What do you drive?

[DeanMk]

That might be an advantage with fuel injection, but carbs sitting for long times, dry, can have gaskets shrink with age. I use Sea foam and Marine Sta-Bil in any gas engines I have that don't get regular use.

Nah, you don't get it.
The only computer you need to operate a vehicle is the one between your ears.
If you're too stupid to drive, then stay off the dam road.
SIMPLICITY. "The KISS method" (and not the one that says I want to Rock'n'Roll all night and party every day, either).
Straight six, 3 on the tree, steering by armstrong, manual brakes. These all work and don't have to be used on a daily basis.
Never used Sta-Bil and the only Sea Foam I knew growing up was the greenish colour some old Ford's were painted in.
If the tank is starting to get a low, fill it up before you park it. Keeps the fuel better over the long run because there's less room for moisture to develop.
My dad had a '74 Chevy 1/2 ton he bought new. That truck spent most of its life parked in the driveway.
20 years later, when he died, it only had 55K miles on it and it would always start, no problem.
It's a case of being smarter than the machinery, lest it replace you.
Keep it simple, take care of it and it will always work.

 

[Pandaz3]

I was not and am not a fan of smog pumps and most of the other smog reducers, but I think the PCV valve or filter made a significant improvement in regard to engine longevity. Radial tires have been a big overall improvement in tire wear.

 

[WAW44]

Depends on what you like but for small suv you can get a well maintained merc glk for about $12k. Best car in snow and ice I've ever driven by a long shot and I've pretty much had them all (startedbuying and selling cars from young age to pay for college). If reliability is primary factor above all else I would buy Toyota personally.

Yea, GLKs are great, until they are not. My relitive's GLK is currently at MB of Seattle waiting for a replacement rear subframe that is on backorder from Germany until August. Replacement covered by MB, to the tune of $4000, but nothing else is. We are working with a lawyer and wanting MB to buy the car back. Look up the subframe class action lawsuit for MB.

 

[made in china]

Yea, GLKs are great, until they are not. My relitive's GLK is currently at MB of Seattle waiting for a replacement rear subframe that is on backorder from Germany until August. Replacement covered by MB, to the tune of $4000, but nothing else is. We are working with a lawyer and wanting MB to buy the car back. Look up the subframe class action lawsuit for MB.

My neighbor bought a slightly used GLK.

Last week, on my evening walk with the wife, we noticed that the GLK in our neighbors driveway had one taillight on. With German cars, it's pretty common for them to have electrical glitches. It's either a BCM, canbus or taillight failure. Being that it's a canbus driven LED taillight, it'll be expensive to fix the glitch.

 

[WAW44]

My neighbor bought a slightly used GLK.

Last week, on my evening walk with the wife, we noticed that the GLK in our neighbors driveway had one taillight on. With German cars, it's pretty common for them to have electrical glitches. It's either a BCM, canbus or taillight failure. Being that it's a canbus driven LED taillight, it'll be expensive to fix the glitch.

Actually , you sure it's not the parking light? Euro cars will allow you to leave the left taillight or left rear fog on for night parking. Cars are often parked on narrow streets and this reduces the chances of some idiot running into it from the back at night .

 

[ilikegunspdx]

My neighbor bought a slightly used GLK.

Last week, on my evening walk with the wife, we noticed that the GLK in our neighbors driveway had one taillight on. With German cars, it's pretty common for them to have electrical glitches. It's either a BCM, canbus or taillight failure. Being that it's a canbus driven LED taillight, it'll be expensive to fix the glitch.

That's the parking light not a glitch. You can choose left or right parking light only. If they turn the dial all the way to the left that means one parking light will be on. Common with European cars.

 

[ilikegunspdx]

Yea, GLKs are great, until they are not. My relitive's GLK is currently at MB of Seattle waiting for a replacement rear subframe that is on backorder from Germany until August. Replacement covered by MB, to the tune of $4000, but nothing else is. We are working with a lawyer and wanting MB to buy the car back. Look up the subframe class action lawsuit for MB.

