If the invoice introduced by Barbara Boxer passes, the revolving door between the NHTSA and automakers will be slammed shut. This invoice aims to fix an issue that the Toyota recall fiasco brought to light. After leaving the NHTSA, some employees would be required to take three years before working in some jobs for automakers. Though the law has been introduced, the likelihood that it will pass both the House and Senate and be signed by the President in the next few weeks is fairly low.

Former NHTSA officials working for Toyota

During the Senate hearings about the Toyota recall, the role of former NHTSA employees came to light. Former employees of the NHTSA were recruited by Toyota to negotiate with the agency. Because these employees had inside knowledge, they were able to negotiate smaller-scale recalls — or talk their way out of any recall at all. This standard practice with vehicle makers raises serious ethical issues.

Required three-year cooling-off period

Barbara Boxer’s invoice would require anyone who leaves the NHTSA to wait three years before working for automakers. This rule would apply to only “high level” NHTSA jobs and “direct communication” jobs with automakers. The rule doesn’t apply if the NHTSA employee did not work with recalls. The rule also does not apply if the automaker job doesn’t require “direct communication with the NHTSA”.

Department of Transportation due to investigate NHTSA

The U.S. Department of Transportation announced in February that they would be investigating the NHTSA. The NHTSA has been singled out as an understaffed and under-equipped agency. The NHTSA is responsible for the safety testing of 254 million passenger vehicles – and does so with only 125 engineers. In short, the responsibilities of the NHTSA are far too large for their small staff. The NHTSA is also due to get more enforcement power if the Motor Vehicle Safety Act of 2010 passes the House and Senate.

Article Resources

LA Times

Washington Post

Another Toyota recall was issued. Toyota Motor Corp. announced on Wednesday a program to upgrade software to prevent a loss of control in turns for about 50,000 Toyota Sequoia SUVs made in early 2003. The Toyota Sequoia recall seems to be just another fire for Toyota’s public relations department to get rid of. Toyota has been hemorrhaging money and losing market share. The recall list for Toyota is just adding insult to injury in an anemic market for new cars and trucks. Next month, Toyota Sequoia recall notices will start going out to owners who are affected by this.

Adding to the Toyota recall list

The Toyota Sequoia recall to fix the vehicles’ stability in the electronic control follows closely on the heels of a rare “don’t buy” rating for the Lexus GX 460 issued by Consumer Reports. Tests on the Lexus GX 460 exposed defects in the electronic stability control that could cause a rollover of the SUV in everyday driving. After the Consumer Reports “don’t buy” rating, production of the Lexus GX 460 was suspended. Consumers are reluctant to get auto financing for Toyotas because of a parade of bad PR that started in 2009 with widespread reports of braking and unintended acceleration problems.

Reason for Toyota Sequoia recall

In the announcement, Toyota said drivers in vehicles without the upgrade could experience the stability control system briefly activating at low speeds – less than 10 mph – as the Sequoia accelerates from a stop. This could keep the vehicle from getting as fast as a driver wants. So far, there have been no reports of injuries or accidents from the condition. Electronic Stability Control is a computerized system that coordinates the brakes and accelerator to help maintain control in unexpected situations.

Now official is the Toyota Sequoia recall

The Los Angeles Times is now suggesting that Toyota has known about the Sequoia stability control problem for seven years. The problem was fixed on later models that were financed with auto loans. Anyone who complained about their early 2003 Toyota Sequoias was dealt with by the dealers. An investigation that was done by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) of electronic stability control malfunctions in Toyota Sequoias turned up 163 safety-related failure incidents in the last 18 months. The most recent Toyota recall contributes to about 10.5 million Toyota recall notices worldwide in the last seven months for problems ranging from unintended acceleration to braking and corrosion.

Toyota’s recall list

It was only a few weeks before the Toyota Sequoia recall announcement when the Consumer Reports warned not to get a car loan to buy a 2010 Lexus GX 460 led to a recall of 9,400 of the SUVs. A Toyota recall was soon after issued for about 600,000 Sienna minivans sold in the U.S. because of possible corrosion in the spare-tire carrier cable. But there’s more. The federal government slapped Toyota with a record $ 16.4-million fine for failing to inform the public that gas pedals in eight models could stick and cause sudden acceleration. It was the largest fine on an automaker ever levied by the NHTSA.

