Friday, June 7, 2013

2011 Ford F 350 Review

Front 3/4 view of 2011 Ford F-350 towing a trailer



Remember when a "work truck" and a luxury car were on opposite ends of the vehicular spectrum? Well, those days are long gone...and the ultimate example of that is right up there above this paragraph...the Ford F-350 Super Duty.

When lines get blurred...especially lines that far apart, its usually because something...often core principles and competencies. But not in this case. Somehow, this is all work truck and all luxury vehicle.

It starts closer to its work roots. At the base price of $49,410 for the 4X4 Crew Cab in Lariat trim, you get a rock-solid truck capable of towing 12,500 pounds.  And it comes with a nice, large, but somewhat plain interior:

Standard interior of 2011 Ford F-350

As trucks go, thats not too shabby. But the tester Ford sent our way was loaded. It had the King Ranch package. Which means the interior looked like this:


2011 Ford F-350 King Ranch interior



They also slid the 6.7 liter V8 diesel engine under the hood...which makes 800 pounds per foot of torque. 800!  Between the engine upgrade, the King Ranch leather and chrome, the six-speed automatic transmission, the electronic locking axle, moonroof, navigation, satellite radio, and a few other goodies, the bottom line of this Ford truck was....


Ready?

Are you sitting down?

$64,770.

If Im not mistaken, its the most expensive factory-built Ford Ive ever heard of. Certainly the most expensive Ive ever driven.

And the thing is, it really doesnt make any compromises. Okay, sure, there are things you wouldnt do in a $64,770 "work truck" that you might in a less expensive one. But if youre talking about towing horse trailers, or race cars, this is like doing it with a luxury car. And in terms of luxury, no corners are cut because its a truck. In fact, there hasnt been this kind of room in a luxury sedan in I dont know how long. About the only compromise on luxury is mastering graceful entrances and exits in evening wear.

Its not for everyone. But, contrary to the opinions of people who suggested "no one" needs a truck like this, there is a market. Its a really nice truck, and if youve got a healthy bank account and a half dozen thoroughbreds, this is your ride. The only downside I can think of is parking it (an issue that pops up for me with the HD versions of Ram, Chevy and GMC trucks, too)...but Im guessing thats something you get used to.  There are worse problems to have.

Tuesday, June 4, 2013

Removing and replacing the clutch on the Mazda

First untwists bolt to grip the tube and disconnect it. To do this, pull the latch in the direction indicated in Figures 1a and 1b. Figure 1a (for the F35M-R) Figure 1b (for the G35M-R) Disconnect manual transmission. Remove the clutch with the clutch and applying a small force in the direction of the axis, check it for soundness, sticky, or any resistance. Next, disconnect the hood and disconnect the plug on the clutch. Establish «SST» and weaken nuts "watercress on a cross" on one turn up until spring pressure does not abate. After that, remove the clutch basket with a disc. If necessary, remove and guide bearing. Holding the flywheel bolts evenly untwists "criss-cross" and remove it. Collect strictly in reverse order. In this case, the flywheel mounted on the crankshaft. If screws were used repeatedly, they cleaned the thread with a special compound. If new bolts, then dispense with this composition. Hand-tighten the flywheel locking bolts, then put it «SST» to the end in order intersecting tighten the bolts. Tightening torque should make LF from 108.0 to 116 nm (11,1-11,8 kgf * m), and Z6 from 96.1 to 103.0 nm (9,8-10,5 kg * m). Guide bearing set with «SST», as shown in Figures 2a, 2b, 2c. When you install the cart was originally set «SST», then in the intersecting direction slowly and evenly tighten the bolts. Torque for Z6 must be from 117.6 to 26.5 nm (1,8-2,7 kg * m), and LF - from 25.0 to 33.0 nm (2,6-3,4 kg * m). Position of the clutch disc also govern with a tool «SST». Coupling can not be cleaned with steam or special fluids, because it contains grease. If necessary, change it. When installing pipe coupling retainer return to the position as seen in Figures 3a and 3b. Pre-test the integrity of the cuff of the connector. Then directly inserted into the connector tube clutch and pull itself up, to make sure it is inseparably. If the manual transmission has undergone perebiraniyu, before its installation are checking for the presence of deviations in the work.

