The Defender is Michelin’s Standard Touring All-Season tire developed for the drivers of family cars, minivans and small crossover vehicles looking for tires that will provide a confident driving experience that helps protect those they care about most. In addition to enhancing vehicle fuel economy by meeting Michelin Green-X* low rolling resistance objectives, Defender tires are designed to deliver extra long wear, comfortable driving characteristics and all-season traction in dry, wet and wintry conditions, even in light snow.
Featuring a silica-based all-season tread compound molded into a mildly asymmetric tread design, Defender tires provide traction throughout a wide range of ambient temperatures and driving conditions. The interlocking action of Michelin IntelliSipe Technology promotes exceptional tread block rigidity that reduces rolling resistance and wear rate so drivers can save fuel without sacrificing longevity. IntelliSipe Technology also allows Michelin to increase the number of sipes in the Defender’s tread design to provide additional biting edges that enhance all-season traction in rain and light snow. Four circumferential and hundreds of lateral grooves help evacuate water from under the tire's footprint to enhance hydroplaning resistance and wet traction.
The tire’s internal structure features Michelin’s MaxTouch Construction that combines a polyester cord body and twin steel belts to optimize the tire’s contact with the road during acceleration, braking and cornering to promote even wear and predictable handling.
*Specific sizes featuring Green X technology are identified as such on the Sizes tab, as well as on the tire's SPEC tab.
Wednesday, March 28, 2012
Tuesday, March 27, 2012
A123 will replace defective battery packs, takes blame for Fisker Karma glitch
A123 Systems is replacing lithium-ion battery modules and packs that could fail due to a manufacturing defect, a problem that recently led to the high-profile shutdown of the Fisker Karma luxury sedan during testing by Consumer Reports magazine.
A123 said it discovered defects in certain cells made at its plant in suburban Detroit that CEO David Vieau said can "result in premature failure of the battery module or pack, including a decrease in performance and reduced battery life."
The company, which developed as a start-up at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, has begun building replacement modules and packs, and expects to begin shipping them to five affected corporate customers this week, he told reporters on a conference call today.
Vieau said A123 was unaware of any accidents or injuries related to the defect and said the defect did not create a safety issue. However, he acknowledged the defect led the Karma electric car to shut down on March 7 during testing by widely followed consumer magazine Consumer Reports.
A123 expects the replacement to cost about $55 million and that it will be funded over the next several quarters.
Vieau said the company had sufficient liquidity for the campaign but the situation would likely lead to the adjustment of A123's fundraising strategy. He declined to say how many modules or packs were being replaced.
A123 shares closed the day down 12.35 percent to $1.49 a share on the Nasdaq.
Fisker, in a statement, said today it would enhance its current customer service program to include a free battery replacement and an extension to the Karma's North American warranty from 50 months/50,000 miles to 60 months/60,000 miles.
On March 13, Fisker notified customers that it was addressing the problem with a team of 50 engineers.
"The Karma performed exactly as it was designed to," CEO Tom LaSorda said in a letter sent to customers. "The onboard diagnostics detected a fault and entered a protection mode that shut the car down to protect other components."
Electric vehicle troubles
A123's problems were another blow for the electric-vehicle industry still in its infancy and struggling with bad publicity. Last fall, U.S. safety regulators opened a probe into the safety of the batteries in General Motors' Chevrolet Volt plug-in electric car. A123 does not make those batteries.
The probe was subsequently closed and no defect was found, but it hurt Volt sales. GM has idled the Michigan plant that builds the car for five weeks due to weak demand.
Other smaller start-ups in the electric-vehicle sector have closed or filed for bankruptcy due to lack of funding. A123 posted a wider-than-expected fourth-quarter loss this month after Fisker, one of its largest customers, cut battery orders.
President Barack Obama's administration has been a strong proponent of electric vehicles and set a goal of getting 1 million battery-powered vehicles on the road by 2015.
