Friday, May 31, 2013

2011 Lexus GS 350 Review

Front view of black 2011 Lexus GS350


The face is familiar, you say? No surprise there. The Lexus GS has been around quite a while...with even its more thorough re-designs being careful to maintain an immediately identifiable look.


Front 3/4 view of black 2011 Lexus GS350 parked


The GS is Lexus mid-size sedan...larger than the ES, smaller than the LS...and its rear-wheel drive.

The one we sampled for a week courtesy of Bell Lexus in Phoenix was the V6-powered GS 350 as opposed to the V8 GS 460. Having driven the 460 (a fine car), Id pick the 350. Plenty of power, better handling with less engine weight on the nose, and only a 4/10ths of a second difference in zero to 60 time (5.8 seconds versus 5.4 for the V8). And theres about a $9,000 price break when you choose the RWD 350 over the RWD 460. That price spread jumps to more than $10,000 between the all-wheel drive 350 and 460.

Interior shot of 2011 Lexus GS350

The interior has gotten a bit of a refresh, as well..with a newer nav/entertainment screen in the dash and the final step into the new milennium...the 2011 GS is the first one not to have a cassette deck below the CD player.

Optioned sensibly, you can get a very luxurious, very comfortable, quick and good handling sedan for just a shade over $50,000 (starting price is $46,900).  Thats well below what any comparable competitor will cost.  And very few, if any, can touch the GS 350s 19 city/26 highway miles per gallon.

No, its not cutting-edge styling. But if Lexus can maintain freshenings and updates, this could be a classic...and its well worth your time for a test drive.
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Thursday, May 30, 2013

Toyota Sienna Minivan Plunges Off Houston Parking Garage Killing Driver



Raw video from CBS affiliate KHOU-TV

At 8:45 this morning, a man drove his Toyota Sienna minivan off an upper floor of the Honeywell parking garage....landing upside down and killing him.

The Sienna isnt involved in any of the Toyota recalls, and the driver isnt here to claim unintended acceleration, admit to stepping on the wrong pedal, confess to blackouts or suicidal thoughts or any of a dozen possible reasons the van might have gone forward with enough force to snap the safety cables that keep cars from taking the steep dive, but authorities will be poring over the evidence attempting to determine a cause.  Full details from The Houston Chronicle.
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Wednesday, May 29, 2013

2010 Prius 2X More Complaints to NHTSA Than All Other 10 Toyotas Combined


On the heels of word that Toyota will be recalling the 2010 Prius for the brake design problem Toyota admitted to earlier today, this unhelpful (for Toyota) statistic:

The 2010 Prius has been the subject of more complaints to the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration than all other 2010 Toyotas combined. Twice as many, in fact. And five times the second highest, the Corolla.

NHTSA says of the 171 complaints theyve recieved about the new Prius, 124 were specifically about braking problems.

Teething issues with a new model? Not likely. NHTSA recieved 2,310 driver complaints about the previous-generation Prius between 2004 and 2009...only 30 fewer than for all Toyota models in the same five-year period. 
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Tuesday, May 28, 2013

