Opel will build rival to Ford's Ka in Germany

Opel/Vauxhall will build a new small car below its Corsa subcompact in Germany and may add an electric version, the automaker announced today.
Currently, Opel has no entry in Europe's fast-growing minicar segment to compete with cars such as the Ford Ka or Volkswagen's forthcoming Up.
Opel CEO Nick Reilly said the new minicar “will be an important element in our growth strategy.”
The company will invest 90 million euros (about $120 million) to build the model, code-named Junior, in its factory in Eisenach, eastern Germany, on an existing production line starting in 2013. The plant builds the three-door Corsa variant.
With the minicar, Opel is delivering on its promise to expand its product portfolio and enter new segments, Reilly said in a press statement.
He said the new model will be a stylish and fuel-efficient car with "innovative technology and an exciting design."
An Opel press release said: "The future car is geared toward customers who need a small-sized fuel-efficient car in urban areas, for example, but who do not want to compromise on technology, design or convenience."
It added: "At a later stage, this car might also provide the opportunity of a battery-electric version for zero-emission driving in city areas."
Opel said the investment will secure the 1,600 jobs at Eisenach.
Opel's factory in Zaragoza, Spain, which also builds the Corsa, will receive additional Corsa production volume as the new minicar comes on stream.
General Motors Co. has pledged to invest 11 billion euros until 2014 in its Opel subsidiary to boost sales. A small SUV and a coupe version of the Astra five-door hatchback are planned.
Chevy clash fears
Opel has remained outside the minicar segment to avoid clashing with its GM sister brand Chevrolet, which sells Korean-built entry-level cars in Europe.
But Reilly convinced GM bosses in Detroit that Opel needs a minicar because there has been a structural change in customers' habits with more people downsizing to smaller cars.
In 2004, Opel unveiled the Trixx minicar concept at the Geneva auto show but the 3+1 seater never went into production because GM decided at the time that the Chevrolet Spark/Matiz would be its only entry in the segment in Europe.
Opel's announcement about the minicar is the third major investment commitment from the automaker this month.
On Sept. 15, the company said it will significantly strengthen its Kaiserslautern, Germany, plant as a component manufacturing center and expand local engine production. Six days later, the company said it will invest 500 million euros in its engine plant in Szentgotthard, Hungary, to build a new facility for the production of three new Euro 6-compliant engine families.

How do you tell if the belt tensioner assembly is bad?

How do you tell if the belt tensioner assembly is bad?
How do you replace it? I am still having some clattering from the tensioner pully after changing the harmonic balancer.
I am stumped again, I installed the dampner, pushed it on good and tightened the center bolt. The pulley appeared to be inline with the others, so reinstalled the belt. Started the engine and ran for 10 min. idling, then went down the road for a mile or two and back. After I got back home, I heard clanking, the belt tensioner pulley was jumping some? I took the pulley off, the bearing seemed pretty good, just a little rough, was able to inject grease into the bearings. I finally replaced the pulley with a new one, then the problem is still there???????
The tensioner pulley jumps erratically with the clanking. I don't know if it is the tensioner assembly or some other pulley grapping the belt at times?
So far the belt is not being damaged yet. The belt tensioner assembly has good tension and strong, with no slack/slop in it but it is jumping on/off as the belt is rotating.
Do you think maybe the pulleys are still out of alignment some kind of way? Is it possible that the dampner could push in too far or does the shaft key stop it properly?
Please send me some help, I don't what to replace a $125 belt tensioner assembly and the problem continues.

RESPONSE:

With the serpentine belt off, the tensioner pulley arm has zero sideways movement when pulling on it. It also has a substantial tension and recoil with the belt off. I just notice that the tensioner groans when raising it and on releasing it when installing the belt, it goes to a point and stops, then you can push it downward by hand maybe another 1/16" at times.
I am eyeing the pulley alignment and had someone with mechanical experience involving pulley drives on heavy equipment, take a look,listen. He thought everything looked normal and was rotating well now, after cycling the a/c compressor clutch off/on, trying to get some tensioner pulley chatter.
So I don't know if I can have full faith in it right now. I will put some miles on the car tomorrow around town and see if it reappears and eats another belt.
I cleaned all the drive pulleys to make sure there wasn't some of the old torn up belt debris/crud in the grooves, either making it prone to jump or grab while rotating, (a long shot effort) ???
After running for 10-15 mins. warming up, so far all is ok, I revved the engine to about 2000 rpm, up/down and no noise at all, no squealing or chattering.

