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Trucks-Trailers-Tractors |
 Triple
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Old news, too good to throw away.
|
New PML Ford TorqShift™
Deep Transmission Pan
 Inglewood,
CA – October 10, 2003 – PML now manufactures an extra capacity Ford
TorqShift transmission pan. This transmission is used with the 6.0L
Power Stroke Diesel. PML designed this deep pan to help the
TorqShift transmission better handle the high stresses of towing and
hauling.
The PML Ford TorqShift deep
transmission pan features a capacity of 4.5 quarts over stock for
reduced oil temperatures. The sand-cast aluminum
construction and design provide strength and great looks. Raised
fins also keep oil cool and add to the custom look. The pan
has a precision-machined 0.350 inch-thick gasket flange for a
uniform clamping force on the gasket so the pan is much less prone
to leak than a stock pan which is typically 0.035 inch-thick
stamped steel. The pan comes with a magnetic drain plug for
easy oil changes and an un-drilled boss for temperature sensors.
PML designed the Ford TorqShift deep transmission pan with thick
wall construction to add strength to the whole transmission case.
The PML Ford TorqShift deep
transmission pan is available in three finishes: as-cast,
black powder coated, polished.
About PML: PML began in
1986 providing first article and dimensional inspection to the
Southern California manufacturing industry. Services
expanded to include prototyping, tooling, reverse engineering, CAD
modeling, and designing and manufacturing automotive products.
All PML products are designed and manufactured in the USA.
PML is a SEMA member and holds current ISO 9002 certification.
More
PML Product News |
USA: National trailer rental firm bans Ford Explorer tow
vehicles - paper
|
Source: just-auto.com editorial team
|
 |
|
Ford’s popular Explorer sport utility vehicle, recalled in
2001 over its alleged tendency to roll over if a Firestone
tyre blew out, has been dealt another blow. According to the
Detroit News, U-Haul International is forbidding its outlets
to rent trailers to US customers who plan to tow with the
Explorer, saying it no longer can afford to defend product
liability lawsuits linked to the best-selling model.
The ‘motor city’ newspaper said
the unusual move by U-Haul comes after the Explorer appeared
to have overcome lingering image problems associated with the
Firestone tyre debacle. According to Ward’s Auto data, the
Ford was America’s fourth most popular light truck model in
2003, selling 373,118 units.
The Detroit News said U-Haul —
North America’s largest trailer rental company with more than
17,000 outlets — implemented the policy on December 22, saying
the ban was not related to safety.
“U-Haul has chosen not to rent
behind this tow vehicle based on our history of excessive
costs in defending lawsuits involving Ford Explorer towing
combinations,” the company told the Detroit News.
But U-Haul spokeswoman Joanne
Fried declined to disclose how much the Phoenix-based company
has spent defending lawsuits involving Explorers, the paper
added.
“The decision is not based on
one accident,” she reportedly said. “It’s based on several
different lawsuits going on for several years.”
Ford Jon Harmon told the
Detroit News U-Haul’s decision is “surprising and
disappointing.”
“This is all about runaway
litigation and trial lawyers forcing businesses to make
unfortunate decisions for fear of lawsuits,” Harmon reportedly
said.
The paper noted that U-Haul was
embroiled in a lawsuit that Bridgestone/Firestone settled out
of court in September, involving three college students who
were injured in 1999 when their Firestone-equipped Explorer
overturned while pulling a U-Haul trailer.
Fried and U-Haul would not
release details about the accidents cited in its lawsuits, the
Detroit News said.
A bulletin issued to U-Haul
dealers last month, which was obtained by the paper,
reportedly said the company’s move was “based on the negative
perceptions of Ford Explorers... we are separating ourselves
from the negative public perception and its potential
consequences.”
The Detroit News noted that
U-Haul has no ban on rentals to Mercury Mountaineer owners,
although the vehicle is mechanically a carbon copy of the
Explorer.
“We’ve had no issues with the
Mercury Mountaineer,” Fried reportedly said.
The Detroit News said the
slight is the latest in a series of setbacks that have dogged
the Explorer, which is America’s top-selling SUV and the
sixth-best selling vehicle in 2003.
The paper noted that, in August
2001, Firestone was forced to recall 14.4 million defective
tyres - fitted mostly to Explorers – because the treads often
separated, causing drivers to lose control of their SUVs and
often roll over.
Federal regulators linked 271
deaths and more than 800 injuries to the defective tyres, the
Detroit News said, adding that Ford recalled an additional 13
million Firestone tyres in May 2001.
Ford and Bridgestone/Firestone
have spent millions of dollars to settle product liability
cases over the tyres and SUV, the Detroit News report said.
The paper noted that the
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said in
February 2002 that there was not enough evidence to open a
formal defect investigation of the Explorer.
