1y1Te_qWLczyIhlCeMQA7ZBDStunJFdFaEhEbTQLYD2cR8sp_aVU5kkR6gQqeXpIHvvUEhz6xdSvfus3uFla1tdTlU_5sVFWujAt7dANHGziubu-EROPK5M2JL/s1600/20150131_151050.jpg" height="360" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ahh, that's better. The right right battery. Even if it is more expensive.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Now, to be fair, this
gentleman was actually very helpful, and it's not entirely his fault
that the system points him in that direction. It's here, however, where
Canadian Tire's scam starts:<br />
<br />
Core Charge.<br />
<br />
A "core" is the
old part being replaced. Core charges are like the deposit on your beer
bottles that encourage you to return them. Automotive cores are either
rebuilt (calipers, alternators, etc.) or reclaimed (batteries, among
others). This is a long-standing practice that makes a lot of sense. In
the case of the battery, it's $20, which is pretty closely aligned with
what a scrap metal place will pay you for it.<br />
<br />
I have no problem
with this, and as my wife's old battery was still out in her car waiting to
be removed with the tools that I was buying alongside the battery, I
had no qualms about paying it. Please note that the $20 was added onto
the price of the battery. It shows as "XCore" in the item line.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQh3BwpCigbWDelMJ39Eq8B_U68MsW5Smy5F3W9VdHy2ZNmgf1upd9hNvVJa5IP1dNk-wUTzkTCd85bIH9x4FojhrbBQdyk-uB4VEAa7FhunG-R58lcCE7vplJnd4IHWRk5uc_Mcpvr_rY/s1600/20150201_112556.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQh3BwpCigbWDelMJ39Eq8B_U68MsW5Smy5F3W9VdHy2ZNmgf1upd9hNvVJa5IP1dNk-wUTzkTCd85bIH9x4FojhrbBQdyk-uB4VEAa7FhunG-R58lcCE7vplJnd4IHWRk5uc_Mcpvr_rY/s1600/20150201_112556.jpg" height="360" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
Swapped the battery in less than 5 minutes - easily, as it actually fit
in the hold-down and plastic heat insulator because it's - gasp! - the
right size - and went inside to return the old battery to get the core
charge back.<br />
<br />
After being ignored at the parts desk for just over
15 minutes while others got served and service advisors just feet away
chatted with their buddies (my helpful parts guy, it turns out, had
gone on his lunch break), we finally grabbed the attention of someone
capable of dealing with such a complex endeavour, and were directed to
the customer service desk to get our refund...<br />
<br />
...where we spent
another 5-10 minutes waiting for the poor harried cashier and her
supervisor to try and explain for the umpteenth time something battery
return-related to the customer ahead of us. My patience had about exited
the building by now.<br />
<br />
Finally, time to get our money back! We're handed back a $20 bill.<br />
<br />
Sounds fine, right? That's the scam!<br />
<br />
Remember, the $20 was added to the price of the battery. That total was
taxed! We actually paid $22.60. It took several run-throughs before the
two staffers grasped this concept.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMxfVLfNl0BK9nvD4XJlrkyFb4JkkpSAgQ5hLbDdNf6CEjShXTnn2yYg4v6_bJfDgm0495_lWCD11uwOz14ELTv40zG4c6_v9L_eF7oxe9Uy6SJXSk86_lrjwmn-xuIVHe26WUUz9uCbn7/s1600/20150201_112634.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMxfVLfNl0BK9nvD4XJlrkyFb4JkkpSAgQ5hLbDdNf6CEjShXTnn2yYg4v6_bJfDgm0495_lWCD11uwOz14ELTv40zG4c6_v9L_eF7oxe9Uy6SJXSk86_lrjwmn-xuIVHe26WUUz9uCbn7/s1600/20150201_112634.jpg" height="360" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">See the battery? "Motomaster ELM2" - $129.99, with the $20 core charge added in.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
"That's how the system does
it, automatically!", says the girl, explaining that the core charge
return function only allows her to refund the $20.<br />
<br />
Listen, it's
only $2.60, and the supervisor tried to give us the money out of his
pocket when it became clear after several minutes that we weren't just
going to leave.<br />
<br />
That's not the point.<br />
<br />
Canadian Tire has been
selling batteries for over 75 years, and they don't just blindly hand
extra tax dollars over to the government. You know, absolutely know,
that at some point someone in Accounting discovered that the amount of
tax collected didn't jibe with the amount of taxable merchandise sold.
You can't tell me that they aren't aware of this discrepancy.<br />
<br />
Their system will have provision for non-taxable items, which a core
charge is. Instead, I believe that they rightly figure that most people won't clue in
to this overcharge, and of those that do, very, very few will force the
issue.<br />
<br />
In our case, after I threatened to go back out to the car
to get the battery to return it, they readjusted the price and did a
refund for the correct amount.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuHOYaqk7o7LnrywWKe0KGSWyMOl0FxW9s5FkLFwO4gTY8kvCk23XUwiFvRGJ4uw4JMObQMQ_IFfyChddjerBOzjVMchEkad-iMaBuxXY1wO0p7U_e__FqDxAAJoTzsAWqF73NhvPR_Y5F/s1600/20150201_112702.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuHOYaqk7o7LnrywWKe0KGSWyMOl0FxW9s5FkLFwO4gTY8kvCk23XUwiFvRGJ4uw4JMObQMQ_IFfyChddjerBOzjVMchEkad-iMaBuxXY1wO0p7U_e__FqDxAAJoTzsAWqF73NhvPR_Y5F/s1600/20150201_112702.jpg" height="360" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is how it got fixed - a work-around.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
Given that Canadian Tire is likely
the largest Canadian retailer of automotive batteries, and that they
cater to the DIY'er crowd, many of whom will end up paying the core
charge, if I'm right, it's a pretty big scam, gleaned $2.60 at a time.<br />
<br />
If I'm wrong, it's a system flaw that costs Canadian consumers tens of thousands of dollars or more a year. Either way, Canadian Tire is greatly deserving of a Jackass Award.</div>
Brian Earlyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04255338655061023375noreply@blogger.com21tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4704865053716469250.post-2778088694303973212014-07-29T00:54:00.000-04:002014-07-29T01:02:05.812-04:00Jackass Award - Dell Printers<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://eez-distributor.pl/images/allegro/6FD6ED6B-1CF9-4436-ADF0-D43D48857180.JPEG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="http://eez-distributor.pl/images/allegro/6FD6ED6B-1CF9-4436-ADF0-D43D48857180.JPEG" border="0" class="decoded" src="http://eez-distributor.pl/images/allegro/6FD6ED6B-1CF9-4436-ADF0-D43D48857180.JPEG" height="426" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dell 1250c colour laser printer - Photo borrowed from www.archiwum.allegro.pl</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Over the years I've owned and disposed of - properly, I might add - enough dot matrix, inkjet, and laser printers to have nearly lost count. With the dot matrix printers, obsolescence was what finally killed them, though I did make it through several ribbons with my old Citizen before it finally got retired.<br />
<br />
I was once given an old Hewlett-Packard LaserJet+, probably a first or second generation machine that weighed as much as a tank and was nearly as durable, sucking enough power that the lights in my computer room dimmed noticeably when it spooled up, creating this unmistakeable aura of ozone as it hummed, throbbed, clunked, and eventually theatrically discharged each sheet of paper. Already having occasional paper feed issues, its imaging drum finally succumbed to age, and the cost of repairing it made about as much sense as body-off restoring a Ford Festiva, so it was walked behind the barn and mercifully shot.<br />
<br />
Since that time, every printer that has found its way into The Basement Of No Return or actually made it to the electronic recycler has gone that way because it ran out of ink or toner. I don't know what that stuff is made of, but forget splashing around the $3000 bottle of Richard Hennessey Cognac - really rich people pour out inkjet ink and sprinkle some toner on it.<br />
<br />
Lexmark got more than enough of my money with its fussy, failure-prone inkjet printers (I didn't learn the first time), whose cartridge-mounted inkjet tips clogged or dried out with alarming regularity, giving both printers the overall reliability of a high-mileage Trabant. Not that the apparent thimble-full of ink in each $70+ cartridge lasted long anyways. A later Canon scanner/printer proved to have better inkjet nozzles, but just as large and expensive an appetite for ink. My last inkjet, it lives on as a flatbed scanner.<br />
<br />
Samsung actually makes really good laser printers, and at around $100 for B&W, not quite double that on-sale for equally good colour models, they're a deal. But - and you knew this was coming - like most new printers, they ship with "starter" size toner cartridges. Replacing them with a real one costs slightly more than the printer did new (B&W), or quite a bit more than the printer did new, in the case of the colour machines, which hold four of these apparently unobtanium-filled cartridges.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWXWP_DCx9wXjIv6JhOCSq3S7kPRA1G_YlTD0nFg1H7nxY2f0_PYRbR6IUocuLFPDIqtCbkGog-5GzcNcxFLl7r4iKKtozbIDYpyBD5XV0n5kcqzKk5NDkpmw0BHBFHxHXEv-Y5NxjoRVc/s1600/IMG_20140725_163636.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWXWP_DCx9wXjIv6JhOCSq3S7kPRA1G_YlTD0nFg1H7nxY2f0_PYRbR6IUocuLFPDIqtCbkGog-5GzcNcxFLl7r4iKKtozbIDYpyBD5XV0n5kcqzKk5NDkpmw0BHBFHxHXEv-Y5NxjoRVc/s1600/IMG_20140725_163636.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Look closely: This is a "Ship-With" size cartridge. Dell's by no means alone in using this bait-and-switch scam. Just ship the damn printer with a full-size cartridge! I'll pay more upfront. Really.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Commercial-grade machines cost more new, and sometimes even ship with real toner cartridges. Replacing the toner cartridge makes some sense when the B&W printer in question costs more than $250. Credit where credit is due: They do last - the Dell machine my workplace uses has printed bales of paper, consuming several toner cartridges in the process, lives in a hellish environment of dust and temperature fluctuations, and yet still works perfectly. Though I've personally bought a pair of Samsungs (money talks!), I've been a proponent of Dell printers for commercial use based on the longevity and reliability of this and the previous office printer, whose automatic paper feed stopped working properly after what would be several lifetimes for many lesser printers.<br />
