Recent content by Duster

Caltrans and CHP require even 4X4s with snow tires to carry chains. There are three levels of traction control. Under the lowest, 4x4s with snow tires are fine. Under the next, more intense condition, you don't need to chain up in 4x4, but you're supposed to carry them. Under the highest...

You're really being too hard on them. Sometimes they just want to delay, or like a CHP neighbor of ours used to do, pull my dad over - generally stressing him - only to ask if he wanted some coffee.

Out of curiosity, for those of us who live in California, what sort of snow chains or cables do you carry to keep Caltrans and the CHP happy?

This depends on additional things like tire size. The lift increases the distance between the steering arm end of the drag link and the wheel end. You should be able to inspect the drag link and determine whether there's any adjustment left, or if it has been adjusted recently. When you see a...

My 2016 stays dead center once at temperature. So, follow Anybodyhome's advice and check out the cooling system carefully.

Most of the problems you hear about are probably real, but any alternative has its own problems that are just as irritating. I might argue that some makes like my Toyota Tacoma 4X4 were really sound, but even it had a wheel bearing problem pop up on a long-distance drive. All vehicles are the...

Did you find out what color it is?

In the words of an old television advert, "de-pimp the Jeep."

I have stock headlights, which are considerably less brilliant, and still get occasional flashers, but especially low riding or small vehicles. I've driven past plenty of police at night though, and they can and will issue a fix-it ticket if they think your lights are a problem. That said...

I used to drive older Fords, Buicks, and a couple of Japanese vehicles in the '70s and '80s. The oldest was a '56 Ford pickup. None of them had threaded starters. They were all held on by either two or three bolts into the block immediately in front of the flywheel. Since then, I've never...

Were the bolts difficult to remove as well as tighten? It sounds like there are issues either with the bolt length or the thickness of the replacement starter base.

I have a manual, so mostly a stranger to Park. The automatic makes diagnosis trickier too.

One diagnostic, and simple, is to get it idling if you can. If the wiring is original, the insulation may be getting brittle. You need it in neutral with the drive wheels off the ground so it can't go anywhere accidentally. Starting wiggling wires, which simulates bumps in the road, one wire...

There's one thing I would do that isn't on your list. I would have the wheels balanced just on the off chance that I was getting a harmonic vibration I could feel in the brake pedal. But, aside from that the ABS element may be spoofed by what is triggering the code.

If you consider the pros and cons, having the fender push off is probably the better solution. It's likely more trouble, but cheaper to replace the clips, and maybe a fender than requiring full-fledged body work.