Sid Gilreath, a Knoxville,
Tennessee, lawyer involved in product liability litigation for
more than three decades, told the Detroit News that, after the
widely publicised Firestone tyre recall, the Explorer has
become a favourite target of product liability lawyers and
added that the number of lawsuits involving Explorers isn’t
necessarily a reflection of its performance characteristics. |
|
|
NEW FORD F-150, FORD FREESTAR, MERCURY MONTEREY EARN TOP SAFETY
RATINGS FROM IIHS AND NHTSA
IIHS Front Crash "Best Picks"
- 2004 F-150 is a "best pick" in IIHS frontal crash test;
the first pickup truck to receive this honor
DEARBORN, Mich., Dec. 19, 2003 - The all-new 2004 Ford F-150
pickup truck and the new Ford Freestar and Mercury Monterey
minivans received "good" rankings and were named "best picks" in
the most recent round of high-speed frontal offset crash testing
performed by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) –
the institute's highest possible rating.
The F-150 is the first, and only, pickup truck to receive a
"best pick" in the high-speed frontal offset crash category.
In addition to the IIHS high-speed frontal offset crash test
rankings, the 2004 Freestar and Mercury Monterey also achieved
the highest government rating from the National Highway Traffic
Safety Administration (NHTSA) for frontal crash safety by
receiving five stars for both driver and right front passenger
positions. The new F-150 will be tested next year.
"The new F-150 has proven itself in our most extensive impact
testing ever for a truck," said Steve Lyons, president of Ford
Division. "The 2004 Ford Freestar and Mercury Monterey add new
technologies designed to further improve on Ford Motor Company's
leadership for safe minivans."
IIHS' frontal offset crash test is one of the most demanding
tests of a vehicle’s structure. During the test, a vehicle is
crashed at 40 mph into a deformable barrier on the driver's side
only, rather than the full-frontal impact. Therefore, a much
smaller area of the vehicle's front-end structure must dissipate
all of the impact energy.
According to IIHS, the "good" rating for the F-150, Ford
Freestar and Mercury Monterey mean that in a real-world crash of
similar severity, belted occupants would likely walk away
escaping serious injury. A "best pick" recommendation by IIHS
means the vehicle performed exceptionally well in all phases of
the test and is at the top of the vehicle segment.
2004 FORD F-150
The new F-150 has been designed, engineered and manufactured
to be a breakthrough product that resets the competitive
benchmark within the full-size pickup truck segment. One of the
product areas key to this effort is safety. The 2004 F-150 has
been developed with a dedicated focus on safety, making it the
safest F-150 ever, as is evidenced from the enhancements below:
Crash-optimized structure: If a collision is
unavoidable, the new F-150 helps to protect its occupants with a
structure designed to help absorb and dissipate crash energy and
maintain the occupant compartment integrity.
- Strong hydroformed front frame rails are built with
computer-designed front horns, that fold accordion-style
during an impact, to help manage and absorb crash forces.
- A wave pattern was stamped into the front horns,
tailoring the shape and wall thickness to create trigger
points where the frame sections would begin to collapse to
absorb the crash energy efficiently.
- The front frame rails extend through cutouts in the
fully boxed bumper beam to its front face, where they are
welded in place, providing maximum crush space.
- A rugged steel platform beneath the cabin and special
reinforcements on the frame rails further improve the
frame's stiffness.
- The F-150's nine-times stiffer, fully boxed frame, in
combination with the outstanding body structure, includes
stiffer door openings, doorsills, and underbody structure.
Combined, these help to help preserve occupant compartment
integrity during the severe front offset crash test.
-
- Restraint systems:
Advanced restraints provide
additional occupant protection, which now includes passenger
occupant classification as part of more than a dozen elements
that make up the Personal Safety SystemÔ
.
- Passenger Occupant Classification allows the passenger
airbag to be turned-off when a small child is present or
when the passenger seat is not occupied.
- Frontal air bags offer deployment levels to tailor
inflation force based on the severity of the crash, driver
and passenger safety belt use, driver seat position and
passenger classification.
- Three-point belts at all outboard seating positions and
a three-point belt in the center rear seating position of
the SuperCab and SuperCrew models.
- Belt pretensioners pull the lap and shoulder belts
tighter during a crash.
- Load-limiting retractors release shoulder belt material
as appropriate to reduce peak energy forces and help ease
occupants to a stop.
- Adjustable head restraints at all outboard seating
positions.
Beltminder: A vehicle occupant's best line of
defense in crashes remains the safety belt. Ford Motor Company's
industry-leading technology reminds the driver and front-seat
passenger to buckle up by sounding a gentle tone and displaying
an icon on the instrument panel.
Child passenger safety: All new F-150 trucks have
three sets of LATCH (Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children)
fixtures and top tether anchors across the rear seat of SuperCab
and SuperCrew models, and a top tether anchor on the front
passenger seat. Regular Cab models have both LATCH lower anchors
and a top tether anchor on the front passenger seat.
In addition to its emphasis on safety, the new 2004 F-150
extends its segment leadership through major improvements in
several areas including capability, driving dynamics and
interior design, and offers the industry’s widest variety of
configurations.
USA: Ford adds roll stability control to
US-built SUVs 11 Dec 2003
Source: just-auto.com editorial team
Ford is claiming a US industry first for its new
Roll Stability Control (RSC) system now available as a “segment
exclusive technology” for the 2004 Lincoln Aviator and Lincoln
Navigator after making its debut on the 2003 Volvo XC90.
RSC will also be available on the 2005 Ford
Explorer and Expedition and the Mercury Mountaineer.
