Fast Car

The squeaky gas pedal gets the grease...or something like that.


Anyway, The New York Times has a memo from Toyota to its dealers telling them to replace accelerator pedals only if customers complain about the metal bar repair Toyota recommends.

“Accelerator pedal replacement is based on specific customer request only,” said the memo, which was addressed to dealers, service managers and parts managers. “Dealers are not to solicit pedal replacement.”

Full story from The New York Times.

1. Disconnect the negative (black) battery cable from the negative terminal on the battery.
2. Remove the wiring harness from the mass air flow sensor by pressing in on the tab on the wiring harness and then pulling it out.
3. Unscrew the bolts on the mass air flow sensor using a socket wrench.
4. Remove the screw on the air hose clamps on either side of the mass air flow sensor.
5. Disconnect the hoses and remove the sensor. Replace the old sensor with the new one.
6. Reattach the hoses to the new mass air flow sensor and secure them in place by tightening the screws on the clamps.
7. Bolt the new mass air flow sensor into place.
8. Reattach the wiring harness and reconnect the negative cable to the battery.

1. Visit the Audi dealership locator website. Theres a link to the site in the References section below. Enter the ZIP code or city you live in. Click Search radius to select dealerships by distance, from 10 to 200 miles away. A new page will open and list the Audi dealers within the selected radius of your location; the closest dealers will show up on the list first.
2. Click on the dealerships name. Call the phone number that appears to set up an appointment. Tell them that you need a key replacement.
3. Bring your drivers license to the dealership; you will be asked for ID verification when you arrive. A qualified locksmith will create a new key for you. Youll receive the key at the dealership. The locksmith will also disable your old key, if you have a new Audi that uses the Audi Smart Key.

1. Purchase the correct replacement filter. BMW uses a charcoal activated filter for its 3 Series. You may be able to purchase an aftermarket substitute at an automotive parts store, but you can purchase a factory replacement at your BMW dealer.
2. Shut the engine off and pull the hood release. Locate the cabin air filter cover in the rear part of the engine compartment, right beneath the windshield (it extends to the width of the engine bay).
3. Twist the three fasteners counterclockwise to unhook the cabin air filter cover. Once the fasteners are loosened, pull the entire cover up and set to the side.
4. Pull the old filter out of the compartment. Its clearly visible with the cover removed. Inspect the compartment for foreign items and debris; remove them, if applicable.
5. Insert the replacement filter into the compartment. Position the cabin air filter cover back in place and turn the three fasteners clockwise to secure it.

1. Disconnect the cable that goes to the negative terminal on the battery. Locate the blower motor. This will almost always be in the dashboard or the firewall area of the car, but the location depends on the model of the car. On some cars, like the Audi A4 for instance, the blower is located behind the glove box, so the glove box must be removed. On other models, the BMW E46 3 Series for example, the blower motor is located just under the windshield and is accessed from the rearward part of the engine bay.
2. Remove any parts that restrict access to the blower. This may be the center console, the glove box or the housing that contains the cabin air filter, often located in the engine bay. Consult a workshop manual for your specific car for detailed instructions on what needs to be removed to access the blower motor.
3. Remove the screws or bolts that hold the blower motor in place. Use a socket and ratchet for bolts or a screwdriver for screws. Disconnect the electrical connections from the blower motor. These are frequently extremely difficult to access, so patience is the key. Once the connections for the blower are disconnected and the blower is unbolted, remove it from the car.
4. Install the new blower in the opposite order that the old blower was removed. Connect the wiring harness or wires to the new blower. Reinstall any parts that were removed to access the blower motor. Turn the car on to make sure that the new blower motor is working.

1. Loosen the bolt on the tension pulley using a belt tensioner.
2. Pull the belt off of the alternator, water pump, tension pulley and any other devices it is attached to using your hands.
3. Inspect the new belt to make sure there are no breaks or cracks on either side of it.
4. Place the new belt over all of the pulleys that you removed the old belt from. Double check to make sure that the raised parts of the belt are properly seated in all the grooves of the pulleys.
5. Tighten the bolt on the tension pulley using the belt tensioner.

1. Remove the coil pack cover with a ratchet. The cover is held on by six bolts.
2. Unplug the coil that needs to be replaced.
3. Remove the coil with a ratchet. The coil is held on by two 10mm bolts. Once you have the bolts removed, pull firmly and the coil will come out.
4. Install the new coil and tighten it with a ratchet.
5. Reconnect the coil connector.
6. Attach the coil pack cover back onto the valve cover and tighten the bolts with a ratchet.

1. Open up the trunk of the BMW 735Il. On the right hand side you will find the luggage compartment under the carpeting. The luggage compartment is where the battery is kept.
2. Use both the open-end wrench and the crescent wrench to detach the positive and negative cables from the top of the old battery. Begin with the negative cable first. Once the cables are disconnected, carefully lift them out of the way.
3. Use the socket wrench to unfasten the bolts that hold the battery in place. Carefully remove the clips on the side of the battery.
4. Use the handle strap provided to carefully lift the battery off the battery terminal. If a handle strap is not present, use a sheet or a towel to lift the battery out to prevent injuring your hand.
5. Place the new battery in exactly the same position as the old battery. Reattach the clips and fix the bolts back in place using the socket wrench.
6. Fix the red wire to the positive connection and the black cable to the negative when reattaching the battery wires. An incorrect connection will stop the battery from working.
7. Put the luggage compartment cover securely back in place and place the carpet over the top. Test your new battery to ensure that it is connected and working correctly.

