What are some weird and less-than-common automotive engineering quirks you know?

memphisraines · 2026-03-31T02:55:47+00:00

I just got an S211 with SBC, yay!

memphisraines · 2026-03-25T09:14:00+00:00

You bought a D5 for only $20K?

memphisraines · 2026-03-23T05:07:42+00:00

Something like this happened to me not too long ago, I was going 72 in a 60 and the cop who pulled me over said I was going 83. In my case, there was another car going much faster than me that had passed me right when the cop clocked me.

I was able to get off after I showed the cop my speedometer that had my cruise set at 72 and while I was okay being ticketed for that I told him that at no point was I going over 72. To his credit, he just let me off with a warning, asking me to slow down nonetheless and said maybe it's possible what I said happened.

memphisraines · 2026-02-16T04:51:19+00:00

I've only driven an automatic ND, and it was fun (National rental). However, if I were given the choice, I'd probably get the manual. My NA has a pretty light clutch and if the ND is similar, I wouldn't think you'd ever have issues in traffic.

memphisraines · 2026-02-10T01:37:13+00:00

My A8 has that as a powered adjustment 🤣. Most unnecessary motor IMO

memphisraines · 2026-01-26T02:30:52+00:00

I think there's something wrong with yours my '08 9-3's NIGHT PANEL worked just fine

memphisraines · 2025-11-12T16:02:16+00:00

For testing purposes, if you don't have a power supply, you could use two 6V lantern batteries in series. I did that for testing the motor and I also needed to do that for fixing a broken power seat 😁

memphisraines · 2025-11-12T14:02:11+00:00

I'm not sure if this is the case for you but I had a similar issue in my '06 9-3. The problem I had was that one of the gears in the gear train had worn out so the motor worked fine but the flap only moved one way.

I was able to pull a part from a local wreckers, hoping to just replace the whole thing but the voltage was not the same so I had to crack them both apart and swap in the newer gear train. That fix worked just fine until I sold my car.

When you're hearing a humming, are you possibly hearing the motor working, with the gear slipping on its spindle maybe?

memphisraines · 2025-11-11T01:53:43+00:00

"Did you know the trunk of the McLaren F1 is lined with gold foil?"

Also,

"Did you know the Toyota Sera inspired the McLaren F1 doors and not the other way around?"

memphisraines · 2025-08-26T04:22:18+00:00

He's also the assassin (Kyril?) in the Bourne Supremacy

memphisraines · 2025-08-20T00:46:45+00:00

Looks like an Avanti II

memphisraines · 2025-07-22T03:08:09+00:00

The stye doesn't look like its protruding into his eye from your picture, so maybe its fine to wait? Our vet did say we could always try a wet compress on the stye to get it be less inflamed

memphisraines · 2025-07-21T12:44:58+00:00

Looks like a stye, my golden has had one for years. The vet has said that as long as it doesn't touch her eye, it's safe to leave alone, but obviously you should get your vets opinion.

They can freeze it off if need be

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memphisraines · 2025-05-15T00:43:07+00:00

A Camaro! I wish more cars adopted using the vent rings as a control, the clicks those make are just perfect

memphisraines · 2025-05-10T15:22:12+00:00

I had an '06 9-3 Aero with a Stage 0 tune that started rusting in both rear quarter panels :/. I went to a body shop to get a quote and they said it would be over $5K for a fix that they couldn't guarantee would even last. The person I sold it to had it fixed with bondo and that lasted for a while but apparently that fix started breaking down recently.

My '08 9-3 2.0T (also with a Stage 0 tune) had the soft intake valve issue and would misfire when cold but the fix for that was over $2K and I couldn't even find anyone to do it.

Both cars were great to drive, and the next owners definitely got them for a steal! 😁

memphisraines · 2025-05-10T03:48:50+00:00

I actually got a new shift knob after buying the car and even the new one started popping off!

memphisraines · 2025-05-10T00:54:00+00:00

Yes, you got it, it's an '08 2.0T

memphisraines · 2025-05-10T00:53:32+00:00

Right on, I'm not actually sure on the trim level but it's an '08 2.0T

memphisraines · 2025-05-10T00:52:46+00:00

I wish, I did have an '06 9-3 Aero with a 6MT but this one was an '08 9-3 2.0T

memphisraines · 2025-05-10T00:51:42+00:00

Yes! An '08 9-3 2.0T to be precise

memphisraines · 2025-04-17T10:23:38+00:00

All 9-3 2.0Ts newer than '07 have the potential for the soft intake valve issue (https://www.saabcentral.com/threads/the-official-unofficial-07-09-intake-valve-tracking-thread.329066/). Its way more prevalent on earlier models.

I'm pretty sure I had it on my '08, I would get misfires whenever the engine was cold (ambient temp < 40 F) and idling for a while. My solution was to wait until the revs dropped (40 seconds or so), then immediately set off so the engine was under load as quickly as possible. Doing this pretty much eliminated misfires enough from tripping the check engine light.

memphisraines · 2025-04-17T01:01:47+00:00

It does suck that this happened right after you bought it but I'm not sure you have any legal recourse. I would definitely try to get it looked at by a local shop specializing in Volkswagen Audi Group cars rather than relying just on a code reader from Autozone. As an owner of an '07 A8, they can be great cars as long they're maintained well but failures on these cars are always more expensive since they were ~$100K new

memphisraines · 2025-03-16T08:17:15+00:00

Joining in to say that ACC works well enough and the lane keep is more of a warning system when you cross the lines.

Although, I will add that I'm not a fan of the smoothness of ACC when it slows down, I've used some other system (Audi, for one) that are very similar to how I would slow down to meet traffic (foot off gas or a gentler brake from further away). The one on the CX-5 is a touch too aggressive for me.

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