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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQS);faqs.482



3) Be careful about your capacities and specifications when posting;
in the US we get a mix of Metric and English system values, whereas
Europe is almost entirely on the Metric system.  A future edition
of this monthly posting will contain a list of commonly-used
abbreviations that may not be known in some places that rec.autos
reaches; this cuts both ways so let us not be parochial about it.

4) Use the Distribution: field to limit where your article goes, when
possible.  Within North America, the values na (north america), can
(canada), and usa may be used.  in addition, the two-letter state
abbreviations of the US are supported in some cases; e.g. if i wanted
to send an article only to New York and New Jersey, i could put
"ny,nj" in a Distribution field.  note that multiple, comma-separated
values are legal.  these distribution fields vary widely, however, so
you should check with your local sysadmin to find out what is likely
to be supported in your area.

The Dangers of Overgeneralization:

To amplify a warning from the distribution section of this article:
Be wary of making foolish assumptions about all cars, tires, etc.  What is
true for a 1973 Buick with a 455cid engine may be quite utterly wrong for a
1976 Honda with a 1200cc engine.  Headlight laws in Sweden are decidedly
different from those in Idaho.

The Need for Adequate Specification:

When you ask a question, please give a reasonable amount of information;
e.g., if you have a question about your Honda, please specify year,
model, engine size, etc.  Otherwise, most answers to your question may be
quite useless.


Concerning Lemons:

At one time or another, every auto manufacturer has manufactured a lemon or
two; even Honda admits to this.  Please don't waste everyone's time by
announcing to the world that your `brand x' automobile is terrible, so all
`brand x' automobiles are terrible, so no one should ever buy a car from
the `brand x' company.  Such articles are worse than useless, because they
cause substantial wasted bandwidth while carrying little or no useful
information.


Concerning Flames:

As much as we might wish it, a flame-free newsgroup is something that most
likely will never occur.  Here are some guidelines for flames and how
to deal with them (a list of flame-prone topics follows in the next section
of this posting):

If you post something truly obnoxious and inflammatory, don't imagine for a
minute that including the words `No Flames' will work.  It won't, and
you'll get exactly what you deserve.

If you're going to flame, you're more likely to get away with it if you can
cite a fact or maybe a well-known reference.  No one is likely to believe
bald, unsupported assertions.

Be careful about who you choose to insult.  Consider not insulting anyone.


Asking the Question:

It is a bad idea to post a question and end it with a phrase like `Please
send email, I don't read this group'.  It is a much better idea to
end the question with `Please send email, if there is sufficient interest
I'll summarize the results in a later posting.  I may miss posted responses
to this request'.

Answering the Question:

If someone wants to hop up their Yugo, don't tell them to get a Mustang.
Either be silent, or give them useful advice.  If someone wants advice on
defending a speeding ticket, don't tell them to obey the law next time --
it's offensive, presumes guilt which is not proven, and doesn't directly
address the original question.  In general, don't post in order to see
your words in print, and don't post in order to enjoy feeling smug and
self-righteous.


Stale and/or Inflammatory Topics:

Certain topics are considered stale by `old timers'; while discussion of
them is certainly ok, and new, factual information is welcome, ravings
about them are extremely tiresome, and may get the person who posts them
ignored altogether.  Some topics are naturally inflammatory; it is
difficult if not impossible to have meaningful discussion of them.  Some
of these topics include the following:

1)  the 55mph speed limit in the US: Pro and Con

2)  discussions about the morality and legality of the sale and usage of
    radar detectors.

3)  discussions over which radar detector is best.

4)  discussions over what is a sports car (this is one reason why
    rec.autos.sport is not a `sports car' group -- everyone would argue
    about what constitutes a `sports car'.)

