Automaker offers reinstatement to 50 stores, signals settlement talks with more
Finally, some movement at Chrysler.
After nearly a year of taking a hard line with rejected dealerships, Chrysler Group changed course last week and offered to reinstate 50 stores.
The company also said it will enter settlement talks with an unspecified number of rejected dealerships and disclosed that 36 already have been reinstated nationwide.
One thing hasn't changed, though. Chrysler still favors dealerships that sell all four of its brands: Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep and the recently added Ram truck brand. All 50 offers of reinstatement are to stores selling all those brands.
But despite the actions by Chrysler, problems remain.
Dealer lawyers say Chrysler hasn't budged in its approach to arbitration -- for example, demanding that arbitrating dealers sign confidentiality agreements blocking them from sharing Chrysler information with other dealers.
One dealer who received a call from a Chrysler official saying a letter of intent for reinstatement was coming said he was taking a wait-and-see attitude.
"We're looking at it with guarded optimism," said the dealer, who declined to be identified. He remains skeptical because Chrysler had given no previous indication it had any interest in bringing back any rejected dealerships.
A company spokesperson said Chrysler would continue to explore "mutually beneficial options outside arbitration" to settle with dealers who have filed for arbitration.
By offering to reinstate the 50, Chrysler reduced its arbitration caseload to 337, said a company spokesperson.
Ed Tonkin, chairman of the National Automobile Dealers Association, called Chrysler's intention to reinstate 50 dealerships "a move in the right direction." This, coupled with previous contracts awarded to 36 other closed dealerships, brings the total to 86 dealerships that could be reinstated.
In U.S. Bankruptcy Court last year, Chrysler canceled 789 dealerships.
"NADA views this as a good-faith effort and hopes that this carries forward in Chrysler's continuing settlement and arbitration discussions with the other terminated dealers," Tonkin said.
Delays?
Eric Chase, an attorney representing four rejected Chrysler dealers, said the reinstatements do not change his opinion that the automaker won't give in easily on the remaining dealerships seeking arbitration. He said Chrysler has been "obstructive" at every phase of the arbitration process.
Chrysler's demand for a signed confidentiality pledge before it will agree to provide documents in discovery is prompting complaints from dealer lawyers accustomed to comparing notes on strategy.
The company also still is resisting dealers' efforts to find out the specific criteria used in terminating their stores -- information that Chrysler was required under law to provide in January, dealer lawyers said.
"Chrysler continues to resist and contest each and every step in arbitration," said Rob Byerts, a Tallahassee, Fla., lawyer whose firm represents 13 closed Chrysler dealerships. "It appears to be for no good reason other than delay."
Delays benefit Chrysler because if arbitrations aren't completed before the June 14 deadline set by Congress, the dealers lose their cases, said Mike Charapp, a McLean, Va., lawyer.
Chrysler's nine-page "Confidentiality Agreement and Order" -- a copy of which Automotive News obtained -- has touched off wrangling in dozens of arbitrations, seven dealer lawyers said.
Chrysler defended the confidentiality agreement.
"This is a standard request in litigation dealing with sensitive financial and competitive data," the company said in an e-mail last week.
It added that the new law setting up arbitration states that "discovery shall be limited to request for documents specific to the covered dealership."
Dealer lawyers disagreed, saying the standard approach in arbitration is to consider each particular document rather than the documents as a whole.
If a document deals with trade secrets or confidential business information, then it is addressed with the arbitrator, they said. But dealership performance documents rarely raise such sensitive issues.
Hearings in April
Meanwhile, the June 14 deadline looms over proceedings, although arbitrators have the discretion to extend them another month.
A total of 115 hearing dates, scheduled from April 21 into early June, had been set as of last week, said India Johnson, senior vice president of the American Arbitration Association, which is administering the cases.
Hundreds more have yet to be scheduled. The exact figure is a shifting number, as General Motors Co. and perhaps Chrysler move to reinstate dealerships.
A total of 1,550 GM and Chrysler arbitration claims have been filed, but GM has said it is reinstating 661 rejected dealerships and is willing to discuss possible settlement with as many as 499 more.
Johnson has little concern about the arbitrations meeting the congressional deadline. Said Johnson: "We have a lot of other arbitrators that we could throw at these cases."
Tuesday, March 30, 2010
Monday, March 29, 2010
2000 Ford Windstar temperature control problem
Response:
1) Something blocking the Vent Door and striking the Fan Cage. Probably dropped down thru the Defroster on the dash. If you pull out the Blower Motor you can probably remove the item
2) This is a sign of a worn out Blend Door Actuator. This is quite common. Have it replaced and the noise should go away.
Friday, March 26, 2010
Toyota creates team for U.S. quality and recalls
Toyota's North America production and engineering company said today it has formed a Quality Task Force to help restore Toyota's quality reputation.
A key part of it: asserting U.S. consumer interests on future safety recall issues.
The U.S. group will be headed up by Steve St. Angelo, executive vice president of Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America Inc. in Erlanger, Ky.
Dino Triantafyllos, vice president of quality in Erlanger, has been given the task of improving how Toyota manages product safety issues.
The move is part of Toyota Motor Corp. CEO Akio Toyoda's efforts to regroup in the wake of a massive global product recall and U.S. Congressional hearings into Toyota safety problems.
