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Comments
"Regarding TL, the new '04 uses basically the same brakes as the old model. These were class-trailing brakes that were not rated highly by Car and Driver. The 300M had class leading braking performance, both in stopping power and in pedal feel. There are quite a few things I like about the 'M better than the TL, including hydroformed engine cradle for better stiffness and ride, better style and room, cheaper initial price w/rebates, etc. That said, of course Acura has some strengths of its own,the biggest being the dealer experience I would think"
1) Alternator (5 years or 100K miles?)
2) generator (5 years or 100K miles?)
3) battery (5 years or 100K miles?) (mine will be 5 years in 4 months and the "green eye" is still bright green.
4) fuel pump (6 years or 125K miles?)
5) struts (7 years or 150K miles?)
6) wheel hub bearings (6 years or 125K miles?)
7) water pump (100K as part of change w/timing chain)
8) spark plugs (I guess manufacurers recommendation of 100K is allright)
9) shock absorbers (I have no idea w/these gas OEM shocks)
10) O2 sensors (I have no idea; it depends on who you listen to. But I say they have significant corrosion after 7 years and should be replaced then if you want a fuel efficient and well tuned engine)
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item- =2438815201&category=33638
I did give into fear on one job not on your list. I had the serpentine belt replaced at 113,000 (if I remember correctly, the manual says 90,000). I'm starting to think about the battery and hoses next, since I've now handed my M down to my 16 yo daughter (lucky her). My employer finally gave in to my badgering to get me a company car. They said go pick out a Dodge Intrepid! I couldn't believe it. So, I got a loaded ES. Just picked it up yesterday. It's amazing how similar it is to the M. Looks like I got one of the last of the LH's and happy for it.
bluesky999 - just to let you know ,my 94 LH still has the original alt, starter , fuel pump,wheel bearings and O2 sensors .Now I have changed one battery , one water pump ,6 spark plugs and will have to change my rear stuts soon. The left rear one is leaking . Not bad for a 10 model year old car EH.
I admit, I still haven't unplugged the battery to reset the computer. I don't feel like having to reset all my presets and I was hoping the computer would just adapt.
Anybody out there with aftermarket intakes have similar experiences or any advice to offer up? If the general concensus is to "reset" the computer, I guess that's what I'll do, but I'll wait to see what the rest of you have to say first.
I noticed that the small rubber breather tube that connects to the side of the intake is squished a little (not completely constricted) at the bend, but I imagine that has very little to do with it. What do you guys think?
Let me know if you're interested in purchasing it from me. Or are you saying that you DON'T need the 11-speaker compatible unit? I replaced it with the RB1 Navigation unit and have no use for it now. It's less than a year old and in virtually brand new condition. I rarely ever touched it except to turn it on and off. Gotta LOVE those excellent steering wheel mounted controls!
Similarly, the standard 9 speaker system became a 7 speaker system...
The dealer should have known this...
As for the relearn. Disconnecting the fuse will have the ECM start with the orginal factory setting. If you don't do it, it will start relearning from the current settings. If you have makde numerous changes to the car I leanve mine alone. If it is the first one it makes hardly no differance. www.allpar.com has a quick learn setup.
I usually suggest only using the K&N stock replacement filter for those not planning on redoing the exhaust system. The weakest link sets the quality of the chain. The same goes for cars.
Front quarterpanel, and driver side doors doors all damaged. The fake leather panel below the steering wheel is all crunched up and the driver window blew out. The car spun into a pole and hit the rear passenger quarterpanel(not badly though). Looked like tranny was leaking also.
My passenger and I are a bit bruised, but I don't think (Hope) anything more than that.
Anyway, I have a couple of questions. Is the 300M a uni-body construction? If so, how can I tell if the frame is bent and if it should be totaled?
I want my car back, but if its not going to ride the same, I'd rather it be totaled.
To Bluesky999: On the '93 Concorde I never replaced the alternator or struts while I had it. I did replace the timing belt myself when the tensioning pulley failed at 163,000 (I had replaced just the belt earlier at 135,000, that belt still looked like new!). The tensioning pulley is an idler wheel held against the timing belt by a spring. The bearing inside the wheel failed. I had to pick small ball bearings out of the timing belt area. I replaced the water pump at the same time. When the bearing failed the engine kept running although it started heating up very fast (without tension the timing belt cannot run the water pump). The hardest part of the repair was getting the front pulley off the crankshaft. I think on the 300M I will replace the belt, water pump and tensioning pulley at the same time.
