A significant number of Brickboard users seem to make multiple posts when they submit questions, and if anything the trend seems to be accelerating. Certainly a few of these people make the extra posts by mistake, but I assume that most do so to get a little extra visibility and more and better responses. In making multiple posts, these people selfishly push other posts off the front page and consign the questions they contain to “no response” anonymity.

Now I will admit that my annoyance at multiple posters may be colored by the fact that I have made a number of recent posts seeking help for vexing problems that received little or no response. In fact, I have concluded that the Board is not really practical for receiving answers to specific questions. Fortunately, the archives remain useful for learning about the cars and their common problems, and the 700 FAQ has answers to most of the 240 problems.

I do not have an answer to this problem other than to urge everybody to refrain from multiple posts, ask only questions that are not addressed in the archives/FAQs, and be diligent about responding to posts where you can contribute.
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'88 240GL, '90 240DL, '91 240

For what you need to do Click Here

Colin.

1990 740SE B200E/M47, remote C/Locking.

A good percentage of the multiple or empty posts seem to happen when the return key is inadvertently used instead of the tab to move through the choices in the posting form. A reader can usually tell two posts will be identical by looking at the time stamp.

As I'm more often a responder than an initiator, I wouldn't mind a bit if a New Post form would be available only after reading a short blurb with a link to both BB FAQs and 700/900 FAQs.

If "ongoing" problems are posted in a new thread, it would be kind to take the trouble to paste in a clickable link to the old thread, otherwise I, for one, am much more likely to skip it. Not that it is necessarily a bad thing;-)

I did not mean to single anybody out in this post, and it sounds like the majority of the multiple posts may indeed be honest mistakes. I apologize for any offense my little rant may have given.
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'88 240GL, '90 240DL, '91 240

I can't imagine that anyone was offended by your post. It was a good one and has stimulated meaning dialogue. It gave a number of us a chance to express our frustrations with some of the things that occur. Who knows, it may have reduced some of the things that were talked about.

Randy

Duplicate posts have always been a bit of a problem and we seem to be undergoing a rash of them lately.

In addition to comments of others, I notice one problem is that people think the 444-544, 120-130, 1800, 140-160, 200, 700, 900, S90-V90 forums are separate forums and for common problems some people try to post the same message under different models so that everyone will see them. All these "forums" are simply filtered postings from the main RWD (Rear Wheel Drive) forum. For those that view all RWD postings, we get to see these as duplicate posts.

Another problem that newbies seem to have is posting blank messages and apparently doing this a couple of times before they get the hang of it. I suppose I'd rather see an empty message with a meaningful header rather than people posting "Test" messages. At least I know they're seriously trying to get it right.

And a final thought, for people using the Netscape or Mozilla browsers, under Edit \ Preferences \ Advanced \ Cache -be sure to check the box that says "Compare the page in the cache to the page on the network [] Every time I view the page". This will minimize the need to "refresh/reload" the page to see your posts.
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Dave -not to be confused with a real expert, just goofing around at this

I am guilty of repeating my posts. I am aware now that it takes a while to get posted.

I am also guilty of reposting items that I feel have not gotten enough attention. If someone (One of the TRUE gurus) would help me out I wouldn't be so desperate. Believe me, I understand that this processs isn't magic. I have two motorcycles and various other vehicles that I maintain and I rely on bulletin boards like this one for ALL of my unusual problems.

This Volvo has me STUMPED! I have unfortunately fallen in love with the car. I want to get it right. I have one issue with this car that I can't seem to isolate. Base idle can be set at 700 but when you release the IAC it won't drop below 2000. If you will glance at my previous posts you will see that I have MANY parts to do my diagnostic tests with. I have change EVERYTHING that could be a problem, except the 02 sensor and the IAC (have four junkers but not sure if they are good).

Nunya,

Personally, I don't feel that there is a problem repeating a request for help when an initial post doesn't receive a response. However, I think the second request should be a different post. Presumably, there is a reason the first post did not receive a reply. In the second request, give more information about the problem; explain why resolving the problem is important to you; heck, beg a little!

We also have to realize that there are some posts that may not receive meaningful responses. Occasionally, the answer may just not be out there. Sometimes, the request may be so trivial that it just doesn't warrant a reply. I made one of those a few months ago when I asked about replacement sources for the fringe around the shifter slot on automatic tranny 240s. Shifter fringe! Not quite as important as helping a poor college student decide whether a shop's $1500 repair estimate is inflated or something along those lines!

99% of the people on Brickboard are incredibly nice; the sort of folks you hope you have as neighbors. If a user id polite and proactively participates on the board (respond to questions ourselves, patronize the sponsors, we will get the help we seek more often than not.

Glen
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'88 240GL, '90 240DL, '91 240

I don't recall your previous post but have you made sure the IAC is cleaned out and not sticking in the open position? Also check the electrical portion of the IAC to see if it works ok. If the IAC is good, then it must be getting the wrong signal from the computer. One way this could happen is for the Throttle Position Switch to be either misadjusted or not making contact in the idle position. Sorry if I've repeated advice given earlier. Good luck.

Part of your diagnosis seems to be correct. I have MANY IAC valves. I have just discovered that when I connect any of them, the ALL vibrate (HARD). Yet when I rev the engine or change other parameters, the valves do not move, the only vibrate in one spot. Im talking about the car running (With an IAC on it) and connecting the connector to another IAC. I was trying to see how it functions while the car is running.

You are probably not getting an answer to your problem because it is something not too many people have had experience with. I too have a problem involving the same components you are working with and have not found my solution yet. But, some of the suggestions I have received may end up being the answer - i.e. is there a vacuum leak I haven't detected?

