Heads-Up Display from GM

It seems that GM, despite its miserable failure to run a successful car company, is still innovating. Check out this cool heads-up display, which can even tag possible destinations. Vaguely reminiscent of Cadillac's black-and-white radar HUD introduced about 10 years ago, this is far superior and with any luck could actually be developed. It seems to me that this technology is the wave of the future, and not just for automated cars. Imagine a car that could pinpoint road hazards using a HUD, provide you a GPS map overlay in, say, the lower-left corner of the windshield, or even detect police cars/radar signatures. Racing (particularly rally) or police uses seem logical, and military applications could drive development. The possibilities are endless, and leave me hopeful that 21st-century automotive innovation is broader than merely re-engineering drive-by-wire systems and inventing better batteries.

It's catching!

Honda has just announced that they are recalling over 400,000 cars for problems related to air in the braking systems. Who's next?

The Seattle Pitting Epidemic

While undoubtedly there have been Toyotas with significant faults, we can't ignore the social factors that are at work with the supposed epidemic of Toyota failures. Check out how a social epidemic can happen here, Washington History Link. Ultimately telling where the BS ends and begins in a something with so much media hype is very hard to tell.

Toyota continued: Driver error may contribute to unintended acceleration

This just in, folks! It seems many people are prone to doing the wrong thing in an emergency situation and the majority of drivers are not prepared to take instant action in case of a problem. Driver error, a significant component of Audi's similar unintended acceleration troubles in the 1980s, may substantially muddy the waters in Toyota's cases of unintended acceleration. The problem begs the question: should the government require the auto industry to install throttle cutoffs in new vehicles, thus instantly deactivating the throttle when the brake pedal is pushed?
Read waaay more

Snowy Swedish Rally Goodness

I realized I hadn't watched any WRC in quite some time (damn you Speed Channel), and thought I'd see what's available on youtube. And yep what do you know, rally is as awesome as it ever was. It's awesome to see Ford continuing to support rallying, when many other manufacturers are pulling back on rally support, or in Mitsubishi's case, pulling the plug completely. Even more interesting to me is that Ford hasn't tried to capitalize on their many successes in WRC nearly as much as Mitsubishi, or Subaru, or at least not in the U.S. But they should, and they should offer hot Foci with AWD, unlike the current versions in Europe, because Americans really seem to love AWD. A lot.

LCM woes, part III...

Removal of LCM underdash (right top). 1. Remove screws. 2. Depress locking tab.

Location of LCM (right bottom). 1. Remove screws, release locking tab, LCM inside.

To make sure you LCM is at fault here are some useful diagnostic tips: If your flash-to-pass function still works, but your headlights and high beams in the "on" mode do not work, then it's your LCM. The LCM just takes commands and process them. In the case of the high beams, there are two separate ways to switch them on and the flash-to-pass is independent of the "on" switch. If your high beams don't work in any method, then it may be the column switch. You can also verify the working order of your headlights by disconnecting the terminal at the bulb and sending 12 volts from the battery via a jumper wire to either of the light circuits (don't send 12 volts to the ground indicated by a black wire).

Not up to fixing your own LCM? Just want a new one? Well here is the scoop: You have several options.
1) Get one from Ford. Your dealer has them. The price ranges depending on how good of a negotiator you are. They retail for $511.07, but your dealer has discretion and may sell you one at the cost price, as low as $389.00. Online Ford parts sites, such as http://www.teamfordparts.com/ could be an even better deal if they list your part number. The LCM part numbers are 12 digits long and start with the year of your car, for example 5W7T-13C788-AB. This LCM would be for a 2005 Crown Vic. They are on a white tag on the bottom of the LCM.

2) Get one from a salvage yard. These are much cheaper (~$100), but they may already be on their last legs. Some salvage yards may sell rebuilt modules.

3) Go shopping on eBay. Two types are available on eBay. The first are just like the salvage yards, LCM's of questionable serviceability (think of all those taxis out there), and similar prices. The second type are people who use your LCM as a core and sell rebuilt modules. Here is the email of one such type: digitalguy_1@charter.net This source specializes in rebuilding automotive "black boxes". They come with a lifetime guarantee. The cost is about $100.

You should know that your are not alone and that faulty LCMs are very common issue with 2002 and newer Panther cars. It's not so much a matter of if, but when the LCM will fail.

Next: How to save your LCM and prevent early failure.

LCM woes, part II...

Replacing the faulty factory relays with a new standard 5-pole external relay is the next step in fixing the headlight failure for your Ford/Mercury LCM.

The LCM is located under the driver-side foot well above the gas pedal. Disconnect the three wiring harnesses, two screws, and push the tang to slide it out of its bracket. The box can be opened by pressing the tangs down folding the top on its hinges.

Locate the faulty relay on the inside of the LCM board as shown. You might notice a yellow discoloration or it may look overheated--that's because it was. All the headlight amperage flows through that tiny relay. All five contacts must be carefully de-soldered from the back of the board. (Be very careful. The board is very thin, the integrated printed circuits are very thin, and the you need a steady hand.) New small gauge wire (22 gauge) can then be re-soldered to the board and extended outside the LCM box. Label each wire for the five contacts (30, 85, 86 87 and 87a as shown). The new relay can be attached outside the box and zipped tied in place. It will now handle the job of the former tiny under-build factory relay.