Toyota's handling of consumer concerns was a hot issue during government hearings on the recalls this month. Congressmen, as well as litigants now involved in several consumer lawsuits against Toyota, have claimed that Toyota knew of U.S. problems with unintended acceleration in some models long before taking action to correct them.
Triantafyllos has been tasked with speeding up safety-related discussions through Toyota in North America, improving the way Toyota addresses them and playing a “key role in decision-making with regard to recalls,” according to a statement released today by Toyota in Erlanger.
Handling complaints
During this month's Congressional hearings, Toyota was chided for the way North American safety complaints were handled. Senior Toyota officials acknowledged that all recall decisions were made in Japan and that U.S. executives had no authority to order recalls.
“The aim of our new quality task force is to assure that all of us in North America listen and respond to the voice of the customer,” Triantafyllos said in the statement. “My primary responsibility is to assure that we utilize all of the data at our disposal and that we promptly decide the appropriate action.”
St. Angelo met today with presidents from all of Toyota's North American vehicle and parts operations at Toyota's Georgetown, Ky., assembly plant, where he holds the additional title of president.
He will fly this weekend to Japan, where on March 30 Akio Toyoda will convene a newly created Special Committee for Global Quality. St. Angelo has been tapped to represent all North American quality improvements for the committee, which reports directly to Toyoda.
Toyoda's mandate
“The new organization will open the lines of communication globally and enable us to respond faster here in North America to any concerns about our vehicles,” St. Angelo said in the statement.
“In keeping with Akio Toyoda's mandate, North America will have greater autonomy and play a critical role in decision making on recalls and other safety issues.”
The company's Erlanger task force also will work with former U.S. Transportation Secretary Rodney Slater. Slater was asked this month to lead a separate and independent North American Quality Advisory Panel to advise St. Angelo and the Kentucky group on improvements. Slater and Toyota will appoint other members to the outside panel.
A key part of it: asserting U.S. consumer interests on future safety recall issues.
The U.S. group will be headed up by Steve St. Angelo, executive vice president of Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America Inc. in Erlanger, Ky.
Dino Triantafyllos, vice president of quality in Erlanger, has been given the task of improving how Toyota manages product safety issues.
The move is part of Toyota Motor Corp. CEO Akio Toyoda's efforts to regroup in the wake of a massive global product recall and U.S. Congressional hearings into Toyota safety problems.
Toyota's handling of consumer concerns was a hot issue during government hearings on the recalls this month. Congressmen, as well as litigants now involved in several consumer lawsuits against Toyota, have claimed that Toyota knew of U.S. problems with unintended acceleration in some models long before taking action to correct them.
Triantafyllos has been tasked with speeding up safety-related discussions through Toyota in North America, improving the way Toyota addresses them and playing a “key role in decision-making with regard to recalls,” according to a statement released today by Toyota in Erlanger.
Handling complaints
During this month's Congressional hearings, Toyota was chided for the way North American safety complaints were handled. Senior Toyota officials acknowledged that all recall decisions were made in Japan and that U.S. executives had no authority to order recalls.
“The aim of our new quality task force is to assure that all of us in North America listen and respond to the voice of the customer,” Triantafyllos said in the statement. “My primary responsibility is to assure that we utilize all of the data at our disposal and that we promptly decide the appropriate action.”
St. Angelo met today with presidents from all of Toyota's North American vehicle and parts operations at Toyota's Georgetown, Ky., assembly plant, where he holds the additional title of president.
He will fly this weekend to Japan, where on March 30 Akio Toyoda will convene a newly created Special Committee for Global Quality. St. Angelo has been tapped to represent all North American quality improvements for the committee, which reports directly to Toyoda.
Toyoda's mandate
“The new organization will open the lines of communication globally and enable us to respond faster here in North America to any concerns about our vehicles,” St. Angelo said in the statement.
“In keeping with Akio Toyoda's mandate, North America will have greater autonomy and play a critical role in decision making on recalls and other safety issues.”
The company's Erlanger task force also will work with former U.S. Transportation Secretary Rodney Slater. Slater was asked this month to lead a separate and independent North American Quality Advisory Panel to advise St. Angelo and the Kentucky group on improvements. Slater and Toyota will appoint other members to the outside panel.
Thursday, March 25, 2010
1998 Olds Silhouette abs light / brake lights act funny when abs light on
I found part numbers for a connecter and plug but can't find where to buy them.I will change them myself.
#12533714 (socket) 12101854 (connecter)
Where can I buy them?
Response:
1) go to www.gmpartsdirect. com and you should be able to type the part number in and maybe find it
2) goto http://www.oehq.com/
3) The REASON the light comes on is to let you know there IS a Problem.
4) Have you had the brakes checked? That is what you should do 1st. If you have and you know for sure the problem is this connection you should start by calling some of the parts stores if they can't help you try the
dealer.
#12533714 (socket) 12101854 (connecter)
Where can I buy them?
Response:
1) go to www.gmpartsdirect. com and you should be able to type the part number in and maybe find it
2) goto http://www.oehq.com/
3) The REASON the light comes on is to let you know there IS a Problem.