Ford claims that, unlike any other system on the
market, RSC system offers added assistance to the driver in
maintaining vehicle control during extreme manoeuvres if a
rollover is likely. The system automatically takes additional
counter measures to reduce the risk of rollover.
A team led by Todd Brown of Ford Global Core
Engineering, Brakes and Chassis Controls Department, developed RSC
to reduce the occurrence of rollover accidents. The technology
grew out of the team's experience designing the yaw control system
(AdvanceTrac) introduced with the 2000 Lincoln LS and Jaguar
S-type.
Typical electronic stability control systems are
designed to control yaw or skidding only. Ford has coupled its RSC
and AdvanceTrac systems to provide even greater safety benefits
for the customer. The technology is an active stability
enhancement system that significantly builds upon existing yaw
stability control systems and adds another dimension of advanced
technologies and software to monitor and control a vehicle's roll
motion during extreme manoeuvres.
The RSC system continuously calculates if the
vehicle may be approaching a situation where rollover is probable
and takes action to help prevent rollover.
In Ford's system, a gyroscopic sensor determines
the vehicle's body roll angle and roll rate. Along with algorithms
embedded in advanced software, this information is used with other
vehicle sensors' inertial information including yaw rate, lateral
and longitudinal accelerations to monitor the vehicle's roll
stability condition approximately 150 times per second. If the
vehicle approaches an unstable situation, the system is activated:
engine power is reduced and/or the brakes are applied to one or
more of the wheels as necessary to help regain vehicle stability.
Ford has a significant number of issued and
pending patents on the RSC technology and is making it available
to other companies and carmakers via licenses. |
| 01 Dec 2003 Source: just-auto.com
editorial team
According to Automotive News Europe, Volkswagen's Franz-Josef
Paefgen said VW isn't developing a hybrid because it doesn't feel
its needs the technology, although he admits VW and other car
makers may be forced to develop hybrids, if emissions standards
that are taking hold in California are adopted elsewhere.
Paefgen, the CEO of Bentley and the VW Group
board member responsible for research and advanced development,
was speaking during an interview on a trip to Japan.
VW thinks the development of better combustion
engines and cleaner burning fuels are the ways to meet tougher
emissions rules.
The European car industry has a voluntary
commitment to reduce fleet CO2 emission from a current average of
165 grams per kilometre to 140g/km by 2008.
"But I am afraid that the industry won't meet
this target because most of our gains in this respect have been
eaten up by heavier car constructions," Paefgen said. "But with
the aid of specially designed fuels we will be able to reduce
other emissions.
VW's research focuses on optimising the internal
combustion engine, with the help of synthetic fuels. "You can
design your own fuel so that even existing diesels are 5 to 10%
more fuel efficient while simultaneously reducing particulate
emission by 50%," he said. "Eventually we will see a single engine
type, combining diesel and petrol combustion principles, which
will meet stringent emission and consumption goals."
Synthetic fuels can be produced from natural
gas, or from biological matter such as plants.
"The supply of natural gas is nearly unlimited,"
Paefgen said. "And when produced from bio-mass, you have a
near-sustainable energy source."
Specially designed fuels improve the combustion
process, and can reduce NOx emissions. |
|
aFe is proud to announce the newest member of
our family of intake kits for Ford Vehicles:
|
Stage 2
Intake for the 99-02 Ford Power Stroke
This new intake kit replaces the entire stock air box and
battery tray with a high quality steel housing. A roto-molded
tube mounts on the housing, connecting the turbo to a 5 1/2"
high flowing aFe washable and reusable filter. The kit
maintains your current battery.
This kit fits all 7.3L Power Stroke vehicles (including the
early 1999) made through 2003, and is available with either
Magnum FLOW media or high efficiency Pro-Guard7 media.
|
Here are the
details:
Part Number: 54-10192 (Magnum FLOW media)
Part Number: 75-10192 (Pro-Guard7 media)
MSRP (54-10192): $576.92
MSRP (75-10192): $653.85
Coming soon: Stage 2 Intake System for '94-'02 Dodge
Cummins. |
| FOR RELEASE: November
18, 2003
General
Motors Allison Clean Hybrid Technology Powers Additions To Houston
Metro Transit
HOUSTON - Houston
Metro Transit will showcase its newest buses, powered by a clean
hybrid technology from GM Allison Electric Drives, this week at
the Clean Cities Heavy-Duty Vehicles workshop.
With the help of a grant from the Clean
Cities/Clean Vehicles program, Houston Metro has added four of the
hybrid transit buses to its fleet. The vehicles are part of a GM
Allison "preview program" to test the new technology, putting
Houston in the vanguard of the movement to reduce smog with a new
generation of environmentally friendly transit buses. The 40-foot
hybrid diesel-electric coaches feature the GM Allison hybrid
system.
The GM hybrid system delivers up to 60 percent
better fuel economy than conventional diesel powered urban transit
buses. Buses equipped with the system produce much lower
hydrocarbon and carbon monoxide emissions than conventional buses,
lowering particulate (tiny pieces of soot and dust), hydrocarbon
(HC) and carbon monoxide (CO) emissions by up to 90 percent, and
emissions of oxides of nitrogen (NOX) by up to 50 percent.