But since the bankruptcy of Solyndra, a solar panel maker that received $535 million in U.S. loan guarantees, federal support for advanced vehicle technology programs has ground to a halt. Industry officials and analysts point to tightened U.S. Department of Energy requirements in the face of withering criticism from Republicans about the Obama administration's generosity for anything related to green technology.
A new industry
"There is absolutely no time to have battery problems," A123's Vieau said. "This is a new industry with a new technology that's in the process of a learning curve. It's expected that in this environment, there will be challenges.
"We're going to weather those," he added.
A small number of A123's battery packs in the field experienced a malfunction and the company subsequently discovered one of four automated welding machines at the Michigan plant was not correctly calibrated, Vieau said. The problem caused a misalignment of a certain part in some prismatic battery cells that could lead to an electrical short.
The replacement program does not affect cells made with the other three welding machines in the Michigan plant or those built in other A123 plants, he said. Chinese plants that build a different type of cylindrical cell used by such customers as BMW also were not affected.
PRESS RELEASE: A123 Systems Launches Replacement Program for Potentially Defective Battery Packs and Modules
WALTHAM, Mass., March 26, 2012 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- A123 Systems (Nasdaq:AONE), a developer and manufacturer of advanced Nanophosphate® lithium iron phosphate batteries and systems, today announced that the company has launched a field campaign to replace battery modules and packs that may contain defective prismatic cells produced at A123's Livonia, Mich. manufacturing facility. A123 has begun building replacement modules and packs and expects to begin shipping them to impacted customers this week. The company anticipates that the cost of replacing the affected customer modules and packs will be approximately $55 million and expects it will be funded over the next several quarters.
"Recently, A123 has discovered that some prismatic cells made in our Livonia facility may contain a defect which can result in premature failure of a battery pack or module that includes a defective cell. We have isolated the root cause of the defective cells and we are confident that we have pinpointed the source of the defect and corrected it. As a result of engineering analysis and testing, we believe this is not a safety issue, and we have determined the root cause and have taken corrective actions," said David Vieau, CEO of A123 Systems. "We are working to get replacement packs and modules to impacted customers as quickly as possible. It is important to note that this defect has been discovered only in some prismatic cells manufactured at our Livonia facility. Prismatic cells produced at another A123 facility are not impacted. Further, the cylindrical cells we make at our facilities in China for a number of other transportation programs, as well as the majority of our grid energy storage systems and commercial applications, are also not affected by this defect."
Vieau continued, "In parallel with this field campaign, as we have discussed previously, we continue to implement actions that we believe will improve operations and minimize the possibility of quality issues going forward. This includes hiring a Chief Operating Officer, Ed Kopkowski, who has more than 25 years of global management and operational leadership in improving quality and reducing costs. A123 has produced hundreds of thousands of high-quality prismatic cells at another facility, so while the initial rapid ramp up of our Michigan operations to satisfy customer demand has resulted in near-term operational challenges, we are confident in our ability to overcome these issues. We are devoting our full resources to fixing this situation and moving forward to continue delivering high-quality products to our customers."
Additional information and ongoing updates about A123's Livonia prismatic cell field campaign can be found online, CLICK HERE.
A123 said it discovered defects in certain cells made at its plant in suburban Detroit that CEO David Vieau said can "result in premature failure of the battery module or pack, including a decrease in performance and reduced battery life."
The company, which developed as a start-up at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, has begun building replacement modules and packs, and expects to begin shipping them to five affected corporate customers this week, he told reporters on a conference call today.
Vieau said A123 was unaware of any accidents or injuries related to the defect and said the defect did not create a safety issue. However, he acknowledged the defect led the Karma electric car to shut down on March 7 during testing by widely followed consumer magazine Consumer Reports.
A123 expects the replacement to cost about $55 million and that it will be funded over the next several quarters.
