RW> Hmmmm. Behind the glove box. Do you have to remove the box before
RW> accessing that panel?

Correction.  That information was for another type of car.  

For the Dodge Charger, it is the complete opposite of what I had said.  You
give the KEYFOB to the valet parking and keep the key that comes out of the
keyfob.  

The key will let you in the driver's side door and in the glovebox (which
locks).

If the battery is dead or near dead, you are supposed to hold the keyfob
directly up to the push button start.  Not sure how this works if the battery
is totally dead, but hope I don't have to find out.  

Typically, you will notice a bad battery in a keyfob in advance - since the
distance you can use it will decline.  

RW> I'm thinking of my friend, Fred. He has a 2007 Tahoe, that downshifts out
RW> of 4th (OD) when climbing a small grade. Especially when he's towing his
RW> boat. That motor is the same as my pickup, which has no downshifting
RW> problem like his; a 4.8L V8 with about 300hp and the same torque values.
RW> Both vehicles have the same trans, same rear end gear ratio, but the
RW> Tahoe
RW> weighs slightly more than my short bed pickup. Another differnce is that
RW> I've re-programmed the trans to use more hydraulic pressure when
RW> shifting.
RW> 99% vs 90%

You have one of those fancy programmers?

RW> Yeah, but what is the torque spec on that 6 banger and at what RPM does
RW> it peak?

I have seen it go over 6000rpm.  Red line is in the 7500 neighborhood and goes
to 8000.  I can floor it at 80mph and still get a kick back in my seat.  :)

RW> Computers do wonders for old technology. That 3.6L wouldn't perform as
RW> well as it does without it. GM's 4.3L V6 was vastly improved once they
RW> put
RW> a computer in the car to manage fuel, etc.. Then they deleted that option
RW> (in pickups) in favor of a small V8.

Yes, the PCM and TCM.  Both engine and transmission are computer controlled.  

RW> Worst case I ever got was running into a 59 Cadillac sitting in an
RW> intersection pointed left, but with the right turn signal flashing. I
RW> went
RW> to the left and he began to move left. I swerved right but he stopped and
RW> I hit his rear tail light with my knee. Damn glad I didn't hit that tail
RW> fin or I would've been punctured through the middle. Got a new trans and
RW> front end on my Triumph bike because the driver was drunk driving.

I didn't tell many people (so not to scare family members), but I was
rear-ended on an interstate going home from work on my Harley a few years ago. 
There was traffic backed up and things slowed to a crawl.  A young girl
wearing flip flops didn't stop in time and hit me going around 10mph or so (as
I was stopped).  

The back tire acted as a soft bumper and just pushed me forward about 15 feet
or so while the tire skid.  I kept the bike up the entire time.  No damage was
done other than the tire and bent license plate.  

Her car had more damage than my bike..  I felt that an angel was looking over
me that day..

- Mark

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