Alternately, you can solder in a new replacement mini-relay. My research shows they are very hard to find, horribly back ordered, and the shipping for these tiny $4 relay makes them prohibitively expensive, thus the standard relay fix. Here are the part numbers: NEC part # EQ1-11111S or the better replacement NEC part #MR301-12HSL. Try Omni-pro.com or Mouser.com.

Next: More LCM fix/replacement options.

Here's what you'll want in 2012.

Check out the Aton-Impulse Viking. This truck makes even the Hummer look like kind of a piker. And supposedly it's amphibious. Not sure about those giant balloon tires with no tread though.

A word in Toyota's Defense

Think, for a moment, about the Ford/Firestone affair. Does this sound a little bit similar? I think Toyota is handling the situation quite well, and that immediate governmental interference is perhaps not necessary, at least to the level the U.S. has taken it.
Toyota's Task

New Mustang gets 31 mpg

So the new Mustang with V6 is supposedly the first 300+ horsepower car to get over 30mpg on the highway. I think I want a Ford more than I ever have before. This car will undoubtedly smoke my TransAm in a straight line or the twisties, all while getting gas mileage that will probably match my BMW? Maybe technology is moving forward. To be fair the new v6 Camaro is only rated at one or two less than this, but since it weighs 300 lbs or so more it's hard not to imagine that the Mustang won't be the better performer. Can't wait to see the Car and Driver shootout on that one. Anyways here's the link: 2011 Mustang

My next truck

Just to remind us what's really fun...
I think I'll buy a Kamaz for weekend outings.

The TransAm, 3 decades of decline?

So I was considering Pontiac's decline yesterday. Arguably one of their best eras was the rest of the car world's worst. The mid '70s was a good time for Pontiac and the TransAm. Pontiac sold more Firebirds during the mid '70s than at any other time in the model's 35 year history. No mention of '70s T/As is complete without the requisite mention of Smokey and the Bandit, it is hard to tell quite how much of an effect this had on Trans Am sales but it seems that the film was as much a reflection of '70s American car culture, probably best exemplified by the "Screaming Chicken" Trans Am. Looking through the pictures I've collected below I think it's pretty clear that Pontiac really lost their way in the '90s. Before then, each successive generation of Firebird had a distinct visual style externally and internally that set it apart from the previous generation, while still maintaining a firm visual link with past generations. The '90s Trans Am seems to be the most evolutionary compared to other models, and the interior styling is anesthetized to the point that you could be in any Pontiac made at the time. And why is it so puffy? This bulbousness of shape would carry over to the exterior which really seemed to be a caricature of it's own styling. While previous models had been subjected to various levels of arguably tasteless add-ons, they now became standard on even the most humble model. The car's over the top appearance was also somewhat out of sync with it's times as most other vehicles in the '90s featured a jellybean slimmed down streamlined shape, and the Firebird especially in TransAm trim was covered in cladding and tack-ons and absolutely lacked the clean lines of the three previous generations. It seems that instead of people losing interest in the Trans Am, the General had lost touch with creating a car that captivated the people's imagination.

Muscle Cars? Check. Large Caliber Revolver? Check. Animated Alien boys driving? WTF?

So I found this video browsing the web, it's got some pretty cool car footage, chase scene stuff. All set to the soundtrack of a pretty weird song by the Gorillaz, which sounds like some sort of '80s homage. However, it's worth watching all the way through.
YouTube

LCM woes...

There is a black box, about the size of a hard drive, under the driver's side dash of all Ford Crown Victories and Mercury Grand Marquis made between 1998-2010. It is called the Lighting Control Module (LCM). This box controls all the lighting functions of the car, and does so predominately with solid-state circuitry except for a few relays.

This makes for a very compact and centralized control for the varied options and customizations that a police/taxi/fleet vehicle must endure. However, it was engineered with a flaw: The primary relays, one of which controls the headlights, are inadequate. Specifically the headlight relay is know to fail after about 4-5 years of use due to heat. It's a rather small, and poorly made relay which is unable to handle the amperage (up to 10 amps) for the low-beam headlights--especially in a fleet vehicle which may have the headlights on all the time.

What are the symptoms of a failed LCM? First, your headlights may turn off and intermittently. Next, they will soon fail altogether. When you attemp to turn your headlights on will no longer hear the small "click" indicitive of the little headlight relay doing it's job deep in the LCM. High-beam and other lighting controls will still funtion normally. As an aside: There are other hard to diagnose lighting problems that can be symtimatic of a faulty LCM. These include (but are not limited to): Failed dash lights; other lights turning off and on randomly; random buzzer noises; and complete lighting failure.

What can be done to fix a failed LCM? The LCM is easily removed and can be replaced with either a new one ($375-$510) from your Ford dealer, it can be replaced with a used one from a junkyard (but it may be faulty or soon sucome to the same problems as it's old), or you can rebuild it by replacing the faulty reley(s) with new ones (about $4 each).