4) Have you had the brakes checked? That is what you should do 1st. If you have and you know for sure the problem is this connection you should start by calling some of the parts stores if they can't help you try the
dealer.
Tuesday, March 23, 2010
Chrysler to launch electric Fiat 500 minicar
Fiat 500 Electric minicar
Chrysler said the electric 500 will use an "advanced" lithium ion battery pack but did not give any technical specifications of the car, which will be sold as a Fiat model.
The company said the car's pricing will be announced closer to launch and will be competitive with similar electric vehicles in the market.
At the Detroit auto show in January, where a concept of an electric Fiat 500 was unveiled, Fiat and Chrysler CEO Sergio Marchionne said the concept would sell for about $32,000 if it went on the market, of which $16,000 covered the cost of the batteries.
Chrysler did not announce a production target for the 500EV. Marchionne said in November that Chrysler plans to produce about 56,000 electric vehicles annually by 2014.
Chrysler said all powertrain engineering and vehicle development for the 500EV will take place at the company headquarters in Auburn Hills, Michigan.
Chrysler is the vehicle electrification center of competence for both Chrysler Group and Fiat Group.
Scott Kunselman, Chrysler's senior vice president of engineering, said the alliance with Fiat presented opportunities to merge Chrysler engineering knowledge with new platforms from Fiat.
“The Fiat 500EV is an outstanding example of our efforts: the Fiat 500 is a small, lightweight platform perfect for integrating electric-vehicle technology,” Kunselman said in a statement.
Chrysler will launch U.S. sales of the Fiat 500 powered by a 1.4-liter gasoline engine in December. The car will be built in Mexico for the North American market. In Europe, Fiat revived the 500, an iconic car of the post-war years, in 2007.
Fiat S.p.A., which owns 20 percent of Chrysler, said, “We are currently evaluating the commercial potential of this electric car for Europe.”
Fiat's rivals in Europe, Peugeot and Citroen, will begin selling electric cars in European markets by the end of the year. Renault will follow in 2011 and Volkswagen in 2013.
Sunday, March 21, 2010
'96 Tahoe DRL
My '96 Tahoe Daytime Running Lights quit. The indicator lamp on the dash is on and goes out when I press the parking brake and comes back on when I release it.
The headlight work and the manual says the DRL uses the headlights at a reduced level.
I checked the fuse to the DRL relay and it's OK. Can't find the relay though. The manual shows the fuses and relays for other things but not the DRL relay.
Anyone have a suggestion ?
Response:
Pushing on the parking brake is supposed to shut off the DRL, so you don't have to sit with your lights on when you are parked with the motor running as in winter (heat) or summer (a/c). I've had the DRL go out on my '99 Savana only to return later. I'm usually unaware if they're working or not because it's daytime and I'm not a big fan of DRL except on motorcycles where I believe they're necessary.
The headlight work and the manual says the DRL uses the headlights at a reduced level.
I checked the fuse to the DRL relay and it's OK. Can't find the relay though. The manual shows the fuses and relays for other things but not the DRL relay.
Anyone have a suggestion ?
Response:
Pushing on the parking brake is supposed to shut off the DRL, so you don't have to sit with your lights on when you are parked with the motor running as in winter (heat) or summer (a/c). I've had the DRL go out on my '99 Savana only to return later. I'm usually unaware if they're working or not because it's daytime and I'm not a big fan of DRL except on motorcycles where I believe they're necessary.
Saturday, March 20, 2010
March Car Sales rise as U.S. industry turns to incentive 'drugs'
Auto sales gained strength in early March as automakers offered big incentives and melting February snows made it easier for buyers to reach showrooms.
Edmunds.com Inc. forecasts a seasonally adjusted annualized sales rate of 13.2 million for the month. Except for a 13.7 million spike in August 2009 during cash for clunkers, that would be the highest monthly SAAR since August 2008.
J.D. Power and Associates predicts a 12.1 million SAAR in March, with 1,092,000 vehicles sold. That would be 27 percent higher than March 2009.
“The industry has been recharged by incentive offers from Toyota and other automakers,” said Edmunds.com analyst Jessica Caldwell. “There’s a lot of money in the marketplace right now, and people are responding.”
Edmunds.com projects industry spending on spiffs this month will approach $3,000 per vehicle. That’s close to the industry’s record of $3,165 set in March 2009.
When that record was set, manufacturers were reeling from a February that included the lowest SAAR in decades and record high U.S. inventory levels.
What about Toyota?
“There is some risk that the incentives offered by Toyota could spark an incentive war,” Power’s forecaster Jeff Schuster warned. “While that may lead to a temporary increase in sales momentum, it could also potentially slow the pace of long-term recovery.”
Schuster is keeping his 2010 full-year forecast unchanged at 11.7 million units, with retail sales accounting for 9.6 million of that. U.S. sales totaled 10.4 million in 2009 after topping 16 million annually this decade through 2007.
A key question is how long Toyota will continue its high incentives.
Analyst Himanshu Patel of J.P. Morgan Securities thinks most other manufacturers “will feel the need to match Toyota aggressively,” without speculating how long the higher spiffs would last.
Addiction continues
George Magliano, director of North American auto research for IHS Global Insight, says the industry “is back on drugs” until the general U.S. economy starts a general recovery, which he considers unlikely before the second half of the year.
