GM should take advantage - Page 2

One was to do with seatbelts that came loose, several times for light issues and the biggest one for the drive train and speed control issues

Then the F150 had a recall for speed control issues aswell - we no longer have Fords

http://www.automotive.com/used-cars/01/ford/index.html put in your cars details and it will bring up all the recalls for that vehicle (the type not the specific car)

We should point out that the "speed control issues" on the Fords was not an issue per se with the controller, but rather with brake fluid dripping on it and shorting it out, causing fires and other problems.

My F150 had that one recall (I think we had to take it in twice, due to a temporary fix and a permanent fix) and I don't think it's had any others. It's a 2002.

I just heard the Cobalts are likely to be recalled due to failures in the innovative electric power steering. Right now, it's just at the investigative level.

NOW, ABOUT THE ORIGINAL TOYOTA ALLEGED GAS PEDAL PROBLEM:

I mentioned above that Audi's problem was eventually shown to be driver error. Putting your big clod hoppers on the wrong pedal, in other words.

Here's a nifty little test to put you in doubt of all those who claim that the car took off without their being able to control it.

Find a nice open spot, like in an empty parking lot or some such thing.

Park your car at one end, so you have lots of open space in front of you.

Start the car. Put your left foot on the brake pedal.

Put the car in Drive. Keep your left foot on the brake pedal.

Hold the brake pedal down as hard as you can with your left foot. Put your right foot on the gas pedal. Look down to be sure you've done this right.

Now, continuing to hold the brake pedal down as hard as you can, push the accelerator to the floor.

What happens?

In most cars, the engine will rev up some. Probably to something like 2500 rpm. It won't rev up beyond that.

And the car won't move.

Don't do this for more than a few seconds. It will overheat the transmission pretty quickly, if you do.

Why did that happen?

Well, your torque converter has a "stall speed." That's the speed at which it will allow the engine to turn, without turning the tranmission at all. In most showroom cars, it's 1500-2500 rpm. In hot rods, it might be as much as 5,000 rpm.

But the basic point is that the brakes are more powerful than the engine, in most cars.

And, should you have a problem with unintended acceleration, the way to solve the problem is to turn off the engine. Do NOT put it in park, reverse, or anything else. Just turn it off and coast to the side of the road.

Wow. Isn't science fun?

I had dinner last night with an old friend who is now a Toyota parts man. (He used to teach auto body in the local high school.)

I asked him about all this, and he says right now the "big fix" that Toyota rushed out is to put a smaller gas pedal in the cars.

That's right. You heard me correctly. They are still convinced that the problem is with the gas pedals catching on something in the car, or being pushed to the floor by accident when the driver puts his/her foot on the wrong pedal.

Why would they think this? Because of the previous experience with Audi, which, after all was said and done, turned out to be driver error. Toyota has been unable to duplicate the problem with anything else.

And he agreed with me. The easy way to stop the problem is to just turn the engine off, without touching the gearshift. That will solve the problem with no engine or transmission damage, even if you have a manual transmission.

During this current snowstorm my husband and I helped get a Ford 4 wheel drive unstuck. I wish I looked to see what make it was because it preformed beautifully. It was getting stuck because the driver went down an unplowed side street where the snow was higher than the undercarriage. Most 4 wheel drive won't be able to navigate over 2 feet of unplowed snow unless it is a huge behemoth with plenty of clearance. But when we got the snow out from the undercarriage the wheels gripped and powered out of there. Very nice. Wasn't a huge SUV either. I will have to look it up. I want it for my next car which will be soon.

You mean a piece of Americana like this?



Now all I need is an apartment in this building:



This is a building known as the "Adam Hat Building." My boss used to own it. Now, it's got loft apartments just outside of the downtown Dallas, across the freeway in Deep Ellum. When my boss owned it, it also had a nightclub in the cellar named "The Heads Up Saloon," also commonly known as "Tommy's," which was nominally owned and run by Tommy Alsup, who lost the coin toss to Richie Valens for the last seat on the plane carrying him, Buddy Holly, and the Big Bopper.

Why is it significant, otherwise? Because the Adam Hat building was originally a Model T assembly plant.

http://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/complaints/results.cfm

Ford is correcting braking problems with its Fusions & Escape Hybrids....but the media is surprisingly silent