When Range Rover Air Suspensions Go Flat
Last week we received a 2005 Range Rover for service. It had two observable symptoms - the suspension would go flat, and the suspension warning light was on. We scanned the car using the Land Rover test system, and read several faults. We got a long time to charge suspension fault, a rear height sensor fault, and a low voltage fault. That鈥檚 when things got complicated. The car obviously had multiple issues. When you see a long time to charge fault in a six year old Range Rover, it usually means the compressor is worn out. The question is - why? Compressors on these trucks wear out on their own, but they also wear out because of leakage (it overworks them and kills them even quicker.) As a service person we have no way to know what鈥檚 happening. We have to change the compressor and see what happens. Unfortunately, it wasn鈥檛 a simple one step fix. The compressor contains electronics, and it has different running parameters from the original unit.
My Recycled Old Armoire or TV Cabinet. You could always turn it into a giant jewelry box. The best idea I have seen is this chicken coop. So cute and so nice the doors can close and chickens kept safe. When I had birds I wish I had known about making aviary like this one. The aviary would have been just great for our birds. I was always looking for a bigger cage for them. This one made from scratch. Another good site for step by step instructions on making an aviary. This is my friend's old one she had her television in it at one time. She has now turned it into a place to put her sewing machine. Works great in her sewing room and she can close it away. My pictures aren't the best I was trying to take them with my phone camera. It does give you an idea of what you can do if you need a place for your sewing machine. She lives out of town and we went for a visit. I happen to see this and thought it was such a great idea.
So we wanted to spend time with the Z4 on more familiar turf to see what life is like with BMW's newest roadster. Aside from the Z4's new styling, the most notable change from the previous "E85" generation is the adoption of a retractable hard top in place of a fabric roof. In general, we're not big fans of hardtop convertibles due to the additional space they consume when folded - not to mention the additional weight they carry around. The new Z4 is about five inches longer overall than the last generation, and most of that length has been added to the rear end to accommodate the tin top. Fortunately, the staff at BMW's DesignworksUSA studio have done an admirable job of maintaining the classic long-hood, rear cockpit proportions in this new iteration. In general, this new Z4 is a huge aesthetic improvement over its predecessor. Elaborate surface development was the order of the day the last time around, but to many eyes, the Z3's sheetmetal seemed to go every which way without much coherence.
The iconic Land Rover Defender went out of production two years ago, but it鈥檚 not quite dead yet. To mark the company鈥檚 70th anniversary this year, it鈥檚 launching the fastest and most powerful version it鈥檚 ever produced. The Defender Works V8 is a special model from the Land Rover Classic division, limited to just 150 examples. Starting at 拢150,000 - or 拢45,000 more than a Range Rover V8 Autobiography - it鈥檚 the first V8 Defender that Land Rover has produced for 20 years. The Works V8 is a comprehensively re-engineered Collector鈥檚 Edition that features a 400bhp 5.0-litre naturally aspirated V8; a far cry from the 120bhp four-cylinder diesel engine traditionally offered. Both short-wheelbase 90 and long-wheelbase 110 versions of the Works V8 will be available. Alongside the new engine, the work extends to fitting uprated brakes, exclusive 18-inch alloy wheels with all-terrain tyres and a handling kit, which includes bespoke springs, dampers and anti-roll bars. The Defender鈥檚 rugged, go-anywhere nature hasn鈥檛 changed. As such, the Land Rover still features permanent all-wheel drive with a two-speed transfer box, as well as heavy-duty front and rear differentials. The Works V8 retains live axles front and rear, too. Other than the wheels, the exterior is almost entirely faithful to the standard model. Eight body colours are available, including two satin finishes, with a contrasting black roof, wheelarches and front grille. The door handles, fuel filler cap and bonnet lettering are all finished in machined aluminium, while Bi-LED headlights have also been added. Inside, leather Recaro sports seats feature, plus the dashboard, door panels and headlining are trimmed in leather. Land Rover Classic has fitted its own infotainment system as well. A number of high-performance Land Rover Classic upgrades have been launched for existing Defenders, too. These include a diesel power boost, plus uprated suspension and brake kits.
In the first six months of 2012 Canadians have purchased or leased 866,000 new automobiles. 15.5% of those new purchases have resulted in full-size trucks being driven home (or to the workplace); another 9.2% were either Canada's best-selling car, best-selling minivan, or best-selling SUV. Among Canada's four major segment-leading vehicles - which happen to be ranked first, third, fourth, and ninth in this list of 254 vehicles - only the Ford Escape is in a true battle to hold on to its long-held crown. The Honda CR-V is only 1004 units abaft. Ford's F-Series sells 1.5 times for every single sale of its chief truck rival, the Ram P/U. The Honda Civic's passenger car lead over the Hyundai Elantra is 6572-units strong. And the Dodge Grand Caravan owns 55% of the Canadian minivan market. GoodCarBadCar has published many more details right in the list of Canada's all vehicle rankings for the first half of 2012. You'll see, for example, year-to-date and year-over-year sales results for not just the Hyundai Elantra, but the Elantra Touring. Not just the Toyota Camry but the Camry Hybrid, too. Not just the Volkswagen Golf, but the sporty GTI, as well.