5)  disputes over whether or not US Federal law protects the driver's
    right to own and operate a radar detector

6)  `Buy American' discussions

7)  `clever' bumper stickers and personalized license plates

8)  <insert nationality here> cars are terrible

9)  What kind of car did Maxwell Smart drive?
      [when I have a complete, accurate answer it will be added to the
          commonly-asked questions article which is also posted monthly.
          Until then, please don't waste bandwidth on this topic. -- rpw]



Please direct comments and suggestions about this article to:

     [e-mail]
--
richard welty        518-393-7228       [e-mail]
``Nothing good has ever been reported about the full rotation of
  a race car about either its pitch or roll axis''  -- Carroll Smith
Xref: bloom-picayune.mit.edu rec.autos:93170 rec.autos.tech:48673 rec.autos.sport:25111 rec.autos.driving:14708 rec.autos.vw:10580 alt.autos.antique:2401 misc.consumers:62205 news.answers:4704
Path: bloom-picayune.mit.edu!enterpoop.mit.edu!biosci!uwm.edu!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!darwin.sura.net!udel!intercon!psinntp!balltown!welty
From: [e-mail] (richard welty)
Newsgroups: rec.autos,rec.autos.tech,rec.autos.sport,rec.autos.driving,rec.autos.vw,alt.autos.antique,misc.consumers,news.answers
Subject: rec.autos: Automotive Mailing Lists
Keywords: Monthly Posting
Message-ID: <[e-mail]>
Date: 20 Dec 92 05:01:03 GMT
Reply-To: [e-mail]
Followup-To: rec.autos
Organization: New York State Institute for Sebastian Cabot Studies
Lines: 155
Approved: [e-mail]

Archive-Name: rec-autos/part2

Automotive Mailing Lists (Electronic Mail, that is):

[last updated 11/24/92; international harvester, racing fabrication
   technique lists -- rpw]

There are a number of electronic mailing lists on the network devoted to
various special automotive topics.

To the best of my knowledge, all the lists appearing here have open
membership policies.  It is my policy not to list `closed' mailing lists
here.

Most mailing lists provide separate addresses for administrative
queries and for general mail; where separate administrative
addresses exist, I have listed those below, as the general addresses
are not appropriate for inquires and requests to be added.

Audi
         (send requests to [e-mail])

Autocross/Solo
         (send requests to [e-mail])

BMW
         (send requests to [e-mail])

British Cars
         (send requests to [e-mail])

Camaro/Firebird (GM F-body)
         (send requests to [e-mail])

Celica (Toyota)
         (proposed list; [e-mail]
                or ...!uunet!cup.hp.com!celica-request)
Corvettes
   there are two lists; the first is more of a competition oriented
   list, and the second is more general in nature (or so i am told)

   Competition:
          (send requests to [e-mail])
   General:
          (send requests to [e-mail])

Datsun/Fairlady Roadsters
         (send requests to [e-mail])

Dodge Stealth/Mitsubishi 3000GT
    (send requests to [e-mail])

Eclipse/Talon/Laser
         (send requests to diginst![e-mail])

Electric Vehicles
         (send requests to [e-mail])

Exotic-Cars
     (send requests to [e-mail])

Fabrication (race cars)
     (send requests to [e-mail])

International Harvester (discussion of Scouts, pickups, etc.)
     (send requests to [e-mail])

Italian Cars
     (send requests to [e-mail];
          both regular and digest forms available)

Hondas
     (send requests to [e-mail])

Hot rods
         (send requests to [e-mail])

Land Rovers
     (send requests to [e-mail])

Lotus
     (this list has moved; i know that i should have the
           correct address in here, but i'm swamped.  try
           [e-mail])

Mazdas
         (send requests to [e-mail])

Merkurs
         (send requests to [e-mail])

Mopar
         (mostly high performance Chrysler, Dodge, Plymouth products.
          send requests to [e-mail])

MR2
         (send requests to [e-mail])

Mustangs
   There are two lists, the first is for Mustangs through 1973,
   the second for Mustangs from 1980 on.  nobody cares about
   the Mustang II, so don't ask.

   classic:
         (send requests to [e-mail])
   modern:
     (send requests to [e-mail])

Offroad/4X4
         (send requests to uunet!ginosko!wizvax!spg)

Porsches
     (send requests to [e-mail])

Rally
         (send requests to [e-mail])

RX7
     (send requests to [e-mail])

Saabs
         (send requests to [e-mail])

Saturn
         (send requests to [e-mail])

School (high performance driving schools)
         (send requests to [e-mail])

Sentra SE-R, G20, N2000
         (send requests to [e-mail])

Supras
         (send requests to [e-mail])

Toyota
     (send requests to [e-mail])