Vieau said the company had sufficient liquidity for the campaign but the situation would likely lead to the adjustment of A123's fundraising strategy. He declined to say how many modules or packs were being replaced.
A123 shares closed the day down 12.35 percent to $1.49 a share on the Nasdaq.
Fisker, in a statement, said today it would enhance its current customer service program to include a free battery replacement and an extension to the Karma's North American warranty from 50 months/50,000 miles to 60 months/60,000 miles.
On March 13, Fisker notified customers that it was addressing the problem with a team of 50 engineers.
"The Karma performed exactly as it was designed to," CEO Tom LaSorda said in a letter sent to customers. "The onboard diagnostics detected a fault and entered a protection mode that shut the car down to protect other components."
Electric vehicle troubles
A123's problems were another blow for the electric-vehicle industry still in its infancy and struggling with bad publicity. Last fall, U.S. safety regulators opened a probe into the safety of the batteries in General Motors' Chevrolet Volt plug-in electric car. A123 does not make those batteries.
The probe was subsequently closed and no defect was found, but it hurt Volt sales. GM has idled the Michigan plant that builds the car for five weeks due to weak demand.
Other smaller start-ups in the electric-vehicle sector have closed or filed for bankruptcy due to lack of funding. A123 posted a wider-than-expected fourth-quarter loss this month after Fisker, one of its largest customers, cut battery orders.
President Barack Obama's administration has been a strong proponent of electric vehicles and set a goal of getting 1 million battery-powered vehicles on the road by 2015.
But since the bankruptcy of Solyndra, a solar panel maker that received $535 million in U.S. loan guarantees, federal support for advanced vehicle technology programs has ground to a halt. Industry officials and analysts point to tightened U.S. Department of Energy requirements in the face of withering criticism from Republicans about the Obama administration's generosity for anything related to green technology.
A new industry
"There is absolutely no time to have battery problems," A123's Vieau said. "This is a new industry with a new technology that's in the process of a learning curve. It's expected that in this environment, there will be challenges.
"We're going to weather those," he added.
A small number of A123's battery packs in the field experienced a malfunction and the company subsequently discovered one of four automated welding machines at the Michigan plant was not correctly calibrated, Vieau said. The problem caused a misalignment of a certain part in some prismatic battery cells that could lead to an electrical short.
The replacement program does not affect cells made with the other three welding machines in the Michigan plant or those built in other A123 plants, he said. Chinese plants that build a different type of cylindrical cell used by such customers as BMW also were not affected.
PRESS RELEASE: A123 Systems Launches Replacement Program for Potentially Defective Battery Packs and Modules
WALTHAM, Mass., March 26, 2012 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- A123 Systems (Nasdaq:AONE), a developer and manufacturer of advanced Nanophosphate® lithium iron phosphate batteries and systems, today announced that the company has launched a field campaign to replace battery modules and packs that may contain defective prismatic cells produced at A123's Livonia, Mich. manufacturing facility. A123 has begun building replacement modules and packs and expects to begin shipping them to impacted customers this week. The company anticipates that the cost of replacing the affected customer modules and packs will be approximately $55 million and expects it will be funded over the next several quarters.
"Recently, A123 has discovered that some prismatic cells made in our Livonia facility may contain a defect which can result in premature failure of a battery pack or module that includes a defective cell. We have isolated the root cause of the defective cells and we are confident that we have pinpointed the source of the defect and corrected it. As a result of engineering analysis and testing, we believe this is not a safety issue, and we have determined the root cause and have taken corrective actions," said David Vieau, CEO of A123 Systems. "We are working to get replacement packs and modules to impacted customers as quickly as possible. It is important to note that this defect has been discovered only in some prismatic cells manufactured at our Livonia facility. Prismatic cells produced at another A123 facility are not impacted. Further, the cylindrical cells we make at our facilities in China for a number of other transportation programs, as well as the majority of our grid energy storage systems and commercial applications, are also not affected by this defect."