Repair of the generator in the car Nissan

Are you in the car Nissan is down the generator is not asleep at the maintenance station, try to solve problems independently. Indeed, perhaps in a simple generator brush wear due to prolonged use, and the SRT will take you to the bank. In order to identify root cause produce visual diagnostics. Lighted lamp charging, the engine is working properly, then look under the hood, how to connect the wires, do not weigh whether or torn belt, if everything is normal, tap the shell of the generator with a heavy object. Charging lamp goes off after that - then broke down the generator due to wear of brushes. Problem identified, proceed to address it on its own. The first stage - the liberation of space to work. Unlock the bottom of the car, it will allow easy access to the generator. Additionally, you can disassemble the radiator is so simple and does not take much time. Do not forget to drain the antifreeze from the lower radiator pipe in the engine block coolant can and leave, blocking all connections. Access is ready, you can begin to rent a generator. Unscrew the wires and natyazhnik, and remove the generator. Excerpted generator place so that the pulley was at the bottom, then, remove the cover with the logo "Magnette-Marelli. Brush Site is under this cover. The second stage - is to replace the brush assembly. Butt rotor brush assembly closes the plastic lid on the vertical rails. Use a screwdriver to remove it. After that, inspect the brushes, if they are worn, remove the generator from this site, gently prying the cover guides, which are also installed on the sled. There are two ways to replace the brush assembly - is to buy a new "home" site and assemble the generator in accordance with the instructions, but suddenly in the stores of spare parts for Nissan cars, the node is absent, then boldly purchase "VAZ". After purchasing the cut with a stock of copper wires and brushes. Remove the brush block and then cut them, you will work with brushes and tokootvodami block remains tokootvodov with terminals. Solder them, pre-fit them into the size of brushes with the help of emery, be careful - graphite is a soft material. Clean the generator formed by graphite dust, put the brush in place, keeping them very sharp, but not a hard object in order not to damage them. After that, collect the generator and install it on the car. Check the operation of the generator, if everything is normal, then the repair has been completed successfully without the involvement of experts from the service station and pay a round sum.

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Monday, May 27, 2013

Car Tips Engine Cooling System Maintenance

Car Tips Engine Cooling
Attention to the other cooling system components are also necessary for the machine is always in top condition:

Flush and replace the coolant regularly. The quality and type of coo Lant used largely determines the durability of the engine, it is recommended to use Extended Life Coolant (ELC) or Surfactant C oolant (SC), some products sold ready to pour the coolant.

Avoid using tap water or well water to fill the radiator. use distilled water mixed with Coola nt as inhibitors (preventing rust and crust). The use of aq uadest alone can not prevent rust.
Radiator Coolant Use a good quality, and use ice UAIs recommendation.
Replace the radiator cap every 4-5 years, causing damage to the radiator cap can not remove the excess pressure so that it will damage the cylinder head gasket and head of the radiator, use the original radiator cap.
Replace the thermostat every 5 years, if you will be using the thermostat temperature lower than the recommended factory agree, do n more than 5 ยบ C difference. Remember, do not be off the thermostat.
Check the fan motor performance or Visco fan.
Replace waterpump if already detected occurred kebocora n or weak water flow.
If the radiator is made ​​from plastic broken / cracked, replace the radiator and the resort to the original head, do not replace the brass, because in case of over-pressure, then the comp on en the other machine will be broken or cracked
Use radiator coolant for diesel engines should be me wearing a kind of extended life.
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Sunday, May 26, 2013

The pressure regulator brake VAZ 2101 2107

With the deterioration of the drums, pads, cylinders, seals, rear brakes the need for pressure regulator is not necessary. pressure regulator - this valve automatically (when lifting the rear of inertia during braking) overlying flow of brake fluid going to the wheel cylinders on the rear brakes to reduce the likelihood of Hughes's rear wheels. Frequently, loss of mobility of the piston, pressure regulator simply does not work and recalls his "only in connection with the failure as a result of rusting pipes, suitable for him. The appearance of the defect is as follows: lost brakes and brake fluid from the tank brakes the rear wheels. leak better to seek together, after topping up the brake fluid one hits the brakes, the vehicle has a different look, where the leak. The efficiency of the brake system can be restored as follows. Cut the tube going from the master cylinder to the pressure regulator (with reserve), disconnect the tube going from the pressure regulator, a hose and remove from the tube fitting with thread M10x1, 25. Fitting put on at the end of the tube leading from the master cylinder and gently razvaltsovyvaem it can end with a file. Brake hoses. With a broken front brake hose, work the second circuit is difficult to see. The impression is that completely lost the brakes, although when pressed on the brake pedal until it stops you will notice that something is there. Braking is a handbrake or (and) engine. What to do if no front hose? You can use the rear hose, in this case, instead of bolts S14 attaching the hose to the caliper to the caliper vvertyvaem rear hose fitting, fastening the other end is similar to the front-fastening hose. The better way is to use hoses from GAZ-53, they are much longer than the "native". If there were strikes the front wheels in their extreme positions and bent focus on the pitman arms, the hose may rub on the wheel. detect touch, for example, the left wheel and a hose can be as follows. turns the steering wheel fully to the left, jack left wheel. When you touch wheels and hose you can wrap the hose with a soft wire, or put a washer under the head bolts holding the steering mechanism, namely the bolt heads contact bipod rests at the extreme positions.