<br />
Here's the thing. In every case, without exception, all of these printers all continued to work up to and past the point where their ink or toner ran out, even our business machines (the old Dell would still work if fed paper manually). Citizen, Lexmark, Canon, Dell, HP - it doesn't matter. Witness my current Samsung (seen below), which has been telling me it's out of every toner colour for several months now, yet keeps on printing the few pages a month that I ask of it.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAKsvLwRI05kT0_JOVJBSW_6i-pQte3OhTGQqu2hkffcQjuHWg_R4VcrANVNfH55aeJikIemGr5qeXghsMI7DKfLOx6bfNLejGNiQjsWmfpO_5nPdspCW9v2iKJ1mVGkaN2jjfcDSw7sOK/s1600/IMG_20140728_234729.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAKsvLwRI05kT0_JOVJBSW_6i-pQte3OhTGQqu2hkffcQjuHWg_R4VcrANVNfH55aeJikIemGr5qeXghsMI7DKfLOx6bfNLejGNiQjsWmfpO_5nPdspCW9v2iKJ1mVGkaN2jjfcDSw7sOK/s1600/IMG_20140728_234729.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">No, seriously, I'm out of toner. Hello? Guys? Oh, fine then. I'll keep working.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Eventually, the print quality will go away, or the print itself will become patchy or faded, and then I'll know it's time to pony up or pitch out.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Not so with the Dell 1250c colour laser printer. Nope. We use this on the alignment rack at work to print out sheets with before and after readings for our customers. It also gets used to print out diagnostic flow charts and wiring diagrams (where the colour is very helpful). To be fair, it's been warning us that it's getting low for a little while now, and we probably should have got a new cartridge in for stock. Like anyone ever does that.<br />
<br />
This past Friday afternoon it decided that it was out of black toner. Never mind that the last page it printed was absolutely perfect - not a flaw, fade, or spot to be seen. No. It was out of toner RIGHTNOWDAMMIT and that was that. No way to clear the message or reset it. Put in toner or No Print For You!<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgaO3bT7ycjaprV_A3h3PBs_S2OFrsdzSixuL7QX0VeXXjIlgtaO8hEWabK3YN9TC1UfZ6UiUoF7UeDyRWjO80taAE63AqWuhxEdACZWBdko6kAFY2JIdepiraxGLNNT8ggip1181NopdJ/s1600/IMG_20140725_145759.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgaO3bT7ycjaprV_A3h3PBs_S2OFrsdzSixuL7QX0VeXXjIlgtaO8hEWabK3YN9TC1UfZ6UiUoF7UeDyRWjO80taAE63AqWuhxEdACZWBdko6kAFY2JIdepiraxGLNNT8ggip1181NopdJ/s1600/IMG_20140725_145759.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">So what you're trying to tell me is that you're out of toner? It "need" to be replaced now!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
I would bet $100 that there's enough toner left to print another 50 sheets. We'll never know, as it can't be fooled into going that extra mile. That sucks for the environment, sure (wasted toner, added landfill sooner), but it really sucks for the consumer, who gets an immediate cease in printing, rather than the hey-I'm-really-not-kidding heads-up of diminishing print quality as incentive to actually buy - or in Dell's case, order - a new cartridge. Oh, and that consumer also gets ripped off however many printable pages actually remained in the original toner cartridges, as I'm sure the other three will behave the same.<br />
<br />
This was somewhat of a pain in the ass for me, as the particular alignment I'd just completed was for a body shop, and they absolutely have to have a copy of the spec sheet for their customers and the insurance companies they deal with.<br />
<br />
Consequently, I had to pull the colour laser printer out of the cabinet, drag the big monochrome laser printer/anvil out of the office, hook it up, discover that this computer doesn't have the right drivers, and isn't connected to the internet to download them, go into the office to search for and download the drivers onto a USB drive, install the new drivers in the shop computer, uninstall the colour printer so that our alignment software would recognize and use the B&W printer, print <b><i>the one F'ing page</i></b> that I needed printed, unhook the office printer, reinstall the now-paperweight of a colour printer, and finally uninstall the B&W printer, so that when my boss replaces the toner cartridge in the colour machine, the alignment software will recognize and use that printer again. Not that I was at all annoyed by the process. Thank you, Dell, and by "Thank", I don't actually mean "Thank".<br />
<br />
Sadly, I was going to replace my two essentially out of toner lasers soon, possibly with at least one Dell machine, but I'm not so sure now. I'm actually feeling a pang of regret for recommending Dell machines to a good friend who's just starting up his new business, despite the fact that I expect his printers to work and last well.<br />
<br />
Therefore, for installing a purely software-created jackpot of an inconvenience with no possible positive other than to line your pockets just that little bit sooner - and for making me feel bad - I'm awarding you, Dell, with a well-deserved Jackass Award.Brian Earlyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04255338655061023375noreply@blogger.com212tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4704865053716469250.post-37080016885025508952014-05-01T23:22:00.001-04:002014-05-01T23:25:43.981-04:00Learning Something New<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOyI2QKGwaSHdXsee9AgNWjAza3cqobjQkVZddrRQOuZQ3M4ZBG_E9pApumsymQawpIV8SDyQU8DGOJmgC2XM2ljZe6zAs2nGbscJfHOQcLqxJQQdst5vEiU3CMQwHZ-jk4Y2Kgv_P8hK4/s1600/2006+Ford+Escape.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOyI2QKGwaSHdXsee9AgNWjAza3cqobjQkVZddrRQOuZQ3M4ZBG_E9pApumsymQawpIV8SDyQU8DGOJmgC2XM2ljZe6zAs2nGbscJfHOQcLqxJQQdst5vEiU3CMQwHZ-jk4Y2Kgv_P8hK4/s1600/2006+Ford+Escape.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">2006 Ford Escape 3.0L</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
This was something I'd never seen before. The 2006 Ford Escape V6 seen above belonged to a new customer, and it had made it to our shop under its own power, but just barely, running on at most 4 of its 6 cylinders. Truthfully, I'm amazed it did make it, because it took several attempts to reverse it up a slight incline to get it out of its parking spot and bring it in.<br />
<br />
Like virtually all modern gasoline powered vehicles, this particular model uses individual coils for each cylinder, located immediately above the spark plugs, a design known as "coil on plug" (COP). Ford's COP systems seem to be more failure prone than most, though everyone has these things fail from time to time.<br />
<br />
So the coil failures were nothing new. This truck had codes for the control circuits on two of the affected coils, which of course would be on the rear bank of cylinders, necessitating removal of the upper intake manifold or plenum.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg16b07dncdGINaNYL_GT_YgTlc2jmvEGsmPs68X_Tx5rUgn0hpGBmhONNXU6G33cJlTxnS314WWgdK8rc_lgeJt14KHa9UVj29zifTLQBSYSIFUDFkIopyU5jLrhF1cnKJFPQO9PZt4t9v/s1600/IMG_20140131_122134.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg16b07dncdGINaNYL_GT_YgTlc2jmvEGsmPs68X_Tx5rUgn0hpGBmhONNXU6G33cJlTxnS314WWgdK8rc_lgeJt14KHa9UVj29zifTLQBSYSIFUDFkIopyU5jLrhF1cnKJFPQO9PZt4t9v/s1600/IMG_20140131_122134.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Upper intake manifold removal is necessary to access the rear 3 coils and plugs.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
The process is actually not as bad as it looks. I'd be happy if they were all this easy. Of course, I'd be happier if I didn't have to remove it at all, but hey, I'll take what I can get; Ford making something easy is a rarity.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPDxxjljvCJO9B3jmNBjoRcnnbeK0ijDo5WIB7KxRDVo30vo4neGRCydFwoI7oEmyp20s85GcplU-0mECT_x-njeq4wUFlTbDi0jEUY-rFdk2K7W3ZpcRJeVYO2VXWlrIBNnhVjgvzt390/s1600/IMG_20140131_122121.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPDxxjljvCJO9B3jmNBjoRcnnbeK0ijDo5WIB7KxRDVo30vo4neGRCydFwoI7oEmyp20s85GcplU-0mECT_x-njeq4wUFlTbDi0jEUY-rFdk2K7W3ZpcRJeVYO2VXWlrIBNnhVjgvzt390/s1600/IMG_20140131_122121.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">That can't be good!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
As you can see from the heavily-fouled condition of the spark plugs (above), this had been going on for quite a while. Seeing this, we readied the customer for the possibility that he had actually injured the motor, or at the very least, the rear catalytic converter, by continuing to drive it with the dead coils.<br />
<br />
Here's where it gets interesting: as part of the diagnostics, prior to removing the upper intake, I'd already checked to see if our two dead coils were being triggered by the PCM (powertrain control module) - you can see it in the second picture; it's the box in the firewall with the three square plastic connectors on it. It wasn't firing them, though that could have been because the circuits or coils themselves were bad, so the PCM was protecting itself. Substituting a noid light (a circuit tester) eliminates that, and it revealed that the PCM simply wasn't triggering them, so the computer itself was bad.<br />