New Chinese policy may force foreign automakers to share intellectual property

Foreign automakers may have to share innovative electric-vehicle technology with Chinese companies in exchange for access to the nation's growing light-vehicle market, The Wall Street Journal reported, citing executives at a group of international automakers familiar with the government's plans.
China's Ministry of Industry is drafting a 10-year plan aimed at making the nation a leader in hybrid and electric-car technology.
The ministry's proposal could require foreign automakers to enter into joint ventures in which Chinese companies hold majority stakes, the newspaper said.
Major foreign automakers fear China will use the initiative to gain control of their intellectual property. China is now the world's largest vehicle market and a major source of sales and profits for many foreign automakers. Under China industrial policy, foreign automakers typically have to establish joint ventures with Chinese automakers to gain access to the market.
At the same time, the country has yet to produce a domestic automaker that can compete globally on the same scale as Toyota Motor Corp., Volkswagen AG and General Motors Co.
Chinese government officials see the electric and hybrid initiative as an opportunity to create such an automaker, The Journal said.
Raising a hurdle
A draft of the Ministry of Industry's electric-vehicle plan includes an investment of up to 100 billion yuan, or $15 billion, in charging stations and other infrastructure.
It also would create three to five globally competitive Chinese car companies with a capacity to build 3 million hybrid cars by 2020, according to The Journal. China hopes the initiative also will produce two to three global makers of core parts, such as advanced batteries and electric motors.
One foreign auto executive quoted by The Journal said the Ministry of Industry's draft "unnecessarily raises the hurdle for our plans for producing an electric car in China." Because China is likely to be a major market for electric cars and plug-in hybrids by 2020, foreign automakers will need to build such vehicles in China, the unidentified executive told the paper.
“The new pending policy would make the process unnecessarily more cumbersome and complicated," he said.
For automakers and other industries, China's importance has grown in the wake of the global financial crisis. But at the same time, Chinese leaders have sought to trade market access for technology to transform the country's industrial base.
In July, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce warned that China's policies are "forcing foreign technology companies to anguish over balancing today's profits with tomorrow's survival."
The Beijing government, according to The Journal, says concerns about the country's investment environment are unfounded.
"China is committed to creating an open and fair environment for foreign-invested enterprises," Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao told global business leaders at a meeting of the World Economic Forum in China this week. "Foreign-invested enterprises in China on the whole enjoy a good environment and have reaped good returns."

94 Olds Delta 88, 3.8L V-6 serpentine belt replacement

My 94 Olds Delta 88, 3.8L V-6 is on a belt chewing tantrum. The old serpentine drive belt was several years old with cracks across the belt ribs. Well, it separated apart, splitting completely along the ribs last week. I replaced the belt with a new belt from O'reilly auto parts, "Master Pro" brand. I installed the new serpentine belt, making sure that the pulleys were clean of any old belt debris and according to OEM belt routing diagram. I have taken the same belt off/on this engine many times in the past so I am very familiar with the belt routing.
Now after several days of using the car for 25-50 miles. I heard clunking sounds and after raising the hood, the new belt has chewed the inner side up and nipped off a 12" long thin piece, like one rib wide.
Since the belt is shaved, it is now riding out of line from one pulley to another.
What is the cause of this belt chewing? I checked/double checked to make sure the new belt was routed and seated in the pulleys correctly.
All pulleys appeared to me ok, rotating well with no (in/out)end play.
The only other thing that I noticed was it put some holes in the under hood insulation padding and the top covering, cloth, I think was hanging down where IT POSSIBLY could have been caught in the serpentine belt, would that throw the belt off line and caused the belt damage/shave?
One other thing I will note is the engine harmonic balancer has a slight wobble but it has had that for quite a long time.
Please give me some advice on correcting this belt monster. I wouldn't want to buy a $40 better belt only to have it eaten too.

Response:
Check your Belt Tensioner out. It sounds as if it is worn out and out of line. These are available at most parts stores for around $50 and have 2 plastic inserts for the water jacket and Heater Hoses. Also most people don't look at them just the pulley. If you can see any of the internal spring, it's worn out.

Transmission has no operation, PCS ?

how do i know if my pcs went out? i was driving down the road all of the sudden it was like i was in neutral no forward or reverse.changed fluid and filter,still nothing. there was no noise or any thing when it happened just kind of like it went into neutral no slip or anything

Response:
Your vehicle would have the check engine light on and have a P0700 code referring to a transmission issue. Using a capable scan tool, there will be at least one transmission code that would indicate a failure, possibly the pcs.

More Comments: PCS Testing Procedure Video

GM's OnStar said to consider free services, targeting Ford

DETROIT (Bloomberg) -- General Motors Co.'s OnStar in-car communications unit may offer some free services next year to rival Ford Motor Co.'s Sync music and information system, two people familiar with the plans said.

