[XtremeRevolution]

Let's face it, we weren't born with a wrench in our hands. While some of us have a good understanding of automotive mechanics, sound systems, and other car-related topics, we didn't always know as much as we do.

There was a time in my life when I didn't know what a header was, and I couldn't point out the intake manifold or throttle body in an engine bay, and I was too embarrassed to admit to it.

Well, I'd like to create this thread to give people the opportunity to ask what they'd consider to be "stupid" questions without being judged or laughed at, and give others the opportunity to answer them. Sure, you can google these topics for more information, but sometimes it's easier to have someone answer them for you and give a thorough explanation. No question is too stupid, mundane, or elementary.

The more knowledge people have, the more they can share it with others, so have at it. Does anyone here have any "dumb" questions they've been wondering about?

P.S. I have no idea how many people will actually post. This thread is a bit of an experiment...

 

[XtremeRevolution]

Here's a question. I've been reading the threads about the flooding / hydrolocking, and then the CAI being the culprit because of how low it sits in the engine bay. But when i looked at the original way the air is pulled in, before removing the resonator. Would they not also pull in water the same way the CAI did, seeing as to how low they are in the engine bay?

The culprit isn't the CAI. The culprit is the driver not realizing how deep the water actually is, and submerging the CAI enough for it to suck in water at a very rapid rate. If you live in an area that requires you to drive through flooded roads often, stick with the SRI intake.

HOWEVER, I will say this:

I believe it is coincidence that the two Cruzes that got hydro-locked had the CAI intake with the filter in the fenderwell. I do not believe they would have been hydro-locked had those intakes been set to SRI mode. That said, I do believe this is still a potential problem for owners with the stock intake, as those gaskets around the ducts may not be enough to effectively seal the intake from large amounts of water. We haven't yet had any Cruze owners report that they went off fording flooded roads with their stock intakes and didn't have issues.

Why is the sky blue? haha just kidding.

I've always wondered why the Cruze has that massive fuse box in the engine bay. Why are there 2 fuse boxes?
Is it simpy one for interior and one for exterior?

Edit:
Woops was this supposed to be non cruze questions? sorry lol

Doesn't matter if it's Cruze related or general mechanics related. They probably have a massive fuse box to make electrics easier to manage, and they certainly succeeded in that regard.

So then removing the resonator trick would then technically give you a little more leeway in deep water driving. Not planning on any but just curiosity.

Technically it should, if you believe you will be exposed to water that deep.

Or install a snorkel before doing so, see a lot of jeeps with them, could be the first cruze.

LOL. Now that, I'd love to see.

 

[XtremeRevolution]

No lol Just don't drive through deep water no matter what.. CAo, No CAI, even snorkel.

On this note, I have a suspicion that 1.4L Turbo motors would not suffer the same fate. I believe the turbo would be toast and the loss of air pressure in the system from the intercooler being flooded would cause the engine to die before the water has a chance to hydro-lock the motor.

 

[XtremeRevolution]

Ok, I have a signal light not working but I cannot find the nozzle to add more blinker fluid to get it working again. Can anyone tell me where it's at?

Check the distributor cap. It's underneath the rear bumper toward the left of the car. It emits fumes when it's broken. you need to funnel fluid back through that pipe and stick a corn cob in it, then you'll be good to go.






P.S. I really hope nobody takes the above seriously.

 

[XtremeRevolution]

Ok here is my stupid questions..

I have a roach in my trunk and i can never catch it.. best way to get rid of it?

Borrow someone's cat and leave it in the trunk with a shop light for a few minutes.

 

[XtremeRevolution]

actually i got another one.

Do these cars even have an intercooler? I cant see one, though I didnt look very hard. Its not as uh obviously placed as my former rides one was if so.

The intercooler is sandwiched between the radiator and the A/C condenser. Can you say "heat soak

Edit: noticed someone beat me to it!

This will quickly turn into the longest thread on this board! LOL

 

[XtremeRevolution]

I'd still like to know why they designed the **** thing that way. Most cars just have a "stock" cold air intake with a pipe from the airbox directly to the front grille.

The engine isn't THAT loud that it needs a silencer.

I don't know either. The engine is loud enough to where the turbo hiss would annoy some people. My guess is they designed the whole intake around the 1.4T motor and adapted it to work with the 1.8.

