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What makes German auto engineering different than Asian or American engineering

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Old Feb 21, 2022 | 05:54 PM
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The weirdest engineering I've seen from a modern vehicle isn't anything from the Germans and Asians, but the Brits. Remember the now-dead Jaguar XJ? Remember how it introduced a supercharged V6 in 2013 or so? Turns out the block is just a V8 with two cylinders sealed off.

There's just something special about the daft yet functional way British cars are engineered. I could write an entire article about those Vickers-era Rolls and Bentleys.

Last edited by Motorola; Feb 21, 2022 at 06:00 PM.
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Old Feb 21, 2022 | 06:24 PM
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Originally Posted by Motorola
The weirdest engineering I've seen from a modern vehicle isn't anything from the Germans and Asians, but the Brits. Remember the now-dead Jaguar XJ? Remember how it introduced a supercharged V6 in 2013 or so? Turns out the block is just a V8 with two cylinders sealed off.

There's just something special about the daft yet functional way British cars are engineered. I could write an entire article about those Vickers-era Rolls and Bentleys.
I agree 100%, they’re a hoot lol
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Old Feb 21, 2022 | 07:14 PM
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Originally Posted by Och
Without a dedicated terminal, just connecting the negative cable to any grounding point on the car may not allow enough amps to turn the engine over. When connecting directly to the battery, inspect it for cracks or damage, you don't want a potential explosion, or to fry the electrical system of the good car if there is a short inside the dead battery.

Also, when cranking the bad car, the engine in the good car should be shut off, otherwise you run the risk of frying either alternator due to voltage differences, especially if good car has a much bigger alternator, such as when jumping a small econocar with a pick up truck - too much current can kill the alternator in the smaller car.
That's the main reason I say just go post to post. Too many cars have bad grounds or other issues and if you need to get it to start the most direct path is that one.

You can't shock yourself with a 12v system, arc the hell out of a tool sure but it's not going to do anything to you.
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Old Feb 21, 2022 | 07:16 PM
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Originally Posted by SW17LS
The issue is with modern cars its hard to find a non painted metal part under the hood in some sort of proximity to the battery where a cable will reach that can serve as a ground if the engineers hadn't put a ground peg there like they did on the Mercedes and the Chrysler. On the Odyssey, I literally just tapped around with the negative terminal until a bolt caused a spark and used that.

Like I said, I fried a car one time using the negative terminal so I will NEVER do that.

Its funny but in the last month not having jumper cables has been an issue here. My contractor was here and his battery went dead, I had no way to help him, and now this. So, I ordered a set of cables to have in the garage and jump boxes for each car.
What car did you fry and are you sure you didn't cross the wires/they were mislabeled? Keep a set of cables in your car, it's more useful than a jumper overall.
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Old Feb 21, 2022 | 07:17 PM
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Originally Posted by LexsCTJill
How big is the battery?
H9, has built in folding handles for a reason.
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Old Feb 21, 2022 | 07:20 PM
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It was an old Chevy Cavalier, it’s possible that they were mislabeled, but I doubt it.

As for injury, it’s unlikely but the battery xould
explode, a spark could burn you or damage your eyes. Why not just do it the right way?
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Old Feb 21, 2022 | 07:22 PM
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Originally Posted by Motorola
The weirdest engineering I've seen from a modern vehicle isn't anything from the Germans and Asians, but the Brits. Remember the now-dead Jaguar XJ? Remember how it introduced a supercharged V6 in 2013 or so? Turns out the block is just a V8 with two cylinders sealed off.

There's just something special about the daft yet functional way British cars are engineered. I could write an entire article about those Vickers-era Rolls and Bentleys.
I actually raced one of those the other day, I couldn't believe how badly I walked it since I was in the 460 at the time. Very nice looking car but I'm shocked at how slow it was
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Old Feb 21, 2022 | 07:32 PM
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Originally Posted by SW17LS
Those bike pics are great



I saw it when the trunk was disassembled for the subwoofer install, its like 10 inches tall maybe, and width wise it takes up half the space of that back area, I would say its at least the width of one of the outbound rear seat cushions
You have two batteries in the S class?
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Old Feb 21, 2022 | 07:33 PM
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Originally Posted by Striker223
I actually raced one of those the other day, I couldn't believe how badly I walked it since I was in the 460 at the time. Very nice looking car but I'm shocked at how slow it was
You probably raced the naturally aspirated V8 from the first model year, the supercharged V6 is quite brisk.

Ironically that frankensteined supercharged V6 was actually faster than the supercharged, turbocharged mild hybrid Ingenium I6 that replaced it in all the current JLR products. It's a poetic allegory for Jaguar itself- the more it tried to emulate the Germans, the worse it became as a brand.
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Old Feb 21, 2022 | 07:36 PM
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Originally Posted by LexsCTJill
You have two batteries in the S class?
No, only one. The Pacifica has two batteries.
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Old Feb 21, 2022 | 07:42 PM
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Originally Posted by SW17LS
No, only one. The Pacifica has two batteries.
No aux battery? Previous gen had two
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Old Feb 21, 2022 | 08:02 PM
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Originally Posted by Motorola
It's always amusing to see the discrepancy between what the JDM market got compared to what was imported, especially in the 90s and early 2000s.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l8V4MR08-Ps
I never knew this car existed, but it is insane how you can see American, English, German and French styling in it, and yet it looks unmistakably Japanese.
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Old Feb 21, 2022 | 08:19 PM
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Originally Posted by LexsCTJill
No aux battery? Previous gen had two
No, they did away with the aux battery I believe with the 18 refresh.
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Old Feb 21, 2022 | 08:25 PM
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Originally Posted by SW17LS
No, they did away with the aux battery I believe with the 18 refresh.
Interesting. I’d rather have it in the trunk, than under a seat

I think the LS500 has the positive cable attachment in the front engine compartment just like your S class. But the battery is out back. They. also tell you where to ground the negative, with a diagram. . I’ve always liked that Toyota batteries sometimes have the eye that tell you the status of the battery.

Last edited by Toys4RJill; Feb 21, 2022 at 08:37 PM.
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Old Feb 22, 2022 | 10:00 AM
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I like how the battery for a Porsche is in the front trunk, electrically operated by the way. Makes for quite an experience when your battery is dead. A simple pull string worked great for decades but the Germans had to "improve" it.

Now I get to jack car up, remove front wheel, remove fender liner, then access hidden pull string or. find a doner 12V source to jump at the footwell fuse box.

Don't get me started on BMW. The panels are well engineered for access and service (really mass production ease) but the BMW "brain" is overly complicated. Every little thing has a sensor on it. Shoot even to change the battery on a BMW you need to code it to the car <smh>
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