Q.>>>:   What does the term 'URL' mean?   ...details, please?

A.>>>:   A URL is a Uniform Resource Locator, which is a string containing the type of resource, IP address of the server machine containing the resource, and the path to the resource on the server. When you access a web page, the URL is what you type in the address field of the web browser. For example:

http://www.Team3S.com/digests/v01n019.htm is a URL for the v01n019.htm document (Digest Volume1, No.19). This is an HTML document (web page), on the Team3S.com server, in the /digests directory.

Q.>>>:   What does the term 'GTO' mean?   ...How about 'GT'?

A.>>>:   The terms 'GTO' and 'GT' are European racing classifications. The Italian term, 'Gran Turismo Omologato', means Grand Touring class production vehicle, homologated for racing. The name came to mean a large, high-performance sports car comfortable enough for long trips or 'touring', as opposed to the smaller, less comfortable 2-seater 'true' sports car. Among the Stealth/3000GT family of cars, all of the DOHC models (both turbos and non-turbos) are in the racing class, 'GTO'. The SOHC models are in the class, 'GT'. Yup, that's right... the 3000GT is misnamed! Except for the SOHCs, the 3000GT is not in the 'GT' class at all, but more correctly, in the 'GTO' class.

Q.>>>:   What are OBDI and OBDII?

A.>>>:   On Board Diagnostics, 1st and 2nd generation. As ordered by C.A.R.B., all 1996 and later cars must have elaborate diagnostic capabilities built in to the ECU. The computer can diagnose any intermittent or continuous malfunction in the engine that would effect emissions, and saves that coded information for retrieval at the service point. Early OBDII systems were overly sensitive, making engine alterations impossible. OBDIII may be 'Big Brother', with a road version of a black box and direct cellular communications with goverment agencies. Your emission or speed violations can be detected instantaneously, as well as your location and heading. Two way comunications can allow agencies to disable your vehicle... Sound like a nightmare? The technology and infrastructure is here and available right now. It is just a matter of public acceptance for these type of controls to be implemented. Who would have guessed that one day our speeds will be tracked by aircraft, radars and lasers? And who would have guessed that one day our cars will be inspected for any modifications? --- Murat Okcuoglu

A.>>>:   '94 and most '95 cars are not OBDII complaint. They have the OBDII hardware, but the firmware is different. To see if your '95 is OBDII complaint, look on the underside of the hood for a federal emissions sticker. At the end of one of them in tiny letters it'll say "OBDI certified" if your car is not OBDII. If this is the case, none of the scanners you listed will work. I made the mistake of buying the EASE scanner thinking it'd work anyway, but it didn't. The only tools I have found that will work on the '94-95 cars (OBDI firmware, OBDII hardware) is the OTC 3337 and Snap-On MT-2500. Unfortunately both are very expensive ($2200 for an import-only version of the Snap-On Tool, not including datalogging software.) Another option is a MUT-II which the dealer uses, but it's not generally for sale to the public and is supposed to be over $2000 also. Other than those three, those of us with the mutant-OBD cars are pretty screwed.

In summary, '94-95 cars are NOT OBDII compliant in any way, ISO or otherwise. --- Jeff

Q.>>>:   What's the difference between AWD and 4WD?

A.>>>:   AWD and 4WD are not the same thing. All wheel drive systems have a differential (or similar feature) on the front axle. 4 wheel drive does not - the front axle is "locked". This is to give better off road traction, at the expense of tight radius steering control. My Dakota has both AWD and 4WD selectable. My GT-SL has neither :) --- Ryan Peterson

A.>>>:   AWD has a differential or a coupling at the CENTER, not the front axle. Both AWD and 4WD (4x4) systems have standard, open differentials at the front axle. 3S has a 33/66 split center differential limited with a viscous coupling. There is another viscous coupling accross the rear differential. Front differential is open. DSM cars have 50/50 center differential, with center and rear VC. The only front axle limited slip differential is used in the AWD system of 1999 Jeep Grand Cherokee. --- Murat Okcuoglu

A.>>>:   All the things I've read have the '91-93 cars with a 40/60 split (front/rear) and the '94-'99 cars with 45/55 split. The rear differential is limited slip, but I don't think it is viscous. I don't have my 3/S Service Manual CD here at work, otherwise I'd check it. --- Matt Jannusch