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    Live Platinum Security Virus

    I finally get my computer running much better, with help from this forum, and this virus gets past my security and completely hoses everything up. It even took down our local newpaper's website (which is likely where I got it). Well... after almost 3 days of continuous scanning by 3 different...
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    Boot up and general speed tweaks?

    Office max is offering 20% off their $40 service to speed/clean up computers. This involves removing OEM add ons that aren't used, like free trials and such, as well as approximately 60 OS tweaks. The guy's claim is that this will help speed up boot/shutdown and overall speed and reliability...
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    New upsize wheels from Tirerack... trust fitment?

    I am looking at 17" wheels and the recommended 205/45/17 size tires from Tirerack for my son's '07 Saturn Ion QC. OEM wheels/tires are 15" 195/60/15. Should I have any concerns about fitment... partcularly rubbing of any sort. I have never upsized and while I know Tirerack is reputable and they...
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    Windstar axle recall... my results and experience.

    Just an FYI to owners from my experience this week: Our Windstar is the first to be deadlined at our local dealership as of 11/1/10. They have made repairs to many, but none had the failure that requires axle replacement. Ours was not broken but the cracks and corrosion were there. In a matter...
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    96 Beretta 3.1L, hard start/rough idle?

    Son's 3.1L Beretta starts hard and has a rough idle until slightly warmed up. Giving it a little gas will get it stared and help it idle, otherwise it doesn't always start and the idle is rough. Fuel pump is ok and fuel filter is less than 2 yo. I'm thinking that the IAC is bad. Any thoughts on...
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    PWC questions

    No real forum for this, so I'll try here. If it needs to be moved, please do. I'm looking to buy a PWC and know little to nothing about them. 1) Is there a benchmark year for reliability/advancements that I don't want to go older than? 2) How difficult is routine maintenance for someone with...
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    Saw something humorous yesterday

    I was returning a couple unneeded Torx bits from my son's brake job (didn't know the exact size so I bought 3). As I was leaving, there was little old farmer Brown in the parking lot dumping two qts of the cheapest 20W50 oil into his little old Plymouth Horizon. First of all, I can't believe a...
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    Labor guide time for downstream HO2 sensor

    I need to replace the downstream HO2 sensor in my son's Beretta. I bought a Denso direct replacement from Rockauto, but am getting ready to leave for vacation and don't have time to do it. Can someone give me the expected labor time to R&R the sensor? Trying to decide whether to just take it in...
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    Adding drain plug to trans pan?

    I now have 3 vehicles with sealed transmissions. I've had flush/fills done on them, but would like to drain/fill from now on at a more frequent intervals. Dropping the pan seems like a PITA rather than unscrewing a plug (especially for a novice like me). Is it possible to add a drain plug to...
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    WM SuperTech cartridge filters, beware

    I went to WM to get PP for my 2.2 Ecotech and decided to try a ST cartridge filter rather than drive a couple more miles and get my usual Purolator. The first box I opened had a mishaped (oblong instead of round) bottom o-ring. The second box appeared fine (they only had 3). Installed fine, but...
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    '96 Beretta 3.1L, lim question

    Picked up my son's replacement for his '96 Accord today. Prior to buying, I had a mechanic check the lim since it hadn't been replaced yet. He confirmed that it may be beginning to leak (factored this into the purchase price), so I am going to have the repair done this week (pre-emptive strike)...
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    GM 3.1L gasket problems, what years?

    Found a '90 Beretta for my son to replace his recently departed Accord. It has the 3.1L with 55K miles (really) and has been very well cared for. Question: what year did the intake gasket problems surface (95?) and is this one of them? Any other info on these cars would be appreciated as well...
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    Insurance estimate of vehicle value when wrecked?

    My son's '95 Accord was totaled in a wreck a couple weeks ago and other insurance is taking liability. How do they determine the value of the vehicle for settlement... especially when the thing is now a mess? Do they use NADA or KBB, or do they have their own "secret" way to determine value? I...
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    How much brake fluid for complete change/bleed?

    Haynes manual firmly in hand, I am going to 'attempt' to do a brake fluid change by bleeding the brakes on my '03 Saturn L200. This is something I've never done, but I'm trying to learn more and more basic maintenance. I did the turkey baster method previously, but want a more thorough change...
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    Cat ELC, what chemistry is it?

    I am nearing a coolant change on my 2.2L ecotec which is factory filled with Dex-Cool. Someone I know has Catepillar ELC in bulk and I can get it for little to nothing, in comparison to buying off the shelf auto coolants. Question is... what chemistry is it as compared to "regular" auto coolants...
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    '98 Buick Century 3.1L, opinions/experience?

    Looking at buying this vehicle for my daughter. It has 151K mi and is nearly perfect inside and out. I think I can buy it for around $3000, or just slightly under. I've done a quick look-over and it appears to have been maintained well: serp belt looks very good, newer plug wires, oil fill hole...
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    '97 Galant ps belt shot, what else to replace?

    Found out last weekend, while having a flush/fill done on the ATF (with Maxlife btw) that the ps belt is nearly shot. Should all belts (ps, acc, timing, etc) be done at the same time and the water pump as well or can the ps belt be done alone if the others appear fine? I've had two phone...
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    '95 Accord, A-Rx results in AT

    I completed an A-Rx clean in my son's car and had a flush/fill done with Valv Maxlife last week. The car has 179K mi and would vibrate signifigantly in gear at idle as well as fairly hard shifts. Early results are: vibration is almost non-existent and shifts are a bit better (probably as good...
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    '99 Windstar, broken coil spring recall effort

    Yesterday, the passenger front coil spring on my '99 Windstar broke/sheared and punctured the tire while my wife was leaving a parking spot. This also happened approximately 3 mo ago on the driver front side while my 17 yo daughter was driving at 40 mph. Fortunately no one was hurt in either...
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    Incredible G-05 score, what to use it in?

    I stopped at O'Reilly's auto parts this weekend to get some oil filters and noticed that they had no G-05 (this was the only place in town that I had seen it). I asked the parts guy if they were going to carry it anymore and he said they had closed it out for $1/gal. I muttered a few words to...
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