Patel noted that March sales are helped by better weather. Heavy snow in much of country slowed retail traffic in February.
Edmunds.com CEO Jeremy Anwyl thinks the sales flurry will begin to moderate later this month.
“We shouldn’t view this as a sign that the economy is recovering. This sales bounce is driven by incentives,” he said. “Take away the incentives and the sales will slow dramatically.”
Edmunds.com Inc. forecasts a seasonally adjusted annualized sales rate of 13.2 million for the month. Except for a 13.7 million spike in August 2009 during cash for clunkers, that would be the highest monthly SAAR since August 2008.
J.D. Power and Associates predicts a 12.1 million SAAR in March, with 1,092,000 vehicles sold. That would be 27 percent higher than March 2009.
“The industry has been recharged by incentive offers from Toyota and other automakers,” said Edmunds.com analyst Jessica Caldwell. “There’s a lot of money in the marketplace right now, and people are responding.”
Edmunds.com projects industry spending on spiffs this month will approach $3,000 per vehicle. That’s close to the industry’s record of $3,165 set in March 2009.
When that record was set, manufacturers were reeling from a February that included the lowest SAAR in decades and record high U.S. inventory levels.
What about Toyota?
“There is some risk that the incentives offered by Toyota could spark an incentive war,” Power’s forecaster Jeff Schuster warned. “While that may lead to a temporary increase in sales momentum, it could also potentially slow the pace of long-term recovery.”
Schuster is keeping his 2010 full-year forecast unchanged at 11.7 million units, with retail sales accounting for 9.6 million of that. U.S. sales totaled 10.4 million in 2009 after topping 16 million annually this decade through 2007.
A key question is how long Toyota will continue its high incentives.
Analyst Himanshu Patel of J.P. Morgan Securities thinks most other manufacturers “will feel the need to match Toyota aggressively,” without speculating how long the higher spiffs would last.
Addiction continues
George Magliano, director of North American auto research for IHS Global Insight, says the industry “is back on drugs” until the general U.S. economy starts a general recovery, which he considers unlikely before the second half of the year.
Patel noted that March sales are helped by better weather. Heavy snow in much of country slowed retail traffic in February.
Edmunds.com CEO Jeremy Anwyl thinks the sales flurry will begin to moderate later this month.
“We shouldn’t view this as a sign that the economy is recovering. This sales bounce is driven by incentives,” he said. “Take away the incentives and the sales will slow dramatically.”
Friday, March 19, 2010
2006 Chevy 3500 High RPM Engine Code P0507
Customers Vehicle: 2006 Chevy G3500 Express (Box Truck)
Engine Size: 6.0L
Complaint: High Engine RPM and Check Engine Light On
Previous Work: New Map Sensor, TPS and Both Upstream O2 Sensors
Problem: Engine is idling at 3,300 rpm and will not idle down
Shop Work Performed:
1) Computer Diagnostics and Scan for Codes
Code P0507 - Idle Air Control System RPM Higher Than Expected
Possible causes:
A vacuum leak : Leaking air intake after the throttle body, EGR valve leaking vacuum, A faulty positive crankcase ventilation (PCV) valve
Damaged/failed/dirty throttle body
Failed EVAP system
Failed IAC (idle air controller) or faulty IAC circuit
We used Brake Wash (flammable) to spray around potential vacuum leak areas and came up empty. We hooked up a smoke machine to confirm there were no vacuum leaks and test was positive for no vacuum leaks.
We removed the throttle body and inspected and found an extremely clean throttle body. While it was of we cycled the key and watched the IAC valve to see if it was stuck. It looked like it wasn't moving as it should... but did move some. With our Scan tool attached, we could see the IAC circuit was not functioning as it should.
THE PROBLEM FOUND AND FIXED
We then Isolated the IAC wiring from the IAC valve and the pcm and checked continuity and found two wires had none going and if we wiggled the harness, sometimes it would. We found the two wires had broken inside less than an inch form the plug in at the IAC valve, We repaired the wiring by soldering them and tested. FIXED!!! Runs great and customer is happy....
Engine Size: 6.0L
Complaint: High Engine RPM and Check Engine Light On
Previous Work: New Map Sensor, TPS and Both Upstream O2 Sensors
Problem: Engine is idling at 3,300 rpm and will not idle down
Shop Work Performed:
1) Computer Diagnostics and Scan for Codes
Code P0507 - Idle Air Control System RPM Higher Than Expected
Possible causes:
A vacuum leak : Leaking air intake after the throttle body, EGR valve leaking vacuum, A faulty positive crankcase ventilation (PCV) valve
Damaged/failed/dirty throttle body
Failed EVAP system
Failed IAC (idle air controller) or faulty IAC circuit
We used Brake Wash (flammable) to spray around potential vacuum leak areas and came up empty. We hooked up a smoke machine to confirm there were no vacuum leaks and test was positive for no vacuum leaks.
We removed the throttle body and inspected and found an extremely clean throttle body. While it was of we cycled the key and watched the IAC valve to see if it was stuck. It looked like it wasn't moving as it should... but did move some. With our Scan tool attached, we could see the IAC circuit was not functioning as it should.
