You guys have any tips, questions or suggestions about taking care of old(er) cars, post it here.
One thing I can suggest, for most of the part - on a hot day, it is more fuel efficient if you are driving your car on freeway/highway, to have your AC running than to have your windows down. Windows down creates more drag and engine needs to work harder to keep up that speed.
Re: car mechanics thread
that was mythbusters right?
Re: car mechanics thread
No I got that from my aerodynamics class. Was that in Mythbuster show too?
Re: car mechanics thread
I love to listen to this show on NPR, first class. :k:
http://www.cartalk.com/
Re: car mechanics thread
One thing I hate about latest cars is that they are no longer designed for DIYers. There used to be a time (around 50's and 60's) when cars used to come with a manual on how to fix them (that includes engine), and now even to change the bulb in your car, you either need special tools or need to take it to the workshop.
Re: car mechanics thread
I agree to the extent that for some repair jobs you need special tools other than that
some private firms sell service/repair manuals for each every car in the market. Internet has lots of advice on how to change a bulb to how to rebuild the engine for particular make a model.
Re: car mechanics thread
Selling repair manuals is a business now. When I buy a $20'000.00 car, why the company cant give me a 20 dollar manual for free.
Re: car mechanics thread
Selling repair manuals is a business now. When I buy a $20'000.00 car, why the company cant give me a 20 dollar manual for free.
That irks me too. But there is no option. They learned it from the electronic consumer goods sellers , I guess , who do not provide a schematic diagram of their product to consumers.
Re: car mechanics thread
One thing I hate about latest cars is that they are no longer designed for DIYers. There used to be a time (around 50's and 60's) when cars used to come with a manual on how to fix them (that includes engine), and now even to change the bulb in your car, you either need special tools or need to take it to the workshop.
Thats true, even on my '04 Accord it was one heck of job to change the headlight bulb, the design made it very difficult but I was stubborn enough to do it myself.
Re: car mechanics thread
People used to change the oil themselves. Now there is almost no room to reach the oil filter from the top in most of the cars.
Re: car mechanics thread
Today I wanted to change spark plugs of my Murano, darn it, they have 3 plugs in front and 3 hidden in the back behind 'intake'.... now mechanics charge $300-500 just to replace spark plugs WTF is wrong with these so called car designers.
Re: car mechanics thread
Yes you cant even change your spark plugs now. Only yesterday someone was telling me that if you have lexus, you are not suppose to even open the hood.
Re: car mechanics thread
Make sure you have a really handy husband or boyfriend 
Re: car mechanics thread
thank god you said or and not and/or ..
Re: car mechanics thread
Why would I ever say “or” 
Re: car mechanics thread
You guys are going from learning about cars to domestic issues? Lol, what a country
Re: car mechanics thread
Some domestic issues are mechanical in nature
Re: car mechanics thread
Absolutely, just like some mechanics are domesticised!
Re: car mechanics thread
Nice thread..
One thing is that on a hot day when you need to turn AC on, instead of getting AC on, just max the fan and get it directed to the front and rear windows through the knob or wutever is given in yr car. Also make sure that the air circulator is on. It wont take more than 5 min in a small car to get cooler like AC. However SUV may take longer. Definitely save you some bucks!
Re: car mechanics thread
