--------------- FIDO MESSAGE AREA==> TOPIC: 246 AUTOMOTIVE Ref: F2K00046 Date: 02/14/98 From: ROY J. TELLASON Time: 11:54am \/To: MARK LOGSDON (Read 0 times) Subj: Vehicle Confiscation Mark Logsdon wrote in a message to Roy J. Tellason: ML> I'll show one possible scheme in my schematic below. <...> Not a bad idea, not at all, the only problem being that you wouldn't want to use something like that on a lighting circuit that was not switched with the ignition switch, like headlights/parking lights, which would give you a continuous drain on the battery. The only other problem I see with this is that it's going to indicate "good" as long as _any_ bulb is good on that circuit. What I was thinking of initially was more along the lines of perhaps a small resistance in line with each bulb, or else a circuit that was able to sense the difference when one bulb went out and could tell you that you had a problem even though it wouldn't be able to indicate which bulb had the problem... My first thoughts along those lines would consider an op amp or comparator, but I don't know how well one of those parts would function with one of the inputs at essentially the same level as one of the power supply pins. I suspect that a 3130 or 3140 could handle that, though. It might be simpler to just use a PNP transistor "upside down" to sense things, though. It'd certainly be cheaper. email: roy.j.tellason%tanstaaf@frackit.com --- * Origin: TANSTAAFL BBS 717-432-0764 (1:270/615) --------------- FIDO MESSAGE AREA==> TOPIC: 246 AUTOMOTIVE Ref: F2K00047 Date: 02/11/98 From: ALAN MORRISON Time: 07:25pm \/To: TOM WALKER (Read 0 times) Subj: Buying imports - Banks -=> Quoting TOM WALKER to ALAN MORRISON <=- TW> BS the SATURN is NO real Match for a Quality car when compared to any TW> Toyota Model. In fact the standing Joke is that the Saturn is a very TW> Fine 1987 HONDA but Who wants to buy a 1987 car. And as far as Large So according to what you say below, 87 Hondas were really low quality junk? Sean may not appreciate you putting down his new ride... :-) So what do you own? TW> cars go surely you are Joking. Popular Mechanics of Popular Science TW> some years back Rated the VERY EXPENSIVE Cadillac Eldorado, the one TW> with the Northstar engine, LOWER in over all quality than the Saturn. Since I remember seeing Cadillac and Saturn in the top 5 in ratings, (as I already posted) above Honda, Nissan, Mazda, Toyota, and Mitsubishi, one must assume you are continuing the propaganda campaign. TW> The Saturn project was set up as a Test model of a NEW way to build TW> cars. And I will admit that it had had some success. Some success? How about best in class... Better than Toyota, Honda, Nissan, Mitsubishi, Mazda, and every other in its class. That's what 'best in class' means! But it was more than a test, it was a commitment to finding a better way to build cars, said best by: The Saturn Mission Statement To market vehicles developed and manufactured in the United States that are world leaders in quality, cost and customer enthusiasm through the integration of people, technology and business systems, and to exchange knowledge, technology and experience through General Motors. TW> WHO is the BIG roadblock to quality and FORCING the American people to TW> accept their CRAPPY low quality automobiles? ONE of their initials is TW. Now tell us why the largest number of models listed for recall is the Japanese TAKATA seat-belt fiasco. From 86 to 91 nearly EVERY JAPANESE CAR made was RECALLED. This includes 86-91 ACURAS, 86-91 HONDAS, 90-91 INFINITIS, 90-91 ISUZUS, 88-91 MAZDAS, 86-91 MITSUBISHIS, 87-91 NISSANS, 87-91 SUBARUS, and 88-91 SUZUKIS, as well as the same imports of different names. In addition to that the largest percentage of potentially FATAL DEFECTS, such as FUEL LEAKS and BRAKE FAILURES are also on recent JAPANESE MODELS. This includes 91-96 INFINITIS, 95-96 MITSUBISHIS, and the same Eagle Talons for fuel leakage leading to FIRE HAZARDS. If it was a GM car it would be on every