<br />
While it's easy to replace - two bolts, three plugs! - a PCM for this vehicle is around $1000, and it then has to be programmed, which is another roughly $150. Ford has a bulletin that states that it will not warranty the new PCM unless <i>all six</i> coils are replaced. Apparently the coils kill the PCM - I've never heard of that happening before. Normally the internal circuitry in a PCM is robust enough that it will tolerate all kinds of punishment. A quick Google search suggested that this is not all that unusual in these vehicles. Who knew?<br />
<br />
As it turns out, there's a firm in Toronto that will repair the PCM for a few hundred dollars, replacing the burnt-out coil drivers on the circuit board. This also negates the need for programming, since the computer is already programmed, and that part of it is OK. You just have to ship it out and wait a week or so for it to come back. In this case, time saves money.<br />
<br />
********************<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQoPUi5Q47V1U86egyhwWiHf8p2t59d62wRmAtrIoAneAjjUt0pJ5G7m0cXN52BH41CIJYIVVQKyj3mH-hA-ReS1zkHzj1mKgmXsN9n4c3NxHlBu6UhXLmt69LeK0EM3Xu4X25E2RpM1PU/s1600/IMG_20140203_103338.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQoPUi5Q47V1U86egyhwWiHf8p2t59d62wRmAtrIoAneAjjUt0pJ5G7m0cXN52BH41CIJYIVVQKyj3mH-hA-ReS1zkHzj1mKgmXsN9n4c3NxHlBu6UhXLmt69LeK0EM3Xu4X25E2RpM1PU/s1600/IMG_20140203_103338.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Six new plugs and six new coils, ready to go... (Note Ford's unusual cylinder numbering system)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
This repair worked out. Six plugs, six coils, and a repaired PCM later, this Escape ran fine, and it appears - in the sort term at least - that both the engine and the catalytic survived their ordeal.Brian Earlyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04255338655061023375noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4704865053716469250.post-44721570164989795082014-05-01T21:41:00.000-04:002014-05-01T21:54:20.700-04:00Credit Where Credit is Due<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2SS3Gt-pCNqxT3xhbd8bdNYie0fBVfvqLjoCHcdP0ZGZi6IAr2ytTB7noEL27p_YGPV5XoNwRqNxi2Z0MuLseMpt0x7XjGCWIUq7j-H0nSV3So8w_MNAFhonnEM86sUu4vu5jm449Yfjv/s1600/2010+Acura+MDX.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2SS3Gt-pCNqxT3xhbd8bdNYie0fBVfvqLjoCHcdP0ZGZi6IAr2ytTB7noEL27p_YGPV5XoNwRqNxi2Z0MuLseMpt0x7XjGCWIUq7j-H0nSV3So8w_MNAFhonnEM86sUu4vu5jm449Yfjv/s1600/2010+Acura+MDX.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">2010 Acura MDX</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<br />
<br />
It might seem at times as if I'm unduly harsh on the automakers, constantly pointing out their shortcomings, oversights, and failures. Perhaps, though I'm equally happy to call attention to positive attributes when they present themselves.<br />
<br />
To that end, allow me to introduce the 2010 Acura MDX seen above. Built on Honda's large utility platform (shared by the Acura ZDX, Honda Pilot, Honda Ridgeline, and Honda Odyssey minivan), this particular "YD2" version was produced for the 2007 to 2013 model years, and I'd expect the earlier and current versions to be similar.<br />
<br />
It's not that these are perfect - another customer of mine had a 2008 model that needed all 4 of its fancy magneto-rheological shocks/struts replaced (leaking/failed) - a costly enough proposition on its own that it got traded in, rather than tackle that and some other upcoming maintenance/repairs.<br />
<br />
What deserves mention in the MDX is ease of service of the driveline's fluids.<br />
<br />
Fluid changes are a regular maintenance item, regardless of whether your vehicle's literature suggests that the transmission is "sealed for life" and the intervals for the differential and transfer case are either not provided at all or in the 100,000+ km range. Look closer at the severe service schedule for a more realistic view.<br />
<br />
In some vehicles, fluid changes are a major pain. Yes, domestic automakers, I'm looking at you. Dropping a fluid-filled pan counts as a major pain - it's extremely rare for there to be a drain bolt, let alone one that's not completely seized in place and/or equipped with a fastener whose head is made of a material only marginally more robust than sun-softened butter. It's a fantastic opportunity to bask in the joy of spreading used transmission fluid all over the floor and - often as not - yourself while trying to balance a shallow, fluid-filled pan as you undo the last one or two fasteners and lower it into the drain bucket.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBwpgeqsNPUeamOvxOPk8PWAy5yjvzf9Mx2SXtZkKeCfJZ0kq4jYJMW38vt5nXjTpiPBzxJydg7r4YN1O3GMo97hv8Ei4P2IBLp6xggU8Mvnuvr4QcnXP-Pjupaxv61_P2fCj7T4m9DVRO/s1600/IMG_20130425_114016.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBwpgeqsNPUeamOvxOPk8PWAy5yjvzf9Mx2SXtZkKeCfJZ0kq4jYJMW38vt5nXjTpiPBzxJydg7r4YN1O3GMo97hv8Ei4P2IBLp6xggU8Mvnuvr4QcnXP-Pjupaxv61_P2fCj7T4m9DVRO/s1600/IMG_20130425_114016.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">2001 Chevrolet Impala (3.8) engine bay from below - a typical domestic setup. That silver pan holds about 4 litres of fluid - think you can undo and lower that without spilling it?</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
In every Honda product I've ever seen (not counting the US-only Passport, which was a rebadged Isuzu Rodeo; I worked on one once), automatic transmission fluid is drained by undoing a single drain bolt.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM4x_XnJwNh20ZP8ArWdrlhAHC_GZjVdZUNrrTEpny6MWGmu_34DkpmeAftKd1r2mmo4fbf2xo2DrlB18mKN7hb2rU0vE_h2Fli3ZjyIutG__ZfhqkY-tdSx7rbn5O8TVCUMlHkzqxv7hg/s1600/IMG_20140321_084034.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM4x_XnJwNh20ZP8ArWdrlhAHC_GZjVdZUNrrTEpny6MWGmu_34DkpmeAftKd1r2mmo4fbf2xo2DrlB18mKN7hb2rU0vE_h2Fli3ZjyIutG__ZfhqkY-tdSx7rbn5O8TVCUMlHkzqxv7hg/s1600/IMG_20140321_084034.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The MDX's automatic transmission fluid drain bolt...</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
In most recent Hondas, the head of this bolt even incorporates a 3/8" square drive that any standard ratchet or extension fits into. Visually different from the other fasteners, there's no mistaking its purpose.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid-1FimeB1p8M4eR937NR1sn45F8sj8XwpZvepmxQjaL2Cqc5FHk6gcZolbyOGXP7SQ3TNjuZVtD2l2USHqWlem3awqukhc1oLbA6zzR7J7-Sr0pS6EAikPmEow_I2EkSfwAOnN4fuAQuX/s1600/IMG_20140321_084822.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid-1FimeB1p8M4eR937NR1sn45F8sj8XwpZvepmxQjaL2Cqc5FHk6gcZolbyOGXP7SQ3TNjuZVtD2l2USHqWlem3awqukhc1oLbA6zzR7J7-Sr0pS6EAikPmEow_I2EkSfwAOnN4fuAQuX/s1600/IMG_20140321_084822.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">...in action.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
If there's criticism to be leveled here, it's that some fluid ends up on the crossmember that runs below the transmission. I can live with that. However there's no way to change the filter (an internal screen), which isn't ideal, nor is the fact that only about 3-3.5 litres of the approximately 10 litres of fluid this thing holds get changed this way. Short of disconnecting a cooler line and using a fluid exchange machine, you won't get all of the fluid out of <i>any</i> conventional automatic during a service, so it will have to suffice.<br />
<br />
Where Honda cements its victory here is in how the fluid gets replenished. Others require you to refill through the dipstick - a sometimes tedious process that's only better than the alternative of no dipstick. In older Hyundai/Kia automatics, you've got to add the fluid s-l-o-w-l-y or it burps back out the dipstick. Honda's solution in this application?<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAK5ca00085UM2HzoWZ-_gsGhzfKu-WKpwUT_s5oFDAYx-flbE41aebQbyiBbEaqZpyTpA3_o784UOqwLuUphTO1TcZshGBQe2i_PLVPD2TcvG7maNq7FPaeTL-5LzoqHPUSidEJuBzCr1/s1600/2010+Acura+MDX+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAK5ca00085UM2HzoWZ-_gsGhzfKu-WKpwUT_s5oFDAYx-flbE41aebQbyiBbEaqZpyTpA3_o784UOqwLuUphTO1TcZshGBQe2i_PLVPD2TcvG7maNq7FPaeTL-5LzoqHPUSidEJuBzCr1/s1600/2010+Acura+MDX+2.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Acura MDX automatic transmission fill bolt.</td></tr>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br />
How about a nice big top-mounted bolt marked "ATF"? A long funnel fits in beautifully, and with a large hole, it'll take fluid as fast as you can pour it in. Access could be slightly easier, but in the grand scheme of things, this is heaven. I will concede that the actual dipstick, which is mounted low down on the front, could be a bit easier to reach.<br />
<br />
That's not where the thoughtfulness ends, though. There's still a transfer unit (splits power from the transmission and sends it rearward) and a rear differential, which on the MDX, also contains the clutches that control rear torque bias and SH-AWD power application.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje9AfxDGycpZcZx-B2ejjzK7k-5UFwwon7Q7rfOOb2OCJvKSoY40U1TcmPn8N2q2h0beEPBMXsVaVfTP0G8Ipu_acPpLhyCz8z0IkLmfeIx9fSrU81MYLDmeVMXZTA_rg20dKIhYvvGRXu/s1600/IMG_20140321_084056.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje9AfxDGycpZcZx-B2ejjzK7k-5UFwwon7Q7rfOOb2OCJvKSoY40U1TcmPn8N2q2h0beEPBMXsVaVfTP0G8Ipu_acPpLhyCz8z0IkLmfeIx9fSrU81MYLDmeVMXZTA_rg20dKIhYvvGRXu/s1600/IMG_20140321_084056.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Acura MDX Power Transfer Unit - see the drain and fill plugs?</td></tr>
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<br />