Vieau continued, "In parallel with this field campaign, as we have discussed previously, we continue to implement actions that we believe will improve operations and minimize the possibility of quality issues going forward. This includes hiring a Chief Operating Officer, Ed Kopkowski, who has more than 25 years of global management and operational leadership in improving quality and reducing costs. A123 has produced hundreds of thousands of high-quality prismatic cells at another facility, so while the initial rapid ramp up of our Michigan operations to satisfy customer demand has resulted in near-term operational challenges, we are confident in our ability to overcome these issues. We are devoting our full resources to fixing this situation and moving forward to continue delivering high-quality products to our customers."
Additional information and ongoing updates about A123's Livonia prismatic cell field campaign can be found online, CLICK HERE.
Monday, March 26, 2012
Acura RL gets NSX's hybrid drivetrain
Acura's redesigned RL flagship sedan will get the all-wheel-drive hybrid drivetrain earmarked for the brand's NSX sports car in a bid to inject fresh technology into the struggling premium lineup.
Honda Motor Co.'s so-called Sport Hybrid SH-AWD -- short for Super Handling All-Wheel Drive -- hybrid system uses two electric motors at the rear wheels to deliver independent torque for tighter cornering.
The technology was unveiled on the eve of the Tokyo Motor Show in December and was originally billed as a key selling point of the resurrected NSX.
But the RL sedan also will get the powertrain, Honda President Takanobu Ito told Automotive News. While the NSX is due in the United States within three years, the redesigned RL could arrive as early as this fall.
"The technology has outstanding handling," Ito said. "The thinking behind the RL and NSX systems is the same, but the NSX's will be more sports-car focused."
Ito did not say when the awd RL will arrive or whether it also will come in a nonhybrid variant. But the debut of an awd, gasoline-electric version is part of a blitz of hybrid technology Ito is about to unleash.
First will be a two-motor hybrid system for mid-sized vehicles such as the Accord sedan. That arrives next winter.
Honda also is developing the next generation of its small-sized, motor-assist hybrid technology. That will debut next year on the redesigned Fit subcompact, Ito said.
Honda hasn't committed to bringing the Fit hybrid to the United States. Other U.S. models such as the Insight, CR-Z and Civic Hybrid use the current generation of Honda's small hybrid system, which the company dubs integrated motor assist.
The current RL has so-called Super Handling All-Wheel Drive. But that system channels engine power directly to all wheels through a transaxle and rear differential. The new incarnation uses battery-driven motors to power the rear wheels.
One difference between the RL and NSX hybrid systems will be layout, a spokesman said. The NSX will have a midship engine with two motors on the front wheels. The RL will have a front-mounted engine with its motors in the rear.
Honda Motor Co.'s so-called Sport Hybrid SH-AWD -- short for Super Handling All-Wheel Drive -- hybrid system uses two electric motors at the rear wheels to deliver independent torque for tighter cornering.
The technology was unveiled on the eve of the Tokyo Motor Show in December and was originally billed as a key selling point of the resurrected NSX.
But the RL sedan also will get the powertrain, Honda President Takanobu Ito told Automotive News. While the NSX is due in the United States within three years, the redesigned RL could arrive as early as this fall.
"The technology has outstanding handling," Ito said. "The thinking behind the RL and NSX systems is the same, but the NSX's will be more sports-car focused."
Ito did not say when the awd RL will arrive or whether it also will come in a nonhybrid variant. But the debut of an awd, gasoline-electric version is part of a blitz of hybrid technology Ito is about to unleash.
First will be a two-motor hybrid system for mid-sized vehicles such as the Accord sedan. That arrives next winter.
Honda also is developing the next generation of its small-sized, motor-assist hybrid technology. That will debut next year on the redesigned Fit subcompact, Ito said.
Honda hasn't committed to bringing the Fit hybrid to the United States. Other U.S. models such as the Insight, CR-Z and Civic Hybrid use the current generation of Honda's small hybrid system, which the company dubs integrated motor assist.