THE PROBLEM FOUND AND FIXED
We then Isolated the IAC wiring from the IAC valve and the pcm and checked continuity and found two wires had none going and if we wiggled the harness, sometimes it would. We found the two wires had broken inside less than an inch form the plug in at the IAC valve, We repaired the wiring by soldering them and tested. FIXED!!! Runs great and customer is happy....
Thursday, March 18, 2010
Chevrolet goes digital at Texas tech-fest
Chevrolet has affixed QR codes on the hoods of cars that, when photographed with a camera phone, will launch microsites with features info.
Chevrolet is making a big splash at the South by Southwest Interactive conference now taking place in Austin, Texas, and it's just the beginning of the GM brand's planned 30 percent commitment to digital this year.
"This is not a nine-day one-off," said Christopher Barger, General Motor Co.'s director of social media. "Everything we're doing here needs to have applications we can build on beyond Austin."
This program is one of the first major social-media and technology campaigns from a Detroit Three automaker other than Ford Motor Co. since the industry took a nosedive in 2008.
But Barger said Chevy's social-media, augmented reality and mobile programs at the conference are not intended to steal the digital-savvy spotlight from Ford. Instead, they're test pilots for Chevrolet, which Barger said plans to commit about 30 percent of its marketing money to digital this year.
Chevrolet is launching an extensive digital campaign at the music, film and interactive festival, including a tie-in with Austin-based Gowalla, where users check in from their phones around the city to get messages and offers from the GM brand. For example, those flying into Austin can check in at the airport for a free ride downtown in a Chevrolet Equinox.
"The reason we're doing this here is so really smart tech people can make suggestions," Barger said of the swarms of digital agency and technology people that descend on Austin every March. "This is a place for us to learn. How do we apply this to the rest of the marketing we'll be doing moving forward?"
Chevrolet has also affixed QR codes on the hoods of cars that, when photographed with a camera phone, will launch microsites with features info. Chevy has also released the iReveal app to view three-dimensional, augmented reality models of cars on the streets of Austin. While none of these programs -- save free rides from the airport -- sound revolutionary, the moves mark a start for an automaker that has fallen behind Ford on digital innovation.
Barger said that while GM has kept its eye on Ford like any company does with a competitor, it's not looking to emulate what Ford has done in social or digital media.
"If really all you're doing when building a strategy is looking to what others have done, you're not going to be successful," he said of GM's plans for digital vis-a-vis Ford. "You need to draw attention to your own brand and find something unique to you."
Chevy has also handed out eight cars for teams to road trip to Austin from all corners of the country, while completing missions determined by Twitter followers along the way and tracking their progress through OnStar and Facebook, though the idea to put people in a car and have them document their experience through social media bears some resemblance to Ford's Fiesta Movement.
Wednesday, March 17, 2010
BMW to make their smaller cars FWD, CEO says
“There will be front-wheel-drive BMWs in the smaller vehicle classes in the future,” BMW CEO Norbert Reithofer (pictured) said at the company's annual financial results press conference here today.
Currently, all BMW models are rear-wheel drive and all Mini variants are front-wheel drive.
BMW development boss Klaus Draeger said the new vehicle architecture will debut in 2014 with the arrival of the third-generation Mini hatchback.
He said the new architecture will enable BMW to produce a range of vehicles that are between 3800mm and 4300mm long. By comparison, Volkswagen's Fox, Polo, Golf, Beetle and Scirocco model lines fit within the same size range, which covers everything from minicars to subcompacts to compacts.
Sources said that at its peak the new architecture will underpin up to 20 different BMW and Mini model variants.
For BMW, the new front-wheel-drive models will fit below its entry-premium 1-series models, which Draeger said would keep their rear-drive architecture.
BMW needs to meet a growing demand for smaller, more fuel-efficient cars. The company also will have to cope with tougher European CO2 emission rules that start to take effect in 2012.
Reithofer said: "We expect the premium small car segment to grow by 4-6 percent annually until 2020," adding that the group would cut its CO2 fleet emissions by at least 25 percent by 2020 versus 2008 levels, when they were 156 grams per km.
The decision to create a new joint architecture is also a sign of the times. Automakers are under increasing pressure to share investments between brands or with partners to save money.
Tuesday, March 16, 2010
Obama Motors in Russia Doing Well
Opel workers demanded reassurances that its European brand will not be disadvantaged at the expense of sister brand Chevrolet, after Opel lost responsibility for the Russian region to an Asian arm of General Motors Co.
GM transferred responsibility for Russia to GM International Operations (GM IO), based in Shanghai, sparking fears that Opel could lose access to a key growth market that almost overtook Germany by size in 2008, before collapsing last year.
Opel labor representatives will discuss GM's plans on Monday at a meeting of the Opel steering committee.
"General Motors has not given any thought about what negative effects this decision could have on the negotiations of Opel/Vauxhall with the European governments, since Russia plays a decisive role as a market of the future," unions warned in a flyer to staff obtained by Reuters.
Opel workers will "demand a convincing plan for the Russian business of Opel/Vauxhall be presented (that entails) no restrictions to the market and a further expansion of the sales activities," works council members wrote.
A spokesman for Opel said the decision was made to consolidate key sales and manufacturing operations in Russia and the Commonwealth of Independent States under one managerial roof. The measure would not be to the detriment of Opel, he added.