These power take-off units normally don't contain very much fluid, so what fluid is there leads a harsh life. In the 1st-generation Nissan Murano, they're also known to leak, followed shortly by failure. Unfortunately, Nissan has chosen to make it terribly awkward to check, let alone fill, the transfer unit. They could stand to learn from Honda in this instance. Honda's drain and fill are both nice and obvious and accessible. The required fluid type (hypoid gear oil) is even cast into the housing next to the fill bolt. Nice!<br />
<br />
How about the rear differential?<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8GvOCHRfFx7EAFcn5S4JRqw-8V9C9UB7dldFOJ3ycwd4EQcXRgkZIyhsKqq1OY131nEZcCu-bQPwkmjpiXpM36n3Y9aTaITeZQqmwFtzgg47imF5aoXJwiSVB7HqVp5h4drG2fjKtkd5q/s1600/IMG_20140321_084108.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8GvOCHRfFx7EAFcn5S4JRqw-8V9C9UB7dldFOJ3ycwd4EQcXRgkZIyhsKqq1OY131nEZcCu-bQPwkmjpiXpM36n3Y9aTaITeZQqmwFtzgg47imF5aoXJwiSVB7HqVp5h4drG2fjKtkd5q/s1600/IMG_20140321_084108.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Acura MDX rear differential. More of the same. See the wiring for the clutch pack actuators?</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Just what you'd expect, if you were working your way back from doing the other two services. A clearly marked fill bolt ("ATF"), and an obvious drain bolt. Access is trickier here because the rear crossmember and spare tire are right behind the diff, and the floor above makes the use of a funnel impossible, but there is a nice window cut into the crossmember immediately behind the fill plug, so a suction gun or the pressurized fill device of your choosing can get a clean, straight shot into the hole to refill it.<br />
<br />
I have to ask myself, how much does it add in cost to cast lettering into the housings, or punch an extra opening into the rear crossmember to facilitate servicing? Probably nothing, or close to nothing. As for designing these components and those around them to make them accessible, how much extra would that cost? As a consumer, the time it takes to do these maintenance procedures does cost you. Would you pay an extra $100 or even an extra $500 up front if you knew that down the road you'd get that and more back in reduced labour? At least when it comes to these items, Honda apparently thinks you would. Good on 'em. Credit where credit is due.Brian Earlyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04255338655061023375noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4704865053716469250.post-70608893328489306572014-03-20T23:50:00.000-04:002014-03-21T00:08:10.992-04:00Jackass Award - Canadian Tire<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmUZoctONuyc2yqFCT2bqbu9tM-g_jBbVjrqlGlvZv6k5WaD1qZSXj-KgbXLKoyOtVUBZp66k_HndVgBswjlNfrROv71nobvJ0HbBO781_ICmejeDyZfZEtOkWd63XtvQ5zDOX8t7gEVpO/s1600/IMG_20140222_123359.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmUZoctONuyc2yqFCT2bqbu9tM-g_jBbVjrqlGlvZv6k5WaD1qZSXj-KgbXLKoyOtVUBZp66k_HndVgBswjlNfrROv71nobvJ0HbBO781_ICmejeDyZfZEtOkWd63XtvQ5zDOX8t7gEVpO/s1600/IMG_20140222_123359.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Canadian Tire is a Canadian icon</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Oh Canadian Tire. You are a Canadian Institution, an Icon of Canadiana, a part of the psyche of the vast majority of this country's people. Perhaps that is why I feel so betrayed by some of your corporate decisions, as of late.<br />
<br />
No, It's not incorporating Mark's Work Wearhouse into your retail space. That actually makes some sense, though I don't naturally tend to think of my local CTC store when I need clothing (did buy a nice winter coat for work there, though!).<br />
<br />
It's not even the fact that you lock all of the hand tools away in display cases, behind layered racks where I can't actually see or browse what you have, or that you recently did away with the little call buttons at the end of some aisles that (potentially) might summon one of your employees - who seem to be oddly hard to find at the times when you'd really like one - no, it's not even that.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXbeOUZZ4HSkxbZvkYsADI63k6iDBtuJi80ZsAdzPwur8it1TwqxL3HlV0PhovVb8j1I7zRmlS9aWf1_x9rNkuoj48umcGDkdKx3vMqtXF5yIHlctTYIr1K9H9FcxpiGmofgSS8OO8R9SR/s1600/IMG_20140222_122735.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXbeOUZZ4HSkxbZvkYsADI63k6iDBtuJi80ZsAdzPwur8it1TwqxL3HlV0PhovVb8j1I7zRmlS9aWf1_x9rNkuoj48umcGDkdKx3vMqtXF5yIHlctTYIr1K9H9FcxpiGmofgSS8OO8R9SR/s1600/IMG_20140222_122735.jpg" height="640" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hmm. I wonder what's behind the first layer of rack?</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
It's your tools. Much as is the case with Sears in the United States (yet oddly, not so much here - likely due to your successes on this side of the border), Canadian Tire has long been known by handyman and homeowner alike as a source for decent quality tools. While you've often offered cheaper, lower quality tools (and that's fine; they have their place), you've provided Canadians with your Mastercraft brand of tools for decades, backing them up with the reassurance of a lifetime warranty. Okay, things got a bit confusing a while back when you brought out a "Professional" line of Mastercraft sockets and hand tools (their inferred better quality suggested non-Professional were junk, yet they had the same warranty), however we adapted and carried on. Then you changed them to "Maximum", just to increase our confusion. Does that make the other Mastercraft tools Minimum? I digress.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqPxTKX-tDaEkP_T8PFZ1WQGnCG1EADB0OveJ1LOU3OvgoN4sJb5Xr80m67uH0Pto_ADm3ECa6_lLGDW0GpGvZzzISj4Tx1umKZCbWl9d4Fldhd35BMmwiQaf8x0k2qRm0pOu0MfkJpgZa/s1600/IMG_20140222_122657.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqPxTKX-tDaEkP_T8PFZ1WQGnCG1EADB0OveJ1LOU3OvgoN4sJb5Xr80m67uH0Pto_ADm3ECa6_lLGDW0GpGvZzzISj4Tx1umKZCbWl9d4Fldhd35BMmwiQaf8x0k2qRm0pOu0MfkJpgZa/s1600/IMG_20140222_122657.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">You'd best believe that warranty sells tools.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
While some might joke about "Crappy Tire" tools, I've been quite comfortably making a living fixing cars for nearly 20 years using Mastercraft tools.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu5tlPpq4w_CEl8RR5H1rPD0FSh1PS7OQG_87Pnvp97U4H1nLcsKbvv-8hBeKOYwFb4lrjgW5uVbkU3umPfxKefqhOo2hYFJF9UWnhduypEoqMYRda7sCLhp_MadrK-4YyGLdZnp0M5Sjg/s1600/IMG_20140303_110352.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu5tlPpq4w_CEl8RR5H1rPD0FSh1PS7OQG_87Pnvp97U4H1nLcsKbvv-8hBeKOYwFb4lrjgW5uVbkU3umPfxKefqhOo2hYFJF9UWnhduypEoqMYRda7sCLhp_MadrK-4YyGLdZnp0M5Sjg/s1600/IMG_20140303_110352.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mostly Mastercraft...</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR82O_jSYYdariDTUgl6qd8ZE7Rekjj3YCT4mnb9ZzFAGpsP1g8lw_8RxIWMbkBXi2zbwigXo2FGPrcJk709Jwla6Gh4PjyyxciQhOrpTMjagjmN_aZpI3zsePVEyqhyBs5hQC4WrYWzTt/s1600/IMG_20140303_110337.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR82O_jSYYdariDTUgl6qd8ZE7Rekjj3YCT4mnb9ZzFAGpsP1g8lw_8RxIWMbkBXi2zbwigXo2FGPrcJk709Jwla6Gh4PjyyxciQhOrpTMjagjmN_aZpI3zsePVEyqhyBs5hQC4WrYWzTt/s1600/IMG_20140303_110337.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">...as are these. In a Mastercraft toolbox.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
When I got started in the auto repair business, apprentices were not given any kind of tax breaks or incentives for tools as they are now, putting an extra crimp in my budget, so I bought my basics at Canadian Tire - right down to the 3 piece toolbox they're still stored in (and overflowing out of). Yes, I did spend just over $3000 on Snap-on tools at that time as well, which resulted in a disappointingly small pile, but the majority of my hand tools, both at home - where I have a less complete, redundant set - and at work, bear the Mastercraft name. There have been lots more added in the two decades that have followed. Imagine the Canadian Tire money I've earned... ... and the Brian Early money that Canadian Tire has received in exchange.<br />
<br />
So what has me upset enough to want to hand you a Jackass Award? Well, CTC, my friend, you seem to have lost your way recently. First off - what's with the Stanley FatMax stuff? Why are you selling (and supporting, as it has a warranty too) a competing product to your home brand? It's not like Mastercraft and Mastercraft Maximum weren't already causing consumer confusion.<br />
<br />
This whole diversification of your product range seems to be diluting the very essence of what defines your tools - and your brand as a whole. This is where my bugbear lies, and the reason I'm awarding you my booby prize. You no longer carry enough of the tools that you've sold, often in a set, but also individually, to be able to readily honour your warranty.<br />
<br />
Used to be that I'd walk into my local Canadian Tire with my broken tool - usually a socket, as they tend to live a hard life - and I'd walk back out again with a replacement.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxk6XuCPEPjD6C1sjmRCVASI0stlGnIQHEdXhpjdcF_rewuX7igV9kIxPdT45dVIomctez4m-fpTVsrry2kLLXgTuKZJp8fbgzg975FALycEhykyKwfXT0QmXlsA8Dp9rboPrVBc-Loh5S/s1600/IMG_20140222_123350.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxk6XuCPEPjD6C1sjmRCVASI0stlGnIQHEdXhpjdcF_rewuX7igV9kIxPdT45dVIomctez4m-fpTVsrry2kLLXgTuKZJp8fbgzg975FALycEhykyKwfXT0QmXlsA8Dp9rboPrVBc-Loh5S/s1600/IMG_20140222_123350.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Look closely at the 9 o'clock position. See how the sides don't line up? This socket has split under load.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Not any more. My local store is the largest in the region. It did not have a replacement for this broken socket. Understandable if it was some obscure inverted torx or some other oddball; it is not. <br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-PH4ZBl4kUUOS5JJ1imw5DEekehKwuEDS8lCzf5XxRfr224g0mkKbHQGIBgKSCMULc59ws7Rd_7uOk0rS8gstAUqsKGJiPzIKEU8pDbIrbw2ujFYb0ldYYRdzTaEO_uUD_R2SwiWmrEqR/s1600/IMG_20140222_123315.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-PH4ZBl4kUUOS5JJ1imw5DEekehKwuEDS8lCzf5XxRfr224g0mkKbHQGIBgKSCMULc59ws7Rd_7uOk0rS8gstAUqsKGJiPzIKEU8pDbIrbw2ujFYb0ldYYRdzTaEO_uUD_R2SwiWmrEqR/s1600/IMG_20140222_123315.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mastercraft for the win! Or not. (3/8" drive 14mm universal socket) I'm not even upset that it broke.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