Buses outfitted with Allison Electric Drives
also deliver 50 percent better acceleration than conventional
diesel buses, because the coach uses the superior torque of
electric motors to launch from a stop.
"General Motors' hybrid strategy focuses on
first applying hybrid technology to the highest fuel consuming
vehicles, such as transit buses and full size pickup trucks and
sport utility vehicles," said Tom Stephens, group vice president
of GM Powertrain. "For example, replacing the 13,000 buses
operating in the nine largest transit markets in the United States
with our hybrid technology would result in annual savings of more
than 40 million gallons of fuel, equivalent to more than half a
million small hybrid passenger vehicles."
The GM Allison hybrid system is applicable to a
broad range of commercial transit and trucking applications. These
include standard and articulated transit buses, suburban coaches,
military vehicles and medium- and heavy-duty trucks. The system is
compatible with contemporary vehicle architectures. Allison hybrid
systems now power buses for transit agencies in Austin,
Philadelphia, Minneapolis, Portland, Orange County, Calif. and
Seattle, which will soon take delivery of over 200 of the GM
hybrid-propelled buses for the King County Transit fleet.
General Motors (NYSE: GM), the world's largest
vehicle manufacturer, designs, builds and markets cars and trucks
worldwide, and has been the global automotive sales leader since
1931. GM employs about 340,000 people around the world. More
information concerning GM's advanced automotive technologies and
environmental performance on GM can be found at
www.gm.com. GM
Allison Transmission leads the world in the design, manufacture
and sales of medium- and heavy-duty automatic transmissions and
hybrid propulsion systems. |
Customers knock GM on noisy
engines. Light trucks are now worthless,
some buyers say, Detroit News,
November 14, 2003
More....
|
LOOKING FOR PULLING POWER?
Smeding’s Brute Torque 383 Stroker Crate Engine Produces
Gobs Of Low-End Torque For Towing
Rancho Cordova, CA
(October 23, 2003)—Do you need some serious pulling power?
Smeding Performance’s Brute Torque 383 Stroker crate engine
provides gobs of bottom-end torque for towing and other heavy-duty
uses. Plus, with high vacuum, it offers good fuel economy, too.
There’s a reason Smeding named this motor the Brute Torque 383
Stroker. The stroked Chevrolet small-block engine produces serious
torque right off idle, with at least 400 lb-ft from 2,000 through
4,300 rpm. Torque peaks at 430 lb-ft at 3,500 rpm, and horsepower
peaks at 345 at 4,500 rpm.
This Smeding crate engine is not a rebuild. The Brute
Torque 383 Stroker starts out with a brand-new GM 350 4-bolt-main
block. This block is modified to accept a new nodular iron
crankshaft and steel connecting rods. The rotating assembly is
spin balanced to within 1 gram to assure smooth operation and
longer engine life.
To create all that bottom-end torque, Smeding specially modifies
the small but efficient Torker cylinder heads to precisely match
the flow characteristics of a .443-inch-lift cam. The heads
feature 1.94 and 1.50 stainless valves and roller-tip rockers.
A hypereutectic, graphite-coated piston is used, along with moly
rings, to assure a better combustion seal and virtually no piston
scuffing. The stroker engine is assembled with a new double roller
timing gear set, Melling oil pump, Fel-Pro gaskets and an
Edelbrock Performer intake manifold.
Smeding’s Brute Torque 383 Stroker crate engine is perfect for
towing and 4-wheel-drive 3/4- and 1-ton trucks. It features 9.0:1
compression, so it can run all day on pump gas. And to reduce
maintenance demands, Smeding uses a hydraulic camshaft. There’s no
valve lash to set, so vehicle owners can treat this engine just
like the one in a brand-new vehicle.
Smeding sells the Brute Torque 383 Stroker for $3,695. A
smog-legal version is available for $3,775. The stroked
small-block Chevy engine comes with a standard one-year limited
warranty—and for an additional $250, you can extend the warranty
to three years.
Smeding Performance specializes in building reliable,
low-maintenance crate engines for truck, car and marine
applications. These engines are not rebuilds: All Smeding crate
engines feature brand-new engine blocks and brand-new premium
components. For more information, contact Smeding Performance,
Dept. ___, 3340 Sunrise Blvd. #E, Rancho Cordova, CA 95742,
916-638-0899,
www.smedingperformance.com .
|
|
aFe is first to market again with the new replacement filter
for the new 2004 Ford F-150 |
| |
New Magnum
FLOW replacement filter
aFe is now shipping part number 30-10106, the replacement
filter for the new Ford 2004 F-150 pickup truck. This filter
fits the 5.4L engine and features 100% polyurethane
construction, medical grade cotton gauze, and aFe's unique
pleat design for maximum air flow. In Stock NOW!
click here for aFe's web site |
|
Delphi announces a reduced
price of $1995 for their Quadrasteer option on GM trucks for 2004
models. |
Rostra
ROSS Obstacle Sensing System Helps
RV
Owners Reduce Accidents
Laurinburg, NC
– Rostra Precision Controls Inc. offers an enhanced version of its
Rostra Obstacle Sensing System (ROSS), specifically designed for
RVs and trailers.