Nonetheless, German auto workers union IG Metall fears German jobs could be threatened down the line and demanded that GM commit to expanding, rather than limiting, Opel's sales in Russia.
Jilted Opel suitor Magna International Inc. had centered its growth plans for the German carmaker around the Russian market, before GM chose to retain, rather than sell Opel.
Based in Shanghai, GM IO is considered by German unions to be a proxy for the lower priced Korean-built Chevrolets that had earned higher margins than Opel.
A recent decision to build a small SUV in Korea rather than Antwerp, Belgium, was a blow to the Belgian plant, which GM has said will close in the middle of this year to reduce European overcapacity. The Korean plant already makes the Opel Antara mid-sized SUV.
Opel closes 2 key deals
In a separate development, Opel said it reached a deal with unions in Spain over 900 job cuts, a precursor for government aid. The local state of Aragon is expected to provide 200 million euros alone should it approve plans for production in the Zaragoza plant.
Great Britain said on Friday it would provide a 270 million pound loan guarantee to GM, but the U.S. carmaker is still seeking about 1.5 billion euros ($2.07 billion) in state aid from European governments.
"Today marks an important step for the future of Opel/Vauxhall," Opel CEO Nick Reilly said in a statement, thanking the British government for its support.
"I am also grateful for the Spanish government's role in moderating the discussions between management and unions resulting in the important agreement reached early this morning," he added.
Negotiations with Germany remain particularly sluggish, with Berlin's economics ministry saying on Friday GM has yet to update its application for government funding ever since Detroit tripled its commitment to fund Opel's operations.
GM transferred responsibility for Russia to GM International Operations (GM IO), based in Shanghai, sparking fears that Opel could lose access to a key growth market that almost overtook Germany by size in 2008, before collapsing last year.
Opel labor representatives will discuss GM's plans on Monday at a meeting of the Opel steering committee.
"General Motors has not given any thought about what negative effects this decision could have on the negotiations of Opel/Vauxhall with the European governments, since Russia plays a decisive role as a market of the future," unions warned in a flyer to staff obtained by Reuters.
Opel workers will "demand a convincing plan for the Russian business of Opel/Vauxhall be presented (that entails) no restrictions to the market and a further expansion of the sales activities," works council members wrote.
A spokesman for Opel said the decision was made to consolidate key sales and manufacturing operations in Russia and the Commonwealth of Independent States under one managerial roof. The measure would not be to the detriment of Opel, he added.
Nonetheless, German auto workers union IG Metall fears German jobs could be threatened down the line and demanded that GM commit to expanding, rather than limiting, Opel's sales in Russia.
Jilted Opel suitor Magna International Inc. had centered its growth plans for the German carmaker around the Russian market, before GM chose to retain, rather than sell Opel.
Based in Shanghai, GM IO is considered by German unions to be a proxy for the lower priced Korean-built Chevrolets that had earned higher margins than Opel.
A recent decision to build a small SUV in Korea rather than Antwerp, Belgium, was a blow to the Belgian plant, which GM has said will close in the middle of this year to reduce European overcapacity. The Korean plant already makes the Opel Antara mid-sized SUV.
Opel closes 2 key deals
In a separate development, Opel said it reached a deal with unions in Spain over 900 job cuts, a precursor for government aid. The local state of Aragon is expected to provide 200 million euros alone should it approve plans for production in the Zaragoza plant.
Great Britain said on Friday it would provide a 270 million pound loan guarantee to GM, but the U.S. carmaker is still seeking about 1.5 billion euros ($2.07 billion) in state aid from European governments.
"Today marks an important step for the future of Opel/Vauxhall," Opel CEO Nick Reilly said in a statement, thanking the British government for its support.
"I am also grateful for the Spanish government's role in moderating the discussions between management and unions resulting in the important agreement reached early this morning," he added.
Negotiations with Germany remain particularly sluggish, with Berlin's economics ministry saying on Friday GM has yet to update its application for government funding ever since Detroit tripled its commitment to fund Opel's operations.
Sunday, March 14, 2010
Electric Modles expected to make up 5% of Audi's Car Sales
Audi A1 e-tron
GENEVA – About 5 percent of Audi's new-car sales could be electric models in 10 years, the brand's technology chief Michael Dick said.At the Geneva auto show last week, Audi unveiled the A1 e-tron, a nearly production-ready concept developed from its new A1 subcompact.
The A1 e-tron is the third electric car concept from the German brand. Audi unveiled larger e-tron cars at the Detroit auto show in January and in Frankfurt last year.
Audi has already said it will bring an e-tron sports car to market in 2012. A prototype will soon be tested and Audi will head into intensive trials with three to four vehicles by the end of the year, Dick said.
Audi's management board hasn't officially made a decision on the A1 e-tron, but it's very likely that the concept will be built, Dick told Automobilwoche. He expects a three-year development period.
The range of the 102-hp A1 e-tron is about 50km in city traffic. A small single rotor Wankel engine achieves an additional range of 200km. When needed, the engine charges the lithium ion battery like a generator.
Audi is developing components and systems that could also be used in smaller electric cars. For example, the battery cell is the same for both the A1 and a larger e-tron sports car concept.