Sunday, June 2, 2013

NHTSA Watchdog Or Lapdog


As the heat gets turned up on Toyota, The Washington Post in its Friday editions reports growing criticism that the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration is partly to blame for essentially rubber-stamping whatever its told by manufacturers, rather than acting as an independent overseer of....um...highway transportation safety.  An interesting read.

Friday, May 31, 2013

New Car Review 2011 Mazda MX 5 Miata


Silver 2011 Mazda MX-5 Miata Grand Touring PRHT driving shot
The 2011 Mazda MX-5 Miata Grand Touring PRHT.

A sure-fire smile inducer at TireKicker is to toss us the keys to a Mazda MX-5 Miata. Tight, quick, fun...everything the MGs, Triumphs and Healys of the 60s were aiming for, but could never quite get that quality thing down.

Its been about a year and a half since Mazda put one in the press fleet, and its a scientific fact that your body never outgrows its need for a week in a primal roots sporting machine, so we borrowed one from Chapman Mazda in Phoenix. And the one we got was the least primal of the bunch...the Grand Touring PRHT.



Whats that? Well, its an MX-5 Miata loaded with just about everything you can get...including a retractable hardtop.  Modern retractables (the first ones from Ford in the late 50s were engineering and electrical nightmares) are simple, slick and for the most part, the best of both worlds...the sun and wind in your hair when you want it, protection from the elements, prying eyes and sticky fingers when you dont (all a thief needs to get into your ragtop when its parked is a good knife).

The only real downsides are weight and cost. Mazdas kept the weight penalty under a hundred pounds, which is a good thing. The base price of the Grand Touring PRHT (Power Retractable Hard Top) is $5.570 more than your base MX-5 Miata...go for the 6-speed automatic instead of the 6-speed manual and its $6,570.


Silver 2011 Mazda MX-5 Miata Grand Touring PRHT with top up
The 2011 Mazda Miata MX-5 Grand Touring PRHT. Zoom-Zoom and a smile.

Choosing the automatic also costs you 9 horsepower...down to 158 from 167 with the stick. Thats how ours was equipped.

If youre thinking the base price is getting up there, youre right. $29,650 is where ours started. The good news is that besides the retractable, youre getting a lot of nice equipment for your money. Automatic climate control, leather-trimmed seats (heated with 5 settings), a leather-wrapped parking brake and a Bose audio system with AudioPilot 2.


2011 Mazda MX-5 gauge cluster closeup
The 2011 Mazda MX-5 Miata gauge cluster.

Fold in the one and only option on our car, the Premium Package (anti-theft alarm, advanced keyless entry system, Bluetooth, Xenon headlights, dynamic stability and traction control and Sirius Satellite Radio) for $1,650 and $795 delivery, processing and handling fee, and the sticker reads:

$32,095.

Yeah, you can get a base MX5 Miata for about $23,000 or anywhere between $23,000 and $32,000. But theres nothing wrong with this approach either...its the Uber-Miata.


2011 Mazda Miata MX-5 Grand Touring PRHT

Base price: $29,650

As tested: $32.095

Likes: Styling, character, handling, drivability, overall fun factor.

Dislikes: The retractable hardtop isnt insulated...on a 105-degree day, the A/C is barely able to counteract the heat seeping into the cockpit.

EPA Estimate: 21 mpg city/28 mpg highway.

