Ah, the joys of owning an S4.

So I've replaced the old MAF Sensor with a new one from Avalon Motorsports. The owner is a really good guy, bought a couple of things from him when the S4 went Stage III and he's trying to rebuild Avalon's reputation...he's the second owner. Sold a new one at re manufactured price...$165, normally $265.

So I put the MAF sensor in, scanned the car, logged it at 2nd and 3rd gear and VIOLA...same surging and bucking symptoms...nothing has changed!! I vented on Audiworld and got reassurance from 2 dozen fellow S4 owners from all over the world. Gave me some advice and started to rundown a new checklist.

1. MAF: not the problem

2. N75: not the problem (yet). The surging is due to "Implausible readings" relative to intake and exhaust gas temperature and NOT waste-gate flutter.

3. Boost leak: so far so good, boost holds up to 12 psi without bleed

4. N75 waste gate actuator hoses: look great, replaced a couple of clamps for good measure, I have a dozen Zebra high-torques lying around anywayz.

5. Misfire counter bank 1 and 2: Vag-scoped and logged misfire recognition on every cylinder, drove it around the block...and I have NO misfires, which means good plugs, good gapping, good coil packs

6. Coolant Temp sensor: I have an extra lying around, one set for a lower temp trip and the other set at OEM, and tested each. Again plugged it into the Vag laptop and it reveals no ground to shorts, all data within normal limits.

7. FINALLY, checked EGT, or Exhaust Gas Temp Sensor Bank 1 and Bank 2: The CEL light came on at 2nd gear WOT, major bucking and throttle cut! One error code emerged;
17863 - Exhaust Gas Temp Sensor 1 (G235): Implausible Signal
P1455 - 35-10 - - - Intermittent
STFA'd audiworld DIY and after major research and some forum support I believe I've found the culprit. This sucker saps 30% of power, trips "limp home mode" and at intermittant, re-maps...I've actually never seen a desired 24 PSI spike!...16 max.

So I'm looking to buy a new passenger side EGT sensor. Brand new they run $315 for one!..thank goodness I don't have to replace Bank 2...and after looking up the dealer suggested labor rate of 1.5 hours, your looking at an extra $150 to $175!...yikes.

But again, I've gotten a little lucky. I posted my OLD MAF at Audiworld and found a buyer with a Bank 1 EGT that would settle for a trade!!...WOOHOO!! I'm getting rid of my old OEM MAF sensor for a new EGT! He's having the same problem I'm having except in reverse...tried EGT, symptoms persisted, now looking for an MAF. I've researched a couple of DIY's and it looks like I'll be able to bang out the job myself without any problem (knock on wood). In the end, I won't be spending anything extra, what a relief...and I'll FINALLY have the desired 24 PSI spike with 18 PSI taper.

As for other items to report, been doing some major side yard work with the wife. We have what essentially is a 40 ft x 2 ft flower/plant box on the side yard along the slate walkway. It's been a kitty litter box for the local cats and a weed farm for the last year. My wife wants to ready it for a bunch perennials. What we've done so far:
- Pulled weeds
- removed several buckets worth of rocks and stone
- broke loose the hardened soil...bought new bad-ass pick
- raked it level
- evened the elevation
- purchased 5 bags of amendment
- and yesterday, started to till in the new amendment...back breaking work man.

Today after work, I'll be continuing with the amendment, tilling, and afterwards the wife will be planting the dozen of so plantings, laying down a weed barrier between the flowers/plants, and laying down some ground cover bark to fill in the spaces in between. Should look really nice. I'll post a pic. At some point, I'll have to pull out the old sprinkler heads and replace them with a drip line.

Thats is for now...

The week so far...

Sorry for all the round-ups. Didn't have time to do some regular blogging.

1. Just got back from my sister and her family in LA. Drove down with my wife and my parents. The S4 was mechanically in as good as a condition as it has been for quite some time. One problem though, my mechanic didn't have the condenser switch in stock so my car won't have A/C for another week. Note: driving through the Central Valley without A/C is a heat-stroke waiting to happen. My parents didn't seem fazed, and my Mother, in particular, has the constitution of a Saharan Camel. I swear, this women couldn't sweat in a sauna. My tee shirt was soaking however...I suppose it has something to do with my fan vents blowing 82 degree wind onto my face.

