auto parts: October 2010

The AutoExec Wheelmate Desk on Amazon

Heh. Check out the user photos here.

Review: Scosche motorMOUTH II Bluetooth

I was recently given a Scosche motorMOUTH II (model BTAXS)

bluetooth gadget to try out.*

The motorMOUTH II is an ingenious idea, one of those "why didn't they think of it sooner!" type things. It is basically a bluetooth headset combined with a stereo mini-jack. Instead of sticking it in your year (that would really hurt) you plut it into your car's aux input. It plays the audio from your phone call, or stereo audio via A2DP, through your car's sound system.

I have been using the gadget for a few days, and I think it is worth buying. If your phone rings, you just change your input to AUX, and press the button on the side to answer the call. You can also use the button hang up, redial, and voice dial (if your phone supports it). It isn't large or obtrusive, and while I didn't care for the shiny plastic microphone end, it isn't ugly. Since it can be plugged directly into a mini stereo jack, it can be installed without wires trailing all over.

Inbound sound quality is reasonably good. Streaming music from my iPod was decent, but not as good as a direct USB connection. I did find that the volume level was a little low, but I was able to compensate it on my head unit by increasing the gain on the AUX input. People I called on the unit told me that I sounded reasonably clear, but occasionally a little "robotic" or "tinny", which suggests that a high level of compression and noise cancellation is going on. My callers were able to understand me even with the car moving at highway speeds, and I didn't have to shout.

The design of this unit suggests an interesting unintended use. If you were to plug this unit into the input jack on your PC sound card, or another recording device, you could easily record telephone conversations, conference calls, or other audio streams that come through your bluetooth connection.

Pros:

Reasonably good incoming audio and A2DP sound quality
Good battery life
Plugs into your AUX port directly
Easy to use (like a bluetooth headphone)
Useful accessories included, such as Y adapter, extension cable, dash mount
Compact

Cons:

Unit resets when connected to power and drops bluetooth link temporarily.
Non-standard power connector, should be micro or mini USB
Outgoing sound quality mixed
You may need to increase your AUX volume

Overall, I think this is a great gadget, and I would buy one. It is more convenient than a stand-alone bluetooth speaker, or fumbling with an in-ear headset while in the car. And it is quite a bit cheaper, at around $70 (Amazon Link), than an add-on bluetooth module for your factory stereo, which will typically cost around $300.

You can find the PDF manual here.

*Note: a publicist for Scosche sent me a motorMOUTH II to review, I did not purchase this unit with my own money. But I would, because it is good.

Volt Spotting

I saw this Volt parked in Southfield today. A lovely dark red specimin.

Notice how GM is hiding the exhaust. Can you see a tailpipe? The muffler is that light gray thing on the left side. I can't tell where the tail pipe exits, it is well hidden. I'm not sure about the wisdom of the reverse lamp location, it seems like it would get grimy under there from road grime during the winter months.

Disappearing Drive Problem Solved

I have this problem on my Windows 7 desktop PC at home, that from time to time my secondary 1.5TB WD Caviar Green hard drive disappears from the system, as if it wasn't installed at all.

It turns out to be a bug in how Windows wakes up SATA drives--there is a time-out, and apparently some large SATA drives don't wake up fast enough, and are assumed to be missing.

There is a Microsoft hotfix for the problem here.

If your large SATA drive isn't the primary drive, then you won't see the BSOD or error messages, obviously. Instead it will just be disappearing.

Some Double Rainbows

There were some scattered showers this evening, with patches of blue sky, it was very striking. I caught these gigantic double rainbows with my (weak) cell phone camera.

Shocking News: Americans Won't Pay More For Electric Cars

From Edmunds Green Car Advisor:

About two out of three Americans say they wouldn't be willing to pay more for an electric car than for a comparable gas-powered vehicle, while just 17 percent said they'd pay more than a $5,000 premium for an EV, Nielsen Co. said, citing its September poll of more than 2,300 people.

I guess the good news is that about 30% of Americans would pay extra for an electric car--but most of them would not pay more $5,000.