Sources

The Los Angeles Times

href=”http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-toyota-recall-20100428,0,6993931.story

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

http://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/recalls/results.cfm?rcl_id=10V017&searchtype=quicksearch&summary=true&refurl=email

BMW has risen to the top of the Millward Brown BrandsZ Top 100 survey, making BMW the most valuable automobile brand on earth, reports AutoNews.com. Toyota Motor Corp. had been the leader the year before in the annual poll, but their recall troubles and travails in Congress knocked them back to the number two spot among automakers (26th overall). Some including Millward Brown Global Brand Manager Peter Walshe believe that this is only a temporary setback for Toyota. BMW moved into the top slot despite a nine percent decrease from the previous year. Toyota’s problems were significant, however, as they dropped 27 percent.

BMW is king, but Ford is gaining fast

Ford (19 percent) and Volkswagen (20 percent) both experienced a tremendous increase in brand value on the BrandsZ Top 100. Walshe said that Ford’s exciting new technology – from voice control to better emissions standards and exciting social media – played a large role in their surprising success on the survey. Volkswagen and Audi (2 percent increase) are “viewed as trustworthy brands with style, global distribution, German engineering and lower prices than prestige,” according to a Millward Brown press release.

Toyota has company on the way down

Luxury automotive brands like Mercedes-Benz (11 percent) and Porsche (31 percent) also took significant brand value hits, which is part of why the combined value of the six automakers that made BrandsZ Top 100 is down 15 percent overall. The 15 percent drop is the largest in any sector on the survey, thanks to bailouts and recalls.

The top 10 most valuable auto brands in the world

A measure of consumer opinion and corporate performance, the Millward Brown’s BrandsZ Top 100 survey is based heavily upon international consumer reviews and financials kept by Bloomberg and Datamonitor. Google, IBM and Apple sit atop the prestigious survey, with brand values ranging from $ 114 billion to $ 83 billion. Here are the top 10 most valuable auto brands on the list (value in billions of dollars; top 100 rank in parenthesis):

• BMW 21.82 billion dollars (ranked 25th)
• Toyota 21.77 billion dollars (ranked 26th
• Honda 14.3 billion (Forty-sixth)
• Mercedes 13.74 billion dollars (ranked 53rd)
• Porsche $ 12.02 – (65)
• Nissan 8.61 billion (Eighty-sixth)
• Ford 7.04 billion (not in top 100)
• Volkswagen 6.99 billion (not in top 100)
• Audi $ 3.62
• Renault 3.26 billion (not in top 100)

Article Resources

BMW has moved into the lead

http://www.autonews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20100428/COPY01/304289884/1254

Millward Brown’s BrandsZ Top 100

http://www.millwardbrown.com/Libraries/Optimor_BrandZ_Files/2010_BrandZ_Top100_Report.sflb.ashx

Ford stock to be blowing up while the Ford earnings report that was released on Tuesday shows its best quarterly performance in six years at $ 2.1 billion. The Ford Motor Co was the only Detroit automaker that wasn’t bailed out of bankruptcy with money loans from the Federal Government last year and has earned a profit for consecutive quarters while its domestic rivals flounder. Even though the new car sales market hasn’t recovered yet, Ford Stock price and earnings report numbers shifted a year early from negative to positive just by slashing their costs and increasing sales.

Soaring Ford Stock Price

Monday, Ford stock hit a five year high at $ 14.57. When Wall Street only expected it to gain 32 cents a share, it actually went up 50 cents a share according to the Ford earnings report. One year ago, Ford stock traded at $ 1.91 a share, and the Ford earnings report showed a loss of $ 1.4 billion–a net loss of 60 cents a share. Alan R. Mulally said it would work to introduce new products, close plants, and eliminate tens of thousands of jobs when he took over just four years ago as boss. Presenting the Ford earnings report, Ford executives said the company expects to continue selling cars for positive cash flow in the immediate future.

Production fueled by Ford earnings report

Ford said it planned to build 625,000 vehicles in the United States and Canada in the second quarter, 9 percent more than the first quarter and 39 percent more than same period a year ago. Later this year it plans to introduce new smaller and more efficient cars. Ford fans will be getting auto financing for new versions of the Fiesta and Focus, plus a retooled Edge crossover and a more fuel efficient Explorer SUV.

Ford Stock and an analysis

The Ford stock has increased more than 40 percent in 2010 if you analyze stock. Ford’s market share in the United States rose to 16.6 percent in the first quarter, up 2.7 percent from the first quarter 2009. In February, it outsold General Motors for the first time in 50 years. Adding to the cost cutting and increased focus on quality, Ford’s gamble to forgo the government bailout appears to have paid off in spades as the images, and sales, of GM and Chrysler have suffered. Also, Toyota’s recall of more than nine million vehicles and the ending publicity nightmare of the past six months probably hasn’t hurt Ford stock either.