I bet that is a g450 cuz I've never heard of that or anything like it for glk. G450 yes there are several things due to fancy bubblegum suspension. It's notorious for suspension repairs. My Mercedes specialist Indy mechanic who I talked to at length before buying about what problems he has seen never mentioned anything like that for glk.

 

[made in china]

I thought EDM options are usually disabled on vehicles sold in USA.

Weird though, I'm sure my neighbor didn't realize it was on, it was in the driveway and yes, it was the left taillight glowing dimly.

 

[WAW44]

I bet that is a g450 cuz I've never heard of that or anything like it for glk. G450 yes there are several things due to fancy bubblegum suspension. It's notorious for suspension repairs. My Mercedes specialist Indy mechanic who I talked to at length before buying about what problems he has seen never mentioned anything like that for glk.

Look up the lawsuit. GLK, c class, slk. All compact platforms that share the rear subframe components .

‘Too Dangerous to Drive’: 2010-2022 Mercedes-Benz Models Plagued by Rear Subframe Rust Defect, Class Action Says

A proposed class action alleges a number of 2010-2022 model year Mercedes-Benz vehicles have subframes that can prematurely rust or corrode “from the inside out."

www.classaction.org

Affected : 2010-2022 Mercedes-Benz C-Class, 2010-2022 Mercedes-Benz E-Class, 2010-2015 Mercedes-Benz GLK-Class, 2010-2022 Mercedes-Benz G-Class, 2010-2022 Mercedes-Benz CLS-Class, 2010- 2020 Mercedes-Benz SLK/SLC-Class, and 2010-2022 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class.

REAR SUBFRAME EXTENDED WARRANTY - MBWorld.org Forums

Extended Warranty Discussions - REAR SUBFRAME EXTENDED WARRANTY - Wanted to reach out to you and let you know that the rear subframe has been added with an extended warranty from the factory. Standard warranty was 4yr / 50,000 miles and has been extended to 20 years / unlimited miles. You can...

mbworld.org

Not our car, but same damage. Suspension basically tears itself off the subframe, the bracket going with it.




And back on main topic: 05 Xterra, looking for a 4runner.

 

[made in china]

And back on main topic: 05 Xterra, looking for a 4runner.

$$$$$$$$$!!!

 

[ilikegunspdx]

Look up the lawsuit. GLK, c class, slk. All compact platforms that share the rear subframe components .

‘Too Dangerous to Drive’: 2010-2022 Mercedes-Benz Models Plagued by Rear Subframe Rust Defect, Class Action Says

A proposed class action alleges a number of 2010-2022 model year Mercedes-Benz vehicles have subframes that can prematurely rust or corrode “from the inside out."

www.classaction.org

Affected : 2010-2022 Mercedes-Benz C-Class, 2010-2022 Mercedes-Benz E-Class, 2010-2015 Mercedes-Benz GLK-Class, 2010-2022 Mercedes-Benz G-Class, 2010-2022 Mercedes-Benz CLS-Class, 2010- 2020 Mercedes-Benz SLK/SLC-Class, and 2010-2022 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class.

REAR SUBFRAME EXTENDED WARRANTY - MBWorld.org Forums

Extended Warranty Discussions - REAR SUBFRAME EXTENDED WARRANTY - Wanted to reach out to you and let you know that the rear subframe has been added with an extended warranty from the factory. Standard warranty was 4yr / 50,000 miles and has been extended to 20 years / unlimited miles. You can...

mbworld.org

Not our car, but same damage. Suspension basically tears itself off the subframe, the bracket going with it.

View attachment 1413360


And back on main topic: 05 Xterra, looking for a 4runner.

Must be a salted roads rust issue. Not a speck of corrosion or any kind of issue on mine I just checked (4wd may not be exactly the same thickness but either way no sign of rust). Tundra had an issue with rusted bed bolts I have heard of also but no reports of it around here taking to one mechanic anyway. Must have also been a back east salted roads deal.

