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Tuesday, September 22, 2009

Healthcare and Terrorists

I have a couple of pertinent topics today. One concerns our ongoing battle here in America to retain the greatest health care system in the world. My second topic involves the arrest of ‘suspected’ (but also admitted) Colorado terrorists Najibullah Zazi and his father, Mohammed Wali Zaz.



The short YouTube video above about our health care statistics in comparison with Europe and Canada illustrates the old writer axiom ‘Brevity is the soul of wit’. I spent the morning double checking the statistics with UK and Canadian web sites. I reiterate my contention we need to throttle the lawyers with tort reform and allow more competition with portability across state lines so health care becomes even more competitive. It is the Federal government preventing the health insurance companies from broadening their base and reducing health care premiums by not allowing competition across state lines. We don’t need a Federal Government incapable of running a post office running our health care system.


While US Attorney General Eric Holder pursues those vicious CIA operatives heroically keeping us from danger because they may have employed mean tactics to save us all after 9/11, we have green card terrorists plotting chemical weapon attacks on New York City. Maybe what we need is to find our own non-fiction Jack Bauer and get to the bottom of this nationwide terrorist plot quickly. Let’s quit whining about our not being better than the bad guys and see if we can keep the population of New York City from experiencing an even worse disaster than they already have. Let’s kick the Caspar Milquetoast’s out of our State Department so we can get down to business. Terrorists get water boarded or worse to save our citizens– boo f…..g hoo. Light a candle and move on.


George Orwell said once about Rudyard Kipling ‘He sees clearly that men can only be highly civilized while other men, inevitably less civilized, are there to guard and feed them.’ (1942) The quote evolved into ‘We sleep safely at night because rough men stand ready to visit violence on those who would harm us’. Amen!


Tuesday, September 8, 2009

Dodge Transmission Output Speed Sensor


Rear Differential Speed Sensor above is mistakenly replaced because of a code for the Transmission Output Speed Sensor in the pictures below.



Top and Side View of Transmission Output Speed Sensor and installed on Left Side of Transmission Tail-shaft.

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This is another inside baseball type post concerning auto and truck repair. The first picture is of the Rear Differential Speed Sensor which is mistakenly replaced because of a code involving the Transmission Output Speed Sensor located in the left side bottom of the transmission tail-shaft. The three pictures below the one of the Differential Speed Sensor are of the Transmission Output Speed Sensor and location on a 1999 Dodge Ram 1500 pickup truck with 3.9L engine and three speed automatic transmission without overdrive. It came in with a check engine light on and intermittent stalling when slowing from freeway speeds into traffic. The code was straight forward – PO720 – Output Speed Sensor Circuit. The dealer stocks six of these. They are a common failure item. I am doing this post because the speed sensor on the differential in the first picture is often mistakenly replaced for the Transmission Output Speed Sensor code. Replacing the one on the rear differential will not get rid of the code or the problem.
I have had a number of Do It Yourself customers change the wrong speed sensor after getting a free code read at a parts store. This is mostly for their benefit because I don’t get any laughs out of people parts changing the wrong part on their vehicle, especially in these tough times. The Transmission Output Speed Sensor number on this particular vehicle and many others in the late nineties and early 2000’s is Mopar #04800879. They are not all the same so removing the sensor on the affected vehicle and jotting down the number is the best course to follow.

NOTE: Here's a quick diagnostic check for major problems or governor transducer and wiring faults. I won't explain where any of the ports are because each person attempting this check should have the proper equipment, safety cautions, and manuals:
 
For checking a transmission similar to the one mentioned in the above post to tell if the problem is in the transmission or the wiring is to put a pressure gauge on the governor port and start the motor. You then pull the case connector and put the transmission in drive. You should see main line pressure and the transmission should go into 3rd gear. If you see no pressure then you know that the problem is in the unit and the transmission needs replaced. If you have pressure and the transmission goes to 3rd gear then you have to look at the wiring and governor valves.
That’s all for this update, but if you’re appreciative of the information, here is a link to my Author's Page on Amazon with all my novels listed. Thank You! Every little bit helps my writing gig. :)