Conference vmsnet::car$note:carbuffs

    I got this suburban and it's got chrome doo-dads  all stuff all 
    over it.  I HATE CHROME.
    
    I painted the grill black, all black, except for the gold bow-tie,
    and let me tell you... the trucks looking mean.  I need to get
    a set of bart wheels "superspeedway" wheels, like the winston cup,
    or more appropriately, those super trucks use... and I'll be looking
    real mean.  I took the chrome mouldings off the wheelwells.  I was
    going to paint them black too, but I ain't got around to it, plus it
    looks fine without them.
    
    This sort of looks like that "thunder truck" or whatever, that some
    company sells.  Except I don't have the checkered flag decals on
    the side of my truck, plus I don't have the expensive floor mats, seats
    and other crap that no doubt makes the "thundertruck" cost $1500 or
    whatever....
    
    MadMike

    The truck I was thinking about is the Z/Sport deal from Magna.
    
    www.decoma.com
    
    FWIW: Those wheels cost $40/each.  The rest is paint & decals.
    The Z/sport has a 2 inch drop, cat back system and a beverage caddy. :^)
    
    I can do without the drop since I tow, I got headers.  and since
    I have the custom interior, I have 4 spots for soda cans in my
    console.  Paint is cheap.

    Got a recall notice in the mail on my 1996 K1500 extended cab pickup:
    
    "General Motors has decided that a defect which relates to motor
    vehicle safety exists in CERTAIN 1995-1997 C/K Extended Cabs and
    2-Door Tahoes equipped with reclining seats and the Easy-Entry
    feature.  These vehicles exihibit a condition in which a pinch point
    exists in the recliner mechanism that could trap and pinch a person's
    hand or finger(s) when the Easy-Entry feature is activated.  This
    pinching could cut the hand or possibly sever the finger(s) without
    prior warning."
    
    The fix is to have the dealer install some kind of cover over the
    recliner mechanism.
    
    The Easy-Entry feature is a lever on the side of the seat that when
    pushed forward lets the seat back incline? FORWARD and releases the
    whole seat to slide forward making more room to enter/exit the rear
    seat area.
    
    I love the 'without prior warning' crack.  Like they would put one of
    those viper type alarm speakers in there that would say "WARNING -
    finger severing mechanism being activated!" whenever the lever was
    used to move the seat forward.  8^}
                             

    
    Wife called me on the cell phone this morning.
    
    She took my '96 Chevy K1500 to town so she could haul a desk
    to her office.  She got about 4 miles down the road
    and the service engine light came on and stayed on.
    There was no noticeble change in how it ran, oil, temp
    and other guages still reading good.
    
    It's an odd mileage so it doesn't sound like one of
    the standard mileage trips that some cars have for
    the service engine light.  It has 23,678 miles at the 
    moment she called me.
    
    Any ideas what trips this light?  Detecting a bad sensor
    or something like that?
    
    --Bert

    That would be about the time for the engine to be up to temperature 
    and to go into "closed loop" (sensor feedback) mode..
    
    Unfortunately it can be LOTS of things, sensors, vacuum leak,etc.
    
    You need the code, HOWEVER since it's likely associated with the 
    computer feedback circuits and with 23K miles, the dealer should
    get this one since all emissions related stuff I think goes to 50K
    miles.
    
         But if you're going to look, look for something I'd look for
    a vacuum leak.
    
    		Dave

    
    welp, its under warranty so I made an appointment tomorrow
    for the dealer to take a look.  What the hey, I'll let them
    mess with it while I drink their coffee and eat their donuts.
    
    I was sort of fishing to see if anyone knew if this was one
    of those mileage tripped engine light situations, or if
    I really have something wrong...
    
    --Bert