Could be worse, mine was on TOP of the engine. Nothing like sitting at a stop light and accelerating like a cavalier hehe.

so its kind of a ghetto FMIC design eh? Evos dont seem to have a problem with them being on the front.

Yeah, pretty much a ghetto FMIC. It works alright for most purposes. ZZP does sell an $800 FMIC, but IIRC, it requires you to remove the front grill shutters if you have an Eco. It is very well made and very effective from what I hear though.

 

[XtremeRevolution]

There is still a roach in my trunk (and i am talking about the insect). Ideas?

Nobody around that has a cat?

There's nothing inhumane about feeding an animal. Worst case, the cat merely kills it for fun you vacuum it out.

Speaking of vacuum...why don't you just get a shop vac and suck that thing out alive?

 

[XtremeRevolution]

what?!? 9000!?!?

Not too hard if you have large air compressor with a 20+ gallon tank and a cheap air hammer/chisel. Might make a bit of a hole in the ground though...

 

[XtremeRevolution]

Here, I'll show you how this would turn out.

iKermit

+

VS

=

 

[XtremeRevolution]

This thread has truly convinced me that no question is too "stupid" to ask, and in many occasions, no answer is too stupid to respond with.

For example:
Question:
How many whacks does it take to fully kill a cockroach?

Answer:
At least 9,000

I hereby open this thread to questions of any topic, not just automotive or mechanical. Automotive questions are still very much encouraged, but if you need to know how to kill a cockroach, we can help with that too.

 

[XtremeRevolution]

We haven't yet had any Cruze owners report that they went off fording flooded roads with their stock intakes and didn't have issues.

I can say this. Boats lives in a complex with a lot if cruzes. While pushing my car i watched 2 stock cruzes move though the same body of water. No problems.
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Well then, that's good to know.

 

[XtremeRevolution]

Does the European Cruze have a bottom splash shield?

From what I've been hearing, it does not.

 

[XtremeRevolution]

If they only called me about 30 minutes later, my car probably would have been TOTALED! mg: All the cars that were flooded were being picked up and CRUSHED and replaced with new models!

Anyway, my STUPID question is WHY did GM "THINK" it would be a "good" idea to put that crappy transmission in our 2011 Cruzes? :question:

They probably crushed them since insurance covered the losses.

As for the transmission, I have no idea. I'm actually not sure if there's anyone on this forum who could answer that question.

 

[XtremeRevolution]

Probably the transmission expert could answer it, but by the time he got through with his DETAILED explanation, you'd still have NO clue why! :blowup:

Hah! I'd work on getting him to answer it first!

 

[XtremeRevolution]

Is that a sketch of weird al?

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[XtremeRevolution]

Here's a question if you knew the issues were going to have do they outway the positive things you like about your Cruze how many of you would have still bought your Cruze?

I would certainly buy mine all over again given the choice.

Here is a question relating to one of ny threads. Have they come out with a clutch for the cruze that can handle more than 200ho?

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Who is "they?"

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[XtremeRevolution]

Aftermarket? Gm?

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LuK makes the factory clutch, and I see no reason they would change it. Clutchmasters can make clutches for the Cruze (one guy here bought a twin disc), and I'm fairly certain SPEC can as well.

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[XtremeRevolution]

Why is the door lock mechanism in the center console?

Most likely to save on costs. Easier to put one switch in the center console than 4 switches across all of the doors. Technically the doors do have a lock mechanism; you just have to pull the latch twice to get it to open. Whoever designed that bit was a genius.

Why don't women think logically?

Because if they did, they'd be men. :wink:

 

[XtremeRevolution]

It is helpful; cars that don't have these when you're NOT the driver are super annoying.

But I wish there was a latch inside too.

I think the annoying bit has mostly to do with getting used to not having that button. Why would you need to press a button to pop the trunk? Chances are, if you have to use the trunk, you have to be near the trunk, and if you're near the trunk, a small tap on that unlock button is all you'd need. I can't think of any situations where you'd need an unlock button for the trunk in the glove compartment if you have a button on the trunklid itself. It just makes more sense to me, if I have to open the trunk, to go to the trunk and open it using the button, than to have to open my door, open the glove compartment, press the button, close the glove compartment, then walk around the car to the trunk to achieve the same result.

The only real annoyance is explaining to people that there's a button underneath the chrome bar when they ask you to "pop the trunk" for them.