1. Flick the key out as if you were going to be opening the door. Locate the thin line that goes across the width of the key parallel with the buttons on the key and which is where the two halves of the key meet.
2. Wedge a thin screwdriver or similar tool carefully into this dividing line. Note that this is not the same thing as the holes or the grooves that are located inside the recess of the key fob.
3. Twist the screwdriver slightly to separate the key portion from the fob portion of the key fob assembly. Wedge the screwdriver into the top of the fob, the sides and the back and twist until the two sides separate. This may take some force, but be very careful not to break the plastic.
4. Open the small plastic ringed end of the lid that is located in the side of the key that does not have the button on it. The lid can be gently pried open with your nail or even the screwdriver, but be careful not to break the lid as you pull it out. Do not touch the computer chip under the lid.
5. Remove the old battery and install the correct new battery, available from the Audi dealer. Replace the lid and snap the two halves of the key back together.

Front Bumper
1. Lift the front of the Audi, using a jack, to bring the front wheels off the ground. Support the car on jack stands.
2. Open the hood of the Audi A3 and use the T30 Torx screwdriver to unscrew (counterclockwise) the three T30 Torx screws located at the top edge of the front bumper, above the grille, . On the Audi A4, remove both T25 Torx screws, located on top of both headlights, and loosen both screws found on both sides of the headlights with a T25 Torx screwdriver. Gently pull out the headlights and disconnect the wiring by pressing the metal clips behind them.
3. Remove the three nuts located at both front fenders of the A4, using the ratchet wrench. Gently pull out both lower grilles located by the fog lights and loosen, but do not remove, both bolts there, using an Allen Wrench.
4. Remove (on the A4) the four T25 Torx screws located at the edge of both front wheel arches, with one screw located underneath each arch liner, and pull out the arch liners, two thin plastic pieces located above the front wheels.
5.
Remove the bolts located underneath the headlights of the Audi.
Remove the two bolts located underneath both headlights of the Audi A3 at the inside of the front bumper, using a ratchet wrench.
6. Remove the seven T25 Torx screws located at the bottom edge of the front bumper of the A3.
7. Unplug the wiring and tubing located inside the front bumper (on the drivers side) to disconnect them from the fog lights, horn, and the left headlight washer. Disconnect the right headlight washer tube, located at the passengers side of the front bumper.
8. Gently pull and remove the front bumper of the Audi.
Rear Bumper
9. Open the trunk and pull and remove both trunk liners, located at either side of the trunk, and remove the five nuts located at both sides of the rear bumper using a ratchet wrench.
10. Remove the three bolts located at the edge of both rear wheel arches. Pull out the rear arch liners and remove the two T25 Torx screws located at each side of the wheel arches.
11. Lay down on the ground and, from underneath, remove both T25 Torx screws, located at the bottom edge of the rear bumper.
12. Pull gently to remove the rear bumper of the Audi.
13. Reverse the steps to replace both front and rear bumpers with new ones.

1. Remove the cowling cover from rear of the engine compartment that covers the firewall. The cowling is secured with screws to the frame of the vehicle. Use a screwdriver to remove the screws and set the cowling off to the side.
2. Locate the cabin air filter compartment on the left side of the firewall, next to the heater fan. The air filter is 6-by-9 inches in size and 2 inches thick. It should be mounted vertically against the firewall. Remove the cover by using a screwdriver to lightly unfasten the lid.
3. Remove the cabin air filter from the compartment. Clean out the compartment by vacuuming out any dust. Wipe it down with a clean damp cloth.
4. Replace the old cabin air filter with the new filter and make sure filter is seated properly. Secure the lid on the filter compartment, making sure the pins snap into place.
5. Reattach the cowling cover over the firewall with screws. Remove all tools from the engine compartment.

1. Use the flat-head screwdriver to gently pop off the two plastic covers, which are about the size of a quarter, that hide the bolts that secure the plastic cover over the engine head. This large plastic cover runs the length of the engine and has the BMW logo on it.
2. Remove the plastic oil-filler cap and loosen the bolts that connect the engine cover to the engine block.
3. Remove the large plastic engine cover to expose the spark plugs.
4. Remove the hex bolts that secure each BREMI plug to the top of the spark plugs. The BREMI plug is the BMW equivalent to the standard boot that most domestic cars use to attach the spark plug wires to the tops of the spark plug. Remove each BREMI plug from the top of the spark plug by gently pulling it straight off the top of each plug. Leave the spark plug wires attached.
5. Use the spark plug socket wrench to extract the spark plugs from the engine block one at a time.
6. Replace each spark plug by tightening it loosely into the engine block with the socket wrench. Tighten each spark plug fully with the torque wrench to the specific torque setting listed in your owners manual.
7. Replace each spark plug wire one at a time by removing them from the back of each BREMI plug and unplugging both ends of the wire, replacing it with a new one.
8. Replace the BREMI plugs back to their original location on the top of each spark plug.
9. Replace the large plastic engine cover, oil cap, and re-install the cover back on the engine block with the two mounting bolts.
10. Replace the two small plastic covers that hide the mounting bolts.