Dick said that, with its e-tron range, about 5 percent of Audi car sales could be electric models by 2020.
Friday, March 12, 2010
Fiat to pay Brazil $1.5M fine for failing to recall cars hit by alleged hub glitch
Brazil's Justice Ministry has fined Fiat S.p.A. 3 million reais ($1.5 million) for failing to recall thousands of Stilo cars built after 2004 despite an alleged rear-wheel hub problem.
In a statement published on its Web site late on Tuesday, the Justice Ministry said it had decided to impose the highest fine possible under the local consumer law "given that the producer denied the existence of the problem, putting consumers' health and safety at risk."
Fiat said in a statement it would recall the cars to allay consumers' concerns but would appeal against the ministry's decision since it had found no evidence of such a problem in the Stilo vehicles.
Fiat produced 60,000 Stilo cars in Brazil between 2004 and 2008. The Justice Ministry said in the statement the problem appeared not to concern Stilo cars with an anti-lock braking system.
Fiat produces about 700,000 cars a year in Brazil.
Thursday, March 11, 2010
injecter cleaners
would it be recommended to run the injection cleaners through the gas tank or should i manually do it
Response 1) I drive a '89 Dakota, purchased new, with 273,000 miles on it. I've added injector cleaner once or twice a year and have never had a problem.
Response 2) I clean my injectors twice a year. However, I know the Complete maintenance history and always use the same brand and grade of fuel. If this is a used car and you have no idea of it's history I recommend that you use a cleaner that goes directly to the Injector/s. These do a much better job than an additive to your fuel. They contain Propane and ARE under pressure. Follow the Directions CAREFULLY! And note, Injectors DO fail. They are an electrical component unless you have a True Diesel. Then they run off a camshaft.
Response 2) I clean my injectors twice a year. However, I know the Complete maintenance history and always use the same brand and grade of fuel. If this is a used car and you have no idea of it's history I recommend that you use a cleaner that goes directly to the Injector/s. These do a much better job than an additive to your fuel. They contain Propane and ARE under pressure. Follow the Directions CAREFULLY! And note, Injectors DO fail. They are an electrical component unless you have a True Diesel. Then they run off a camshaft.
Tuesday, March 9, 2010
Pininfarina, Bollore aim for autumn launch of electric car
The two European firms initially will aim the Bluecar at fleet customers such as rental car companies and start private sales later. The car will be available as soon as this autumn, depending on the results of crash tests, Bollore said at the Geneva auto show.
Bollore, head of the Bollore group, said two battery plants that have recently been inaugurated in France would each have an annual production capacity of 15,000 30 kWh batteries per year by 2013.
"With this capacity we can make 30,000 Pininfarina cars or 10,000 buses, or 60,000 small urban vehicles," Bollore said. "Our objective is a mix of the three," he said.
Pininfarina CEO Silvio Angori said he expected to ship 2,000 of the electric cars in 2011.
Bollore is throwing its weight behind lithium-metal-polymer batteries -- a different technology from the lithium-ion batteries other carmakers are using.
Bollore said support from Italian banks for Pininfarina meant the Italian company was free from problems. Angori said the group's net loss would narrow markedly this year.
Sunday, March 7, 2010
305-hp Mustang rated at 31 mpg on highway
Ford said the 305-hp 2011 Mustang 3.7-liter V-6 with a six-speed automatic transmission was certified by the EPA this week at 31 mpg on the highway and 19 mpg in the city.
The 2011 mode goes on sale this spring. Ford says it has about 11,000 dealer orders for the Mustang.
Jim Hall, a longtime industry consultant with 2953 Analytics in suburban Detroit, said the EPA certification of a 300-hp engine that tops 30 mpg is a first.
The Chevrolet Camaro, the Mustang's top rival, is equipped with a 3.6 liter V-6 rated at 304 hp and 29 mpg on the highway. The Lexus RX 450h hybrid with a 3.5-liter V-6 generates 295 hp and is rated at 32 mpg city/ 28 highway.
The Camaro has outsold the Mustang for nine straight months. In February, GM sold 6,482 Camaros while Ford sold 5,115 Mustangs.
Ford, however, outsold GM on an overall basis in February, the first time it had done so since 1998.
Muscle car wars
The muscle car segment has been a historically important battleground for Detroit automakers and one of the only segments -- along with full size trucks and SUVs -- where import brands have not made significant headway.
Ford plans to tout the 2011 Mustang's improved fuel economy during a marketing blitz when the new model reaches dealerships this spring. Ford executives began their pitch to reporters today.
“At no other time in Mustang's history -- for that matter, in automotive history -- have we been able to talk about 305 horsepower and 31 mpg. The Mustang truly is a no-compromises sports car,” Derrick Kuzak, Ford group vice president of global product development, said in a statement.
The Mustang with the standard six-speed manual transmission is rated at 30 mpg on the highway and 19 mpg in the city.
This 3.7-liter engine replaces a 4.0-liter, 210-hp engine rated at 24 mpg on the highway.
Marketing efforts
Amy Marentic, marketing manager for Ford's cars and crossovers, said the automaker's research has shown that fuel economy is one of the major reasons that consumers rule out buying a Mustang.