primetime news show. Then there is the 93-95 MAZDA RX7S, 96 HONDA CIVICS, AND 91-95 MITSUBISHIS that have FAILING BRAKE hoses, and vacuum BOOSTER FAILURES. It would be nice to be able to stop, but I've never seen this on the nightly news... Why is that? 95-96 HONDAS, and the 93-95 TOYOTA Corolla/Geo Prizm all have airbags that go off unexpectedly due to an ELECTRONIC FAILURE on the HONDA and any liquid spillage on the TOYOTA/Geo console. Try and maintain control of a car that just EXPLODED in your face. Yeah, fine cars... until you INVESTIGATE a little. (ANNOYING ain't it :) See the NHTSA data on these Death traps in a post by that name. TW> Just face it we are our own Worst Enemy. Thanks for agreeing in advance. Now maybe we can do something about it, EH? ... CONFUCIUS SAY: Man piss in wind, wind piss back. --- Blue Wave/386 v2.20 [NR] * Origin: River Canyon Rd. BBS Chattanooga, Tn (1:362/627) --------------- FIDO MESSAGE AREA==> TOPIC: 246 AUTOMOTIVE Ref: F2K00048 Date: 02/11/98 From: ALAN MORRISON Time: 08:36pm \/To: ROY WITT (Read 0 times) Subj: Brakes -=> Quoting Roy Witt to Christopher Tarana <=- CT> "Split-Diagonal" system and is designed to allow you to stop the CT> car safely if one of the systems should fail. RW> And if the "split-diagonal" system exists, shouldn't you replace RW> everything on all axles? I think I got one of those bowling once... 8^) RW> ... C5 Corvette - 0-60 in 4.9 seconds, top speed of 169mph. Motor Trend and Car&Driver are reporting between 172 and 175 MPH and as quick as 4.7 seconds to sixty... You're smileage may vary. RW> ... My 4th Chevy: 1968 Camaro RS/SS 396, in Black/Tourqois. Hmm... in addition to my slightly older 85 Z28, which I believe you have an 89, I also had a '69 Camaro RS/SS 350 in metallic green. --- Blue Wave/386 v2.20 [NR] * Origin: River Canyon Rd. BBS Chattanooga, Tn (1:362/627) --------------- FIDO MESSAGE AREA==> TOPIC: 246 AUTOMOTIVE Ref: F2K00049 Date: 02/11/98 From: ALAN MORRISON Time: 10:45pm \/To: ALL (Read 0 times) Subj: Edmunds News Saturn in Japan. In April 1997, Saturn began to market cars in Japan. They now have 11 stores, and will have 20 by the end of 1997. Next year is expected to bring 20 more. "The Japanese have an equal distaste for haggling, for bargaining," says Saturn general manager Donald Hudler. "We try to put a fair price on the car." ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Mercedes-Benz makes 10. The new Mercedes plant in Tuscaloosa, Alabama is the 10th one in the U.S. producing import-brand vehicles. The list includes two for Honda plus one each for BMW, Mazda, Mitsubishi, Subaru/Isuzu, Toyota, Nissan - plus the Toyota/GM (NUMMI) site. According to the Association of International Automobile Manufacturers, average domestic content in these "New American" factories topped 75 percent in the 1996 model year. [Although many are closer to the NAFTA mandated for 1998, 62.5% to avoid tariffs.] ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Size counts, says NHTSA. In a summary report backed by technical studies, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says more fatalities result from car/light-truck collisions than car-to-car collisions - and that 80 percent of fatalities are car occupants. One study revealed that each 100-pound decrease in passenger-car weight boosts the fatal crash rate by 1.1 percent, and the injury crash rate by 1.6 percent. --- Blue Wave/386 v2.20 [NR] * Origin: River Canyon Rd. BBS Chattanooga, Tn (1:362/627) 01-13-98 - American Automobile Manufacturers Association 7 OUT OF EVERY 10 CARS AND LIGHT TRUCKS BOUGHT BY AMERICANS IN 1997 WERE MADE BY AMERICA'S CAR COMPANIES The continuing popularity of light trucks built by Chrysler, Ford and General Motors helped America's Car Companies sell far more vehicles than their foreign competitors in 1997, according to the American Automobile Manufacturers Association (AAMA). Chrysler, Ford and General Motors sold more than five million passenger cars last year in addition to nearly six