The system
offers drivers improved safety by helping to eliminate blind spots
within 12 feet of the rear of the vehicle. This helps protect
pedestrians and reduce damage to the vehicle from backing into
objects that are not in clear view. The ROSS system also performs
well in rain, snow, sleet and darkness – conditions where
alternate systems often fail. ROSS also can be used by RV
owners who tow a car, boat or utility trailer.
ROSS senses the
closest obstacle, regardless of its size, said Thomas Weiss,
Rostra’s vice president, automotive electronics group.
“Blind spots exist on every vehicle and obstacles can and do
appear suddenly,” Weiss said. “The ROSS helps protect your
investment and also offers additional peace of mind if you’re
towing something behind the RV, which might be difficult to see
from the cab.”
The ROSS system
uses microwave technology to warn drivers when obstacles are in
their path. It alerts the driver through a series of audible beeps
that increase in intensity as the object draws closer.
Weiss added that
since the ROSS works in all weather conditions, it can be used in
tandem with a video system, which can be affected by weather.
Available
nationally through dealers and automotive equipment distributors,
the system has a three year, 36,000 mile warranty. Professional
installation is recommended.
Rostra Precision Controls, headquartered in Laurinburg, North
Carolina, is the leading supplier of vehicle speed control
systems, transmission components and vehicle comfort seating
systems to the global automotive aftermarket industry. The company
also is a leading manufacturer of electronic controls, systems and
components for the original equipment automotive industry. It
holds ISO 9001 and QS 9000 certifications.
For more information, call Rostra Precision Controls’ customer
service at 1-800-782-3379. For technical support from 8 a.m. to 5
p.m. EST, call 910-277-1828 or visit Rostra’s Web site at
www.rostra.com.
USA: Problems affect new Ford pickup
truck diesel engine - report
15 Aug 2003 Source: just-auto.com
editorial team
Ten months after launching a new diesel engine for heavy-duty
pickup trucks, Ford faces a chorus of quality complaints from
owners who are among the company's most loyal customers, Reuters
reported.
The six-litre Power Stroke diesel V8, built by a unit of Navistar
for Ford, commands nearly half the US market for diesel pickups
but a range of problems and repeat trips to dealerships for
repairs has left some owners upset, threatening Ford's efforts to
rebuild a reputation for quality vehicles, the news agency added.
Soon after the new engines went on sale last November in
heavy-duty Ford pickups and the Excursion sport utility vehicle,
owners started reporting problems - among the costliest is diesel
fuel seeping into the engine's oil supply in amounts large enough
to ruin the engine, Reuters said.
Other complaints included engines that ran rough or stalled, lack
of power at low speeds and harsh gear shifts, and the complaints
caused Ford to announce a recall of the Power Stroke in April to
re-programme the engine's computer controls and replace a fuel
injection sensor, the report said.
Even after the recall, several owners continued to suffer
problems, Reuters said, adding that, after promising fixes in
April, Ford now contends the problems should be solved soon, and
that only a small fraction of Power Stroke owners have suffered
any trouble.
Ford has even taken the step of buying back an undisclosed number
of trucks – a rare move that vehicle makers usually don't take
unless forced by state law - to sooth angry customers, Reuters
said.
"We're sorry that it happened," Roman Krygier, Ford's group vice
president for manufacturing and quality, told Reuters. "We think
those problems are behind us."
Reuters noted that pickup trucks are the only part of the United
States market where diesel engines have been popular. In the past
couple of years, General Motors and Chrysler have beefed up their
diesel pickups to better compete against Ford while Nissan is
considering a diesel version of its Titan truck due out in
December, the news agency added.
Reuters said Ford expected to maintain, if not build, on its
market share when the six-litre Power Stroke was launched – the
engine produces 320 horsepower and 560 pounds-feet of torque,
giving some pickup models enough power to tow nearly seven tons,
while meeting tougher federal emissions rules ahead of schedule.
This
year, Ford expects to sell about 260,000 Power Stroke-equipped
pickups, which start at $US27,000 and can reach nearly $50,000
when loaded with options, Reuters noted. Ford division head Steve
Lyons reportedly said in July that Ford's incentives on its diesel
trucks are well below competitors' "because our diesel engine is
as well received in the marketplace as it is. We dominate this
business, and it is because the product is extremely strong," he
reportedly said.
According to JD Power & Associates research, heavy-duty truck
customers place a higher priority on reliability than any other
type of vehicle buyer, Reuters said.
Two
Power Stroke owners who asked not to be named because they were
still negotiating buyback deals with Ford, told Reuters their
trucks had a string of problems that couldn't be fixed. One owner
in the western United States had his truck in the repair shop for
more than six weeks.
According to Reuters, Ford has issued three updates for the
software in the engine's computers since February. It has two more
updates planned in a few weeks to address rough idling and how the
engines adjust to air conditioning loads.
Ford
spokesman Glenn Ray told Reuters the company believes the updates
will cure most of the "drivability" complaints from owners, and
that the earlier recalls solved larger problems such as diesel
fuel mixing with oil.
But
he also reportedly said some had complained about engines that
were later found to be running up to Ford's standards, and said
some owners may simply be unfamiliar with how diesels run.