The marketing campaign Ford will roll out to support the launch of the new Mustang will emphasize improvements in the fuel economy and interior of the sports car, she said.
"The Mustang is a very emotional car but we're going to give people a rational reason to purchase," she said.
Shawn Wright, Philip Nussel and Reuters contributed to this report
Friday, March 5, 2010
GM back on track no longer closing 661 dealerships
GM plans to call representatives of all 661 rejected dealerships by late Monday to notify them of its intent to begin settlement talks, Bunnell said. It will start sending two-to-three-page letters of intent by the end of next week for dealers to sign and return within 10 days, he said.
Dealers then will have 60 days from the day they sign to send documentation complying with requirements in the letter, such as information about working capital, location, licensing, facilities and floorplan financing.
They also will have to return any wind-down money received from GM as they prepared to close by October. Dealerships received between $5,000 and $1 million in wind-down money, depending on their size, Bunnell said.
Once dealers comply with all the requirements of the letter of intent, they can start ordering cars from GM, Bunnell said.
The 500 or so dealers not designated for reinstatement can still ask to be considered for settlement talks, he said. Dealers who prefer financial compensation over reinstatement can request that option, Bunnell said. GM will arbitrate the remainder.
GM's action was hailed by House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, D-Md.,who was instrumental in getting the arbitration law passed.
Said Hoyer: "It is encouraging news that GM is allowing so many dealerships the chance to reopen without arbitration."
Read more: http://www.autonews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20100305/RETAIL07/100309917/1400#ixzz0hMBDAerT
Dealers then will have 60 days from the day they sign to send documentation complying with requirements in the letter, such as information about working capital, location, licensing, facilities and floorplan financing.
They also will have to return any wind-down money received from GM as they prepared to close by October. Dealerships received between $5,000 and $1 million in wind-down money, depending on their size, Bunnell said.
Once dealers comply with all the requirements of the letter of intent, they can start ordering cars from GM, Bunnell said.
The 500 or so dealers not designated for reinstatement can still ask to be considered for settlement talks, he said. Dealers who prefer financial compensation over reinstatement can request that option, Bunnell said. GM will arbitrate the remainder.
GM's action was hailed by House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, D-Md.,who was instrumental in getting the arbitration law passed.
Said Hoyer: "It is encouraging news that GM is allowing so many dealerships the chance to reopen without arbitration."
Read more: http://www.autonews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20100305/RETAIL07/100309917/1400#ixzz0hMBDAerT
Thursday, March 4, 2010
Toyota keeping secrets??
Toyota has for years blocked access to data stored in devices similar to airline "black boxes" that could explain crashes blamed on sudden unintended acceleration, according to an Associated Press review of lawsuits nationwide and interviews with auto crash experts.
The AP investigation found that Toyota has been inconsistent — and sometimes even contradictory — in revealing exactly what the devices record and don't record, including critical data about whether the brake or accelerator pedals were depressed at the time of a crash.
By contrast, most other automakers routinely allow much more open access to information from their event data recorders, commonly known as EDRs.
AP also found that Toyota:
• Has frequently refused to provide More
The AP investigation found that Toyota has been inconsistent — and sometimes even contradictory — in revealing exactly what the devices record and don't record, including critical data about whether the brake or accelerator pedals were depressed at the time of a crash.
By contrast, most other automakers routinely allow much more open access to information from their event data recorders, commonly known as EDRs.
AP also found that Toyota:
• Has frequently refused to provide More
Tuesday, March 2, 2010
1993 Olds Achieva Power Steering leak -variable or not?
My questions are, how do you tell if you have variable steering or not? I read during some research if it does have it, there would be a sensor, without no sensor. If this is true, mine has it. There's a sensor and a hose connected to the same area, which is where the leak is.
I also would like to know, if this sensor should spin freely? It has since we got it, and Autozone claimed there should be a clip to hold it in place. The GM drawing shows no clip, and the guy there said he didn't know if it should spin. The knob (for lack of a better word) at the end, is all tore up where you can see they took pliers to it, but it does not loosen or tighten.
My last question is, does anyone know where I can get this assembly? I called a couple junk yards, they all say it comes with the pump only, no reservoir or connections, and they won't sell me them. I am almost afraid to ask what GM wants for this thing! They wanted 50 bucks for the O rings! Any help is appreciated!
Response:
1) There are 2 types of ways for the sensor to be mounted. 1 is that it screws into the connection. The other is held in by a retaining collar. With the retaining collar the sensor itself will have o-rings to stop any fluid from escaping and will rotate with resistance when NOT running. What's the name of the shop so others avoid having these problems.
2) That would explain, or could explain, why the GM drawing shows 3 O rings and we can only see where 2 might go. It is leaking at the sensor area, so that O ring may be missing, but we've not been able to get it off of there either, and didn't want to force it. You could see where it was chewed up from pliers, so we don't know if it's broken or not, and I'm sure it'll be expensive from GM. Since they want 45 bucks for the O rings themselves and you can buy them for 3 bucks at the parts store!
I'm hoping to find another unit like it at a junk yard, and just swap it. Since I'm unsure how to fix it, what to order, how it goes together etc. I can't afford to take it to a shop, we replaced the power steering, alternator and water pump ourselves, what a chore that was!
(The Water Pump)
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