Volvos
     (requests to [e-mail])

VWs
     (send requests to [e-mail]; this
          list is gatewayed with rec.autos.vw)

Wheel-to-Wheel Racing
         (forum for race drivers, workers, crew, and wannabes;
          send requests to [e-mail])

Z-Cars (Nissan/Datsun)
         (send requests to [e-mail])
--
richard welty        518-393-7228       [e-mail]
``Nothing good has ever been reported about the full rotation of
  a race car about either its pitch or roll axis''  -- Carroll Smith
Xref: bloom-picayune.mit.edu rec.autos:93171 rec.autos.tech:48674 rec.autos.sport:25112 rec.autos.driving:14709 rec.autos.vw:10581 alt.autos.antique:2402 news.answers:4705
Path: bloom-picayune.mit.edu!enterpoop.mit.edu!biosci!uwm.edu!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!darwin.sura.net!udel!intercon!psinntp!balltown!welty
From: [e-mail] (richard welty)
Newsgroups: rec.autos,rec.autos.tech,rec.autos.sport,rec.autos.driving,rec.autos.vw,alt.autos.antique,news.answers
Subject: rec.autos: the Rec.Autos Archive Server
Keywords: Monthly Posting
Message-ID: <[e-mail]>
Date: 20 Dec 92 05:02:02 GMT
Reply-To: [e-mail]
Followup-To: rec.autos
Organization: New York State Institute for Sebastian Cabot Studies
Lines: 10
Approved: [e-mail]

Archive-name: rec-autos/part3

The Automotive Articles Archive Server:

the automotive archive server is in the process of being rehosted,
and is presently not available.
--
richard welty        518-393-7228       [e-mail]
``Nothing good has ever been reported about the full rotation of
  a race car about either its pitch or roll axis''  -- Carroll Smith
Xref: bloom-picayune.mit.edu rec.autos:93172 rec.autos.tech:48675 rec.autos.sport:25113 rec.autos.driving:14710 rec.autos.vw:10582 alt.autos.antique:2403 news.answers:4706
Path: bloom-picayune.mit.edu!enterpoop.mit.edu!biosci!uwm.edu!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!darwin.sura.net!udel!intercon!psinntp!balltown!welty
From: [e-mail] (richard welty)
Newsgroups: rec.autos,rec.autos.tech,rec.autos.sport,rec.autos.driving,rec.autos.vw,alt.autos.antique,news.answers
Subject: rec.autos: Frequently Asked Questions
Keywords: Monthly Posting
Message-ID: <[e-mail]>
Date: 20 Dec 92 05:03:03 GMT
Reply-To: [e-mail]
Followup-To: rec.autos
Organization: New York State Institute for Sebastian Cabot Studies
Lines: 215
Approved: [e-mail]

Archive-name: rec-autos/part4

[this article is one of a pair of articles containing commonly
asked automotive questions; the other article contains questions
of general consumer interest, and is broken out to facilitate
crossposting to misc.consumers -- rpw]

[last change: 30 september 1992; fix typo in one answer -- rpw]

                Commonly Asked Questions

Radar Questions:

Q:  Where are radar detectors illegal?

A:  In the US, currently Virgina, Connecticut, and the District of
    Columbia prohibit all usage of radar detectors.  The Connecticut
    law has been changed, and detectors will be legal in that state
    beginning in October of 1992.  New York prohibits their use in
    large trucks.  In Canada, they are illegal in Manitoba, Ontario,
    Quebec, Newfoundland and PEI (Prince Edward Island).  They
    are apparently are illegal through most, if not all, of Europe.
    Legislation which would make them illegal is pending in many other
    jurisdictions; chances of such legislation passing varies a great deal.

Q:  Where are Radar Detector Detectors used?  Do they really work?

A:  Usage is spreading rapidly; initially they were used only in Canada,
    but now they are appearing in New York and Virginia.  It is unsafe
    to assume that they are not in use in Connecticut and D.C.
    They work by detecting a certain frequency radiated by many currently
    available super Het radar detectors; some brands of detector radiate
    more strongly than others, and are thus more likely to be spotted.
    New radar detectors are becoming available which may not be detected
    by the current generation of detector detectors.  Note that a
    detector may only be spotted by one of these devices if it is turned
    on.