I generally don't respond to questions unless I'm pretty sure of my answer, it doesn't mean I haven't read the question and considered it. When I post and don't get any responses I often wish I could get some kind of feedback - like - you're not stating your problem well or check the archives - we've all answered this question to death or something. However posting something like - gee that's a hard problem, hope someone answers it for you, just wastes people's time in the long run, I'm afraid.

Ron
87 745 260000 km
near Brantford, ON, Can

On occasion I have been guilty of multiple posts.

Whenever I realize that's what has happened, I get back to a duplicate and use the EDIT function to change the subject line to something like "Ignore this duplicate post........nmi".

That way I hope to allow readers to skip over the post. AFAIK there is no way to un-post a post.

Good thread,

Bob

:>)

PS: White space? Too much is way better than too little. Like others, I am not inspired to read something that (1) looks a lot like a dull management text, and (2) more often than not contains undecipherable grammar and/or spelling.

I think that you and the other posters have made some good points. This is one of the best forums I've run across though I don't expect everyone to use it to perfection. The suggestions for an expanded section for new users to teach how the site works, how to use the search function, and what is in those wonderful FAQs would help.

I don't know why you didn't get responses. Maybe those who had information just happened to not be on line for awhile. You never know who's looking so maybe a second posting would bring some results.

Now I would like to make a suggestion. Somewhere in the instructions I'd like to see an encouragement for users to come back and post their results in fixing a problem. Many problems can have more than one cause and so advice from the BB can be varied. It would be helpful to get this feedback to see what was the outcome of the advice.

Lastly, a comment on how we speak to each other. I read an article in a newspaper about how "rude" internet communication has become. It is not like we would do in person. I think "rude" was overkill, rather communication is perhaps too impersonal. Have you noted how Spook has such a friendly opening? I appreciate this sort of thing.

P.S. Notice how I have used the RETURN key to separate my topics? This does make it easier to read as lucid commented.

I was considering posting this response in an entirely new thread, to ALL forums. However restraint prevailed. :)

It's got to be a problem with people's browsers not refreshing. Possibly there's also an element of impatience, but I believe the site is set up to prevent multiple submissions or answers at the same prompt. I know it won't let me post 3 answers here- even if I click three times.

Folks, when you submit a question to the forums, either hit the Back button 3 times, or hit the Index Refresh link. It will redisplay the forum index, and the new question ought to be right at the top.

IF it's not there, refresh your browser. I do know that some machines have things set up differently and often when you come back to the page, you get the page first loaded, and that can be confusing. DON'T submit again until you're certain there's an error- the Brickboard server will TELL YOU if there's an error, for instance saying "Database Access Denied". Errors here are rare but they can occur- there's an awful lot of material stored here.

I too get frustrated by multiple posts. I think the answer would lie in better education of new users to the Board- a "READ THIS FIRST" link when signing up, and also making this a Login-only site to post. No more "claiming to be" someone, which I think is silly and can't really come up with a reason for it.

/rant
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Rob Bareiss, New London CT ::: '87 244DL/M47- 225K, 88 744GLE- 209K, 91 244 183K. Also responsible for the care and feeding of: 88 745GLE, 229K, 88 244GL, 146K, 87 244DL, 235K, 88 245DL, 236K

I share your pain. It is a drag. I think that many times it is the result of new posters thinking their post "didn't make it" for some reason as they are not displayed instantly, other times I agree with you that it is simply a function of selfishness of someone who wants more than normal exposure. It is hard to figure out the "why" sometimes.

I participate on several sites on the internet and the different softwares seem to have their individual problems. One I use resets the original post to the top of the forum when someone responds to it. In that setting people sometimes respond to their own posts simply to get it back to the top of the pile, and you can imagine how infuriating that it!!

I am occasionally guilty of mulitiple posts due to old age and brain fade (grin). I wish our software had the ability to allow the poster to delete their own post before such time that someone responds to it- much like the editing feature already in place (for which I am grateful). If that feature was available perhaps people would clean up their own mess occasionally.

Another possibility in reference to people asking questions already answered in the FAQ's is that new posters don't know of their existence. People find their way to the site and see the posting regimen and jump in without checking out the details of the site (human nature at work). I have long thought that the FAQ's don't get enough exposure on the opening page of this forum. Having them "partially hidden" in one of the three drop downs doesn't make them easy to find for someone who might be inclined to read through them if they knew they exisited. I many times site the FAQ's and ask people to read the section I point out that coresponds to the problem they post about.

All in all I think you would agree this is a great site that is an invaluable resource. Only occasionally do we get any real stinkers. They are usually either whipped into shape early on or sent away (and without moderators in the forums- as far as I know).

Randy - who is tempted to submit this four or five times for effect and attention :-)

I agree wholeheartedly with Prater and Randy, and would like to offer my pet peeve—which is starting a new thread (with no history or recap) on an unresolved problem.

There seems to be a naive assumption that every reader has the poster's problem memorized. But without knowing what's gone before, I usually just move on to another post that has relevant info. It irks me, but really hurts the poster by eliminating potentially good reponses, or cluttering the (new) thread with irrelevant or repeat responses.

And I too wish I could Delete my goof-posts, at least within the time limits of the current Editing function.

Bruce

P.S. I would also really, really like to see more "white space". I usually tune out after the first inch or so of packed text, when there is two or three more inches to come. Especially when it's all lower-case. What keeps people from hitting Return once in a while?
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Bruce Young,
'93 940-NA (current), '80 GLE V8 (Sold), '86 240dl, '85 244 ti, '83 245t
'76 244 (R.I.P at 255k), 73 142 (98K), '71 144 (ex circle track car)
Used '70 144 from '78 to '92, New 144 from '67 to '78, Used '62 122 from '63 to '67