2. Made the 392 mile trip in 298 minutes, with traffic in LA AND a gas/restroom stop at the Grapevine. My personal psychology will not allow ANYONE to pass me on the freeway...I somehow take it personally...I need therapy. NOTE: I did allow one guy in a Chrysler 300 to pass me while flying up the grapevine. My passengers did not seem all too fazed by extreme speed in perfectly open and endlessly straight roads...but I didn't want to freak them out taking turns at speed...soo despite my need to pass the 2 fools in the Hemi, I allowed them to pass me...they must have been doing 140. The driver seemed utterly determined to pass everyone despite the curves, the traffic, and the long line of semi's creeping up the pass at 30 mph. A couple of miles later, we hit some traffic. I slowed and rubbernecked for the cause. We looked to the right of the road and saw an Audi S6 and the Chrysler 300 spun out and up on a grassy embankment...they all seemed fine, their cars looked only slightly banged up and I laughed with satisfaction...my passengers looked at me.

3. With great shame I admit that I (and my wife) are big American Idol fans. This year we haven't watched it as much and aren't at all acquainted with the new batch of Idol wannabee's. Last year my wife signed up for tickets and after 12 months we received word via e-mail that we had tickets for this week's batch of shows...perfect timing. We signed up for the Tuesday nights show and my wife and I brought my sister and mother (a big-time Idol fan) to come along. We had to dress appropriately and stood in several very long lines at the CBS studios. While we were there, the audience of "the Price is Right" was heading out, and "Dancing with the Stars" was heading in. In a nutshell, we had a blast. My wife and I have attended several TV shows as audience members in this past but we were still quite blown away by the amount of work and bustling that goes on behind the cameras. The show itself was quite good. We stood in the area between the judges and the stage. Mind you, I'm not the demonstrative type when it comes to music. I'd much rather sit and watch quietly, but the audience managers were very skilled at getting us to behave like riotous teens...even my mother got into the hand waving action.

All the singers sang relatively well save Chikeze, or should I say "Cheesy" Chikeze, and the leggy blond who survived yet another week by appealing to Southern Country-music listening Conservatives with her rendition of "I'm Proud to be an American". I can say without question that the background singers sing better than the Idols, AND the quality and talent of the Band impress me more than does the contestants.

4. Gaming last weekend was hilarious. I can honestly say I have the strangest rolling 20 sided die...WITHOUT QUESTION. It pretty much rolls either 1's or 20's...and thats about it. In other words, you either gloriously succeed or critically fail. I've had to roll that die a dozen times during this last couple of sessions and it has rolled SIX, yes SIX 1's, and THREE 20's! I let the GM roll the die and he has rolled TWO 1's and 1 20. I let Rave-boy roll the die during a game and it rolled ONE 1, and a couple of 2's and 4's. It can't be all statistical aberrations...I think the die is cursed.

5. I'm back at work today and am overwhelmed with phone calls, voic-mails, e-mail's, and client crisis. Thinking about it, I think I should get back to work....

A little addendum to my last post.

From James Fallows of the Atlantic...his take on Rev. Wright and Obama and, of all people, Mike Huckabee:

Two people have now elevated themselves thanks to Rev. Wright and his tirades.

One, of course, is Barack Obama.

The other is Mike Huckabee, who (as I see via Andrew Sullivan and others) dared speak as a human being rather than as an on-message apparatchik in his comments about Obama and Wright. More specifically, he spoke as a "hate the sin, love the sinner" Christian, as a preacher who has delivered extemporized sermons of his own, and as a white product of the segregated South who did not blind himself to how that world would look if he were black. Consider and be in awe of this:

And one other thing I think we've gotta remember. As easy as it is for those of us who are white, to look back and say "That's a terrible statement!"...I grew up in a very segregated south. And I think that you have to cut some slack -- and I'm gonna be probably the only Conservative in America who's gonna say something like this, but I'm just tellin' you -- we've gotta cut some slack to people who grew up being called names, being told "you have to sit in the balcony when you go to the movie. You have to go to the back door to go into the restaurant. And you can't sit out there with everyone else. There's a separate waiting room in the doctor's office. Here's where you sit on the bus..."
And you know what? Sometimes people do have a chip on their shoulder and resentment. And you have to just say, I probably would too. I probably would too. In fact, I may have had more of a chip on my shoulder had it been me.

Actual honest and empathetic discussion about race...! We've come to expect that presidential campaigns will be the equivalent of World War I trench slaughter, in which there is a "winner" at the Somme but really everyone loses and it's a matter of who is farthest from being bled dry at the end. But the idea of actual discourse about real issues -- it would be nice to think that it could happen.

Car and House and Politics:

So I've been working on the car recently, here are the details that I'm sure you'll be soo interested to know about.

1. GY F1GSD3's 91Y's are mounted and balanced.

2. Lower pan removed, shaved, replaced gasket. Upper pan removed and gasket replaced. New filter, 7 QT's of MOBIL1 0W-40 Synthetic in.