The current RL has so-called Super Handling All-Wheel Drive. But that system channels engine power directly to all wheels through a transaxle and rear differential. The new incarnation uses battery-driven motors to power the rear wheels.
One difference between the RL and NSX hybrid systems will be layout, a spokesman said. The NSX will have a midship engine with two motors on the front wheels. The RL will have a front-mounted engine with its motors in the rear.
Sunday, March 25, 2012
Tips to help save you money at the Pump- Fuel Mileage Tips
Gas prices are rising so fast these days. Do you remember when the prices used to be a buck to a gallon? We used to complain about that already. But look what we have today. Now I’m wishing we accepted that buck rate in open arms. Prices are getting worst with each passing day. In some gas stations it’s up to $3 per gallon. Is that even possible?
We’ll never stop fuel prices from rising. So we have to deal with our current situation. For those who can’t afford new hybrids, for those who own old cars, listen up very carefully. I got a couple of tips to help you ease the pain of fuel prices.
These tips come from About.com
Avoid the drive-thru windows. They say you can save serious gas mileage if you opt to park your car and dine in the restaurant. While you’re in line on the drive-thru, you pump the atmosphere with harmful emissions. Plus, you’re always in first gear. This means your consuming tremendous amounts of gas for getting your tummy filled. Park that car!
Stopping your car is the number one gas saver. In fact, some experts advise turning off your engine while you’re in the middle of long stop lights.
Build on fuel-efficient habits. First off, you have to accelerate at a more gradual rate. If you continue stomping on that fuel on your way, there isn’t going to be enough fuel to take you home. Secondly, you should anticipate stop lights. By seeing reds from afar, you can put your car in neutral and half-brake the rest of the way. Third, drive a little more slowly along the highways. Experts advise that shaving 5-10 miles per hour off your acceleration rate will do wonders for mileage. And it doesn’t affect your travel time that much. Lastly, shift gears quickly. Lower rpm’s don’t rev up your engine. This uses less gas.
Another thing, change your air filter regularly. Clean and pure air is the best for combustion. It makes the process more productive and less wasteful. You can also invest in fuel add-ons. But experts say its efficiency effects are well under 10%. But who knows, it might help.
Maintain optimum tire pressure. I usually put in 30-33, but this depends on your tire sizes. If your tires are over inflated or under inflated, this demands more effort from your engine. More effort means more power. More power means more gas consumption.
Those are some tips. I’ll keep you posted if I hear more.
DISCLAIMER: Don’t expect to save money and gas immediately. The effects of these things will be cumulative. You will only see it after months of consistent implementation. Well, it’s the small things that count.
We’ll never stop fuel prices from rising. So we have to deal with our current situation. For those who can’t afford new hybrids, for those who own old cars, listen up very carefully. I got a couple of tips to help you ease the pain of fuel prices.
These tips come from About.com
Avoid the drive-thru windows. They say you can save serious gas mileage if you opt to park your car and dine in the restaurant. While you’re in line on the drive-thru, you pump the atmosphere with harmful emissions. Plus, you’re always in first gear. This means your consuming tremendous amounts of gas for getting your tummy filled. Park that car!
Stopping your car is the number one gas saver. In fact, some experts advise turning off your engine while you’re in the middle of long stop lights.
Build on fuel-efficient habits. First off, you have to accelerate at a more gradual rate. If you continue stomping on that fuel on your way, there isn’t going to be enough fuel to take you home. Secondly, you should anticipate stop lights. By seeing reds from afar, you can put your car in neutral and half-brake the rest of the way. Third, drive a little more slowly along the highways. Experts advise that shaving 5-10 miles per hour off your acceleration rate will do wonders for mileage. And it doesn’t affect your travel time that much. Lastly, shift gears quickly. Lower rpm’s don’t rev up your engine. This uses less gas.