million light trucks. In all, nearly 11 million vehicles produced by the three automakers -- or 7 out of every 10 vehicles -- were bought by American consumers. The three companies sold three times as many vehicles as their Japanese counterparts and again dwarfed sales of European and Korean cars and trucks in the U.S. "The extraordinary appeal of light trucks continued in 1997," according to AAMA President & CEO Andrew H. Card, Jr. "Sales of Chrysler, Ford and GM products accounted for nearly 85% of the total U.S. light truck market. For a variety of reasons -- utility, safety and styling -- consumers can't wait to get behind the wheel of a minivan, sport utility vehicle or pickup truck. And America's Car Companies helped millions of drivers do just that in 1997." Overall the U.S. auto market remains strong, according to Card. Sales of more than 15-million vehicles were posted for the fourth consecutive year. Chrysler, Ford and GM captured 71.7% of the U.S. passenger car and light truck market, AAMA reported. "Strong sales by the nation's largest manufacturing industry which supports more than 2.3-million jobs nation- wide is proof positive that America's Car Companies are an engine of economic growth. In 1997, what America drove, drove America," Card added. --- Blue Wave/386 v2.20 [NR] * Origin: River Canyon Rd. BBS Chattanooga, Tn (1:362/627) --------------- FIDO MESSAGE AREA==> TOPIC: 246 AUTOMOTIVE Ref: F2K00050 Date: 02/13/98 From: ALAN MORRISON Time: 10:45pm \/To: ALL (Read 0 times) Subj: US Car Sales 01-13-98 - American Automobile Manufacturers Association 7 OUT OF EVERY 10 CARS AND LIGHT TRUCKS BOUGHT BY AMERICANS IN 1997 WERE MADE BY AMERICA'S CAR COMPANIES The continuing popularity of light trucks built by Chrysler, Ford and General Motors helped America's Car Companies sell far more vehicles than their foreign competitors in 1997, according to the American Automobile Manufacturers Association (AAMA). Chrysler, Ford and General Motors sold more than five million passenger cars last year in addition to nearly six million light trucks. In all, nearly 11 million vehicles produced by the three automakers -- or 7 out of every 10 vehicles -- were bought by American consumers. The three companies sold three times as many vehicles as their Japanese counterparts and again dwarfed sales of European and Korean cars and trucks in the U.S. "The extraordinary appeal of light trucks continued in 1997," according to AAMA President & CEO Andrew H. Card, Jr. "Sales of Chrysler, Ford and GM products accounted for nearly 85% of the total U.S. light truck market. For a variety of reasons -- utility, safety and styling -- consumers can't wait to get behind the wheel of a minivan, sport utility vehicle or pickup truck. And America's Car Companies helped millions of drivers do just that in 1997." Overall the U.S. auto market remains strong, according to Card. Sales of more than 15-million vehicles were posted for the fourth consecutive year. Chrysler, Ford and GM captured 71.7% of the U.S. passenger car and light truck market, AAMA reported. "Strong sales by the nation's largest manufacturing industry which supports more than 2.3-million jobs nation- wide is proof positive that America's Car Companies are an engine of economic growth. In 1997, what America drove, drove America," Card added. --- Blue Wave/386 v2.20 [NR] * Origin: River Canyon Rd. BBS Chattanooga, Tn (1:362/627) --------------- FIDO MESSAGE AREA==> TOPIC: 246 AUTOMOTIVE Ref: F2K00051 Date: 02/13/98 From: ALAN MORRISON Time: 10:46pm \/To: ALL (Read 0 times) Subj: Saturn-Intellichoice Best Buy Intellichoice Report - 1997 Saturn SL 1996 BOVY (Best Overall Value) Award - Compacts The 1997 SL sedan comes in three models - (Base) SL, SL1, and SL2. The second generation sedans, after being redesigned, are manufactured in Spring Hill, Tennessee. The sedans are marketed toward the small, affordable, compact segment with a 1500 mile or 30 day money back guarantee. The sedans come in a wide variety starting with