3. Cam Tensioner gasket and plug removed and replaced.

4. New HITACHI Mass Air-flow sensor on order and will be in by this Friday for replacement. The new sensor should cure the Requested vs. Actual boost surge issue.

5. New N75 2 Bar wastegate controller on order and also should be in tomorrow. This should finally cure the pressure/boost bleed and premature actuation issue.

6. Appointment today to get my Air-Con recharged. Hope there isn't a pressure leak in the compressor housing.

And the car should be ready for the long drive south to LA. To tell you the truth, these issues could have been resolved later and none of them would have, even in the most minute way impact the S's ability to survive the trip....so for me, its about the car being in tip-top shape. It's been a long road and I'm really happy to get these nagging issues behind me.

I still have a clunking in the steering that according to my mechanic, at this point at least, is at best an irritating yet not major (or life-threatening) issue.

Wish List:
1. AWE Intercoolers and shrouds
2. APR Silicone Intercooler hoses and clamps
3. Stop-Tec BBK 335 MM front caliper and Stop-Tec hatted cross-drilled rotors, front
4. Superlaggera's 18x8's
5. Stasis Track-sport Coil-overs, 750/650 F/R spring rates

Got to do some tree-trimming this past weekend. The crab apple trees are blossoming beautifully...hated to trim them but it really needed to be done. We purchased a gorgeous new dining table with matching chair and bench set. Has a built in leaf and can expand to 84'. It really fills up the space even without the leaf and will be perfect for gaming.

I've contacted the Warden and he'll be building us a new computer in a couple of months. Talking to the Warden about building a computer is like talking to me about tweaking a motor...I have no idea what he's saying and nearly everything he's recommending is complete overkill IMO. But the good news is that the computer won't crash everytime we ask is to do more than three things at one time!

As for Politics:

BTW, you know when you've chosen the right candidate when he's receiving flak from both ends of the political spectrum...such is the degree of outright desperation from the established political camps when they see a candidate that reject extremism of all kinds and from BOTH ends. I appreciated his candor in his response to Rev. Wright's outrageous comments, and more so I believed it was THE defining speech in his campaign; he absorbed the criticism, validated our concerns, denied he shared the Rev's views, never side-stepped or spun, but in fact CHALLENGED us to talk about RACE in a meaningful way. His candor about his own experience was refreshing, and what I appreciated most was that his speech was delivered with the expectation that those who were listening were intelligent adults...a far cry from our current President who speaks to Americans as if we were bunch of morons. He laid out Race in a way that no other legitimate presidential candidate has in quite some time...and he bursted our little bubbles about our belief that discontent and resentment no longer exist.

And re. the Rev.'s beliefs, here's a little hint: these beliefs are neither NEW or localized...they are prevalent especially among that generation, and according to the dozens of articles and interviews of black ministers following the release of the video, it is a resentment that sprang from generations of slavery, exploitation, and segregation. This kind of resentment EXISTS as much as the resentment on the other side which sprang from race-quota policies, affirmative action policies, and the assumption and accusation of a "white privilege" that seem completely unfounded to soo many struggling white people. You want to talk about race, then lets bring the discussion out into the open as he did. Are people so naive as to think these feelings aren't held by a good number of good people...even his own grandmother, or our grandfather, or our father, or our Pastor, or Priest, or even OURSELVES. Are we so naive as to think that our own hearts aren't in the slightest bit stained by resentment, fear, and anger.

And in the end, he concluded with an undeniable fact...that even if you were to accept the hateful World as described by his own Pastor, you cannot deny that within his Pastor's OWN congregation, a Black man has come forward to rise as Candidate to the Presidency...that his own existence is, in and of itself, a DENIAL of Rev. Wright's beliefs; and that despite our shameful past, we as a nation have come this far; that this Candidate represents the fruit of the labors of the generations that followed Lincoln and Martin Luther King; and that we can simultaneously acknowledge how far we need to go and celebrate how far we have come.

Weely Roundup....3-13-08

Sorry it's been awhile since my last post. I guess I'll just do a round-up of sorts.

1. Heading down to LA during Easter break with my wife and parents to pay my sister and her family a visit. Looking forward to kicking back with my family, exploring LA, eating alot, and swimming in there backyard pool. The only thing is that I'm driving the S4 down so I'd like to iron out some nagging issues and get the car prepared for the drive.