To me, the reason is obvious. People are still mostly motivated by costs, not by environmentalism, and the reduced range of an electric vehicle is also a point of concern for the average person. Now, if gas prices would stabilize around $4/gallon, I am sure the numbers would shift.

Mahindra Trucks... Still Dead

Despite some sputtering noises to the contrary, it appears to me that Mahindra's plan to import diesel light trucks into the U.S. is still quite dead.

In addition to jerking around the dealer network and potential customers, and creating ill will, Mahindra has to overcome a legal battle with its original distributor, Global Vehicles.

Also, not to pile on or anything, but while Mahindra may have certified its emissions for the EPA, I have not heard anything about NHTSA certification to FMVSS or crash testing.

SOLD - Celica ST 205 GT 4 Half Cut And Down Engine

SOLD - Half Cut And Down Engine To Local Customer
A) Half Cut
This Half Cut Celica ST 205 - GT 4 - Engine 3S - GTE - Manual - 4WD, Selling Together With All The Parts Shown In The Photos. ( 1 set Absorbers - Brand :- Tein - Type HA - Good Condition )
Selling As Is Where Is Basis

To View Engine Idling, Click Video Below :-

General View Of The Half Cut

General View Of The Speedometer

TRD Meter / Mileage Reading :- 110341

Chassis Number

Engine Tag Information

Front View Of The Engine

Front View Of The Turbo - No Sign Of Oil Leak

Side View Of The Turbo - No Sign Of Oil Leak

Side View Of The Engine

Front Driver Side - Fender - Good Condition

Front Driver Side :- General View Of The Brake Caliper With Disc Plate And Knuckle

Front Driver Side - Absorber - Good Condition

Front Driver Side :- Brake Caliper With CELICA Wording - Good Condition / Disc Plate With Groove Line

Front Driver Side - Fender - Good Condition

Bonnet - Good Condition

Both The Head Lamp - Good Condition / Passenger Side - Bumper Dented At Lower Section

Closed View Of The Front Bumper Dented / Signal Light Good Condition

Front Passenger Side - Fender - Good Condition

Front Passenger Side :- General View Of The Absorber And Knuckle

Front Passenger Side :- Absorber - Good Condition

Front Absorbers With Pillow Ball Mount

Front Passenger Side :- Brake Caliper With CELICA Wording - Good Condition / Disc Plate With Groove Line

Front Passenger Side :- Fender - Good Condition

Boost Meter - Working Condition

Aftermarket Steering Wheel - Good Condition

Back View Of The Aftermarket Steering Wheel

Side View Of The Dashboard

Yellow Circle Indicate The Damage Area On The Dashboard

Closed View Of The Damaged Area

Side View Of The Dashboard

Consol Box With Hand Brake Handle - Good Condition

Rear Absorbers - Good Condition

Absorbers Model

1 set Tail Lamp With Center Panel - Good Condition

Rear Bumper - Good Condition

Tail Gate With Original Spoiler - No Crack Or Chip On The Glass

The Tail Gate With Original Spoiler - Good Condition

Both Doors - Small Dent and Scratches

Driver Side Door :- The Yellow Circle Indicate The Damage Area

Closed View Of The Damaged Area

Passenger Side Door :- The Yellow Circle Indicate The Damage Area

Closed View Of The Damage Area

A Complete Long Shaft And Rear Axle

Closed View Of The Rear Axle With Complete Frame

Rear Passenger Side - Drive Shaft Rubber Cover - Torn

Rear Driver Side - Disc Plate With Groove Line

Rear Driver Side :- Brake Caliper With CELICA Wording - Good Condition

Rear Passenger Side :- Disc Plate With Groove Line

Rear Passenger Side :- Brake Caliper With CELICA Wording - Good Condition

General View Of The Half Cut

B) 3S - GTE – Down Engine
This Down Engine Dismantled From Celica ST 205 - GT - 4 Body In Japan , Engine 3S - GTE - Manual - 4WD, The Engine Wiring To ECU - Un-Cut , The Long Shaft And The Rear Drive Shafts Were Cut Into - Two

Selling For US$ 1200 - Excluding Shipping And Misc Charges
What You See Is What You Get.

Video Showing The Engine Turning