Several customers who got buybacks appear to be replacing their
old models with new 2004 versions, Reuters noted. |
|
GM is Exploring Wheel Hub Motors
Device could boost the performance
of hybrids, company says General Motors Corp. demonstrated a
low-tech, high performance technology Monday that the automaker
believes could improve vehicle acceleration, traction and
maneuverability, and enhance the performance of hybrid electric
vehicles. Electric wheel hub motors have been used before on
golf carts and lawn mowers, but a top GM engineer says the
motors could provide enhanced performance on passenger vehicles.
"You get the economy of a four-cylinder engine with the
performance of a six," said Jim Nagashima, manager of the
advance development group at GM's Advance Technology Center in
Torrance, Calif. The motors, mounted right on the wheel, supply
almost instant torque, providing extremely fast acceleration,
Nagashima said. "Icy, snowy conditions can be sensed immediately
and all the torque could be put onto one wheel," Nagashima said
in an interview. The motors also would provide better traction
and more controlled braking, he said. (Source: The Detroit News)
FORD VOLUNTARILY RECALLS CERTAIN EXPLORERS/MOUNTAINEERS FOR
UPGRADES
DEARBORN, Mich., Aug. 8, 2003 – Ford Motor Company has initiated
a voluntary safety recall involving 1998-2001 Ford Explorers and
Mercury Mountaineers, and 2001-2002 Ford Explorer Sport and
Sport Trac sport utility vehicles, to correct potential product
issues. Customers with affected vehicles will be able to have
their vehicles upgraded, free of charge, at their Ford or
Lincoln Mercury dealer. To determine if their vehicle is
affected by this action, customers can call Ford’s toll-free
line at 1-866-436-7332. The first action involves 499,988 1999
through 2001 model year Ford Explorer, Explorer Sport and
Mercury Mountaineer models, and 2001 Explorer Sport Trac
vehicles equipped with 4.0 liter V-6 engines and the optional
speed control system. The company has received some customer
reports alleging the speed control may not disengage when the
vehicle is under power. This condition can be caused, over time,
by the speed control cable wearing out prematurely on some of
these vehicles. The cables will be inspected and, if necessary,
replaced free of charge by the dealer. Not all vehicles will
require replacement of the speed control cable.
The second action, which may also include vehicles with the
affected speed control cable, involves approximately 1.6 million
1998 through 2001 model year Ford Explorer and Mercury
Mountaineer models, and 2001-2002 Explorer Sport and Sport Trac
models with high-back seats. There have been customer reports of
the driver's side seat upper recliner to seat back frame
attachment bolt fracturing on certain vehicles. Some customers
have reported "looseness" and "noise" in the mechanism. There is
the potential of the bolt fracturing completely, forcing the
seat to fully recline unexpectedly, and the driver could
potentially lose contact with the steering wheel and/or foot
pedals.
No accidents or injuries have been reported in relation to
either of these product issues.
Customers with the affected vehicles will be notified by mail
in early September. Most customers – those with the affected
seat bolts, but not the affected speed control cable – will
require only one repair. Customers whose vehicles have both the
affected seat back bolt and the affected speed control cable can
have both repairs made in one visit to their dealer.
These product upgrades will be performed free of charge only
at Ford or Lincoln Mercury dealers. If customers wish, they can
call Ford’s toll free line at 1-866-436-7332 to determine if
their vehicle is affected by this product upgrade.
Replace Recliner Seat Back Bolts: 1998-2001
Explorer/Mountaineer; 2001-02 Sport/Sport Trac
Increased technology, innovation in
trucks
The renewed focus on cars doesn't mean GM will ease off the
accelerator in the highly competitive truck market. For 2004, GM
is driving hard to bolster its leading lineup of trucks with
increased levels of technology and innovation, as well as several
new model offerings.
In full-size trucks, six new
Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra models will be launched:
- Silverado and Sierra 1500 Crew
Cabs combine the features of a 1500 Series model with GM's
roomiest cab and feature a new 5-foot, 8-inch pickup bed that
permits easy handling, parking and garageability.
- Silverado and Sierra hybrid
FlexPower models, going into production for fleet and commercial
customers in October 2003, feature a standard Vortec 5300 V-8
engine and Hydra-Matic 4L60-E four-speed automatic transmission
coupled with the segment's first hybrid propulsion technology,
providing 10 percent to 15 percent better fuel economy, 120-volt
electrical power with ground-fault detection and a unique
accessory powering capability.
- Silverado and Sierra K3500 (4WD)
single-rear-wheel models are designed for customers who need
big-time capabilities but in a more driver-friendly,
easier-to-maneuver configuration.
Four new mid-size truck nameplates
along with one new model debut in 2004. Chevy Colorado and GMC
Canyon will set new standards for power, comfort and utility in
the mid-size pickup segment. Colorado and Canyon offer choices to
fit a wide variety of customer needs: Crew, Extended and Regular
Cab models; manual and automatic transmissions; 2WD and 4WD; and
ample power from two completely new engines, the Vortec 2800
inline four-cylinder and the Vortec 3500 inline five-cylinder
engines. Rainier offers a level of performance, ride comfort and
style that sets it apart from other mid-size sport utility
vehicles. SSR is part roadster, part pickup - and a completely
innovative expression of Chevy's proud heritage. GMC Envoy XUV
sets a new benchmark in sport utility capability with a host of
industry-first features.
