Krjb Donovan - 0101.eluminary.org

Passlock on Saturn '05 ION Workaround

Krjb Donovan — Wed, 08 Jan 2014 03:57:52 +0000

There is a known issue with the certain later model Saturn Ion ignition switches. The typically scenario is that in cold or unusual weather when you engage the ignition to start the car, all the instrument lights light up and then the "Pass Lock" (Lock Symbol) stays on. The car won't turn over. Apparently there was too much grease on the OEM ignition switch for a few years when they were produced and variations in temperature or humidity may cause sufficient resistance to adequately conduct some electronic signal in the switch and your car suddenly thinks its being hot-wired/stolen by someone else instead of simply started by you. And thus the Passloclk engages mistakenly protecting you instead of starting. And it will stay engaged for 10 more minutes. This is documented on several car forums, including SaturnFans here.

The ultimate fix is to replace that part or to open up and remove the sludgy excessive grease and spray a lighter one on. But, what do you do if you need your car now or don't want to pay for a tow to the dealer for a fix?

This procedure may do the trick if the cause is extremely cold weather. Disclaimer: you do this at your own risk. But this procedure has worked three times without fail for me when my ION would not start. Given the sub-zero temperatures tonight from the polar vortex, and my commitment to cook for others but lacking a few ingredients, last night became the third time it was needed and worked.

Wait out the full 10 minutes for the Passlock timer to expire. Take your key, and heat the middle part to the tip with a Bic lighter for about 30 seconds. If you start to smell plastic heating up, its hot enough. Stick the key in the ignition. Wait 30 seconds. Take the key out, heat in the same fashion, and stick it back in the ignition for 30 seconds. Take the key out. Clean any soot off the key. Attempt to start your ION. If its like mine, it will then start.

I am not terribly proud of this fix - I really should order the replacement switch and swap it out (when its warmer). In my defense, my ION only had this issue 4 times in the last 8 years. But it has been a very practical workaround and thus worth sharing.

You probably don't need to use a Bic lighter specifically, but I haven't actually verified that. And if you switch lighters, you may have to heat the key less/more depending on the characteristics of the lighter.

If this is happening though repeatedly or in other weather scenarios, the real solution is replacement.

Pi Day is This Friday 2014-03-14

Krjb Donovan — Tue, 11 Mar 2014 00:09:55 +0000

Once again that round time of year approaches. This Friday at either or 1:59AM or 1:59PM, we get to celebrate the ratio. Omitting the year, and going from most significant to least significant time unit, the time will be 3-14 1:59, which expressed with one decimal point is 3.14159. So set your alarms to either or both.

It is acceptable to celebrate the whole day. You can also use this time to prepare for Pi Day of The Century.

Last Chance to Buy 60 and 40 Watt Incandescent Bulbs

Krjb Donovan — Thu, 26 Dec 2013 21:43:06 +0000

If you are a fan of incandescent bulbs, or possibly still bemoaning your lost opportunity to stock up on 100-Watt bulbs two years ago, you only have a few days left to buy the tried and true 60 or 40 Watt bulbs in the United States. Under the US Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 incandescent bulbs are being phased out in steps. Further increases in lumens per Watt will be imposed by 2020.

Act now if:

You prefer incandescent
You have environmental/health concerns of significantly increasing your future risk of exposure to Mercury
Believe that government mandating of switching may have been premature to actual market forces and less than wise
Have an Easy-Bake Oven

I am hoping the Easy-Bake Oven falls into the utility or exception category of the Act.

The Stock Piles - You Can Still Get Them

Though manufacturers are no longer producing or distributing these bulbs, some hardware and online stores had stockpiled these bulbs. And you are still able to get them, albeit at a mark-up. So it might not be too late if you are willing to pay a premium, buy in bulk, or pay the shipping overhead. As of February 2014 a product search for 60 Watt Incandescent yields bulbs still up for sale.

Pi Day of the Century

Krjb Donovan — Mon, 02 Dec 2013 22:24:54 +0000

There is a natural lure, especially of those more mathematically inclined, to notice patterns and sequences of numeric representations of dates. We notice sequences such as 11/12/13. We throw caution to the wind and don't beware the ides of March and instead commemorate Pi Day each year on March 14th. But there is another Pi Day that we should preparing for:

April 15th, 2031 at 9:26(AM/PM) and 53 Seconds

That is the magic time of alignment. If you represent date and time in YY/M/DD H:MM:SS format then the above date and time is none other than 31/4/15 9:26:53. Or more simply 3141592653. Throw in the needed decimal point and you get a fairly accurate representation of Pi (π): 3.141592653.

Start planning now: it is less than two decades away.

Countdown to 13/12/11 10:09:08 AM or PM

Krjb Donovan — Tue, 10 Dec 2013 19:09:11 +0000

Indulging once again the alignment of significant patterns in our systems of measurement, its noted that tomorrow during 12/11/2013 (expressed in an American format) will yield the date and time of December 11th, 2013 at 10:09 and 8 seconds which is a nice perfect countdown when expressed most significant to least significant unit of time: 13/12/11 10:09:08 (which is a common notation for computer server logs). Feel free to further the countdown to the final blast-off sequence if your perception of time extends to milliseconds and beyond.