Recent content by SirWired

Just to provide some perspective, Honda only calls for the filter to be changed every other oil change (OCI is 8k-10k-ish) and one of their two parts-counter filters that run a good portion of their engines is pretty much just an orange-can Fram painted black. Given that most folks here run...

Originally Posted By: benjy maybe a bit of [censored]!! GM + others using cheap bean counter chosen parts coming back to bite them!!! Wow! A Two-fer! Not only did your one-sentence rant not have anything to do with the question at hand, it's not even correct. For all it's complex and myriad...

Yeah, I could totally understand a fluid that claimed to work in a bunch of near-identical JATCO transmissions that are scattered all over the auto industry. (Though it'd be nice if JATCO came up with their own name for the fluid spec and made it clear which transmissions it was good for; not...

Don't get me wrong, I was planning to use the official Honda CVT Fluid; even after the warranty expires... official Honda juice ain't cheap, but it's not a bank-breaker. I was just wondering how those aftermarket fluids can claim they meet two different specs the writer of said specs claim are...

I have a '17 CR-V, and like all current Hondas, the CVT fluid is Honda's HCF-2 and NOT the older HMMF/"Honda CVT Fluid". Honda states that the two fluids are specifically neither forward nor backward compatible. With that in mind, how can there be "Universal" CVT fluids that claim to meet both...

As far as safety goes, at the factory-set RPM, the mower is tested to see if the blade will break through or ricochet out of the deck if it were to fracture, in case anybody was wondering. While the engine has a specific top speed available, it's not for no reason that the manufacturer set the...

My wife's 3MZ in her '06 Solara made the same noise, and it was the serp belt.

Again, if it was the p-brake hanging (or the piston getting stuck), why would that cause uneven wear? I could understand if it wore out BOTH pads on one side vs. the other, but why just one pad on one side? On the other side, both pads were worn evenly. And yes, I used the correct tool to...

But wouldn't a stuck mechanism or plugged hose case both the inner AND outer pad to wear (and cause brake dragging on that wheel)? There's nothing special about the forces applied by those things vs. just pressing on the pedal (other than happening all the time.)

The B5 Passat handbrake simply extends the piston slightly, just like pushing the brake pedal. (It is cable-actuated, and the cable pulls on a lever on top of the caliper. This goes some mechanism that runs on magic to extend the piston.) It's one of those rear calipers that requires turning...

I recently experienced grinding on my RR brake. Took it apart yesterday and the outer pad was fine, but the inner was down to the backing plate. (The LR caliper was fine; nice even wear on both pads.) The car has 147k now, these pads have been on since 30k, I think. (I drive like a granny and...

The answer makes sense; the "shocks" are there for damping reasons. Your springs are what holds up the car.

For whatever reason, I've had a horrible time finding the appropriate crush washers at auto parts stores for my cars when it's time. Go to the dealer, tell them you want a half-dozen crush washers, and pay the couple of bucks. My VW dealer just gave them to me for free... didn't feel like...

Replacing brake fluid is a good idea, if not 100% vital to do it on schedule. To do it: Use a cheap turkey baster to remove all you can from the brake resevoir and refill. Use a helper to bleed and bleed the RR wheel until the fluid coming out looks new. (Stop every few ounces to refill the...