This is a 3/8" drive by 14 mm universal ("flex") socket. Second perhaps to Imperial-sized universals and straight sockets, about as common as you'll find in a mechanic's tool box. My local store had to special order one in, an easy enough process to initiate, but why? If I wanted to wait three days to a week to replace my socket, I could just buy a Snap-on or Mac or Matco, because their trucks come around roughly weekly, and will probably have several of these in stock. Sure, they cost more, but if I was in a real bind without it, I could call my tool rep and they'd likely swing by same-day to bail me out.<br />
<br />
I'm not at all upset that it broke. Hell, I was tugging on it pretty earnestly when it finally rounded the corroded old fastener it was hanging on and split down the fluke. Any tool can fail, particularly when being worked hard and worked regularly. I recognize the cost advantage that Mastercraft tools have over those professional name-brand competitors, and I'm realistic in my expectations, even though I've been very pleasantly surprised over the years by just how well my Mastercraft stuff has lasted. In applications where my luck has not been so good, or where reliability or function is critical, I'll buy the pro-grade equipment (you can see it intermingled in my tool box drawer photos above).<br />
<br />
What finally pushed me over the edge, compelling me to write a War and Peace-style Epic on Canadian Tire Corporation and Mastercraft tools was a twofold slight:<br />
<br />
- Not being able to conveniently exchange what I felt was a common enough tool that it should be in stock, and not require ordering in. That is annoying, and negates one of the major benefits of owning your tools - ready replacement.<br />
<br />
- The quality of the replacement tool, which is very clearly not of the same standards or even appearance of the tool that it replaced. (Don't even get me started on how Mastercraft's 3/8 drive "deep" sockets aren't as deep anymore.) The stamped-in size and Mastercraft logo are even upside-down, for Pete's sake! How it fares in use remains to be seen.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv-bhieFwwFvUIVs7Uv2j3PDDCUnHa5jnnk_cc0C5XS4vzFfnr_hvliC1tgx4JGSSUiM7wIUTFjQQg3tXwr6wrBrfJyTIvn0siKUWZdHJdz6wpFyXRyHNZcAOoIPycIC-bVxQ_JqyTGYmA/s1600/14mm+universal+CTC+junk.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv-bhieFwwFvUIVs7Uv2j3PDDCUnHa5jnnk_cc0C5XS4vzFfnr_hvliC1tgx4JGSSUiM7wIUTFjQQg3tXwr6wrBrfJyTIvn0siKUWZdHJdz6wpFyXRyHNZcAOoIPycIC-bVxQ_JqyTGYmA/s1600/14mm+universal+CTC+junk.jpg" height="474" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ordered in, and does not appear to be of the same quality as the original. The stamped-in size and brand are even upside-down.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
At some point in time a number of years ago, I purchased what I believed was a good quality socket. As expected, it served me well, and when it finally failed, I expected you to honour the lifetime warranty that you built in to the price of the tool. Now you're giving me what appears to be an inferior replacement. That is totally unacceptable, and discourages me from buying any other tools from you. If I wanted cheap tools of questionable quality that are still blessed with a warranty, there's another well-known Canadian business that would fit the bill. That's not what I want, and thus not what I bought. For that, Canadian Tire Corporation, I'm unhappy to present you with a Jackass Award.Brian Earlyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04255338655061023375noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4704865053716469250.post-59811977929427938632014-03-04T11:10:00.001-05:002014-03-04T11:48:05.928-05:00The Good and Bad of Car to Car Communication<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga5HZgleLFC1r5PnX1Q2hN0HU-E6FIwB8BId5wivsqiO4upP9JlCGocUWms1Q-RSOtMxxPBeUj2vDAqYWI-KoIjKIwNkEv2T3Z9dFqwEL2mQNu8QdzTqGdfsfq1-GIHUP6HdngCTZDo7F-/s1600/IMG_20140304_093048%5B1%5D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga5HZgleLFC1r5PnX1Q2hN0HU-E6FIwB8BId5wivsqiO4upP9JlCGocUWms1Q-RSOtMxxPBeUj2vDAqYWI-KoIjKIwNkEv2T3Z9dFqwEL2mQNu8QdzTqGdfsfq1-GIHUP6HdngCTZDo7F-/s1600/IMG_20140304_093048%5B1%5D.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">OnStar and electronic toll-road transponders - two ways in which you can already be tracked</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">There's been a lot of talk in the past few years about "Car to Car" communication as a way of reducing the frequency or even severity of multi-vehicle collisions. The US government has stated intentions to mandate Car to Car communication by 2017 (that is, to have a bill put into effect by 2017, not that cars would have to have this technology by 2017).</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">On the surface, this is a great idea, and many of the technologies involved already exist, even if they may require further refinement or expansion to suit this role. There's no doubt that the majority of the players in C2C (what I'll refer to "Car to Car" as from here on) have good intentions - car crashes still continue to claim more than 33,000 lives per year in the United States, though the numbers have been trending downwards since the early '80's, and are now at the lowest they've been since World War II. There are, of course, a far greater number of people that sustain life-changing injuries of some kind that these statistics don't cover. Canada's statistics are slightly lower overall than the US on a "per km traveled" and "per 100,000 persons" basis, but car crashes remain a very real concern.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So why am I not entirely pleased with C2C? Several reasons, actually.The premise of C2C is that vehicles would broadcast their relative position, heading, and speed over a proposed range of approximately 250-300 metres. In practice, with buildings and landforms potentially interfering, I'm going to suggest that the systems will end up having a greater output, say perhaps 500 metres. Heck, the 10 metre claimed range of my Bluetooth handsfree speakerphone is in reality easily double that in real life, as my phone often remains paired inside my steel-walled workplace as my car sits well away from the building out in the lot.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">While I'm the last guy you'll see walking around with a tin-foil hat, I will acknowledge a certain amount of concern for the amount of radio waves we already saturate ourselves with. That is only a little, tiny part of my dislike for this continual broadcast; my concern is how easily this information could be used against you.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Proponents of C2C claim that vehicles will not be able to be individually identified by their C2C information, but I call bullshit. Just like your computer's IP Address can be used to track and even (not all that) roughly determine your location - how many pop-ups have you had that use your town's name? - it is unlikely that there won't be some kind of unique identifier or backdoor means of determining which vehicle is transmitting.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Further, if you are the only vehicle in a given area, it would not be difficult for the police to quite easily determine which vehicle it is that is broadcasting a speed in excess of the posted limit, even without the added bonus of heading and location information. Yes, folks, your car will tell on you, and it is not terribly difficult to imagine this data being used against you.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Similarly, much as is currently the case with electronic toll-road transponders, it would be dead easy for stationary nodes to monitor which vehicles pass by, and the ability for such information to be processed and stored already exists. Think about it; in amongst the several thousand cars on a given stretch of Ontario's Highway 407, most have entered and will exit the toll-road at different points, yet each will get billed for their usage, with the statements showing the exact times each way-point was crossed, a technology that has been in operation since 1997. 1997; when a 80 GB hard drive was huge, and the internet was dial-up. Think the technology has advanced since?</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It should be pointed out that built-in telematics systems like GM's OnStar are already not only capable of tracking and transmitting speed, location, and specific vehicle ID (as well as lots of operational data), but actually already <i>do</i> do this, even if that information is said not to be used unless required for the service to function. It is both possible and legal, however, to disable these telematics systems, should the owner wish. Modern airbag modules also store a 5-10 second running snapshot of some vehicle parameters (brake application, speed, steering wheel angle, ESC/ABS operation, seat-belt use, etc.), stored in the event of airbag deployment - that "black-box" functionality can not be readily disabled without potentially affecting airbag operation.