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Comments
Meade
I've used WD40 to unstick rusted fasteners (when are they going to switch to stainless for those exposed parts?). Give it time to work its way into all the nooks and crannies (about 10-15 minutes, or more, depending on how bad it is). And, of course, use a full socket or closed-end wrench instead of an open-ended wrench, so you can get leverage on all the faces of the nut. Especially important with a slippery rusted nut.
Meade
Meade: We've had the same nasty weather here in MN for the past week. Dewpoints in the 70's and highs in the upper 90's. Nasty. At least I don't work at Jiffy Lube anymore; it's climate controled cube-land for me. My uncle was here visiting from San Diego last week and he was looking forward to going home and getting a break from the heat and humidity.
Meade, I read the following last night or in reality this morning (3 am)."Among our car's (the VW Jetta Wagon GLS 1.8T) five sample defects were overly tightened wheel nuts and a dash rattle."
-Consumer Reports August 2002
"I am picking up my car tonight from the dealer. They said it's working within manufacturer specs, and they can't do any more with it..."
by vocus
FIVE sample defects!! The Vibe had 1 defect, the Matrix had 2, the PRO-5 had 1 and the Subie and Foci had 3 sample defects each. Volkswagen had better pay a little more attention to their assembly line. A lot of people read CR. "Among our car's (the VW Jetta Wagon GLS 1.8T) five sample defects weree overly tightened wheel nuts ..... and a dash rattle.". Perhaps, Paul King's dash rattle is a built-in manufacture spec?
Meade, time to take my son to the pool! It is so flipping hot today in south central Penna.!!! Stay cool old buddy!
-love train
PS, I detest 12-point sockets too. Good way to round off your bolt head points (oh no, here we go again).
Meade
;-)
Yeah, I read all that stuff you posted yesterday about sample defects and rattles. Funny stuff.
Wanna see how closely the Jetta and Protege stack up in their class? Read this from Edmunds Most Wanted list for 2002; it oughta help you feel a little better:
http://www.edmunds.com/reviews/mostwanted/2002/47581/article.html
Meade
P.S. BTW, CR sucks. I bought a grill a few years ago on their recommendation. It sucked. I bought a lawn mower based on their recommendation. It has a wheezy engine and any grass taller than about four inches will make it nearly come to a dead stop. And like you, I wonder who their reviewers are -- from their opinion on the Protege, it would seem they're all middle-aged women.
Looks like there'll be one fun event this weekend -- I talked to Paul, who'll be traveling to North Carolina (and passing right through my town) tonight, and while he can't stop on the way down, he promised to give me a call when he comes back through Richmond Saturday evening. We're gonna show him the house and take him out to dinner if it all works out! Too bad, however, that he won't be driving the Jetta -- he's renting a car for the trip. That's TWICE now that I will have seen him while he's owned the Jetta, yet not gotten a chance to see it yet!
Meade
;-)
Blah. Pitouey.
Meade
Please - Let us know as soon as you know!
too high as in "7.2 is better"
or
too high as in "6.8 is better"
??
Hey, on top of the dust etc. falling on my cars, apparently a nearby ant colony was releasing a bunch of new queens and drones, thus winged ants stuck all over where water beaded or sheeted up. Ick. :b
And he can tell you all how he liked it on Monday when he gets back, because I am going to let him drive it while I am there (providing I can catch him on Saturday night on my way back). But it should be interesting to hear him say how he liked it though. And I will have to see if his written review compares to the review he gives while in the car.
Better yet Paul, ride with him in his Pro and complain that it rattles too much! That will get him going!
I am sure he will have something to say about the car, that's if I get there in time and can join him and his family for dinner on Saturday.
But did anyone else notice that the Jetta had a few sample defects, including a dash rattle? A dash rattle? Hmm, sound familiar?
Pjd58
Every reference I had seen said that a 205/50-15 would be an appropriate (Plus Zero) replacement to fit the 15 inch OEM wheels.
However, I have just received a reply from Discount Tire Co. saying that "The original equipment size 195/55r15 is 23.44 inches tall and
there is not an exact match for this tire in 15-inch. The 205/55r15 is 23.87-inches tall and the 205/50r15 is 23.07-inches tall.
We recommend the 205/55r15 as it is always better to increase the size slightly as this tire will carry the weight of the car better than a smaller tire".
Does this surprise anyone? Has anyone used the 205/55-15 size as a replacement?
That's good news. I'm looking forward to reading about it.
Discount vouchers to use on the purchase of a new MS3, (wishful thinking, huh - they're making, how many, 1500 of these?) or Mazda 6?
Humour (or humor!) aside, sub-7 would be pretty cool, giving Mazda a genuine competitor (should they decide to go mainstream and have larger runs of Protege's with these mods). Unfortunately, they may then decide to soften/tone down the ES and P5 (suspensions and aggressive handling capabilities) to satisfy CR and other lard-a$$ed seat-of-the-pants (in the BAD way) reviewers! That would be a pity!