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White Hall, VA Car Consumer Discussions

Re: Passlock Security System. [tommyo1]

by lovemygrandam on Mon Nov 17 18:15:00 PST 2008

Tommyo1 I just updated my website with some additional information regarding the Passlock Security system on the Grand Am. It's at: http://www.bergerweb.net/grandamsecurityfix.htm Perhaps the added information will explain what is done when doing the mod. The Passlock Module inside the ignition switch is connected to the Body Control Module by three wires... White, Yellow, and Black. The white wire furnishes power, the black wire is ground, and the yellow wire is the signal. Inside the BCM is another resistor which goes to +5 volts. When the ignition switch is turned on, the hall effect switch inside the ignition module turns on the circuit, connecting one end of the resistors to the ground wire (black). This causes a voltage somewhere between 1 volt and 4 volts to be present on the yellow wire. It doesn't matter what the voltage is, as long as it is the same voltage every time the ignition is turned on, and that voltage is what the BCM has memorized. Now you can see how simply removing the Passlock Module from the circuit, and replacing it with a fixed resistor will fix the Passlock problem, but ONLY if the problem is caused by the Passlock Module. I certainly hope this helps everyone. Now that I have posted this update on my website, I'm sure they will hunt me down. Dick.

Re: One liners from the sales frontlines (back on topic).... [joel0622]

by graphicguy on Fri Nov 14 13:53:08 PST 2008

joel....I'm very fearful of "gov't as shareholder". You'd very possibly end up with companies that were run by gov'ts with the names of Yugo, Lada and Skoda. Plus, you could say that the rank and file are now employees of the Fed. Just what we'd need, more Fed employees. I do agree it costs more to let them fail, than to bail them out. But, there's been a lot of fat in the factories and halls of GM, Ford, and even Chrysler for way too long. Just looking at GM, how many iterations of the Malibu are really viable? How about Chevy trucks vs GMC trucks? Ford isn't in much better shape. is Mercury really needed? Volvo? After the hatchet job Daimler did on Chrysler (and carried on by Cerebus), what's left? Challenger? Jeep? Ram trucks? Point of it all, yes, I believe we have to bail out the Detroit automakers. But, they have to put forth a viable pay back plan. That should include UAW shedding a good portion of its members, restructure the contract that's already in place. Cut dealerships, brands and white collar employees. The bailout shouldn't come for free, either. There should be a payback period...say 5 years....with interest. Don't forget that Toyota and Honda also employ U.S. workers. Expect a squawk from them. It's going to be painful, for certain. Even the more recent low gas prices aren't going to dig them out of this hole. I don't hear anyone proposing any of these painful remedies. I don't see any way around it, though. The onus of responsibility should be on the automakers...not waiting for Congress to just haphazzardly throw money at them. Unless the automakers come up with a plan that addresses all of the above, then I'm not so certain we should be willing to help, either.

Re: 1991 Volvo 240 With EGR valve Running 2 Rich [bolvo]

by galgo on Tue Jul 22 19:03:40 PDT 2008

Bolvo: No, she isn't evil. Just can't speak. Nobody has actually found the problem yet. Check the Hall Sensor in the distributor and the Oxygen sensor mounted on the exhaust pipe just behind and below the engine. The Hall Sensor, if incorrectly operating, can give erratic ignition behavior. If the O2 sensor is in poor condition, it can provide very poor gas mileage because it tricks the engine into thinking it needs more fuel. Any "generic" O2 sensor will work. It will have 3 wires. 2 black and one white. Clip the old ones and connect the new ones with some sleeve type crimp connectors and then solder them with rosin electrical solder. Do not trust the crimp only. Solder them. You are dealing with milli volts. Check: volvospeed.com matthewsvolvosite.com brickboard.com and http://volvospeed.com/bay13.htm for additional options. Regards. Galgo.

From the archives...

by backy on Mon Dec 24 19:18:43 PST 2007

... but updated with current models, based on a post here from five years (!) ago. Posted for the current "generation" of contributors. (Alas, so few of us from five years ago are still around today...) (If anyone may be offended by a tribute to a classic seasonal poem, they should skip this post.) T'was the night before Christmas, and all through the 'Hall few members were posting--were they still at the mall? The driveway was plowed with the greatest of care in hopes that new wheels may soon be parked there. The drivers were nestled all snug in their beds while visions of low-end cars danced in their heads. My sweetie in her driving gloves, and I in my cap, had just settled down for a long winter's nap. When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter, I sprang from the bed to see what was the matter. Away to the window I flew like a flash, Tore open the mini-blinds and threw up the sash. The moon on the breast of the new-fallen snow Gave the lustre of mid-day to objects below, When, what with my eyes should I see 'neath the stars, But a miniature sleigh, and eight low-end cars! With a little old driver, so lively and quick, I knew in a moment it must be St. Nick. More rapid than eagles his small cars they came, And he whistled, and shouted, and called them by name; "Now, CIVIC! now, LANCER! now, FOCUS and SPECTRA! On, ACCENT! on VERSA! on, YARIS and SENTRA! To the front of the house! zoom right up to the wall! Now dash away! dash away! dash away all!" As dry leaves that before the wild hurricane fly, When they meet with an obstacle, mount to the sky, So on to my driveway the vehicles they flew, With the sleigh full of cars, and St. Nicholas too. And then, I could hear from a distance not far, The revving and humming of each little car. As I drew in my hand, and was turning around, Down the chimney St. Nicholas came with a bound. He was dressed all in fur, from his head to his foot, And his clothes were all tarnished with ashes and soot; A bundle of keys he held at his side, And he looked like a dealer, ready for a test-ride. His eyes -- how they twinkled! his dimples how merry! His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry! His droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow, And the beard of his chin was as white as the snow; The stump of a pipe he held tight in his teeth, And the smoke it encircled his head like a wreath; He had a broad face and a little round belly, That shook, when he laughed like a bowlful of jelly. He was chubby and plump, a right jolly old elf, And I laughed when I saw him, in spite of myself; A wink of his eye and a twist of his head, Soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread; He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work, And filled all the stockings; then turned with a jerk, And laying his finger aside of his nose, And giving a nod, up the chimney he rose; He sprang to his sleigh, to his cars gave a whistle, And away they all flew like the down of a thistle. But I saw out my window, as he drove out of sight, A new low-end car on my drive--IT WAS MY LUCKY NIGHT!

Re: Hall Mazda [warever]

by sgtrock2 on Wed Mar 28 16:30:47 PDT 2007

Received a quote on a CX9 AWD Grand Touring crystal white mica peal with the Navigation package, sunroof/Bose, trailer package, roof rack, compass/auto dim mirror with homelink for $36,591. Also received a quote from another dealer for the same vehicle but he would include mudguards, remote start and the Sirrius radio package for the same price. The mazda 27 month lease is actually less expensive than the 39 month lease, higher residual value, waiting on exact lease payments before deciding.

Re: Any Wisconsin & Minnesota Buyers [sgtrock2]

by southpaw75 on Wed Mar 28 06:29:59 PDT 2007

sgtrock - I don't think they've received any GTs with the power liftgate yet. I'm sure that is why they are selling what they have at invoice. They want to make some room for those that will have the liftgate. There is a GT Pearl White at Hall Mazda in Brookfield. Did you check that one out on mazda website?