</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I don't consider myself a conspiracy theorist kind of guy, but do keep in mind that C2C is being pushed by the same government that has been steadily whittling away at its citizen's civil liberties in the name of security since 9/11. The connection isn't entirely implausible, nor is it totally unrealistic. Deliberate or not, it's very easy to see the system getting abused post-implementation, just as it's now possible to use cell phones for spying, a practice already </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">acknowledged to occur</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">. Where's that tin-foil hat?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Another concern for me is what I like to call "the ABS Effect". When vehicles with anti-lock brakes first came on the market, there was a pronounced increase in rear-end collisions with ABS-equipped models. This was not because they stopped so fast that non-ABS vehicles hit them (though there probably were more than a few of those instances too). It was because their drivers felt overly confident about the ability of their vehicles to stop faster, so they followed closer behind the car ahead, and took greater risks, having less concern for their stopping distances. The same thing happens with those who drive all-wheel drive models in inclement weather, and there's doubtless some degree of the ABS Effect occurring today with all post-2011 cars having mandatory stability control. Guaranteed that drivers will yet again put excessive trust in C2C, being even less aware of their situation than they are today. Never mind that for C2C to be truly effective, 100% of the vehicle fleet would have to have perfectly functioning C2C systems.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Which brings me to my final concern: implementation and serviceability. As a full-time working technician, I can tell you that despite ABS - a key component in stability control - being in wide use for more than 25 years, it still has durability issues when exposed to the real world environment of vibration and corrosion. Computers are hardly foolproof either - I just replaced the engine computer in a 2005 Buick that had only 25,000 km on it (did it die of boredom, perhaps?). Diagnosing and repairing the existing wireless components in today's cars, such as keyless entry, tire pressure monitoring (TPMS), and passive entry/starting, is already a challenge. (Let me tell you that TPMS, required in the US since 2008, has been a headache, as these systems are fragile and trouble-prone, and with no standardized implementation beyond transmitter frequencies, they vary in service ease between piece of cake and piece of, well, you get it.)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So when these C2C systems take a dirt nap, or worse yet, give erroneous information that results in a collision, who's going to be responsible? Will it be required by law that these systems be kept in working order as the vehicle ages or gets damaged? How will that be enforced? Will you legally be able to opt out? What are the legal implications if you're involved in a collision and your C2C system is determined to have been faulty? Will your insurance still cover you?</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">These are just a few of the questions that need to be addressed before C2C ever sees reality, and it's tough to imagine it getting rammed down the throats of US citizens, a nation that still does not have country-wide seat belt use laws (New Hampshire only requires their use by minors, for example).</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">There's little doubt in my mind that some form of C2C, just like fully autonomous vehicles, will eventually come into play. Likewise, I do think that there are very real benefits to such technologies. I believe it is still too soon however, and that there are still too many unanswered questions and unaddressed concerns for them to be mandated into use in the near future. </span>Brian Earlyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04255338655061023375noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4704865053716469250.post-12745455382366291842014-01-08T01:31:00.002-05:002014-01-08T01:42:44.589-05:00Jackass Award - GM Pickups Fuel Pump Control Module<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJrlgUPEYie5yNjiCpm8ao37E_1_27RfnkgAo8sRbayUj0B7hUGyPC0GSdn3NEMWK_Z1F2ehObfwuNmyYKzQk_ckuEBFEIzVgLcbEmLiyh7qtqSYYvMVsDHEpJuU5nEqWsGqDznQph3O-l/s1600/2009+Chevy+Silverado+Plow+Truck+FPCM+fail.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJrlgUPEYie5yNjiCpm8ao37E_1_27RfnkgAo8sRbayUj0B7hUGyPC0GSdn3NEMWK_Z1F2ehObfwuNmyYKzQk_ckuEBFEIzVgLcbEmLiyh7qtqSYYvMVsDHEpJuU5nEqWsGqDznQph3O-l/s1600/2009+Chevy+Silverado+Plow+Truck+FPCM+fail.jpg" height="292" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">2009 Chevy Silverado plow truck (with apologies for the CCTV-screencap image quality)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
First, a bit of a back story. Electronic fuel injection was just hitting the mainstream when I began working on cars for pay (rather than to avoid paying...) just over 20 years ago. There were several different strategies involved in feeding the systems with fuel, all of which involved at least one electric pump. To prevent the pump from running unnecessarily after a stall, a crash, or just sitting with the key on, the pumps were usually switched on by either the engine computer (through a relay), an oil pressure switch, or both (early GM systems especially).<br />
<br />
Most had a single in-tank fuel pump that delivered a constant feed of fuel at a pressure governed by a regulator (usually throttle-body or injector-rail mounted and vacuum controlled) that bled any excess fuel back to the tank through a return line.<br />
<br />
Others - most notably the Europeans - would use a low pressure feed pump in or near the tank to supply a second, high pressure pump that ultimately accomplished the same function as the single-pump setup.<br />
<br />
The odd vehicle had the ability to vary pump speed, usually through a dropping resistor, or via high frequency voltage toggling (known as pulse-width modulation). This was done primarily to reduce pump noise at low speed and idle, when demand was low and ambient noise less likely to disguise the ruckus.<br />
<br />
As technology has introduced more precise injection control, a large number of vehicles have gone to what are called "returnless" systems, where there's no longer a second fuel line coming back from the engine compartment to return excess fuel supply. A single line simply supplies fuel at the required pressure to the injector rail. This eliminates some parts, but most importantly, prevents the fuel from being warmed by engine heat prior to its return to the tank, which apparently offers benefits in emission reductions and possibly even power production.<br />
<br />
Often there's a fixed pressure regulator in the tank or a nearby filter/regulator assembly to make this single line system possible. Others vary the fuel pump's power supply to control its output and therefore pressure, usually with feedback from a fuel-rail pressure sensor. This is where our Jackass Award story begins.<br />
<br />
An important note: GM is not alone in using the basic design I'm about to discuss. Ford trucks are well know for fuel pump control module failures, for example. But some questionable engineering choices do make the one used on GM's recent model year full-sized pickups - the example featured, the first of these I've encountered, is a 2009 model - Award-worthy.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG5VU9nhaDktdguzoGR5rGk4nsEMDO0cCxqlyvgk8oyrSHoH0LYPGOm4ikICcvDJRBKr7qm6_pkOef5VdiN8W6i52Q7gyXBXrjZR9V66NSKV20X_emTuQ0rneRV6dTphmlhOOUWLFcMJL5/s1600/IMG_20140106_114839.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG5VU9nhaDktdguzoGR5rGk4nsEMDO0cCxqlyvgk8oyrSHoH0LYPGOm4ikICcvDJRBKr7qm6_pkOef5VdiN8W6i52Q7gyXBXrjZR9V66NSKV20X_emTuQ0rneRV6dTphmlhOOUWLFcMJL5/s1600/IMG_20140106_114839.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This seemed like a good idea to someone...</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
The above photo shows where GM chose to locate the Silverado's (and the identical Sierra's) FPCM (Fuel Pressure Control Module), just above the spare tire beneath the box at the rear of the truck. Ford is equally guilty of mounting the fuel pressure control module where corrosion will eat it. They were doing it well before GM decided to follow suit. Hey, if it didn't work for Ford...<br />
<br />
To diagnose this thing, most of the trouble code diagnostic "trees" require you to unplug this connector. The lid swings down to unlatch it - impossible, by about an inch, with the spare tire in place. Ever lowered the spare on a modern pickup?<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh30VWw-Tt423RsXZkDo1d7HmqDUlo_5za1RVLTa9uM-aYiw3m5Rokq9O1S3_K0Bl1P4KYEHqPpDPERm7Wt6QKw-PGO41SOrKZZNdnf-vx_zzyjNDCioXCmd58MQuGOAaFWEIqFcukaphdf/s1600/2009+Chevy+Silverado+Plow+Truck+FPCM+fail+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh30VWw-Tt423RsXZkDo1d7HmqDUlo_5za1RVLTa9uM-aYiw3m5Rokq9O1S3_K0Bl1P4KYEHqPpDPERm7Wt6QKw-PGO41SOrKZZNdnf-vx_zzyjNDCioXCmd58MQuGOAaFWEIqFcukaphdf/s1600/2009+Chevy+Silverado+Plow+Truck+FPCM+fail+2.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rube Goldberg would be proud</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