Q:  What is VASCAR?  Is it some kind of Radar?

A:  VASCAR is nothing more than a fancy stopwatch and time-speed-distance
    computer.  It depends on the operator pressing buttons as the target
    vehicle passes landmarks.  No radar signals are emitted by a VASCAR
    system.

Q:  What is Ka band radar?  Where is it used?  Should a radar detector be
    able to handle it?

A:  Ka band has recently been made available by the FCC for use in the US
    in so-called photo-radar installations.  In these installations, a
    low-powered beam is aimed across the road at a 45 degree angle to the
    direction of traffic, and a picture is taken of vehicles which the
    radar unit determines to have been in violation of the speed limit.
    Tickets are mailed to the owner of the vehicle.  Because of the low
    power and the 45 degree angle, many people believe that a radar
    detector cannot give reasonable warning of a Ka band radar unit,
    although some manufacturers of radar detectors have added such
    capability anyway.  The number of locales where photo-radar is in use
    is limited, and some question the legality of such units.  Best advice:
    learn what photo radar units look like, and keep track of where they
    are used (or else, don't speed.)

Q:  Do radar jammers work?  Are they legal?

A:  Quick answer:  No, and Not in the USA.
    Detailed answer:  Cheap radar jammers do not work well at all.
    Jammers that work are expensive and usually the property of the
    military.  Jammers are a major violation of the regulations of the
    Federal Communications Commission of the USA.

Driving technique and Vehicle Dynamics Questions:

Q:  What are understeer and oversteer?

A:  Understeer and oversteer are terms describing the behaviour of a
    car while cornering near the `limit' (limit of adhesion, that is.)
    Most drivers do not normally drive hard enough for these terms to
    be descriptive of the situations they encounter.  Simply put, they
    tell whether the car wants to go straight in a corner (steer `less',
    or `understeer') or it wants to turn more in a corner (`oversteer'.)
    Understeer is commonly designed into most production cars so that
    untrained drivers, inadvertantly traveling too fast, won't get into
    trouble.  Understeer may also be induced by using too much throttle
    in a corner.  Oversteer is designed into some more performance
    oriented cars; it may be induced by lifting on the throttle (Trailing
    throttle oversteer, or TTO).  In extreme cases, lifting on the throttle
    may induce so much oversteer that the car reacts by fishtailing or
    spinning.

    Some technical details:  in a corner at speed, the tires on the car
    will develop what are called `slip angles'; the slip angle is the
    angular difference between the direction that the car is traveling
    and the direction that the steering wheel is directing the car to
    travel.  In understeer, the front wheels have a greater slip angle
    than the rear wheels.  In oversteer, the rear wheels have a greater
    slip angle than the front wheels.

Q: What is a rev-matched downshift?

A: When downshifting, the engine must be rotating faster in the lower gear
   than it was in the higher gear.  However, during a downshift, normally
   you declutch and lift your foot from the throttle, so the revs drop
   rather than increase.  In rev-matched downshift, you blip the throttle
   before re-engaging the clutch so that the engine will already be up to
   the new speed.  This results in a much smoother and faster downshift.

Q: What does heel-and-toe mean?

A: Heel-and-toe is a technique used to do a rev-matched downshift while
   braking.  This is normally challenging, because you need the right foot
   for both the brake and throttle.  It is called heel-and-toe because you
   use one end of the foot on the brake, and the other on the throttle to
   match revs for the downshift.  In many modern cars this is a misnomer;
   often you must use the ball of the foot on the brake and the right side
   on the throttle.

   Note that some race car drivers will skip the clutch, and just use the
   left foot on the brake and the right foot on the throttle, accomplishing
   the same thing.

Q: What is double-clutch downshifting?

A: While your right foot is doing the above, your left foot can do one of
   three things:  nothing, declutch once, or declutch twice.  The reason for
   declutching twice is to match the speeds of the two shafts in the
   transmission to the speed of the engine.  This is usually coupled with
   rev-matching, so that while the engine is in neutral and the clutch
   engaged, the throttle is blipped and both shafts of the transmission
   speed up.