Ford Stock and the outlook

The Ford stock outlook hints that the Ford stock price may not sustain its current rally. Ford’s chief financial officer Lewis W.K. Booth said the company does not necessarily expect each of the next three quarters to be as strong as the first, particularly if an improving economy leads to higher interest rates later in the year, as reported by the New York Times. As it seemed to be on cue, Ford stock began falling after the company’s earnings report was released on Tuesday. Ford stock price was down about 6.5 percent at $ 13.50 a share by noon Eastern Time. Monday’s closing price for Ford stock was the highest since January 2005. In the Ford stock outlook, debt survival might be an issue. The company still to have much more debt $ 34.3 billion, than cash, $ 25.3 billion.

Kelley Blue Book happens to be the universal source in determining the market value of used cars for auto financing. Kelley Blue Book has come a long way since Les Kelley first published his guide to used car values in 1926. Kelley Blue Book has evolved from a small pocket sized pamphlet to a resource library on the web and an automobile search engine with its one free Kelley blue Book iPhone app.

Used cars and much more: Kelley Blue Book

With its release of its choices for the Top 10 Green Cars for 2010, Kelley Blue Book demonstrated its clout on Monday. News outlets across the US covered this announcement that ranked the Toyota Prius at the top of the list. The Kelley Blue Book list of Top 10 Green Cars for 2010 includes a selection of vehicles for all purposes, from the Honda Insight Hybrid at number two to the Chevrolet Tahoe Hybrid at number 10. Whenever someone decides they want one of these cars, they can go to Kelley Blue Book and enter their zip code to find the location of a dealer willing to give them a decent price.

Kelley Blue Book free iPhone app

Kelley Blue Book’s free iPhone app offers a Seller’s toolkit that helps you access the book value of the car you want to get by plugging your iPhone directly into the Kelley Blue Book database. You can also find trade-in value, dealer locations, read reviews and look at 360 degree views of the car in question. If you’re selling a car, the Kelley Blue Book free iPhone app has quicklinks to Kelley Blue Book’s website so buyers can find your car, and tools to create slick ads for craigslist, Twitter, Facebook, e-mail or blog.

Kelley Blue Book used cars, trade in value

A used cars trade in value is determined by Kelley Blue Book by more than just the make, model, and miles. For car loans, the condition of a used car is judged with tough criteria. Unless the used car is showroom immaculate, a well-kept vehicle will likely be judged as “good,” rather than “excellent.” Cars that need a little more work are “fair” and smoking, sputtering heaps are “poor.” It is important to enter a zip code when entering the Kelley Blue Book website because location is a big factor used in determining a used car price on Kelley Blue Book. For example, an SUV isn’t going to be worth as much in Miami as it is in Montana. North Dakota will pay less for a Corvette Convertible than San Diego will pay.

Kelley Blue Book, the used cars bible

Kelley Blue Book has been successful in identifying its brand with its services the term “book” is understood universally as the price for used cars and trade in value. Today, wheeling and dealing includes standard terms like “what’s the book?” “over book” and “under book.” The terms blue book and blue book value have been trademarked by Kelley Blue Book.

With many options available the used Ford F-150 Jacksonville has a style to meet everyones needs. Mike Davidson Ford is home for Ford F-150 and Ford F-150 used trucks Jacksonville which has a huge selection of F-150 in all kinds of trim levels. Offered with only the most basic features, the XL model is priced to be affordable for everyone. Starting around $21,000 the F-150 XL provides the quality of a Ford and the usefulness of a Ford F-150 Jacksonville. Powered by a fuel saving 4.6 liter V-8 this F-150 has the horsepower to haul a trailer and get 21 MPG on the highway. To find the F-150 and other used truck Jacksonville Florida go down to your local dealership.

From there Ford offers the STX model in a variety of engine, bed and cab sizes. For everyone who needs that extra quality of luxury one may start out by looking at a FX4 model. Priced at $34,000 the lasting value of this truck unbeatable. Armed with a powerful 5.4 liter V8, any reasonable towing job is within this F-150’s grasp. Available in SuperCab and SuperCrew, this truck has interior room to spare.

If maximum performance is desired then Ford has your truck: the all- SVT Raptor. The monsterous 6.2 liter V8 delivers ridiculous power and a ruggedly reliable suspension. It can turn heads on the street, the dragstrip, and off-road. You can find a F-150 or used truck. The top of the price line are the King Ranch, Platinum, and Harley Davidson models. With MSRP’s over $40,000 these trucks are worth every penny to the decerning truck buyer. Check with a certified Ford dealer to reserve one of these beauties; they are only available in limited quantities.

