'09 Computer Flash for our '08's...

[forestacademy]

Originally Posted by jimvw57

Just checked the Smart Madness price on tow hooks and they have a hook for $47. A while back I recall someone had a tow hook that folded flat but I don't remember who it was. They looked nice.

THe folding one was quesionalble for a 451. It was made for the 450 and no one was willing to spend the money to find out if it would work.

[gurps]

In the manual it states you are not supposed to tie the car down with the tow hooks, they aren't designed to be stessed up/down or sideways, just straight out from the car. I wish it wasn't that way, but that's what the book says.

Tom

[jwight]

Just to make sure I understand, we have to have three tow hooks to get the computer reflash?

[Smartdavis]

Originally Posted by jwight

Just to make sure I understand, we have to have three tow hooks to get the computer reflash?

LOL..maybe after the third hook you get flashed for free? Or is that only in Las Vegas?

[John_H]

doogster - your headlights are probably misaligned. What you think are flickering lights actually comes from a bumpy road and/or shift transitions which make your car lurch backward (bright reflections off distant signs) or forward (normal reflections). The headlights are super-simple to adjust.

http://www.smartcarofamerica.com/for...ent-easy-4088/

[doogster]

Originally Posted by John_H

doogster - your headlights are probably misaligned. What you think are flickering lights actually comes from a bumpy road and/or shift transitions which make your car lurch backward (bright reflections off distant signs) or forward (normal reflections). The headlights are super-simple to adjust.

http://www.smartcarofamerica.com/for...ent-easy-4088/

Maybe... but the inside light flickers at the same time the headlights do...

[Westfield 11]

That is because the electric shifting and clutch draws down the voltage when it changes gear. The lights really do dim a bit and then brighten up again. These cars also have electric power steering and i wouldn't be surprised to see the same thing happen when parking at night. The battery is rather tiny for all the demands put upon it.

[Padawan]

Originally Posted by Westfield 11

That is because the electric shifting and clutch draws down the voltage when it changes gear. The lights really do dim a bit and then brighten up again.

I've never had this issue, even with both heated seats and the climate control system on at night, and I'm very conscious of things like this.

I think what doogster is describing sounds very much like a poor connection somewhere (loose grounds seem to have shown up on a number of our cars). If it's still under warranty, I'd bring it in and have them take a look.

[Woody14619]

Originally Posted by doogster

Maybe... but the inside light flickers at the same time the headlights do...

This is a symptom of the battery going dead. I had the same problem with my '08, and have narrowed it down to a few things. You really want to hook up the battery to a trickle charger ASAP. While you have the flooring up make sure the bolts connecting to the battery (especially for the ground wire) are tightened down nice and tight. Next time you're in for service be sure to have them check all the grounding straps in the engine area as well, since this can cause the same issue.

Personally, I hooked up a second 12v jack directly to the battery so I can just plug in the charger without having to rip the floorboard up every time. It also gives me a spare (if somewhat hard to reach) power port. Before my last service I had to do charge it every few weeks. Since then I've only done it once (been about 2 months) and I blame that on the alarm going off and draining the battery due to the car wash.

For those curious: If you get your car washed on a VERY cold day, and then park it outside you may have an issue with the alarm. I'm not sure if its a temperature change issue, or water expansion shifting the doors a little or what, but both times I've washed it in the freezing temps (to get road salt off), it's had several false alarms for about 12 hours after. I now wait to wash it on my way home so it can sit in the slightly above freezing garage to dry off.

[Wdhitch]

Originally Posted by jwight

Just to make sure I understand, we have to have three tow hooks to get the computer reflash?

No... you have to tighten the battery cables to charge the tow hooks to get the reflash.... pay better attention.