Next: How to rebuild your faulty LCM...

Hummer Down the Drain

Hummer Dies

Personally, I'd rather Hummer died than have Chinese Hummers. Way to keep winning, GM! Perhaps next it'll be time to either auction off or kill Buick.

Noises from below...

It's a long cold winter here in SW Montana which takes it's toll on cars. If you've been letting your PMCS slip all summer, odds are that this is the time of year you'll notice it. The freeze-thaw cycles are hard on gaskets and seals, hoses, belts, bearings, and electronics.

I have several cars I space out between driving duties, and therefore must keep an eye on all their mechanicals. This includes the usual regular services, like oil changes, tune-ups, and tire rotation. But it seems to be more important to be in tune to each car's unique sound signature.

It's common for my Durango to make any number of guttural chattering noises upon start up in sub0-freezing temps. This used to make me nervous, but I now recognize these sounds as just normal complaining. The other day the cold starts added a new din to the ensemble: A high-pitched RPM dependant squealing. My first thought was the belt. But wait, what if it's a serpentine bearing? Or accessory bearing going out? So, not to become another stranded motorist sitting on the shoulder of the interstate talking into a phone on my shoulder, I opened the hood upon start up. It's a simple task; one that's actually expected to be performed by the average operator. I used a flashlight and my ears to try to pinpoint the sound. I'm still not 100% sure where the sound is coming from, but my experience with this vehicle tells me it's most likely the belt. They just start squeaking about every 30,000 miles. I just happen to carry a spare in the smuggler's compartment.

This kind of check does two things: First, it gives one firsthand knowledge of the car they trust daily, and second, it puts the responsibility on the operator--not the mechanics who last serviced it, the dealer who sold it to you, or the engineers who designed it. It's your car and no one is more responsible for it's operation or lack thereof, than you.

The check engine light and rough idle on my Crow Vic required similar actions. For this issue I started at the auto parts store and borrowed their OBD II diagnostic scanner. This tool is just too simple to use and diagnose problems. Seconds later I knew that the car only suffered from needing a basic tune up. Cylinders 1 and 7 were misfiring (the car's words, not mine). A quick inspection of the suspect plugs confirmed what the car already knew (and had been telling me through the CEL): those plugs had too much condensation on the coil boots, grounding them out through the spark plug tunnels.

Both of these issues could have been indicators of other more serious problems, which if left undiagnosed and repaired, could have left me stranded. I could have went straight to a mechanic, but that would put the well being of my cars into someone else's hands. No, it's best to spend a few minutes of your own time first, try to figure out why somethings making noises, and if possible, fix it yourself.

World's Highest Highway

Wow, just read this article at jalopnik . What an awesome trip. Especially if you used a Lada.

What vehicle would you take over the Karkoram highway?

The Greatest Car of All Time...

1977-1990 Chevrolet Caprice

I've been preaching this for years: Chevy hit a home run with this model. Weather you agree or not, you have to admit that sales were huge: over 2 million units.

While their popularity has taken a huge hit, Caprices have an unyielding beauty and panache of style that is only rivaled by their driving performance. Currently they are being degraded by ghetto cars for all the "Hackmens" or pimped out with ridiculous rims and massive woofers. But I stand behind their beauty and classic lines (thus the Caprice "Classic"). How many other cars can pull off barn-door aerodynamics with such slight of hand?

Now, before you start stating all their drawbacks, let me list some attributes:

1) Aforementioned styling

2) Ultra-durable power plants (not to be confused with reliability)

3) Ease of maintenance

4) Comfort, for driving, what else?

5) Safety. I've never seen one totaled in a junk yard.

6) Heavy-duty chassis, suspension, and drive-train components

I welcome your comments, but remember we now have a confirmed sixth generation of the Caprice built on the capable Commodore or Statesman platforms of Holden.

Bimmer Vs. Bummer

So I figured my phone has some pretty sweet adaptive texting technology when I meant to text "bummer" to someone this morning and the first prompt was "Bimmer."

What is the douchiest car you can think of?

I nominate the BMW X6. While undoubtedly quite remarkable for a nearly two ton SUV-thingy. It is also a total waste of the superb talent of BMW's engineering team. It has neither the luggage space of an X5 or the handling and relative frugality of the 5 series Touring. The X6 really isn't offroad worthy and carries less luggage than it's sedan counterparts. Basically there's absolutely no reason outside of sheer excess to buy it over any one of BMW's other vehicles, and for that reason as while as it's rather grotesque styling, I nominate the X6 for douchiest car on the road.


(photo courtesy: www.autoclub.com/au)

Double-clutch blog launched

I don't know who all will be viewing this but this is the inaugural post, for a blog I've been wanting to create for awhile. Basically this is all about car adventures, mishaps, wrenching, or anything else automotive related I or my fellow editors can think of. There will be photography, video, and last but not least entertaining and thoughtful writing. I look forward to your input and hope you find our work entertaining.
Cheers!