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Messages - nbzimmer

1
Misc Tech / What does "CO" mean on a digital fuel gauge?
Thanks for the info.  I took a quick peek under the car and saw the problem right away.  The car has been sitting outside again for several months and something chewed through the wires.  I'm just glad I won't have to drop the tank to fix it.
4
Electrical Tech / Digital Speedometer Light is out!
I don't know the number right off, but it's a basic bulb.  The number is in the owner's manual if you have one.  The whole cluster has to be partially removed to get to the bulb.  There are several threads with tips about this.
6
Body/Appearance/Interior / HOW TO - Replace Moon Roof Weather Stripping
I just noticed this write-up.  Thanks for doing it!  I purchased the kit from Sunroof Doctor almost a year ago but I haven't put it in yet because I have a broken lifter arm.  Kafer79 is hooking me up with a replacement (thanks for that!) so hopefully I will soon be enjoying the moonroof the way it was intended.  About 8 years ago or so, when I was younger and dumber, I just put a bead of silicone caulk around the whole thing.  It got rid of the noise, but it kind of defeated the purpose of the moonroof.  This will be much, much better.
7
Lounge / Purchased Newer Truck
Nice lookin' truck.  I bought an '05 4x4 Crew last fall.  It had about 110K at the time, and of course I did not find out about the spark plug design issue until afterwards.  Now it is about 120K and I still haven't done anything.  I've just been putting it off because I'm skittish about doing it myself and I'm afraid of how much it will end up costing me at the shop.  Only gonna get worse, though!

Aside from the 14MPG average, I'm enjoying the truck a lot.  I've only had three partial issues.  One is a loud squeal a few seconds after startup on very cold mornings.  I was trying to read up about it on some forums, but I wasn't convinced that most of the posters knew what they were talking about.  I think people were just pulling stuff out of the air.  I put on a new belt already, so that wasn't it.  One theory seems to be that they just do this and it is caused by the PS pump taking a few seconds to get lubed up.  For now I'm letting that one ride.  It has only done it a handful of times.

I do wonder if I might be developing the issue that 50RACER describes, because the engine does clatter more than I would have expected.  I had the shop take a listen when I got the tires rotated a couple months back, but they didn't think anything of it.  But it was a non-dealer shop, so they might not be aware of this specific issue. 

The only other thing is an occasional exhaust smell through the vents when stopped at a light or idling.  This also seems to be a common problem, but usually it is caused by loose plugs after a tune-up.  Since I still have original plugs, I doubt that is it.

Anyhow, enjoy the new ride!
9
Lounge / WTF are they thinking about?
If Ford made something with more passenger room than a Ranger but smaller overall than an F-150 I'd be interested.  I was looking pretty hard at the Sport Trac here a few months ago, but in the end I just couldn't get over how ugly they are.  Obviously they didn't sell that great either since Ford dropped them, I think it was in 2011.  But again, speaking for myself, that would be a nice size.  I ended up buying an '05 F-150 Supercrew and I like it, but it is definitely larger than I need and the gas mileage and the maneuverability are obviously not great.
13
Lounge / What is the law? (can a cop do this?)
Quote from: Haystack;410508
If your getting pulled over for sure, pull over BEFORE the lights come on. Be curtious and apologetic and blunt. It will go a LONG way.

That is a new one to me.  So you actually pull over before you have to, and that seems to help avoid a ticket?  I always keep my head facing straight forward, drive real careful, and pray that the flashing lights don't come on!!!
14
T-Bird/Cougar Parts & Cars FOR SALE / NOS console plates.....
Quote from: BCA;410560
There are actually three versions.

Window switches on the 85-86 cars were pull-back for "up" and push forward for "down". 87-88 was the opposite; push-forward for "up" and pull-back for "down".

I just want to say it is awesome that you knew that.  And also hilarious that they would change such an insigificant detail while keeping the overall structure the same.  I mean, can't you just picture some engineers or whoever in a meeting arguing about if the switch should go forward or backward to open the window?  Good stuff . . .
15
T-Bird/Cougar Parts & Cars WANTED / Lifter Arm for 1987 Cougar/T-Bird Electric Moon Roof (driver's side)
Quote from: nbzimmer;409970
Thanks.  It looks like a local yard might have a moonroof for about $150.  If that includes the arm I need, then that might be the way to go.  But I will do a little checking around for just the arm first.  Ya never know . . . .

For what it's worth, the one I found was for a 1988 Lincoln Continental.  They told me the glass is the same but the frame, motor, etc are different.  So according to them the lifter arm or whatever you want to call it would be different.  Kind of weird that the glass would be the same but not the mechanics.  Ya learn something every day, I guess.  Back to the drawing board . . .