2. S4 issues: Got new GYF1 GS-D3's 91Y's in from Tire-rack, and the good news is that they were on sale. I'm getting them balanced and mounted next week. Also pulling out the lower AND upper oil pan, draining the oil, scraping off the old gaskets, and replacing them with a new gasket set. I have all the parts but I won't be doing the job...my take on car work is, I'll do work on the "top" and "sides" of the car, but I avoid the "bottom", so my mechanic at Dynospot will be doing it for me.

Also did a 3rd gear rip Vag-Com log and discovered that my fuel pump is in fact not faltering...the surging and air/fuel mixture issues are related to a failing MAF (mass air flow meter) and N75 waste-gate controller valve. In a nutshell, the car is pulling in sooo much air that the MAF, which reads the amount of air running thru the motor, is having difficulty understanding the increased volume of air. Furthermore, the N75 waste-gate controller, which is rated to 1 Bar, has difficulty handling the increased boost pressure...it's bleeding boost and opening prematurely. The good news is that they're easy fixes...they're on "top" of the car and easy to get too. The down-side is the price for uprated units. I'm looking into the cost now. The "clunking" in the steering will be diagnosed by my mechanic next week and I'll be doing the rear brakes when I return. I think the car will be in very good shape for the trip down...think 400 miles in under 4 hours...hehe...I've done that pace twice before. At one stretch, the car touched 135MPH with my wife reading a novel in the passenger seat. She noticed the exhaust bellowing, glanced at my speedo and pointed out "Uh, do you know we're doing over 130?".

3. Backyard looks good. The leaves are coming back on the crab-apple trees. The grass is coming in nice and green, but patchy. It actually looks best right before spring...I believe it has to do with the fact that they get alot of sun given the lack of leaves on our trees. When the leaves come back, the grass won't see the same amount of sun and my constant battle to keep is looking good will return. The wife has planted a ton of annuals and perennials all over the place....also planted an asparagus fern and tended to a line of Iris'. It all looks great. The deck is looking worse every day so I'll be looking into stripping out the old peeling stain and laying down a fresh coat in the summer.

Our trees grow immensely fast, especially the pittosporum and crab-apple. I'll have to spend one weekend day trimming the hell out of them or our backyard will turn into a dark jungle.

Discovered that the gazeebo over the hot-tub is literally falling apart...the corners have detached themselves, screws have fallin out, and nails have rusted to dust. I have large zip-ties up as a temporary fix. It'll hold until we decide what to do...I guess we should be pleased that it's lasted as lond as it did.

4. Attended our HOA's meeting last night and I've decided (with some prodding on the part of my wife) that I should run for a seat on our Board. I'll be bringing in a "New Vision" and will govern and enforce our regulations with an iron-fist. I'm eyeing the CFO and Vice-Presidency position...I'm a shoe-in given my 14 Charisma and 11 COM...hehe.

5. Played some good-ole D&D last saturday at theDiscourser's wife's school. The Acupunturist ran "Tomb of Horrors", a 30-year old module. Real fun despite the fact that playing D&D is like driving a Model-T Ford...it's system is that outdated. Alot of the other uber-geeks were in attendance.

6. My wife bought our tickets to New York. We'll be spending a few days exploring the city in June. Afterwards, we'll be hangin out in a condo in a beach town on the Delaware coastline with her family and my niece and newphew...should be good fun.

We'll have to fly back to Washington in October for a wedding and probably back to Philly at Christmas. I really want to get some car-camping and back-packing in this year so I'd better sit down with the GM at some point to take a look at our schedules.

7. Work is more and more frustrating. I can really go on and on here but then I think about theDiscourser's plight and realize education has it a lot worse. I wanted to see State Legislators increase the tax rate with respect to our states' oil companies. It would go a long way to bridging education's huge budget shortfall. A bill was proposed yesterday but the vote came down across party lines...Thank you yet again Republicans. Nunez, a state legislator, put it best yesterday when he spoke to the State Assembly..."our school's have bake sales to pay for disappearing school programs, and yet we continue to 'kiss the asses' of our rich oil companies....where are our priorities?". Republicans responded, "It's not fair to put the burden of this state's budget crisis on the backs of hard-working people"....Is it just me, or is that retort the most ridiculous attempt at spin for sympathy that you have EVER heard. Is it not true that last year, EXXON and CHEVRON pulled in the largest yearly profits EVER for ANY company EVER...and yet we continue to subsidize rich companies with tax breaks!!

This is certainly NOT an issue of "redistribution", rich-vs-poor, socialism vs. capitalism. This is a MORAL ISSUE...a "right vs. wrong" issue. And yet we've been duped by the Right to think that they are the moral majority...what a bunch of hogwash. End rant.

Gotta get back to work...talk to you again soon.