Recent content by Mister4x4

  1. M

    MSI K9A2GM-FIH & XP SP2 issues

    I just went with reinstalling XP, chipset drivers, XP SP2, then the updated device drivers and the rest of my stuff. All's good now. Thanks for chiming in, though.
  2. M

    MSI K9A2GM-FIH & XP SP2 issues

    OK - so my MSI K9A2GM-FIH system was running 'OK' but had a 'svchost.exe' process that kept sucking up the system RAM until it topped out at over 2GB. Since Windows decided to simply migrate over to the new MSI devices rather than crash and demand a new installation when I swapped mobos (from...
  3. M

    Asus M2N-SLI Deluxe GR

    Sorry I took so long to get back here. I swapped the ASUS mobo out for the MSI I'd ordered and it's been running like a champ ever since - with the original HDD and Crucial Ballistix RAM. As for the ASUS mobo? It's back in its box and chillin' on the 'gonna toss it out someday' pile of...
  4. M

    WD 40 flat tire fix

    Ah yes - an old 'Redneck Off-Roading Event.' Oddly enough, the first time I saw that was with a 44" Super Swamper off a 15" rim. Nothing quite like seeing a mondo tire like that jumping off the ground and shaking in what seems like slow-motion.
  5. M

    What the HELL am I doing wrong with my brakes?

    W3rd. That's why hoses tend to give up sooner if there's an oil leak. Did you bleed or flush? I ask because a friend of mine had a similar problem with his Mazda's brakes. Turns out, he'd topped off the master cylinder with power steering fluid when he grabbed the wrong (although very...
  6. M

    All season tire recommendation.

    I just put a set of Arizonian Silver Edition Plus tires on my wife's '01 Grand Prix GT. Great tires. I had a set of Arizonian Rocky Mountains on my '95 Honda Civic VX Hatchback before I swapped out the stock rims and went with some Nitto NeoGens for it - which I've not been unhappy with any of...
  7. M

    Are these prices reasonable for a full front brake job?

    Replacing pads and rotors IS a 30-minute job... with the right tools. Having a lift, air tools, and all of the right parts on-hand can have the car up, brakes changed, and the car back on its wheels in 30 minutes. Turning the rotors adds another 15 minutes, depending on how badly out-of-round...
  8. M

    With all things considered, which company do you believe produces the better car - BMW or Audi?

    Are you serious? You honestly can't see it? http://news.cnet.com/i/bto/200...Audi_A4_SilverLED_.jpg http://www.deanteamvw.com/imag...s/2008jetta340x227.jpg Crazy. "Machs nicht" to me - I'll most likely never own a car from either company.
  9. M

    Extended Warranty

    It's kind of a trade-off. If you don't buy it, something bad will happen to your car that a warranty would've covered. If you do buy it, the car will run for 300,000 miles without anything major going wrong. I bought the extended warranty on my Ram, and nothing happened during the time...
  10. M

    With all things considered, which company do you believe produces the better car - BMW or Audi?

    Not even close. Porsche/VW/Audi are no different than a German version of Lincoln/Mercury/Ford. Case(s) in point: Porsche Cayenne, VW Touareg, Audi Q7 - they all share the same platform. Audi A4 and VW Jetta - same platform. Audi A6 and VW Passat, same platform. VW Beetle and Audi TT -...
  11. M

    Are these prices reasonable for a full front brake job?

    They're hosing you. First of all, disc brakes are 'self-adjusting,' so that's a BS fee. Only old-school drum brakes require periodic 'adjustment.' And Honda Accords never came with drums on the front. As lupohki said, the high pitch whine is only the pads letting you know they need to be...
  12. M

    Is your car lowered?

    Of course the lowered version looks better. Just be prepared for fender rubbing and a noticeably stiffer ride.
  13. M

    Insurance cost for a Acura TL/TSX

    Wow - I don't pay that much ($200/month) for all 4 of my cars combined... and it's full coverage on all of them. Over the years I've a couple of tickets, a break-in, a deer strike, an accident, and 3 cars damaged by hail storms. Look around for a better deal, and play them all against each...
  14. M

    Asus M2N-SLI Deluxe GR

    Never say never. I woke up to a BSOD this morning. Oh well... it was worth a shot. Since this problem's been plaguing this machine since inception and persisted despite new RAM, RAM settings, and a new HDD, I'm pretty sure I've almost got it narrowed down. If it persists with the new mobo...
  15. M

    Are these rust spots normal after a car wash?

    When real rust actually pokes through the paint like that, it's too late to do anything 'small' about it. You've got trash on your paint... especially since it wipes away with some mild scrubbing. Chances are, it probably showed up when you used the foaming brush (and came off someone else's...