The beginning of the end? WTF happened?

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Hachiroku - 27 May 2006 18:24 GMT

Wanted to put an alarm in the Supra. Here in Mass, you get 15% off your
insurance with alarms installed, and the Canadian models didn't come with
the Factory alarm.

So, drove to W. Spfld, nearest dealer that actually HAD one, and 2/3 of
the way there, I smell something. Since I was going through Holyoke, I
figured the Illegals were burning the place again (eh, Wicked Doll/ mark
digital?)

Then I see the smoke billowing out from under MY car!!!. I pull over and
the temp gauge starts heading for the roof. I shut it down and got out;
looke under the hood, and it looked like a lot of oil hit the header.
Coolant was full and looked normal, oil looked god (a little low) and
normal, but the dipstick was hotter than HELL!!!

I lit a ciggy and just let the smoke dissapate (the oil smoke, that
is...), then turned the ign ON but not Start. The temp was still high. I
finished the smoke, and with nothing visible anywhere I started it up. The
gauge hovered where it was for 10 seconds and then started dropping. Oh,
well, I can't stay here.

Went down, bought the alarm, and took the old highway (Rt 5) back to
Northampton. Bought a coffe and a couple quarts of oil, started off again
and got back on the Interstate. Never smoked or overheated again!

WHAT THE HELL HAPPENED?!?!?!?! I can't figure it out. A guess? The PCV
valve clogged and blew some oil past the VCG...it needs a new gasket
anyway.

Nothing else appeared to have happened; at first I thought it was a BHG,
but the smoke was coming from the Passenger's side, and the exhaust is on
the driver's side...

When we put the timing belt in the car, we found a whole bunch of records
indicating the girl who owned it before spent $900 on the cooling system;
all new hoses, thermostat, I think a radiator, etc. So it looks like it
had cooling probs before. NEVER did this to me before!

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Mike Hunter - 27 May 2006 19:36 GMT

I believe you are confusing the insurance premium discount for a passive
anti theft system, with alarm systems. The first get a discount the latter
does not.

mike hunt

> Wanted to put an alarm in the Supra. Here in Mass, you get 15% off your
> insurance with alarms installed, and the Canadian models didn't come with
> the Factory alarm.

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Hachiroku - 27 May 2006 21:47 GMT

> I believe you are confusing the insurance premium discount for a passive
> anti theft system, with alarm systems. The first get a discount the latter
> does not.
>
> mike hunt

Here, as long as you have some kind of anit theft system, you get a
discount.

Besides, I can set it up to arm passively AND lock the doors.

I can also set it up to lock the doors when you start the car, and unlock
them when you turn the car off. Then, it arms and locks the doors 30
seconds after the last door is closed.

Actually, it is the exact same alarm installed by a Toyota dealer if you
get the Dealer installed option.

>> Wanted to put an alarm in the Supra. Here in Mass, you get 15% off your
>> insurance with alarms installed, and the Canadian models didn't come with
>> the Factory alarm.

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Mike Hunter - 28 May 2006 23:22 GMT

Locked doors and alarms do not an 'anti-theft system' make. A PAT, or
anti-thief system, is one that prevents the vehicle from being started by
anything but the coded key once the doors have been locked. If you have
only an alarm system a thief can simply bust into your vehicle, walk away
until the alarm times out, then return and hot wire it and drive away. ;)

mike hunt

>> I believe you are confusing the insurance premium discount for a passive
>> anti theft system, with alarm systems. The first get a discount the
[quoted text clipped - 14 lines]
> Actually, it is the exact same alarm installed by a Toyota dealer if you
> get the Dealer installed option.

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Ray O - 29 May 2006 00:02 GMT

> Locked doors and alarms do not an 'anti-theft system' make. A PAT, or
> anti-thief system, is one that prevents the vehicle from being started by
[quoted text clipped - 4 lines]
>
> mike hunt

This is true, however, from my experience in Massachusetts, you will get the
insurance discount if just about any anti-theft system better than the Club
is used.

Reminds me of a former co-worker, who used to use one of those original
devices that locked the steering wheel to the brake pedal on his company
car, and we used to kid him that that thing was useless and a waste of
money.

His Celica GTS was stolen from a shopping mall and recovered a few weeks
later. The car was found completely stripped including wheels, tires,
engine, transmission, stereo, interior, hood, doors, fenders, etc. but the
club thing was still installed! At least the thieves had a sense of humor.