the SL, to the SL2 with all the upgrades and optional Leather Appointments. The sedans were the 1996 BOVY (Best Overall Value) award winners for the Compact category for under $17,000 and the awards for 1993-96 went to the SL1. --- Automobile Magazine reports: 1997 Saturn SL When the first Saturns came out, they were praised as America's best yet ground-up effort to combat the Japanese in the small-car segment. Now that the sedan has undergone its first redesign, it's more refined, particularly the SL2. Mated to a five-speed, the dohc four really proves its worth over the SL1's sluggish 100-horsepower sohc four; the SL2 chirps its tires when you pop it into second at its 6500-rpm redline. The exterior look is round and contemporary, and the interior redesign is attractively functional. After major revisions inside (1995) and out (1996), Saturn's SL family of sedans shifts into refinement mode for '97. Thankfully, the Saturn engineers haven't stopped tinkering with the product to make it even quieter, with such subtle improvements as a revised engine mount and torque struts and new non-asbestos organic disc brake pads. Saturn has also added an optional in-dash CD player and a low-fuel indicator, but otherwise changes are minimal on the '97 sedans. Although we prefer the extra power of the optional twin-cam engine, the base SOHC 1.9-liter four-cylinder still makes a respectable 100 bhp. --- Blue Wave/386 v2.20 [NR] * Origin: River Canyon Rd. BBS Chattanooga, Tn (1:362/627) --------------- FIDO MESSAGE AREA==> TOPIC: 246 AUTOMOTIVE Ref: F2K00052 Date: 02/13/98 From: ALAN MORRISON Time: 11:01pm \/To: ALL (Read 0 times) Subj: Buying imports-NHTSA complaints The National Highway Traffic Administration collects complaints from consumers and maintains a database on Automotive problems. The following represents the serious brake problems and airbag failures on the 1996 Honda Civic. For the past three years Civics show 271 complaints resulting in 62 reported injuries. The class winning Saturn SL models during that period had only 134 complaints (50% Civic) resulting in only 5 injuries (8% Civic). With sales between these models within 2% of each other this shows the Saturn models to be a much safer vehicle. NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation Complaints Database ---------------------------- Sample --------------------------- ODI ID: 507204 Make: HONDA Model: CIVIC Year: 1996 Date of Failure: Thursday, December 21, 1995 Incident: Yes Fire: No Number of Injuries: 2 Component: BRAKES:HYDRAULIC:ANTI-SKID SYSTEM Summary: BRAKES FAILED, CAUSING ACCIDENT. *SD --- ODI ID: 517641 Make: HONDA Model: CIVIC Year: 1996 Date of Failure: Tuesday, March 11, 1997 Incident: No Fire: No Number of Injuries: 1 Component: BRAKES:HYDRAULIC:SHOE:DISC BRAKE SYSTEM Summary: FRONT DISC BRAKES FAILED, VEHICLE LOST CONTROL, RESULTING IN A CRASH/INJURIES. *AK --- ODI ID: 802080 Make: HONDA Model: CIVIC Year: 1996 Date of Failure: Friday, August 16, 1996 Incident: Yes Fire: No Number of Injuries: 0 Component: BRAKES:HYDRAULIC:POWER ASSIST:CHECK VALVE Summary: RECALL RELATED, ABS BRAKE FAILURE, WHEN APPLIED HAD EXTENED STOPPING DISTANCE, IMPACT 12:00 POSITION, DUAL AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. --- ODI ID: 804109 Make: HONDA Model: CIVIC Year: 1996 Date of Failure: Friday, October 25, 1996 Incident: Yes Fire: No Number of Injuries: 0 Component: BRAKES:HYDRAULIC:ANTI-SKID SYSTEM Summary: DRIVING ALONG ABOUT 40 MPH WHEN ABS BRAKES FAILED, DID NOT HIT ANYTHING BUT AIR BAGS DEPLOYED, VISION BLOCKED, CAUSING AN ACCIDENT. *AK *AK --- ODI ID: 807160 Make: HONDA Model: CIVIC Year: 1996 Date of Failure: Incident: No Fire: No Number of Injuries: 0 Component: BRAKES:HYDRAULIC:MASTER CYLINDER Summary: WAS DRIVING AND APPLIED THE ABS ANTI-LOCK BRAKES AND THEY FAILED, PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR, TOOK TO DEALER, REPLACED THE MASTER CYLINDER . *AK --- Blue Wave/386 v2.20 [NR] * Origin: River Canyon Rd. BBS Chattanooga, Tn (1:362/627)