In medium-duty trucks, four new
models debut in GM's ever-expanding commercial portfolio.
Chevrolet Kodiak and GMC TopKick C-Series Crew Cabs offer
something for every budget and bill of lading with a broad
selection of wheelbases, a range of powerful gasoline or diesel
engines and a variety of automatic and manual transmissions.
Meanwhile, new Chevrolet and GMC T-Series tilt cabs combine both
brains and brawn in a true medium-duty commercial truck.
'Relevant' technology
Innovative technology that is relevant to the customer is an
essential part of the formula for developing truly appealing
products.
GM continues to expand the
availability of vehicle stability enhancement systems that help
drivers maintain stability and control of their vehicles and
improve ride and handling. GM offers the system across its many
models with the names StabiliTrak, Precision Control and Active
Traction. Vehicle stability enhancement systems are now available
on more than one million GM SUVs. GM will begin installing the
StabiliTrak vehicle stability enhancement system in GMC Savana and
Chevrolet Express 15-passenger vans as an interim change during
the 2004 production year.
A major part of GM's 2004
technology story is an impressive array of powertrains that offer
both improved performance and fuel economy.
Fuel economy will benefit from the
hybrid propulsion technology in the Silverado and Sierra FlexPower
models as well as from new Displacement on Demand technology.
Debuting in calendar 2004 on the 2005 GMC Envoy XL and XUV and
Chevrolet TrailBlazer EXT, Displacement on Demand automatically
activates or deactivates half or more of an engine's cylinders,
delivering to the driver only the exact amount of power required
at any given time, and thus improving fuel economy in the process.
As electronics and electronically
controlled systems assume an increasingly vital role in cars and
trucks, GM is developing the industry's most comprehensive
portfolio of new and future electronic controls, plus the in-house
expertise so that these technologies can be cost-effectively
rolled out to the largest number of segments and customers.
In addition to GM's many powertrain-related
technologies (Displacement on Demand, variable valve timing, Oil
Life System), other advanced electronics systems include: smart
sensors that tailor deployment of a multi-stage front air bag;
intelligent chassis-control systems; XM Satellite Radio; and
OnStar, which uses the Global Positioning System (GPS) and
wireless communication to provide valuable safety, security and
information services. With the introduction of Advanced Automatic
Crash Notification (AACN) this year, OnStar advisors will be able
to relay accident information from vehicle sensors to 911
dispatchers helping them to quickly determine emergency services
needed.
Chevrolet: GM's
largest-volume division is on the offensive with all-new,
heart-of-the-market offerings such as the Malibu and Malibu Maxx,
Colorado and the 2005 Equinox. On the car side, Chevrolet also
expands its appeal to entry-level buyers with the new Aveo, and
targets enthusiasts with supercharged versions of the Impala and
Monte Carlo. Truck highlights include the Silverado 1500 Series
Crew Cab and FlexPower hybrid propulsion and single-rear-wheel
3500 Series pickups. Chevy also is continuing to roll out the
one-of-a-kind SSR roadster pickup, first introduced as a 2003
model. Corvette celebrates the beginning of its second 50 years
with commemorative editions that share a LeMans Blue color scheme
of the race-winning C5-R Corvettes.
GMC: The new Canyon mid-size
pickup and the inventive new Envoy XUV are prime examples of the
versatility of GMC's lineup of Professional Grade trucks. New 1500
Series Crew Cab, FlexPower hybrid propulsion truck and
single-rear-wheel 3500 series pickups highlight the Sierra changes
for 2004.
HUMMER: The world's premier
off-road vehicle brand continues to offer H1 and H2, the latter
being the top-selling large luxury SUV in the U.S. Product
enhancements on both models include an available Delphi integrated
navigation radio with full map navigation and a CD-ROM/audio
player. The H1's 6.5L turbo-diesel V-8 engine has been retuned to
deliver more horsepower and torque along with improved emissions.
Coming soon: an H2 sport utility truck (SUT) that will be
available at HUMMER dealers during the second quarter of 2004 as a
2005 model.
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| GM
pickups, SUVs checked for cracked wheels
Reuters / June 16, 2003
DETROIT -- U.S. safety
regulators have opened a defect investigation into 384,608 of
General Motors' full-sized pickups and SUVs from the 1999-2003
model years, the safety agency said Monday.
The "preliminary evaluation" by the National Highway Traffic
Safety Administration, or NHTSA, covers the Chevrolet Silverado
and GMC Sierra pickup, and the Chevrolet Tahoe, Chevrolet Suburban
and GMC Yukon SUVs, the NHTSA said. The agency has received two
complaints of cracked steel wheels.
The evaluation covers the pickups and SUVs equipped with six bolt
16-inch-by-6.5-inch full-face steel wheels. Most of the pickups
and SUVs were sold with aluminum wheels.
GM spokesman Jim Schell said the complaints charged that the
cracked wheels caused a slow leak in the tires.
"There's no risk of motor vehicle safety," Schell said, adding
that the automaker was cooperating with the investigation.