In summation there is a style to meet any truck enthusiast’s desires. Almost every style is available in 4×2 and 4×4 and come in various lengths of cargo bed. No matter if it’s an average Joe who needs a basic quality truck or a high roller who wants all the options under the sun, Ford has a F-150 to meet everyone’s expectations].

obd II diagnostic

OBD II is considered as an interface that you use to connect your laptop or computer to your OBD II diagnostic bus. Both the hardware and software systems are able to decipher standard OBD II data and diagnostic trouble codes or DTC. OBD II diagnostics is very useful because it provides necessary information related to the monitoring of your car’s condition, trouble shooting, and repairs.

1965 chrysler 300 shop manual

The OBD II diagnostics involves the monitoring of basic OBD II data such as the fuel system, temperature of the coolant, engine load, engine RPM, speed of the vehicle, intake air temperature, position of the throttle, secondary air status, and manifold pressure. The device often has multiple display modes with digital graph or displays that come in gauge style. In addition, the owner can also decide which type of units to be used, should it be in Metric or English. OBD II diagnostics also include the monitoring of oxygen sensor voltage. The device will also tell if the current condition of the engine comply with the environmental safety standards because it will also assess the emission of the vehicle. There is also the OBD II diagnostics trouble code reader and haynes manual. This reader shows “P” codes that include specific information from the manufacturer which is can be seen in mode 3. Some of these specific information are the automatic or manual definition of codes (basic OBD II codes as well as specific DTC implied by the manufacturer), arbitrary code entry ability which is intended for look-up purposes, and the capability to poll for active trouble codes and malfunction lights periodically while monitoring other kinds of data at the same time.

Moreover, OBD II diagnostics does not exclude pending trouble codes which are similar to regular trouble codes only that they are after one driving cycle and typically before check engine light is illuminates. Also, the device also has the clear functions. It refers to the requests that ask the vehicle clear the DTC, test results while driving, and the date for the freeze frame. Additional advanced feature is the data logger. With this, the owner has the option to record or read back most of the disk drive raw data. You can do these by either choosing time tag which aims to connect the computer time to the data stream periodically, place markers which can be inserted into the data to enable the location of the same position afterwards, or the playback functions which pertain to the jumping to record numbers or place markers in a sequence. Nest is the printout option which enables the user to decide whether or not he wants to send the data to the default printer of the system. Another special feature is the simulate mode. It runs even with the absence of an interface. It is very convenient in exploring the system and to familiarize you with the program.

There are still a lot of very cool features that are included in the OBD II diagnostics and 1970 chevrolet shop manual . It is highly recommended that you read your manual first before using the device since that it might appear to be complicated to use if you are new to the product.

Shopping for a Ford dealership in Middletown, NY? Shoppers are finding that Leo Kaytes Ford is the best of all Ford dealers in New York. So whether you looking for a used car Middletown or a used truck Middletown, their inventory of barely used is the best.

When people first think about the Ford Edge they think “cutting edge.” Once they drive one however, they are groovin’ to Aerosmith while singing “living on the edge!” This top selling crossover SUV is dressed to impress with chrome rims and a grille that shines like your favorite rapper. Using the Ford Edge’s superb navigation and Sync multimedia interface, parents will never have to hear, “are we there yet?” With several models to choose from there is an new or used Ford Edge to fit all budgets and driving styles.

Starting with the SE model anyone can own one of these for just over $27,000. The Ford Edge comes standard with a CD/MP3 player and 17” painted wheels. It has a 3.5L V6 engine and a 6 speed automatic transmission. The Ford Edge SEL is equipped with unique cloth seats, 6-way power driver’s seat, premium AM/FM stereo with 6-disc in-dash CD/MP3 player, leather-wrapped steering wheel with secondary audio controls, and 18” painted aluminum wheels. For added safety the Ford Edge SEL has a Reverse Sensing System and a key-less entry keypad. The top-of-the-line Edge Sport edition is the perfect option for a crossover SUV. Leather seats with suede inserts are the plushest ride one can get, not to mention the reclining seats with a center fold-down armrest for the middle passengers. For all of the techno maniacs out there the SYNC in-car Connectivity System is astounding. Whether it’s the push of a button or the sound of a voice the SYNC system can do almost anything. The Sport edition is most definitely a head turner. 20” premium chrome-clad aluminum wheels and large dual chrome exhaust tips give this Edge a sportier look than the name intended.