 

[WAW44]

Must be a salted roads rust issue. Not a speck of corrosion or any kind of issue on mine I just checked (4wd may not be exactly the same thickness but either way no sign of rust). Tundra had an issue with rusted bed bolts I have heard of also but no reports of it around here taking to one mechanic anyway. Must have also been a back east salted roads deal.

Yes, East Coast car.

 

[sobo]

Don't do it. H/K continue to have serious issues with most of their 4 cylinder engines. This has been going on for a while now.

If you must get a H or K, the non-turbo V6's seem pretty solid.

I'd spend a bit more to get a Toyota or Honda. Especially if you value long term ownership.

It's not just their turbo-4 engines that are having issues, some of the non-turbo 4 cylinder engines have significant issues, most notably their bread and butter 2.4 that they've been using for a while now. All kinds of issues and in lots of models.

Pshaw! 2014 Sonata GLS (base model 2.4 PZEO), bought at 31k in late 2015, currently at 126k, with nary an engine issue short of replacing the plugs around 100K.

 

[made in china]

Pshaw! 2014 Sonata GLS (base model 2.4 PZEO), bought at 31k in late 2015, currently at 126k, with nary an engine issue short of replacing the plugs around 100K.

View attachment 1417814

 

[sobo]

Well, making a startling generalization that a particular make of car is an outright POS is usually a bad premise with which to start any video...
How does that guy explain the flawless performance of my Sonata for going on 9 years now?
If they're all such grand POSs, why does mine continue to run for merely the price of gas and basic maintenance (fluid changes, a battery, plugs, filters, etc.) ?

 

[Pete F]

How about a late 70's Chevy caprice wagon with a 454, TH400 - also a woody. It was my friends parents car and a wonderful highway cruiser.

I should have kept track of it and turned it into a racing wagon.

 

[made in china]

Well, making a startling generalization that a particular make of car is an outright POS is usually a bad premise with which to start any video...
How does that guy explain the flawless performance of my Sonata for going on 9 years now?
If they're all such grand POSs, why does mine continue to run for merely the price of gas and basic maintenance (fluid changes, a battery, plugs, filters, etc.) ?

He also says that the Nissan Titan and Armada are terrible. Mine is 16.5 years old and has been as reliable as a Camry.

 

[sobo]

He also says that the Nissan Titan and Armada are terrible. Mine is 16.5 years old and has been as reliable as a Camry.

You just made my point! Thank you...

 

[DeanMk]

How about a late 70's Chevy caprice wagon with a 454, TH400 - also a woody. It was my friends parents car and a wonderful highway cruiser.

I should have kept track of it and turned it into a racing wagon.

That could SO easily be a DRAGON! (drag wagon).
Set the 454 up with 11:1 and the lage L88 cam, then accentuate with modern carbs, manifolds and heads.
Add in a little pro-charger action and a 300 HP whiff of Nitrous, funnel all of that through a built version of your 400 and spin it though a Dana 60 rear end with Tru-Trac LSD.
Guranteed 11's in the 1/4....and it's got enough room to bring all your buddies along, too.
That would be a FUN ride!

Google Image Result for https://gmauthority.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/1993-Chevrolet-Caprice-drag-racer-Steve-Morris-Boostmaster-video-006.jpeg

 

[sobo]

That could SO easily be a DRAGON! (drag wagon).
Set the 454 up with 11:1 and the lage L88 cam, then accentuate with modern carbs, manifolds and heads.
Add in a little pro-charger action and a 300 HP whiff of Nitrous, funnel all of that through a built version of your 400 and spin it though a 12 bolt rear end with Tru-Trac LSD.
Guranteed 11's in the 1/4....and it's got enough room to bring all your buddies along, too.
That would be a FUN ride!

Google Image Result for https://gmauthority.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/1993-Chevrolet-Caprice-drag-racer-Steve-Morris-Boostmaster-video-006.jpeg

Just seeing a Crapiece wagon at the strip makes me LOL...