OnStar, a subscription service that provides accident alerts, directions and vehicle diagnostics, is scheduled to introduce an upgraded system this month that links vehicles to the social media site Facebook and translates voice messages to text, said the people, who asked not to be identified because the details aren't public.

In-car technology features attract tech-savvy consumers and allow carmakers to charge more for smaller, cheaper models, said Brandy Schaffels, an analyst at TrueCar.com. GM, the largest U.S. automaker, is adding features to keep pace with systems including Ford's Sync.

“When Ford came out with Sync, they met OnStar's services and upped the ante,” Schaffels, content manager at the California-based researcher, said in an interview. “Technological features are where GM and Ford are going to found their reputation with the next generation.”

OnStar may begin offering entertainment and information services that link to a user's smartphone without a subscription or fee, said one of the people. OnStar is now offered free in many models for the first year and then for $199 to $299 a year, depending on the features.

Jocelyn Allen, a spokeswoman for OnStar, declined to comment.

Voice-to-text

The voice-to-text system will be studied with a test audience while the company decides whether to offer it to all customers, the person said. The new version of OnStar will have enhanced services for emergency response, which alerts an OnStar operator when there is a vehicle crash, the person said.

OnStar will unveil a new advertising theme with the tagline “Live On,” while individual services will have their own themes, such as “Always On” to promote accident alerts, the people said.

The unit also is studying ways to use OnStar outside of the car, where immediate contact with an operator or access to other services such as safety or security might be useful, said the people, who declined to give specifics.

OnStar, available on more than 40 vehicles from GM's 2011 model year, has about 5.7 million subscribers, according to a GM regulatory filing. OnStar and Google Inc. said in June they would partner to offer eNav, a turn-by-turn navigation feature that allows drivers to send Google Maps destinations to their vehicle.

Ford Sync

Ford has been selling Sync, based on Microsoft Corp.'s in- car, voice-activated technology, since the 2008 model year, Alan Hall, a Ford spokesman, said in a telephone interview. The company added features such as touch-command controls and voice-activated climate control this year.

The technology, available as a $395 option on some models, helps make cars more profitable and is included standard on higher-end vehicles.

Ford said in January it plans to bring social networking, Web browsing and thumb controls similar to those on Apple Inc.'s iPod into 80 percent of its models by 2015.

Vibration after Replacement of new rotors

I recently purchased 2 new rotors for my suzuki grand vitara and had my tech install the new rotors, when I drove off… I had a shake in the steering wheel when applying the brakes and it felt like the brakes was slipping when pressing on the brakes. I took off the wheel to check for oil or dirt on the rotors and didnt see any oil/dirt on the rotors. I then took it back the tech and he install the old rotors back and didnt have the problem anymore. My tech informed me that the rotors wasnt a good set and where not balance and I needed to take them back to the store and get a replacement. Was this information correct that I was told?

Response:
This is accurate information. The new rotors you had put on were no good right out of the box, it happens form time to time.

The store should Brake Article

the rear brakes on this stratus and the right rear caliper will not release

I replace the rear brakes on this stratus and the right rear caliper will not release. There seems to be nothing wrong with the caliper itself. The pressure does not back off when you take your foot off the brake. I think it has anti-lock braking system. Any Ideas.

Response:
Is it only one side that will not release? How do you know that. Did you try squeezing the caliper back away from the pads?
1) Sounds like the rubber part of the line has collapsed,that line has a inner line that gets weak and when you press on the brake pedal it lets the fluid flow out to the caliper but when you let off and the fluid tries to return back the line collapses keeping pressure on caliper not letting it release...
2)And to prove this, get a c-clamp and push the piston back into the caliper. Remove the clamp and the piston should stay in the caliper. Start the car, push on the brake petal, turn the car off, and check to see if the piston stays in the out position. If so, replace the rubber hose. You will need to bleed the air out of the lines when that is done. Get some penetrating oil. I like Kroil, others on this list like PB Blaster. Spray the bleeders until you can loosen them. You will also need a friend to help with the bleeding.

3)
Do you know the the stratus has screw in rear calipers and not push in calipers???

Redesigned 2011 Dodge Durango has three rows of seats, new logo

New Dodge Durango

Dodge today released the first pictures of the 2011 Durango SUV.

The Durango will be built at Chrysler's Jefferson North assembly plant on the same platform as the Jeep Grand Cherokee. It will arrive in dealer showrooms in the fourth quarter this year.

The Durango comes with seven seats while the Grand Cherokee comes with five. The Durango will have 22 seating configurations, according to a statement by the company. Like the Grand Cherokee, the Durango will be available with two engine options: a standard 3.6-liter Pentastar V-6 and an optional 5.7-liter HEMI V-8.

The new Durango will receive an all-new cabin as part of Chrysler's ongoing campaign to upgrade interiors across its entire lineup.