One of the neatest features of the Ford Edge is the ability to control the ambient lighting which illuminates the floorboards. All these features added with the SIRIUS satellite radio make the Edge road ready for a summer road trip. Packing is a snap with the Ford Edge power lift-gate and with all-weather floor mats don’t worry about getting sand from the beach on the floor. The Ford Edge is a jack-of-all-trades and a great American crossover SUV.

auto manuals

People like to drive their own car but every owner should know that it is essential to take care of their car for it to last longer. You should consider the fact that you have to maintain its reliability, keep its drivability and keep intact its resale value.

haynes repair manuals can help you a lot in taking care for your car. Here below are some ways in how you should care for your car.

06 highlander repair manual

• Washing – Just like your house and yourself, your car need to be washed and cleaned to maintain its perfection. Bird droppings and snow can ruin your cars finishing so it is a must that you clean your car regularly. It doesn’t have to be everyday nor every other day. You can wash your car every week or have them washed. You can just wipe it clean with a piece of cloth every other day.

• Oil Change – Every car need regular oil change to ensure a long life for your engine. At least, have it changed every 3 months. If the car is just brand new you can change it every 6 months.

• Tune Up – You need to replace the spark plug, air filter, fuel filter and emission control filters on a regular basis. When the spark plugs are replaced the technician should check the ignition wires, the cap and rotor if your car has them.

• Waxing – Regular waxing can maintain your cars good look and shine. You can wax your car twice a year.

• Check Under the Hood – Checking under the hood will often show you the problems of your car and it will be much better to know it before hand before they become costly to repair.

• Balance and Alignment – This protects your wheels. These adjustments are done to maintain the maximum life of your tire and a vehicle that tracks truly straight when driving along a level and straight road.

• Tire Rotation – It is very important to rotate your tires every so often because the front tires wear out much faster than the rear. In Chevrolet Repair Manual and 1500 honda goldwing service manual, you can find easy ways in how to rotate your tires.

• Winterizing – This is done in places that have snow or experiences snow fall. The cold weather causes corrosion inside the cooling system and the best way to prevent corrosion is to flush the cooling system periodically and replace the antifreeze.

• Timing Belt – These belts are used by carmakers as an alternative of the more durable chains due to the fact that these chains are noisier and more expensive to produce. Your vehicle owner’s manual will advise at what mileage the timing belt must be changed.

• Filters – There are different filters that you need to change in your car. The air filter is the easiest to replace and this filters the air going into an engine. The fuel filter is another one, which is found either near the gas tank or in the engine compartment. A mechanic should change this. Cabin Filters are found on some of the old car versions, usually located under the dash. This filter cleans the air before it goes inside the passenger compartment.

New Ford aggregation owners can choose a modern midsize box, mounted in front of your new Ford F350 bed that provides lockable storage for work necessities and other costly cargo. Used Ford Super Duty hold their value like none other. Three different instrument panel designs give each series an individual look. Looking for a Ford dealership in Houston? Russell & Smith Ford is you one stop shop for any new truck Houston or used truck Houston searches.
The smooth flowing interior console gives customers the option of two reclining seats with a shifter on the floor in the FX4 and Lariat series. New trucks prepared with a 40/20/40-split-front-bench seat makes it much more comfortable for the guy in the middle. The all new F-series truck is outfitted with 3 uniquely different engines, the 4.2 liter V-6, 4.6 liter Triton V-8, and the 5.4 liter Triton V-8 all which have exceptional hp. obtainable in their field. The 5.4-liter Triton V-8 engine delivers 320 hp. and 390 ft.lbs of tourqe. A flex-fuel edition can run on E85 biofuel.

Selectable upgrades that are avaiable include: SIRIUS satellite radio; supplementary audio input jack; navigation system; overhead rail storage system; traction assist; power-fold heated side mirrors; manual or automatic push button four-wheel-drive; under body protective covers; non-posi axle; 35.7-gallon fuel cell; fog lamps; two-tone paint; numerous different improve packages; power-adjustable pedals; power-sliding rear window; reverse sensing system; CD player with 6 cd capacity; audiophile audio system; heavy-duty payload package; towing package; snow-plow prep package.

Included in the XL package: Chrome front and rear bumpers; interval wipers; 17 “ steel rim; AM/FM audio system; black vinyl floor covering; interior map lights and standard driver lumbar support comes with vinyl 40/20/40-split front seat. Many of the New Ford F-150 provides great comfort and driving ability found in no other vehicle in their league. Ranging from you basic run of the mill XL model, which is the most common work truck of Americans today, all the way up to Fords XLT Lariat, which is the king of the road, arraying from the Harley Davidson model to the King Ranch. A tailgate step is on hand that helps the climb up to the back easier and safer, even for us young fellas. The very heavy tailgate also comes with springs that help closing the tailgate alot easier.

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