General STS thread

Non-repair car talk
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bill25
Posts: 2583
Joined: Thu Oct 31, 2013 2:20 pm

Re: General STS thread

Post by bill25 »

adaptive cruise...
Adaptive what??? You lost me...
kevm14
Posts: 15899
Joined: Wed Oct 23, 2013 10:28 pm

Re: General STS thread

Post by kevm14 »

The radar cruise...I want it just for novelty sake. I only used cruise on my drive home from Methuen, exactly as I predicted.

I was watching a Tavarish video on his $8900 2003 SL55 AMG or whatever. My STS has most (not all) of the same features and actually a much nicer nav system. That's something.

Also the side bolster on the driver's seat had worn and reminded me a lot of what happened to that STS in NJ. On a Mercedes with around the same mileage as my STS now, that originally cost like $130k in 2003. Yup.
kevm14
Posts: 15899
Joined: Wed Oct 23, 2013 10:28 pm

Re: General STS thread

Post by kevm14 »

kevm14 wrote:
kevm14 wrote:Questionable torque converter solution:
http://www.makcotransmissionparts.com/M465HA.html
Better sources and prices:
http://www.lubegard.com/~/C-230/Dr.+Tra ... udder+Fixx
https://www.summitracing.com/parts/lbg-19680

Lubegard is a real company that I have heard of. I think I see a tube of this in my future. Maybe a trans fluid/filter and this stuff will be the ticket. That would be....easier.

I wonder if it would fix my Caprice's torque converter lockup clutch, too. lol
Definitely not questionable.

https://www.amazon.com/Lubegard-19610-T ... ard+tranny

Look at the star rating! 4.5/5. I searched the reviews for SRX or STS and found none. But I am still optimistic.

There are a surprising number and variety of cars/brands that have an issue with a shuddering TCC.
kevm14
Posts: 15899
Joined: Wed Oct 23, 2013 10:28 pm

Re: General STS thread

Post by kevm14 »

Drove home in the bizarre warm weather. Newport Bridge said 69 yet it was like 90 when I got off the island. It turns out a white car, with a light interior, and tints, is a very comfortable place in the heat. Had the A/C on 72 and the ventilated seat on. Very comfortable place to be and the A/C wasn't really even working that hard. This car has some rear HVAC stuff though it is not that sophisticated.

It has a knob for temp (just warmer or cooler, not digital), and I had it in the middle thinking that was correct. But I checked the air coming out and it was kind of warm. So I turned it all the way cold and it matched the front vents. I'm wondering if in the winter, setting it in the middle produces nominal vent temps. In the summer, it would seem it can't get any colder than the front vents so it should be in the full cold position (unless of course the rear passengers are actually too cold).

There is also a position knob for floor, vent or both. Or off. That's about it. Well, that and the 3 stage heated seats which I still think is pretty fancy. It does not have a separate fan control, unlike the SRX.

It seemed to drive just as well in the heat. My butt dyno says this might trap around 95 mph. So it's not anything fast, as I was previously complaining about. But it is fast enough for a daily driver.
kevm14
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Joined: Wed Oct 23, 2013 10:28 pm

Re: General STS thread

Post by kevm14 »

I forgot to add that I still like the transmission. It is not as wide as the 6 speed but here's why I think it works for me: while first is not super steep and launches don't take advantage of the AWD at all, the rest of the gears are pretty close so there are usually multiple downshifts available. It makes the throttle feel linear in that I can just keep pressing it to get more power, regardless of the circumstance. Very luxury car. Also, the shorter 5th has done exactly what I expected: allows me to stay in 5th more often like when passing or climbing. On flat road, the taller 6th in the SRX is great but on any kind of highway hill, it's always having to downshift to 5th. In the STS that really doesn't happen unless I really need to accelerate.

So for my driving style, the 5L50 seems to work just fine. I'd just like more launch torque I guess.
Adam
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Joined: Wed Oct 23, 2013 9:50 pm

Re: General STS thread

Post by Adam »

Supercharger?
kevm14
Posts: 15899
Joined: Wed Oct 23, 2013 10:28 pm

Re: General STS thread

Post by kevm14 »

At Tire Pros. Seems like I am always here.

The grumpy old guy gave me crap about bringing my own TPMS sensors. Then the other lady said it was fine. Goal: Pass everything, get sticker, restore all TPMS sensors.
kevm14
Posts: 15899
Joined: Wed Oct 23, 2013 10:28 pm

Re: General STS thread

Post by kevm14 »

Still waiting.

Over hearing this woman say she needs an oil change. And within the last 300 miles the "oil light" comes on. She only goes 3,000 between changes. The discussion revealed that it was the low oil pressure light, because it comes on turning corners. Man. Car has 120k but I don't know what it is. Also needed the A/C recharged. Has a blend door problem. It is a Volvo V50.
kevm14
Posts: 15899
Joined: Wed Oct 23, 2013 10:28 pm

Re: General STS thread

Post by kevm14 »

This other woman comes in and says she is driving her friend's car to NH but a tire needs air. She didn't want to inflate it herself and said something about it being a big car. They said pull around to bay #2 and they will air it up. She pulled around - GMT-900 Chevy Suburban w/ vanity plate "YUKON."
Bob
Posts: 2470
Joined: Thu Dec 19, 2013 7:36 am

Re: General STS thread

Post by Bob »

kevm14 wrote:This other woman comes in and says she is driving her friend's car to NH but a tire needs air. She didn't want to inflate it herself and said something about it being a big car. They said pull around to bay #2 and they will air it up. She pulled around - GMT-900 Chevy Suburban w/ vanity plate "YUKON."
Guaranteed she takes up 2 parking spots at the mall every time she parks.
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