I have. Fortunately, this truck , in spite of being used for plowing snow and landscaping, is well-kept, clean, and not a big muddy ball of corrosion, so the process was only slightly aggravating: find and extract the toolkit (often buried or missing), unlock the spare tire lock (good seize-in-place potential), assemble the correct sequence of crank segments (instructions? Who needs 'em?), spend a few minutes trying to get the tool to align and function in the winch (you'd think the built-in guide would make that a first-attempt thing. It doesn't.), crank the spare down.<br />
<br />
<br />
Finally able to disconnect the connector, we verify that the module has failed and needs to be replaced. Surprise! Our local dealer has one in stock.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6ieQksktfPXNzdkRHw-vGL9lRWJ9X6_PBP1FQzwkW6XlWiUPH4IyY6l4B3BTDboE-MS5C4eIpt-58I7eB_pQiVvExI9VlRrGE4abbaRSTUtVo4zak6p1goAe9f9j93eAvzX0mhgT-SUkx/s1600/IMG_20140106_124444.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6ieQksktfPXNzdkRHw-vGL9lRWJ9X6_PBP1FQzwkW6XlWiUPH4IyY6l4B3BTDboE-MS5C4eIpt-58I7eB_pQiVvExI9VlRrGE4abbaRSTUtVo4zak6p1goAe9f9j93eAvzX0mhgT-SUkx/s1600/IMG_20140106_124444.jpg" height="640" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">On the vehicle, this view is only possible with a mirror, a boroscope, or a cameraphone jammed up against the floor of the box. Nice corrosion.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
If you look closely at the spare tire-view photo, you can see that the module is fastened to the bracket it's mounted to <i>from above</i>. A Jackass Award qualifier. Extra Jackass points though because the fasteners in question are rounded-head Torx bolts with fine threads - seen from the top, after mild, fruitless digging out with a pick - in the above photo. The three of those are not coming out without a level of personal attention that's all but impossible in-situ.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidKcDns8cGZ0ulFm9lw1a8oySvSZPdsCF0RmRk770D1FCIKOnJuGxgHXbwh-ICZdPGYPkRUCAa19vt045mD4Ecx1tMkEme6Q1cUg-KDCRr8Z0Pok1YwMeCOeVKS41D2R4SJjxjM7MiaHsz/s1600/IMG_20140106_125809.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidKcDns8cGZ0ulFm9lw1a8oySvSZPdsCF0RmRk770D1FCIKOnJuGxgHXbwh-ICZdPGYPkRUCAa19vt045mD4Ecx1tMkEme6Q1cUg-KDCRr8Z0Pok1YwMeCOeVKS41D2R4SJjxjM7MiaHsz/s1600/IMG_20140106_125809.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Another cameraphone-aided view. Only my hand could see this otherwise. Thank goodness for ratcheting wrenches.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
The FPCM is mounted to a large bracket that also holds the TBCM (Trailer Brake Control Module) and another small electrical component. It bolts to the left frame rail and the spare tire winch mount. Fortunately, its three fasteners have conventional hex-heads, though, in true Jackass form, they are also top-mounted, and the winch-side one is conveniently and for no apparent reason located directly beneath the pickup bed's reinforcement beam. There will be no using air tools or even a ratchet on those. Nice. (At least this particular truck was mud and corrosion free.)</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1onrrMc_m08vSeuEHJFiSSrPRr6gedmK266ig_mmnx6c0K-G-rPvsTmdnPROlfeLnyHHu77W0MYIfm75jL8EyJgdYzxryYgojsmOunaf2q6t54NeHcYMrMJbhuFA_-2jNb4PV5gWLc6dQ/s1600/IMG_20140106_130254.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1onrrMc_m08vSeuEHJFiSSrPRr6gedmK266ig_mmnx6c0K-G-rPvsTmdnPROlfeLnyHHu77W0MYIfm75jL8EyJgdYzxryYgojsmOunaf2q6t54NeHcYMrMJbhuFA_-2jNb4PV5gWLc6dQ/s1600/IMG_20140106_130254.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Voila!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtHCNfX2QudrPIWWGJvp7BFiVLVqa14FpijwoL2WdumVxKemFX8qgSdB6rEwKBNEFEGh-A6Macw6YEENR2MSR5GfQaIYDUDh-d79F_Si0h_D3jnHSSg_o5HV0F6tCre_im4oASbk94R1_n/s1600/IMG_20140106_130618.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtHCNfX2QudrPIWWGJvp7BFiVLVqa14FpijwoL2WdumVxKemFX8qgSdB6rEwKBNEFEGh-A6Macw6YEENR2MSR5GfQaIYDUDh-d79F_Si0h_D3jnHSSg_o5HV0F6tCre_im4oASbk94R1_n/s1600/IMG_20140106_130618.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I think I may have peed...</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Once extricated from its bracket, the FPCM peed on our bench. Actually, I was glad to see this, because condemning electrical components can be stressful because you usually can't see anything wrong. Water leaking out? I'm feeling pretty comfortable with my diagnosis! It may need more, but it definitely needs this.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Note that the silver side seen above is the top. The plastic tub forms the bottom, making a decent water-retaining bowl. Obviously the thin layer of sealant wasn't enough to keep the water out (or in). You surely wouldn't want to mount it the other way, and give it a fighting chance.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjklLeEwkEA6uuOwvIFGPSNhHS23SMZvnefaXLAJoZRdl1tfrWnnSi8S-m2X7jr6lh6p2ndAC1sMyadWdztnWQdQjnq5Obklc7TL_L1l-46auzj25sqxswLA0ItFcvIyjESFgvUAtJnClmb/s1600/IMG_20140107_124407.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjklLeEwkEA6uuOwvIFGPSNhHS23SMZvnefaXLAJoZRdl1tfrWnnSi8S-m2X7jr6lh6p2ndAC1sMyadWdztnWQdQjnq5Obklc7TL_L1l-46auzj25sqxswLA0ItFcvIyjESFgvUAtJnClmb/s1600/IMG_20140107_124407.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Carefully opened afterward with a 24 oz ball-pein hammer, water can be seen inside. Think those IC chips like water?</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUg_8dOw8HtjoEWIQH2BoCnMh-caOUgOQ2JAgBKIF-SDeNIVz-Ohq8d0F0OeDc5NZTq4yyay9PeYDIPwNjOctznYZPbVyW1l1XOv1rQRJkSNQDc1CCnKYDoOrDoGGAX0SaSpChsaLJcBI_/s1600/IMG_20140106_131417.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUg_8dOw8HtjoEWIQH2BoCnMh-caOUgOQ2JAgBKIF-SDeNIVz-Ohq8d0F0OeDc5NZTq4yyay9PeYDIPwNjOctznYZPbVyW1l1XOv1rQRJkSNQDc1CCnKYDoOrDoGGAX0SaSpChsaLJcBI_/s1600/IMG_20140106_131417.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The new one has a thick bead of sealant oozing out of it. It got new bolts too, though they didn't come with it.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: left;">
So we get our new module, mount it to the bracket, fish the bracket's top-mounted fasteners back in and ratchet-wrench them tight, successfully clear the trouble codes, crank the truck, and get... ...a brief fire-up followed half a second later by a stall and refusal to restart.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Recheck the codes to see what else is wrong, and see..</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidM3Zgmz17_6MdhhbYU1etuC7z8sfn4ZD_aTGTzx6mbF2zCVmpmAKPBWqwkJ3fxpm_SFIxn8F-98fA3dXWqI6r73qETsVTr1Ks99SGerPy1P4dvW1cE7X3v5WplL0Vf2CJeuiHLfDRe8bk/s1600/IMG_20140106_133629.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidM3Zgmz17_6MdhhbYU1etuC7z8sfn4ZD_aTGTzx6mbF2zCVmpmAKPBWqwkJ3fxpm_SFIxn8F-98fA3dXWqI6r73qETsVTr1Ks99SGerPy1P4dvW1cE7X3v5WplL0Vf2CJeuiHLfDRe8bk/s1600/IMG_20140106_133629.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">That's not good.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
... that the FPCM needs to be programmed. It's a several hundred dollar box of rocks without the proper software. The common-failing Ford truck fuel pump modules don't need this. They're even available from the aftermarket, plug'n play. Not this one; the final, Jackass Award-clinching move.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Shouldn't have been a surprise, actually, because in this generation of GM pickup, even the power window switches have to be programmed when replaced. Got an identical, same year truck, identically optioned, and want to temporarily swap the switch to put a window up when the original switch breaks on a -25ºC day? Won't work - not programmed to that truck, as one of our tow-truck fleet operators discovered, to his extreme pleasure.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGuBO2HmA7FtN948LWOZOo57_-GQE5Js54jiRZRNgANHCbFSHhZ-oZP49vz0WAEvlgwj6e_fTEz6QYaU7uNYUa_q8eN3BURPwnbAHIbBKuhjl8G5lNVLFPiUb1mEjtIl5nRBgqaEsduMmH/s1600/IMG_20140106_151337.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGuBO2HmA7FtN948LWOZOo57_-GQE5Js54jiRZRNgANHCbFSHhZ-oZP49vz0WAEvlgwj6e_fTEz6QYaU7uNYUa_q8eN3BURPwnbAHIbBKuhjl8G5lNVLFPiUb1mEjtIl5nRBgqaEsduMmH/s1600/IMG_20140106_151337.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Money, money, money...</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
At this point there are a couple of options.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
- Tow the truck to a dealer (what GM would clearly like you to do, though they'd probably be happier still if their dealer had diagnosed and replaced the module in the first place).</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
- Tow the truck to a shop that has GM programming capability (which they have to pay to subscribe to - GM is still making a smiley face).</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
- Program it yourself. Assuming you have the several thousand dollars worth of equipment and/or software to do it, of course. You will also have to pay GM a subscription fee to access the download. $55US gives you 2 days of access to that content, for example, so GM still wins.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
-------------------------------------------------------</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
For designing a vehicle that even requires a stand-alone module to operate the fuel pump, then making that module vulnerable to moisture intrusion and mounting where such intrusion is virtually guaranteed (particularly in a vehicle type that frequently gets operated in exaggerated conditions), then making replacement of the module physically difficult by fastening it with corrosion-prone fasteners mounted on the backside of a bracket sandwiched beneath a pickup box (rather than just attaching it from the underside), and ultimately requiring that said module then be programmed <i>for the simple task of running a fuel pump</i> - General Motors, I'm forced to hand you a Jackass Award.</div>