To Blowbyu: Sorry to hear about your accident. I'm glad you were not badly hurt. To answer your question, yes, the 300M is a uni-body construction. Someone with accident repair knowledge will have to say whether it is bent.
Keep us posted...
As far as the airflow, I know how it all works, but throwing on a bigger exhaust without doing any internal work (more aggressive cams) can potentially do more harm than good, power-wise. It'll be good for highway blasts, but your low end torque will be in the toilet because of a lack of sufficient back pressure. I don't do enough freeway traveling to need that. You have to be careful when deciding on an exhaust system. Too often people want something that's loud, but it does nothing for performance.
I would say that opening the intake but not changing the exhaust is not much different than adding a cat-back system and not adding headers or changing the intake; there should be some increase, but it won't be the full potential (mostly noise).
Oh yeah. You said you've done 100 changes to your M. I'm interested to know what performance changes you've made. Mainly, I want to hear about your engine, transmission, suspension, and brakes upgrades.
Man, that new leather smells great!
Blowbyu, I'm glad you weren't hurt seriously. It really makes me angry when I see people running stop signs and red lights; they really put the rest of us at risk.
since then i sold the car for a bike, hayabusa, totalled that, went to war a couple times, lol, i just got back from iraq thrusday, and yesterday i bought a 2004 300 special
good to be back in the game!
as for mods, well, i plan to do alot, in time. on my last M i did the following if i remember correctly:
tinted windows
rims
duals
side markers
clock mod
k&n
spark plugs
basslink
chrome grill
wood kit
and some other stuff im sure, lol.. with this one im not sure what all ill do but i know the clock and k&n/sparks are on the list to do hopefully this weekend
im excited!
:-)
have you seen any 300Ms in Iraq?
WELCOME HOME and THANK YOU for putting your life on the line for us against these TERRORISTS! I hope we DESTROY every last one of them from the top to the bottom!
Good luck with your new M! Drive it in good health!
fastdriver
so today assuming all goes well ill get my clock face done. weather is bad so thats probably all i'll get done, but i had plans to strip the logos off the trunk lid, at least the dealer one. not sure what all i can afford to do right now so im tryin to knock out all the cheaper things, k&n, plugs, etc etc..
fun!
p.s. you know what does suck tho, the passenger seat's recline button doesnt work. seat goes up all the way but not down. so now its straight up. grrrr
Now what pillars the bodyshop is talking about ? the ones that hold the front windsheild in? So the guy said they can be replaced , I am sure they can but not very easily . As the car is unibody the strength comes from the shell of the car , cutting the pillars off and welding in new ones is going to be a very big and $$$ expensive job. Make sure the shop has all the newest tools to do the job right. Not just some guy with a welder .
I am looking to replace my current tires. Thinking of getting Toyo tires but wasn't sure what the "experts" thinks of them. Anyone that has had experience with these tires, please write me at hellmary2@hotmail.com and let me know what you think.
Will stop in again to see the posts. Oh! and any suggestions on tires for Mary would be greatly appreciated.
Bye for now.
Sleepy
You might want to have a look at our Tires, Tires, Tires discussion while you wait for some responses here.
Sleepy, don't know the Toyo tire. I put on 17" Yokohama 420's (V rated) to replace the original Michelin Pilot's. So far they are quieter, and it feels like they have a little softer compound. And a LOT cheaper!
Pster; that's interesting that you were impressed by an SUV. As a note, the Saturn VUE has an upgrade engine, which is the Honda engine put in the MDX. Don't know how that deal was worked. Just remember, if you get an SUV don't go whaling around corners like you did in your M--don't want to read here about you rolling off some cliff.
Sleepy, re/tires, manufacturers are now making high performance tires that perform well in the snow, doing away with the necessity of 2 sets of tires. If you go to tirerack.com, the two they rate the highest are the Pirelli PZero Nero and I think the Continental Extreme Contact was second. Consumer Reports also has some real good reviews if you've purchased an online subscription. After a few more thousand miles, I'll be getting new rubber also. One of the most important considerations to me is the location where I get them, so I have easy access for rotations and fixing of any flats; you might have similar concerns.
Glad to hear your're OK---that's the main thing---cars are replaceable, your good health is not. Good luck
I certainly will consider the yoko's. someone wrote me and hated the toyo tires, so, i'm steering away from them now.
If anyone has any other suggestions on tires that they have personal experience with, please let me know before i plunge into 4 wheels and find out that they are horrible.
Not that I would ever dream of benefiting from someone's mistake.. BUT.. if the mistake was ALREADY MADE... *grins*..
Glad to be back!
seriously tho, thats about how i would describe it.