Wednesday, May 29, 2013

Honda Civic 1996 1998 Repair Manual


Section :
Special Tools, Specifications, Maintenance, Engine, Cooling, Fuel and Emissions, Transaxle, Steering, Suspension, Brakes, Body, Electrical, SRS


Download Free Car Repair Manual - Honda Civic

Monday, May 27, 2013

Replacement candles on VAZ 2106

Any car owner wants to keep it in good and serviceable condition as long as possible. So drivers do not spare money, time and energy to properly maintain and repair their cars in time. Everyone knows that the heart of any car - it is its engine. And for the stable operation of the engine are important are three main systems - the power supply system (intake mixture of gasoline and air into the crankcase), the ignition system (ignition of the working mixture in engine revolutions), and the system exhaust. And despite its banality, the ignition system is far more important than you think. That's about it and we guide them to our conversation. The most important item in any ignition system - is a candle. Candle - a special element that creates a spark at some point in the piston in the cylinder so that the fuel-air mixture ignited and the engine continued its work. And it is the quality of the candles used depends on the quality of the motor. If your engine troit, does not develop maximum power and is not gaining momentum, it may well be that the reason for this is out of service a candle or candles. To determine correctly whether a candle works or not, it is enough to turn out from the engine and carefully examine. If snuff the candle black, with elements of grime and oil, it is not working properly. This may be due to the poor condition of the candles or the incorrect installation of the ignition timing, which is typical for VAZ 2106 and many other domestic cars. Ideally Nagar should be gray or brown - brick red, it indicates good working motor. If you decide to change the spark in the VAZ 2106 then remember that candles should be used only for the brand, which is specified in the instruction manual. Before installation on an auto spark is advisable to check on the high pressure apparatus to make sure they are quality. Also useful would be to adjust the gap between the electrodes in accordance with the instruction.

Saturday, May 25, 2013

Podiums VAZ 2107 with his own hands

The owners of "classic" AVTOVAZ production are well aware that one of the weaknesses of these cars is the lack of acoustic training. True, the producers are trying to rectify the situation by providing models for the seventh model, regular places for speakers located on the front. But, if confined to this opportunity, then the maximum than can be enjoyed in the cabin - is listening to the radio, and even in a mediocre performance. So you have to go out of their own, including fantasy and using some technical skills. The first thing to have to install the rear shelf, which has a mounting speakers. This process is quite simple (compared with production of the front podium). Typically, the contour of the factory shelves out of plywood cut its duplicate, in which holes are cut "pancakes". Then tied up construction material (depends on imagination craftsman) and defined speaker set in place. This is the most simple design and it has several drawbacks: strong magnets stick inside the trunk, and since the dynamics are directed upward, the sound did not turn out fine. The second method is more time-consuming, but allows you to achieve better results. Meaning construction is that "pancakes" are set at an angle in the direction of the front seats, which reduces the initial wave reflection and provides better sound quality. Also, when using this design we achieve that magnets are the speaker is less than in the luggage compartment. Production of the podium does not take long and technically quite simple. First, we make the very shelf and outline the hole magnets dynamics. Then proceed to develop designs on the catwalk. It should consist of bearings, upper and paste between them. All parts neatly Scrollsaw of plywood, do not forget to make the necessary holes. Optimal material thickness - 6mm. Adjusting the length of inserts, achieve the required angle of inclination of the upper plane. It is impossible to pinpoint, so it is better to do on the eyes. Since we will have two identical podium, then do all the parts in two copies. After adjusting all the settings and binds the design of screws, utaplivaya caps "on the face." Then you need to work on giving the desired shape. It does not strike a frame assembly foam, razravnivaya it with a spatula and leave for 12 hours to complete solidification, and then attach the original form with a knife. To fine-tuning is necessary to use sandpaper, which remove large shell, after which the surface treated filler, and again trimmed. Well, the podium is ready for close-fitting. Here you can use any material up to the skin, most importantly, that it more or less stretched, and in tune with the car. With tight-fitting neatly prokleivaem all areas, preventing wrinkling and blistering. After drying, mount the speakers podium and set on a shelf. That's it. Now the sound quality of your system much increase, which will travel by car more comfortable both you and the passengers.