Yah steveo, typical moronic response. Pull out your wallet and pay for a diesel rebuild compared to a gas engine. Thanks for the thoughtful comment ... *rolls eyes* I gotta figure that if diesels really were all that fragile and all that expensive to maintain, you wouldn't see them in heavy-duty pickups, construction equipment, tractor-trailers, locomotives, steamships, and emergency generators. In commercial applications, money talks. If diesels were as problem-prone as you say, especially in such long-term or critical duty, they'd be in the dustbin of engine history by now. Funny thing -- they're not. Sure, a diesel can break. Sure, repair can be expensive. You don't put Band-Aids on surgical incisions, either. You spend the money so it lasts. And you take care of it to start with. Oh, and BTW, the smoke from diesels is soot, a byproduct of normal diesel combustion. Even a new, properly-broken-in diesel will smoke if you feed it crappy fuel or give it "wide open throttle" in a high gear. My diesel does not smoke under normal circumstances and now, with ULSD, it almost never does.

We ended up with the Honda Civic EX. We looked again at the Corolla, but they checked and told us there wasn't a white Corolla in a 5 state area with ABS and side airbags. They said they had never seen one at all with stability control. ??? We had an offer of a white Honda LX without side airbags for $15,200 with 1.9% interest. There was no white LX with sidebags anywhere in the state. We almost took the one without the sidebags, but we really want the side airbags. They didn't have a white EX with sidebags, but they found one at a dealer 300 miles away. They wanted $400. over invoice. Too much I though and we left after 3 hours. They called me at home and knocked $100. off. Still too much. They called back and offered invoice. I took it. They are still of course getting a dealers holdback and I am sure there is more. The EX also has ABS brakes, sunroof, and a few extra bell and whistles. We are paying $17,475 with 1.9%. I hope this is fair. What do you think?

Posted by: earthworm (My Page) on Tue, Jul 26, 05 at 12:45 Posted by stats99 (My Page) on Mon, Jul 25, 05 at 21:01 1997 dodge Intrepid, 95,000 miles. Wheels (I'm pretty sure) are squealing, the squeals are not timed with braking, but rather just while driving. Thoughts Nigh impossible for the wheels to "squeal"..But it could be a bad wheel cover - these, being a little loose, would cause rattles... Test for the brakes being on due to a bad caliper or master cylinder. Probably a slightly bent backing plate is causing this...Its clearance must be more than just 1 to 2 mm !! ==================================================================================================================================================================================== Another Great WORM quote. While he's at it, maybe Stats should check the MUFFLER BEARING, or FIREWALL GASKET ! Here's a stab in the dark Earthworm, Wheel Bearing. Check those and also check and see if the wear guage on the back of the Brake pad is touching the Rotor. Both of those would make the noise you described. Good luck and post back with the results.

To those searching for more on the Toyota engine oil sludge or gel matter, please see the following links: http://www.toyotaoilgel.com http://www.uc2.blogspot.com http://www.autosafety.org Follow "toyotasludge" on Twitter.com Watch the Toyota Sludge video on YouTube.com at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fs7WI2s-CVw If you have blue/white smoke from the exhaust, especially on start up; check engine light on; excess oil consumption or sudden disappearance of engine oil; failed emissions control components such as the oxygen sensor or catalytic converter; a thrown engine piston rod; or complete engine failure, then be on alert! Notify Toyota via CERTIFED letter with return receipt requested about your problem and ask for full repair coverage under Toyotas Customer Support Program for Engine Oil Gelation. Speak up loudly online if Toyota refuses to honor this program or continues to blame you in the wake of proper vehicle maintenance. If Toyota is totally unresponsive in the wake of a failed engine due to engine oil sludge build up, consider going to the following web sites to voice your concern: http://www.ConsumerAffairs.com http://www.RipOffReport.com Regardless of the Toyota response, be sure to file online vehicle owner complaints at: http://www.autosafety.org The Center for Auto Safety http://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/ivoq/ The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Just to make it clear, the Toyota engine oil sludge problemthe one that has attracted so many defamers to follow me around the internetis STILL a problem. There are many later model Toyota models showing signs of the same problem. What is worse, Toyota owners are reporting continued deception at Toyota and Toyota dealerships. Far too many Toyota owners are being told they do not qualify for the CSP repair cost coverage for one reason or another. Still other Toyota model owners who have sludged engines are being asked to pay thousands in repair costs despite proper vehicle maintenance. This is wrong! Toyota Owners Unite for Resolution Charlene Blake cblake@erols.com charleneblake@cox.net