Chrysler stopped making the previous-generation Durango in 2008, when it shut down its Newark, Del., assembly plant. The new vehicle bears no resemblance to its predecessor. The old vehicle was a body-on-frame SUV derived from pickups. The new platform is a unibody-style structure with rear- or all-wheel-drive options.

Dodge is describing it as a “three-row performance vehicle.”

The Durango will be the first vehicle to sport the new Dodge logo, featuring a restyled, chrome-accented version of the crosshair grille that Dodge and Ram shared before Chrysler's new management separated the brands last year. The distinctive Ram's horns are gone, having stayed with Ram, which is now exclusively a truck brand.

The vehicle will make its first public appearance at the Dodge Rock ‘n' Roll Virginia Beach Half Marathon presented by SunTrust in Virginia Beach, Va., over the Labor Day weekend.

Although Dodge no longer sells trucks, it's still the top-selling brand in the Chrysler Group stable. Dodge sold 35,364 vehicles in August, up 8 percent over the same month last year.

U.S. proposes new labels for fuel economy, emissions

WASHINGTON -- Consumers shopping for new cars would be able to compare fuel economy and emissions levels with the U.S. fleet average by looking at labels on window stickers under a federal proposal made today.

The Obama administration is carrying out a 2007 law that requires labels to put new vehicles in fleetwide context for fuel economy, greenhouse gases and smog-forming pollutants.

The comparison must cover electric vehicles, plug-in hybrids and conventional gasoline and diesel vehicles.

One part of the administration proposal would give each vehicle a bold letter grade from A+ to D for its fuel economy and greenhouse gases in comparison with the rest of the U.S. fleet.

The auto industry opposes this approach while many environmental groups support it.

Current labels have just a mile-per-gallon figure for the vehicle without any pollution ratings. Comparisons also are limited to the class of vehicle rather than the entire U.S. fleet. An SUV, for example, is compared just to other SUVs.

“We want to help buyers find vehicles that meet their needs, keep the air clean and save them money at the pump,” EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson said in a statement.

The EPA and U.S. Department of Transportation said they want to have the new labels in place for as many 2012 model cars and trucks as possible.

The proposed changes constitute the most significant overhaul of the fuel-economy label since its inception more than 30 years ago as automakers plan to introduce more fuel-efficient vehicles, the agencies said.

Advanced-technology vehicles

The administration today also proposed different labels for advanced technology vehicles -- including plug-in hybrids and electric vehicles -- that are soon to be mass-marketed.

These labels would contain additional information tailored to the technologies of the vehicles, the EPA said. For example, the label would identify how many miles the advanced technology vehicle can go before recharging or refueling.

The administration is seeking public comment over the next 60 days before it adopts a final rule.

The administration proposed two labeling approaches for vehicles.

One approach would feature a letter grade. The label also would estimate the vehicle's fuel-cost savings over five years compared with the fleet average.

The second proposal would keep the current label's focus on fuel economy and annual fuel-cost projections. Sliding-bar graphs underneath would compare the vehicle's fuel economy and tailpipe emissions with the fleet average.

The auto-industry lobby opposes letter grades, while a number of environmental groups favor it.

“Automakers support providing our customers with meaningful information for decision-making on vehicles that meet their particular needs, but the proposed letter grade falls short because it is imbued with school-yard memories of passing and failing,” said Dave McCurdy, CEO of the Auto Alliance.

The lobby represents Toyota, General Motors, Ford and eight other domestic and foreign manufacturers.

EVs would get an A+

Under the grading system, 17 of the 2,011 models in the current fleet would receive an A or above, said Gina McCarthy, an EPA assistant administrator.

Electric vehicles would get an A+, plug-in hybrids would get an A, and the “very best” hybrids -- such as Ford Fusions, the Honda Civic and the Toyota Prius -- would get an A-, she said.

A total of 14 vehicles in the current fleet would receive a D or D+. These include high-performance vehicles such as a Ferrari 612, McCarthy said.

The median grade would be a B-, she said.

Luke Tonachel, a vehicle analyst for the Natural Resources Defense Council in New York, said: “A bold letter grade would simplify the process of finding the cleanest, most efficient vehicles.”

McCarthy said it is possible the final rule will contain a blend of the two proposed approaches.

Misleading information?

Environmental groups expressed dismay that the proposed labels would not factor in pollution caused by electric vehicles' use of power plants for recharging.

This pollution is particularly acute in Midwestern and Eastern states, where generating facilities rely heavily on coal, environmental advocates said.

“It misleads consumers about how polluting the vehicle is,” said Daniel Becker, director of the safe-climate campaign at the Center for Auto Safety.

EPA said it intends to make this information available on the Web.