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Saturday, May 25, 2013

Arm VAZ 2114 with his own hands

To make the trip on your car VAZ 2114 more pleasant and comfortable, you can buy and install the armrest or do it myself. Let's look at the most expensive way, which will of course hand made the armrest. In most cases, such work will not cause any insurmountable difficulties, but in any case, you should begin such work in a good mood and readiness. At the beginning of the work you have to very carefully measure the space you want to install the armrest. It is installed between the seats, so you should keep in mind that between the car seat should be a small space, it will easily move your armrest. Once you make all the necessary calculations and measurements you will need to find quality stuff that will go well with your car. By purchasing the right material, you should start drawing the contours with a pencil. Armrest frame best to make chipboard. Drank all the necessary part of the case, you have to take a belt sander and how to handle all non smooth surfaces, this material will subsequently better fit to the main frame of the armrest. Once all the items will be prepared and polished you will need to connect them with screws, for this would be best to use the screwdriver. In order that you could put in the armrest which is the little things you have to install a shelf inside. After building the armrest is fully ready to make those corners of his smooth, for this use grinder and file. After that start manufacturing the top of the arm rest which will go to your hand. Remember that the top cover to do a little bit longer than the main body, it must act by about 20 mm. Then should make another one, but at 20 cm large cap, then using screws, connect the parts and get the right cover. After doing all these works will need to install custom armrest with his own hands, if the installation there are some problems with the placement should take a knife and remove the disturbing part of you. When the armrest is clearly established and tailored to a place in your car you can start giving him a decent look. You can sheathe your armrest absolutely any material: leather, velours, imitation leather, which is the usual material, or just paint it in the most appropriate for your car color and to impart a more expensive type of cover it with a good thick layer of lacquer. The functionality of your armrest and its appearance will depend on how well you came to work on its construction and how well the materials you have chosen. But in any case made by hand armrest will bring your car extra decoration and convenience.

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Friday, May 24, 2013

How to Check Car Tires Safe for Wear

Car Tires Safe
TIRE is bald and has less wind pressure increases the risk for car drivers. Therefore in addition to observing the tire pressure, you should also observe the degree of wear and damage to the tire. Better not let the tires car to be too thin. Each tire has a special mark indicating the minimum thickness of the tire. These marks are common on the outskirts of the tire.

In general, as reported by Goodyear, last week when the tire tread is no longer as thick as the tip of a match, then the tire is not safe to use. If there is an uneven level of wear on a tire wheel balancing it may be necessary or balancing.
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Thursday, May 23, 2013

Tips for Keeping the Air Inside Car For Not Being Hot

Once you park the car more than 1.5 hours in the hot sun, then you get into the car, certainly seemed like the heat in the desert-in the daytime. Especially if youve just come out of your clients office with a variety of issues that you have to finish up, Well, so your head does not go "hot", follow these tips to minimize the temperature inside a car even if you had parked it in hot .

- Use a good quality window film
Select a window film with a thrust of heat is very high (40% -90%). The price is more expensive, but apart from a longer working life, will also increase your safety while in the car.

- Avoid skin seats
Leather seating does look more luxurious and comfortable, but comfort would be reduced when the seat is exposed to the sun, because the nature of the skin that absorbs heat.

- Try to park in a cool place
Nothing is more comfortable than your car apart parked under a shady tree, or in the building parking lot that is not exposed to heat. If possible you should park the vehicle in the parking lot of closed public.

- Use a sunshade screen
You should always provide a screen sunshade to protect the sun coming in from your windshield. Usually this is used in the windshield of your car when the car was parked to block the sun
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