Signature

Ray O
(correct punctuation to reply)

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Mike Hunter - 29 May 2006 00:28 GMT

If they want your car for parts or for export, they will simply drag it up
onto a flat bed. Most newer cars today have a PAT system. My wife always
wonders why I lock the doors on my car when the top is down. ;)

mike hunt

>> Locked doors and alarms do not an 'anti-theft system' make. A PAT, or
>> anti-thief system, is one that prevents the vehicle from being started by
[quoted text clipped - 18 lines]
> club thing was still installed! At least the thieves had a sense of
> humor.

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Ray O - 29 May 2006 06:11 GMT

> If they want your car for parts or for export, they will simply drag it up
> onto a flat bed. Most newer cars today have a PAT system. My wife always
> wonders why I lock the doors on my car when the top is down. ;)
>
> mike hunt

LOL! IMO, modern PAT systems are a very good idea. People complain about
the high cost of replacement keys but IMO, factory systems are more
effective and reliable than most aftermarket systems.

Signature

Ray O
(correct punctuation to reply)

>
>>> Locked doors and alarms do not an 'anti-theft system' make. A PAT, or
[quoted text clipped - 20 lines]
>> the club thing was still installed! At least the thieves had a sense of
>> humor.

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Hachiroku - 30 May 2006 18:25 GMT

I get the same thing: "you're locking the dorrs with the roff panel out?!?!"

Yup...it'll take them that much longer, and there is always someone around
where I work.

If they really want it, they'll just Flatbed it, no mater WHAT you have
installed!

>>> Locked doors and alarms do not an 'anti-theft system' make. A PAT, or
>>> anti-thief system, is one that prevents the vehicle from being started by
[quoted text clipped - 18 lines]
>> club thing was still installed! At least the thieves had a sense of
>> humor.

Reply to this Message

Ray O - 27 May 2006 23:09 GMT

> Wanted to put an alarm in the Supra. Here in Mass, you get 15% off your
> insurance with alarms installed, and the Canadian models didn't come with
[quoted text clipped - 33 lines]
> all new hoses, thermostat, I think a radiator, etc. So it looks like it
> had cooling probs before. NEVER did this to me before!

I forget which engine your Supra has, check the cam tower gaskets for
leaking oil. You may see oil pooling in the valley between the cam towers.

Signature

Ray O
(correct punctuation to reply)

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Hachiroku - 28 May 2006 03:01 GMT

>> Wanted to put an alarm in the Supra. Here in Mass, you get 15% off your
>> insurance with alarms installed, and the Canadian models didn't come with
[quoted text clipped - 36 lines]
> I forget which engine your Supra has, check the cam tower gaskets for
> leaking oil. You may see oil pooling in the valley between the cam towers.

Hmmm...

7M-GE

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Ray O - 28 May 2006 07:09 GMT

>>> Wanted to put an alarm in the Supra. Here in Mass, you get 15% off your
>>> insurance with alarms installed, and the Canadian models didn't come
[quoted text clipped - 47 lines]
>
> 7M-GE

IIRC, it was the 5M-GE engine that had the leaky cam tower gaskets. I'd
take a look at the PCV and give the valve cover bolts a little tightening.

Signature

Ray O
(correct punctuation to reply)

Reply to this Message

> Wanted to put an alarm in the Supra. Here in Mass, you get 15% off your
> insurance with alarms installed, and the Canadian models didn't come with
[quoted text clipped - 4 lines]
> figured the Illegals were burning the place again (eh, Wicked Doll/ mark
> digital?)

I went to Holyoke this morning via I-391 and didn't smell anything.
Sometimes I do.

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jakdedert - 28 May 2006 05:27 GMT

In the last Ford I owned (16 years ago), I was driving down the
interstate when a tremendous noise emanated from under the hood,
accompanied by much smoke. I shut it (2.3 litre four) down, coasted to
the shoulder, opened the hood.

Nothing. Just a little residual smoke that smelled like...RUBBER! I
started it again...more smoke, then BANG! no more smoke. That was the
AC clutch going out. The piston-style compressor had thrown a rod (the
noise) freezing it up and causing the belt to burn (the smoke, smell).

I pulled the wire to the compressor clutch and drove home....

jak

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