Brian Earlyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04255338655061023375noreply@blogger.com65tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4704865053716469250.post-9090165497232060412014-01-07T23:10:00.002-05:002014-01-07T23:13:56.012-05:00Shameless Self-promotion<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUj3WapI1-CbVBr8BV7jKRxnjcYdD1bnu2RyiaDYv5np3ADH5nvwFjcIs8T0wM7KXX_3gh4VB9xQ5HFF0W9bn9dAhY6ohYVZtH5XxSFMZtdmQZPtotJL3eSWhnmBHqT3Wq-OdT8MeR9Ic-/s1600/Wheels_Xmas_2013_BE03.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUj3WapI1-CbVBr8BV7jKRxnjcYdD1bnu2RyiaDYv5np3ADH5nvwFjcIs8T0wM7KXX_3gh4VB9xQ5HFF0W9bn9dAhY6ohYVZtH5XxSFMZtdmQZPtotJL3eSWhnmBHqT3Wq-OdT8MeR9Ic-/s1600/Wheels_Xmas_2013_BE03.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Just a few of this year's Christmas Gift suggestions - A Blipshift shirt, Harveys Seatbelt purse (or wallet), and Mechanix gloves</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
It's getting more and more difficult to link to the Toronto Star's Wheels Section's website - <a href="http://wheels.ca/">wheels.ca</a> - to share my articles with you, as not everything that sees print finds its way onto the web. So to share my work with you when that occurs, I'm going to publish the whole thing on my blog instead.<br />
<br />
Do bear in mind that what you're seeing below is essentially the raw article as submitted (tidied up slightly for www presentation), not the final article as professionally edited and published in the Star. Note that the price points were specified ahead of time, and all Wheels' contributors had the same criteria to work with.<br />
<br />
Too late for Christmas perhaps, but these would also be great birthday presents too.<br />
<br />
Please leave me a comment if you have a preference between my doing it this way or photos of the printed article as I've done once before.<br />
<br />
<br />
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<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">Brian’s Christmas Gift List – 2013</span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Gift for Someone else,
$(unlimited)</i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I’m not shy about my lack of interest in NASCAR racing. Sure,
it takes real skill and has exciting moments, but it’s just not my thing. My
Mom, on the other hand, is a road racing fan and loves NASCAR.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Last year she attended her first ever NASCAR race in Las
Vegas. Her sister and brother in-law vacation there, so they met up and went
together - she enjoyed it so much she’s going again this year. Mom would really
love to go to Bristol, Tennessee to watch a night race at Bristol Speedway, her
favourite track, but she’d never go by herself.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
My cost-no-object gift this year would be tickets for the
three of them to attend the Night Race, plus the airfare, transportation and
accommodations necessary to bring Mom from Toronto and them from Edmonton.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Savannah, Georgia-based “There and Back Again Adventures”
offers packages that include hotel, coach transfers, guides, and track tickets
to numerous NASCAR races, including Bristol. A package featuring a classy
historic hotel in nearby Greeneville starts at $599US per person (<a href="http://www.thereandbackagain.com/">www.thereandbackagain.com</a>). A
quick look at Air Canada’s website (<a href="http://www.aircanada.com/">www.aircanada.com</a>)
suggests their flights will cost approximately $7000, and I’d factor another
$1000 for ground transportation to and from Knoxville airport.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Gift for up to $50 (1)</i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Got a real gearhead on your list? A T-shirt (or hoodie)
wearing someone who’s immersed in car culture and loves in-joke references?
Check out the latest offering on Blipshift – a website that offers a
continually changing, limited-time-only, selection of quality shirts and
hoodies featuring graphics relevant to fans of the automobile. Shirts start at
just $15US. (<a href="http://www.blipshift.com/">www.blipshift.com</a>)</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Gift for up to $50 (2)</i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
As the weather turns cold, you (like me) will probably be
tempted to wear gloves, at least for the first little while, on those chilly
days. Unfortunately, most winter gloves are bulky and ill-suited for safely holding
the wheel or operating controls.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
While not insulated, I’ve found Mechanix work gloves keep my
hands comfy enough in a cold car, and their synthetic leather palms provide a
positive grip while retaining dexterity. Widely available; $29.99 per pair at
Canadian Tire (<a href="http://www.canadiantire.ca/">www.canadiantire.ca</a>). </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Gift for up to $100
(1)</i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Look at almost any car with plastic headlights that’s older
than five or six years and you’ll likely find discoloured, cloudy lenses. It’s
partly pitting, but mostly degradation of the plastic from UV. It’s often
possible to repair it, but I’d rather prevent it. Lamin-X sells pre-cut
stick-on plastic film light covers for a large selection of popular vehicles,
available in clear (street legal) and various tints and shades (take your
chances), as well as other protection items. A 4-piece set for my RX-8’s head
and fog lights is $49.95US plus shipping. (<a href="http://www.lamin-x.com/">www.lamin-x.com</a>)</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Gift for up to $100
(2)</i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
A while ago my wife received a Harveys purse as a gift. Made
almost entirely out of seatbelt webbing, we both thought it was really cool. Of
course, being a deep red-coloured purse, it's not something most males (myself
included) would want to tote around. Turns out that Harveys also makes men’s
stuff, including the Treecycle Wallet, made of salvaged seatbelts. I quite like
the two-tone C-2200 style; $58US plus shipping, <a href="http://www.seatbeltbags.com/">www.seatbeltbags.com</a>.</div>
Brian Earlyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04255338655061023375noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4704865053716469250.post-11923670627224917122013-11-27T21:54:00.000-05:002013-11-27T22:12:10.692-05:00Shameless Self-promotion<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPSWagYh1FRsluyeWAHHEc63ASkaUewtE3eVqGE5YUVJWETn9zwngurZ6vwjtsMU-FUHAPC0Xhnc0vjJ8E1HEEv54N-iBYNUeJ-TuFn22X9DTdmQumokwn2nyz0iAf1Cs3x62Xx8XypnWa/s1600/104_6685.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPSWagYh1FRsluyeWAHHEc63ASkaUewtE3eVqGE5YUVJWETn9zwngurZ6vwjtsMU-FUHAPC0Xhnc0vjJ8E1HEEv54N-iBYNUeJ-TuFn22X9DTdmQumokwn2nyz0iAf1Cs3x62Xx8XypnWa/s640/104_6685.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">2014 Mercedes GLK 250 BlueTec 4Matic</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
You can find my Toronto Star coverage of this year's AJAC Canadian Car of the Year <a href="http://www.wheels.ca/news/suvcuv-between-35000-and-60000/" target="_blank">here</a>. My assigned category at this year's TestFest was "Best New SUV/CUV ($35K-$60K)". The Mercedes GLK turbodiesel pictured above was among the entrants in this category for 2014, and counts as one of my favourites. Others included the GMC Acadia Denali, Hyundai Santa Fe XL, Jeep Grand Cherokee, and the Kia Sorento.Brian Earlyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04255338655061023375noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4704865053716469250.post-48018421355275958782013-09-29T21:19:00.000-04:002013-09-29T21:19:05.887-04:00Shameless Self-promotion<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7m22CX3hf6KozuwR9UhdBsOWFnf2TkFKZ0c3Tp9d8XGKns_vqSmUcuALNLlpFBZUC9EQKpf_KsTqAHEVzjAA5uH42xjzMKocR3jzEKqiXhiAx8DWCTfKyKT8K7X-TnjHRmUKOVrEpmPLU/s1600/104_1984.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7m22CX3hf6KozuwR9UhdBsOWFnf2TkFKZ0c3Tp9d8XGKns_vqSmUcuALNLlpFBZUC9EQKpf_KsTqAHEVzjAA5uH42xjzMKocR3jzEKqiXhiAx8DWCTfKyKT8K7X-TnjHRmUKOVrEpmPLU/s640/104_1984.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">2013 Chevy Malibu LT</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Yet another tardy update for my blog. I'm going to blame it on having a busy life. It might also be from spending too much time watching entire seasons of TV shows on DVD with my family. Being too busy sounds better, so we'll go with that.<br />
<br />
The car that you see above is Chevrolet's 2013 Malibu in LT trim. You can read my <i>Wheels </i>review of it <a href="http://www.wheels.ca/reviews/review-2013-chevy-malibu-ltwill-the-changes-pay-off/" target="_blank">here</a>.<br />
<br />
The gist of it is this: the last Malibu was a decent enough car*, and this one largely builds on that car's success. There are some problems though, not the least of which is a seemingly insignificant reduction in rear seat that occurs at a time when most of the Malibu's competitors are expanding that same dimension. It's also arguable that this generation's styling is nothing special, however changes have occurred for 2014 that help in that regard.<br />
<br />
<br />
* (Keep an eye open for my future blog entry on one particular, very stupid shortcoming of the previous generation Malibu.)Brian Earlyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04255338655061023375noreply@blogger.com0