One MPG Win, How Many to Follow?

When buying a new car we expect that almost everything onthat window sticker is accurate. If it says there is a car cd changer in thecar, we expect there to be a car cd player in the car. The same goes for other advertisedoptions such as power windows, heated seats, or maybe even hybrid technology. Theprice is the only thing on that sticker we expect (and hope) is not 100%accurate. There always seems to be wiggle-room when it comes to the pricing ofthe vehicle, but one Californian woman discovered another ambiguous numberadvertised: the MPG.

When Heather Peters bought her 2006 Hybrid Honda Civic shewas excited like most new car owners. Gas prices were shooting up and she nowhad herself a car Honda promised would get her 50 miles per gallon. So shedrove and drove and drove, but she never saw 50mpg. After some time, she wasonly getting 30mpg. Well, fast-forward some time and she has actually suedHonda for this misrepresentation. This week she won the smalls claims lawsuitwhich means Honda has to pay close to $10,000 for not living up to itsadvertised gas mileage to Peters (and maybe some of the 200,000 other 2006Hybrid Honda Civic owners).

I understand frustration with not getting high gas mileage,especially if you’re paying for a car with that specific purpose. But on theother hand, one MPG number can’t be taken accurately across the board. Livingin Southern California myself (like Peters), I understand my car’s gas mileageprobably suffers a bit from the hilly landscape and the fact that 85% of thetime I’m driving in stop-and-go traffic. Peters has now created DontSettleWithHonda.orgtrying to get other owners on board, while Honda is standing firm that they arerequired by law to post the highest mileage the car could get. With thisvictory, I’m interested to see how many others come out with the same complainton the Civic and on other vehicle models. But for now it seems like the scoreremains, Hybrid Owners: 1, Honda: 0.

Honda Accord Steering Moan Fix

In 2003 Honda introduced the new Accord with classically elegant lines and a few new upgrades to the interior. A new power steering rack and power steering pump were just a few of the updates. The car was a sales success selling hundreds of thousands of units but with great success comes great responsibility. When the accord begun to develop a steering moan on cold starts Honda was scrambling to find a solution that would not break the bank.

The solution came in the form of a 30 cent O-ring and about 15 minutes worth of work. The fix is simple and as elegant as the car itself. What causes the moan is air that has slipped into the system while cold and it creates bubbles or foam in the steering reservoir which will cause the pump to moan due to the added stress. The noise tends to go away once the fluid has warmed up but still the response "it's just noise" was not good enough for owners.

The process for fixing the issue is simple and will be covered in most cases by the deals but the owner must ask for consideration before beginning of the install. When the repair is performed the first step is to remove the inlet joint bolt and place a shop towel under it to catch leaks. Twist the inlet joint back and forth until loose and carefully disconnect the joint. Point the tube upward and remove the old inlet joint O-ring. Now apply power steering fluid to the new O-ring and with the new O-ring in place re-install the inlet joint. torque the bolt to 8ft-lbs and top off the power steering fluid as needed.

With this simple 15 minute install the moan will stop and no longer be problem, in the case that the noise continues check the levels of the steering fluid. The system may need to be bled to remove excess air that may have entered the system. If all the air is bled out and the system still moans you may actually have a failing steering pump and it is time for a more major repair.

The Technical Service Bulletin is shown at this link: http://www.buyautoparts.com/howto/honda-accord-steering-system-moan.htm

In House Tuning Companies, are They Worth It?

Everyone knows the major players in the automotive world but what about their tuning houses? They make parts as small as a mass air flow sensor to a complete turbocharger or supercharger set up. A tuning house is a company that modifies vehicles for a specific purpose. An in-house tuning is a company that works with a specific brand exclusively such as AMG for Mercedes Benz.

Most of the time a few small upgrades are not a huge investment with a car but is it worth it to buy the completely reworked car or do the upgraded that are desired individually. There are many factors to consider when it comes to purchasing these kind of upgrades not the smallest of which is the money. A great example of this is the mighty Honda Civic which comes in lots of configurations the top of which is called the Mugen edition. Now Mugen is a company that specifically makes performance parts for Honda's and they make some great ones at that. On the other hand a fully loaded Civic SI would set a person back about 23 grand...pricey for a civic. It is not that bad for the performance that one can get compared to that of the base model Civic. The Mugen Civic though would set someone back close to 33 thousand dollars which is 10 grand for a body kit, special wheels, a paint job and not much else.

So where should the line be drawn, the fact of the matter is that for all the gear heads out there modifying their cars is a way of life, a costly one. Any serious modification will almost instantly void the warranty on a vehicle and there for lower the resale significantly. So for this we have in-house tuners, they are able to give the performance that we all want while still keeping things under warranty. Not to mention in California it will keep the emissions man off your back. So in the end the Mugen is a good deal but sometimes the ends don't seem to justify the means. There is a company called Brabus and they specialize in Mercedes benz, they are the ultimate expression of automotive crazy. For example  they will take a 2005 Mercedes SL600 and add $45K worth of modifications to it and consider it a lightly modified car. A few times a year they will sell a Merc that has close to a half a million dollars worth of modifications without even breaking a sweat. The amount of money that is spent to create a custom high end ride is truly insane but still it has to be said that their cars are some of the more stunning on the road today.

So is tuning worth it? in short...YES! ever penny is worth it if you are a motor head.

The 2011 Honda Odyssey Car Concept

2011 Honda Odyssey Concept Basic Dimensions:

Length (inches) 202.8
Width (inches) 78.5
Height (inches) 68.3
Wheelbase (inches) 118.1

The Honda Odyssey Concept that was on display at the Chicago Auto Show introduces a smooth and unique exterior styling direction for the next generation of the industry's best-selling minivan, set to debut this fall, American Honda Motor Co., Inc., as it was announced.

The Odyssey Concept significantly departs from usual minivan styling with its low and wide stance, highlighted by a "lightning-bolt" beltline that further distinguishes the vehicle's profile. Compared to the current Odyssey, the Concept's slightly lower roofline (-1.0 inch) and wider stance (+1.4 inch) contribute to a sleeker, stronger and more dynamic presence with improved aerodynamics that help increase fuel economy. Forthcoming improvements to the production Odyssey's interior are designed to further enhance the current model's accommodating space for people and cargo.

The steeply raked front and rear roof pillars, unique side-glass profile, chamfered roof line, and tapered rear cabin shape combine to create a dynamic and distinctive appearance from any perspective. The lightning-bolt beltline dives toward the rear of the vehicle emphasizing the new Odyssey's sporty appearance while enhancing outward visibility for third-row passengers. Aggressive body-to-wheel proportions reduce the perception of vertical height common to most minivan designs. Fender flares further accent the vehicle's securely planted and stylish persona. The concept vehicle's projector beam headlights, LED taillights and form-fit fog lights further heighten the sophisticated quality of the design.