NHTSA will look into the complaints further before deciding
whether to upgrade the investigation into a more serious
"engineering analysis" or to drop the inquiry. |
New PML Ford C6 Deep
Transmission Pan
Inglewood, CA – June 12, 2003 – PML now manufactures an
extra capacity Ford C6 transmission pan. PML designed this
pan in response to the needs of those restoring classic
Ford vehicles such as 1960’s and 1970’s Mustang cars and
those with older Ford trucks, pick-ups, vans and motor
homes.
The PML Ford C6 transmission pan provides the strength and
great looks of custom sand-cast aluminum. The pan has a
capacity of 2.5 quarts over stock for reduced oil
temperatures. Raised fins also keep oil cool and add a
custom look. The pan features a precision-machined 0.375
inch-thick gasket flange for a uniform clamping force on
the gasket so the pan is much less prone to leak than a
stock pan which is typically 0.035 inch-thick stamped
steel. The pan comes with a magnetic drain plug for easy
oil changes and an un-drilled boss for temperature
sensors. PML designed the Ford C6 transmission pan with
thick wall construction to add strength to the whole
transmission case. The PML Ford C6 transmission pan is
available in three finishes: as-cast, black powder coated,
polished.About PML: PML began in
1986 providing first article and dimensional inspection to
the Southern California manufacturing industry. Services
expanded to include prototyping, tooling, reverse
engineering, CAD modeling, and designing and manufacturing
automotive products. All PML products are designed and
manufactured in the USA. PML is a SEMA member and holds
current ISO 9002 certification.
Click for more...
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Magnum FORCE Intake for
the Toyota Tundra/Sequoia
This intake kit features a roto-molded plastic tube
for maximum air flow and a lifetime warranteed aFe
filter element. The kit bolts on with no modifications
required, and significantly increases air flow. Part
number is 54-10102 and the kit fits the 2000-2003
Tundra models and 2001-2003 Sequoia models..
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F-150 Lightning/Harley Davidson Intake
Kit
The new Magnum FORCE Intake kit for the F-150
Lightning/Harley Davidson features a stainless steel cold
air isolation housing that matches the custom look of the
truck. It includes an aFe lifetime warranteed air filter
element, and installs easily.
Click for more.. |
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Honeywell honors Featherlite
Trailers for Excellence on U.S. Dept. of Energy Project
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June 2003 (Newstream) -- Honeywell Federal
Manufacturing & Technologies (FM&T) has awarded Featherlite, Inc.
(Nasdaq:FTHR) the 2002 Supplier Excellence Award for superior
performance and product manufacturing. Honeywell FM&T contracted
with Featherlite to build three 53-foot logistic support trailers
to be used by the Department of Energy.
"All supplier excellence award nominations are
evaluated based on delivery performance, quality performance,
technical support, order administration, cost control and
responsiveness," Veva Lucero, senior buyer for Honeywell FM&T,
said.
Honeywell FM&T is a prime contractor for the
U.S. Department of Energy. FM&T manufactures advanced electronic,
manufacturing and engineered material components for national
defense systems.
Lucero praised Featherlite for its design,
fabrication and delivery of the three trailers in addition to the
excellent communication Featherlite Specialty Sales provided
throughout the process.
"We are awarding [Featherlite] the 2002 Supplier
Excellence Award with great pride in having done business with a
company that takes pride in their work," Lucero said.
Celebrating its 30th year in the trailer
industry this year, Featherlite has designed and manufactured
custom trailers for emergency response, law enforcement and fire
department units, as well as other governmental agencies across
the United States. Featherlite has built mobile hazardous
materials response vehicles, disease control centers, command and
communication centers, training and office trailers and mobile
fire stations for local and state agencies, as well as mobile
recruiting trailers for the United States Air Force.
In addition to custom trailers, Featherlite's
luxury coach division, the nation's largest Prevost bus shell
converter, designs and manufactures coaches for business,
governmental, executive and individual needs. Featherlite Luxury
Coaches' new Specialty Vehicles division manufactures command
center units for fire, law enforcement and disaster first
responders.
For more information on Featherlite custom
specialty trailers, call a Featherlite Specialty Sales Manager at
800-800-1230. For information on coach platform units, call
Featherlite Specialty Vehicles, 888-826-8273. Go to the
Featherlite website at
www.fthr.com for
additional information.
About Featherlite
Founded in 1973, Featherlite (NASDAQ:FTHR) has
grown into a strategically diversified company doing sales in
excess of $210 million annually in the U.S. and Canada. The
company, employing more than 1,200 people in facilities covering
more than 450,000 square feet, has unparalleled capabilities to
engineer and manufacture custom specialty trailers, coaches and
mobile marketing units to the most exacting demands. Featherlite
has highly diversified product lines offering hundreds of standard
model and custom-designed specialty trailers.
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Revolutionary High Filtration
Pro-GUARD
7 Technology Now you have a
choice of a heavy duty air filter for those wonderful dirt
roads and anywhere the wind blows. Coming June 1st.
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Do you drive your
truck on dirty, dust roads? Are you changing your paper air
filter every couple of weeks? Do you want more horsepower but been
told that high-flow performance filters void your warranty?
Now advanced FLOW engineering (aFe) of Corona, California has the
answer. afe introduces a revolutionary patent-pending 7 ply
(5 cotton gauze and 2 non-woven synthetic)
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Roadside Assistance for Equestrians.