   The procedure is as follows:
   (0) declutch
   (1) move gearshift lever to neutral
   (2) engage clutch
   (3) match revs
   (4) declutch
   (5) move gearshift lever to next lower gear
   (6) engage clutch

   This sounds like a lot of work, but with practice it becomes natural.
   The problem that double-clutching solves is normally the function of the
   synchronizers within the gearbox.  In transmissions without synchros or
   with very worn synchros, double-clutching makes it much easier to shift.
   Basically, if you double-clutch well, you are not using the synchros at
   all.  This is generally unnecessary on street cars with synchros in good
   condition.

Q: What do the numbers for acceleration from 0-60, 1/4 mile, skidpad, and
   slalom times in the Auto Magazines really mean?  May they be compared?

A: In short, 1) not as much as the magazines want you to believe, and
   2) almost never.

   In more detail:  the acceleration numbers (0-60mph and 1/4 mile times
   in the US) may be vaguely compared as long as they all come from the
   same source.  Testing procedures vary so much from magazine to magazine
   that comparing a Road & Track number to a Car & Driver number is quite
   pointless.  Keep in mind, too, that the same variation applies from
   driver to driver on the street; the driver is a major (often *the*
   major) part of the equation.

   Skidpads vary, and even if they didn't, skidpad figures are really
   only tests of the stickiness of the stock tires; they change radically
   when tire compounds change.  DO NOT make any assumptions about the
   comparative handling of, say, two sports sedans based on skidpad numbers.
   This is not to suggest that skidpads are without value, however. Skidpads
   are an excellent educational tool at driving schools.  They are simply
   of limited value in the comparison of anything except tires.

   Slalom times are slightly more useful; they test some small parts of the
   automobile's transient response.  However, they are also heavily influenced
   by the stock rubber on the car, and they do not test many corners of the
   car's envelope.  They DO NOT tell you all you need to know before making
   a buying decision.  For example, they don't tell you what the rear end
   of the car will do on a road which suddenly goes off-camber.  When a car
   has an adjustable suspension, these tests are usually done in the `sport'
   setting, which may be quite unsuitable for daily driving.  The list of
   caveats could go on for page after page.

Misc. Questions:

Q:  What does <name or acronym> stand for?

A:  Here is a list of some of the names which are commonly asked
    about; be careful in soliciting the meanings of other names
    as misinformation abounds on the net.  In particular, NEVER
    ask in rec.humor if you want a useful result.

    Saab:   Svenska Aeroplan A. B.,
              or The Swedish Airplane Corporation

    Alfa:   Societa Anonima Lombarda Fabbrica Automobili,
              or The Lombardy Automobile Manufacturing Company

    Fiat:   Fabbrica Italiana di Automobili Torino,
              or The Italian Automobile Manufacturers of Turin

    BMW:    Bayerische Motoren Werke,
              or Bavarian Motor Works

    MG:     Morris Garage


Q:  Does VW own Porsche?

A:  No.  Porsche is a publicly held company, controlled by the Porsche and
    Piech families.  Porsche has extensive business dealings with VW/Audi,
    which causes some confusion.  Since currently Porsche is in some
    financial difficulty, there is a possibility that Mercedes or VW may
    be interested in purchasing the company in the near future, but this
    is only speculation at this time.
--
richard welty        518-393-7228       [e-mail]
``Nothing good has ever been reported about the full rotation of
  a race car about either its pitch or roll axis''  -- Carroll Smith
Xref: bloom-picayune.mit.edu rec.autos:93173 rec.autos.tech:48676 rec.autos.sport:25114 rec.autos.driving:14711 rec.autos.vw:10584 alt.autos.antique:2404 news.answers:4707
Path: bloom-picayune.mit.edu!enterpoop.mit.edu!biosci!uwm.edu!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!darwin.sura.net!udel!intercon!psinntp!balltown!welty
From: [e-mail] (richard welty)
Newsgroups: rec.autos,rec.autos.tech,rec.autos.sport,rec.autos.driving,rec.autos.vw,alt.autos.antique,misc.consumer,news.answers
Subject: rec.autos: Frequently Asked Consumer/Automotive Questions
Keywords: Monthly Posting
Message-ID: <[e-mail]>
Date: 20 Dec 92 05:04:04 GMT
Reply-To: [e-mail]
Followup-To: rec.autos
Organization: New York State Institute for Sebastian Cabot Studies
Lines: 471
Approved: [e-mail]

