About The CHZA

Mechaninerd

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  Where did TBTL Stickam go?!

  0 2 People still listen to that insufferable show? The CHZA answered in Other Entertainment 9 months ago Answer, comment & read 2 more answers »

• Comment on The CHZA's answer…

  0 0 Dealers get their stock either from trade-ins or auctions. If they made a dumb buy at an auction, they'll prefer to hold out for an unwitting buyer rather than take a loss off of you. Scour Craigslist, Autotrader and Cars.com for private listings. It's much more tedious work but you can get a much better value and (usually) sellers that will be a lot more flexible on price. I'd only buy from a dealer if I was in a pinch. This article also has good tips on used car buying: http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/2011/07/how-to-buy-a-used-car-%E2%80%93-pt-1-first-contact/ BECU should be able to look up an MMR for you if you ask (and if you're financing, definitely go through them - they gave me a 4% loan for a 44 year old car without blinking an eye) The CHZA commented 10 months ago

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  What's going on in Elliott Bay right now?

  2 0 It's an arctic drilling rig: http://www.myballard.com/2011/07/19/arctic-drilling-rig-kulluk-making-its-way-into-puget-sound/ The CHZA answered in Other - Science & Tech. 10 months ago Answer, comment & read 3 more answers »

• Comment on Tom's answer…

  0 0 Yeah, but what the hell is that new gigantic thing that looks like a gigantic "SORRY" play piece for robots? The CHZA commented 10 months ago

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  My car won't turn over on first turn of key

  1 1 If literally nothing happens, or you get a click at best, try pushing the gearshift further forward in the Park position, wiggle it, or pull it back from Park into Neutral and try to start it. There is an interlock switch that prevents the car from being started in gear - they get sticky or wear out over time, and can tell the computer that the car is in Reverse when it actually isn't. If this fix works for you, the switch can be taken out, cleaned, and put back in. If you're getting some noise out of the starter motor but it sounds like it's just budging the engine a little and then getting "stuck," I would start by making sure your battery cables are tight and the terminals free of corrosion. Don't listen to anybody who leaps right on the "you need a new starter" wagon until the battery connections are checked. The CHZA answered in Cars & Motorcycles 10 months ago Answer, comment & read 3 more answers »

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  Why are Edmunds.com total market value estimates consistently lower than Kelly's Blue Book?

  2 0 KBB values are easy to make screwy. They have an assigned value for trim levels, but then they also assign values for those equipment boxes you can check and uncheck. Even if any given piece of equipment is required or unavailable for any given trim level. So you can have an artificially high or low price depending on how much the standard equipment is being stacked on by those you-choose-it equipment toggles - that's part of it. KBB also sells products for dealers to put on their own web sites, so their non-private values are inherently skewed in the dealer's favor. Edmunds doesn't sell any kind of on-site widgety things like KBB does (if they do I've never seen it here in my work), so their pricing is probably more realistic. Either way, your best bet for actual used car values is the final selling price for similar cars on eBay. Look at completed listings for cars at a similar mileage and equipment level. This is a solid number to stand on - it's what real people have actually paid for that given car. The CHZA answered in Cars & Motorcycles 10 months ago Answer, comment & read 2 more answers »

• Follow Following 1 Where to go for old car parts & service? The CHZA asked in Cars & Motorcycles 10 months ago by Jack & 1 other answer by mister_fusspot…

• See all of my 2 Questions , 4 Answers and 2 Comments