QOTD: Beating the Heat

It’s hot almost everywhere in this country right now.

Air conditioners are straining. The words “heat dome” are in the news. Climate change is being discussed.

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Piston Slap: A Snowpocalypse Kills Old Cars?

TTAC Commentator Pete Zaitcev writes:

Dear Sajeev:

Here’s a qustion that’s not “what car should I buy”. My town had a “snowpocalypse” event: it was 65F for a week, then an inch or two of snow fell and the temperatures fell into low 30s for a day. The usual followed, like a miniature Atlanta. But what surprised me the most was the number of broken cars parked alongside highways. They didn’t fall to accidents, they just stopped. But why?

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Piston Slap: The U Body, The Relay Bad Idle

U Relay Got A Problem? (photo courtesy: APaGttH)

TTAC Commentator APaGttH writes:

Sajeev!

Long time listener, first time caller. The patient: a 2005 Saturn Relay FWD3 with 151K miles, GM 3.5L V6 and 4-speed automatic. I am the fifth owner and this is our grocery getter and general abuse vehicle. I’m the longest owner – 4 years and about 55K of those 151K miles have been in my garage. I can’t comment on how well it was cared for from year 2 to year 6, but I have done everything by the book since 96K miles.

The Saturn developed a rough idle of sorts about a year ago. I swapped out the spark plugs, changed the fuel filter, and flushed the fuel injection. The car continues to idle rough. No CEL and no CEL history.

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Piston Slap: Condensing Honda's Hot Air?

TTAC commentator Land Ark writes:

Sajeev:

I recently acquired a 2007 Honda Civic EX sedan from a neighbor who moved out of the country. I got a really good deal on it and for the most part it’s in good shape. It has 80k miles, 5 speed, and one major flaw. The air conditioning is a little bi-polar; sometimes if blows cold and sometimes not.

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  • Arthur Dailey Note that two of the digits on the odometer (both '1's) are not aligned with the other numbers. We were told years ago that this indicates either that the odometer has turned over (in this instance probably twice) or the odometer has been 'tampered' with.
  • SCE to AUX TTAC is that only 10% of households buy a new car every year, so the survey responses are suspect. I'm sure most people would indicate they'd like to buy a new car next year. As for the "Car Buying Preferences" shown above, those aren't worth wrapping fish in. 80% care about fuel economy? Not when trucks and SUVs dominate sales. 35% prefer an EV? That's not reflected in sales.
  • Slavuta It should say "Bank Study ..... New Vehicle Purchases. Some - forever"
  • Fred I'm one of those 52%. My car was totaled about a year ago and had to get something. I'm not completely happy with the 2021 Honda HRV and wanted to upgrade, but when are on the lower end of the economy it's difficult to find anything under close to $30g I really want. Also the more I drive the Honda the more I like it.
  • SilverBullett When I was in middle school in the late 80s, two teachers both had this exact model in yellow. They both had over 100,000 miles on them and plan to run them for a long time.