Another thing, change your air filter regularly. Clean and pure air is the best for combustion. It makes the process more productive and less wasteful. You can also invest in fuel add-ons. But experts say its efficiency effects are well under 10%. But who knows, it might help.
Maintain optimum tire pressure. I usually put in 30-33, but this depends on your tire sizes. If your tires are over inflated or under inflated, this demands more effort from your engine. More effort means more power. More power means more gas consumption.
Those are some tips. I’ll keep you posted if I hear more.
DISCLAIMER: Don’t expect to save money and gas immediately. The effects of these things will be cumulative. You will only see it after months of consistent implementation. Well, it’s the small things that count.
Saturday, March 24, 2012
Where can I find Truely Free Auto Repair Manuals ?
You want Totally Free Auto Repair Manuals Procedures, no Problem. You just trip on over to our parent site FreeAutoMechanic.com and check out the Repair Manuals page. Yeah there are some ads on there to help supplement the cost of running the website and providing the Free Content your after, if they are of interest to you then take a look at them if not move on. If you Read the Page you find great information on some wonderful subscription software that does come with a price but no obligation to pirchase. And just below that you will find an explination on how to go about getting the free auto repair manual procedures you were looking for. It will look like this:
"To Submit a request for free information apply Here."
Once you follow that link you will be presented with a form to fill out requesting the vehicle information and what procedure you are looking for, such as water pump or brakes, etc., Just fill it out and click submit. It clearly states
"As this is a free service and receives an overwhelming amount of requests, response time may take a week or longer."
And all submission will recieve a response. But it is Absolutely FREE.
"To Submit a request for free information apply Here."
Once you follow that link you will be presented with a form to fill out requesting the vehicle information and what procedure you are looking for, such as water pump or brakes, etc., Just fill it out and click submit. It clearly states
"As this is a free service and receives an overwhelming amount of requests, response time may take a week or longer."
And all submission will recieve a response. But it is Absolutely FREE.
GM to replace 120-volt charging cords on Chevy Volt
General Motors said on Thursday it will replace the 120-volt charging cords for most Chevrolet Volt plug-in hybrid cars.
The exchange affects all 2011 model plug-in electric hybrid Volts and some 2012 models, GM spokesman Randal Fox said.
He did not know the total number affected, but said it was fewer than the more than 11,000 Volts sold so far. The car sells for just under $40,000 before federal subsidies of $7,500.
Yahoo Autos first reported the swap, citing consumer complaints about overheating cords. However, Fox said the exchange was not to address overheating.
"It's just an effort to offer a more consistent charging experience," Fox said. "It's not a safety recall. It's more of a customer-satisfaction program.
"We made some enhancements to the design to add some durability and reliability," he said. For example, GM increased the cord's cable size to enhance durability, he said.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration opened an investigation on Nov. 25 into the safety of the Volt's battery pack after its own repeated tests uncovered fire risks.
The fires occurred after NHTSA crash tests or other tests where the car's lithium ion batteries were purposely damaged.
NHTSA closed its probe in January without finding any defects and expressed satisfaction with GM's fix to better protect the lithium-ion battery pack by adding steel reinforcements and other steps to prevent coolant fluid from leaking and triggering a fire.
Some felt the probe was unnecessary, but the Volt has received outsized attention despite its small sales totals as many Republicans have criticized the car's sales and the federal subsidies its buyers receive.
GM idled the Volt assembly plant in Michigan for five weeks due to weaker demand.
GM CEO Dan Akerson in January said the Volt got "disproportionate scrutiny" because it had become a surrogate for election-year politics and commentary on Obama administration policy.
GM has showcased the electric car as the centerpiece of efforts on fuel efficiency and cutting edge technology.
Volt owners will be notified of the exchange in the next few weeks and as they bring in their cars for the battery enhancement they will also receive the new cords, Fox said.
The new cords will not change recharging time and the exchange does not affect the 240-volt cords, he said.
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