Archive-name: rec-autos/part5

[this article is one of a pair of articles containing commonly
asked automotive questions; the other article contains questions
more geared to the automotive enthusiast, and so is not crossposted
to misc.consumers.  this monthly posting is returning to misc.consumers
after an extended layoff -- rpw]

[changes as of 20 November 1992: comments about absence of
speed limit and radar detector Q&A in this posting -- rpw]

                 Commonly Asked Automotive Questions


Tire Questions:

Q:  What do the funny numbers on the sides of my tires mean?

A:  Typically, you will see something like 195/60HR14.  the 195 is the
    overall width of the tire in millimeters, the tread is usually
    narrower.  The 60 is the `aspect ratio'; it indicates the height of the
    sidewall of the tire relative to the overall width.  Our example tire
    has a sidewall height of 0.60 * 195 ~= 117 mm.  The 14 is the wheel
    diameter in inches; there are also some special tires called `TRX'
    tires which have three digit metric wheel diameter designations, like
    390, which is in millimeters.  The R means Radial, and the H is a speed
    rating indicating the highest speed at which the tire, when properly
    inflated and carrying an appropriate load, may safely operate.  Common
    speed ratings are S (112MPH), T (118MPH), H (130MPH), and V (up to
    150MPH.)

    Recent changes to the method for specifying tire sizes move the speed
    rating to a different part of the designation; you may therefore find
    designations like 195/60R14 85H; the 85 indicates the per-tire load
    associated with the speed rating -- exceeding this load in continuous
    operation at the rated speed is dangerous practice.  What follows is
    a table showing a number of `load indices' and corresponding maximum
    per-tire loads:

    Load Index       50   51   88   89   112   113   145   149   157
    Max Load (Kg)   190  195  560  580  1120  1150  2900  3250  4125

    Note that the usual mass vs. weight confusion occurs in this table.

    In some cases, the letters P or LT may be found in front of a tire
    size; the LT designation indicates Light Truck, and the P designation
    indicates Passenger car.  If no letter is given, then the application
    of the tire is Passenger car usage.  As far as I know, these letters
    only appear in the US market.  The LT designation is prinicipally of
    interest to owners of light trucks and other utility vehicles.  For
    the owner of a passenger vehicle, there is no meaningful difference
    between a tire with a P designation and one with no designation at
    all.

    If the aspect ratio is omitted, it is probably 80, but may be 78.

    Tires with an MS (mud/snow) designation may have their speed rating
    reduced by 20 km/h (about 12mph.)

    There is an additional set of ratings on tires for temperature,
    traction, and treadwear.  Temperature and Traction are graded
    A, B, and C (with A the best and C the worst); treadwear is
    a numeric rating.  These values are of limited value, as they
    are assigned somewhat arbitrarily by tire manufacturers and are
    thus not useful in comparing different brands of tires.

Q:  My car has tires with a funny size designation:  185/65HR390; can i put
    normal tires on the car?

A:  Your tires are called TRX tires; they were devised by Michelin.
    Because of a somewhat different bead design, they are incompatible
    with normal tires; Michelin used a different diameter wheel for them
    so that they could not be mounted on the wrong type wheel (and so that
    more conventional tires could not be mounted on TRX type wheels.)
    You will need to aquire different wheels to put a normal tire on your
    car; it is barely possible to fit normal tires on TRX wheels, and horribly
    dangerous to do so (the tires may simply peel off the rims in a corner,
    or possibly blow out at high speed.)  TRX type tires are becoming hard
    to find; in addition to Michelin, Avon makes suitable tires.  Goodyear
    has apparently discontinued their line of TRX tires.

Q:  Can I rotate radials from side to side, or rotate them only on one side
    of my car?

A:  Car and tire manufacturers have differing views on this subject; many
    say that swapping radials between the left and right hand sides of a
    car is now ok (this group includes Michelin and Goodyear); others
    (for example, Pirelli and Nokia) will void warranties if such swapping
    is done.  The best advice is to read your tire manual carefully before
    rotating your tires, and stick to the manufacturer's recommendations.