Volvo is recalling some 2007 S80 vehicles for a problem with the power steering. According to a report filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) the power steering reservoir return hose may have been incorrectly routed resulting in an increased pressure in the system. The pressure could become so high that the hose could burst resulting in loss of power steering. Volvo dealers will inspect the routing of the power steering reservoir return hose and reroute it if necessary. Owners wanting more information about the recall can contact Volvo at 1-201-768-7300.
Archive for July, 2011
Volvo S80 Recalled For Steering Problem
Friday, July 29th, 2011LA City Council Votes against Red Light Cameras
Thursday, July 28th, 2011
In an unanimous vote on Wednesday, Los Angeles City Council has decided to terminate the city’s controversial red light camera program. According to council members, loop holes in the laws governing the program resulted in only about 60% of the tickets being paid, failing to generate enough income to keep the program going. Both the Police Commission and the Los Angeles Superior Court felt the program could not be enforced and should be canceled. Critics of the program felt that the city was using the program only for revenue and accused them of putting up the cameras at intersections that would generate the most income and did little to improve safety on the roads. Camera programs have been canceled by many cities and towns across the country and the viability of programs still in affect are being questioned.
Making Hybrid Vehicles Better With Ultra Capacitors
Wednesday, July 27th, 2011Ioxus, a start up company in Oneonta, N.Y., are experimenting with ultra capacitors in hybrid and electric vehicles in order to make batteries work better and last longer.
In order to improve fuel economy on hybrid and electric vehicles, the engine shuts down when the car stops. When the vehicle starts to move again, a large amount of power is needed. While lithium ion batteries can store large amounts of energy, they are not able to discharge quickly enough to get the vehicle going again. Lead acid batteries can deliver the power needed, but the life of the battery is sacrificed in the process.
Ioxus is using ultra capacitors to work with the battery, allowing the burst of energy needed to get the vehicle going and allowing quick recharging for the next stop. According to Mark E. McGough, the company’s chief executive, this technology could also be used to run an electrically driven power steering system, making hybrid and electric vehicles work even more efficiently. While this technology is not being used commercially on hybrid and electric vehicles, it has been proven to be very effective in turning the blades on wind turbines.
Fuel Efficiency Standards Still Being Negotiated
Tuesday, July 26th, 2011In May of 2009, California, the White House and auto manufacturers worked together to reached a deal for fuel efficiency standards from 2012-2016. The final agreement will see vehicles with a 34.1 mpg fuel efficiency… an agreement that is estimated to cost the auto industry over $50 billion to develop the technology to reach this goal. The 2017-2025 fuel efficiency standards proposed have been much more aggressive, and has automakers showing much more resistance. Automakers have warned that obtaining the proposed 56.2 mpg could have consumers paying over $2,000 more per vehicle. In response to this the White house has eased their fuel savings proposal to 54.5 mpg in an attempt to convince automakers to sign on. According to VW of America President and CEO Jonathan Browning, the talks have been constructive. “Everyone is focused on making sure that the final agreement is both fair to the auto industry and is still affordable to consumers.”
The administration has also been in talks on credits for automakers to meet the requirements through air conditioning improvements and building flex-fuel vehicles. NHTSA Administrator David Strickland told officials that the government was committed to treating all automakers fairly. The new plan will not only make the fuel efficiency more obtainable, but will offer special rules for heavier light duty vehicles used for construction.
NHTSA Investigates 2005-2006 Lotus Elise
Monday, July 25th, 2011The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has opened an investigation that could lead to over 4,000 2005-2006 Lotus Elise vehicles being recalled. Reports filed with the NHTSA stated that while driving, the oil cooler line failed, resulting in a spray of oil in the engine compartment. Driver complaints consist of smoke developing in the interior of the vehicle, loss of vehicle control because of oil leakage on a tire, and one complaint was reported to have resulted in an engine fire. The NHTSA is not aware of any injuries related to this problem.
Nissan Leaf Price Increases But Offers More
Friday, July 22nd, 2011When the Nissan Leaf was first introduced to the U.S. market it was offered in only a few states: Arizona, California, Hawaii, Oregon, Tennessee, Texas, and Washington. The 2012 model will be expanded to Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Maryland, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia and Washington, D.C., but consumers wanting to buy Nissan’s all electric vehicle will have to pay almost $2,500 more to get it. Nissan says the price is due to more standardized equipment added to the car such as heated seats, heated steering wheel, battery warmer, and a fast charging set up, but rising prices for materials and the strength of the yen is also contributing to the rise in cost. Furthermore, consumers wanting to purchase the new 2012 Leaf will have to get on a waiting list, because almost every car has been pre-sold before it even reaches the dealership.
Ford Recalls Trucks For Brake Lights
Thursday, July 21st, 2011Ford will be recalling over 26,000 trucks for a component in the brake light switch that does not comply with the federal motor vehicle safety standards. The multifunction switch shipped with a sub-component (slider) could become deformed resulting in the loss of turn signals, tail lights, hazard warning flashers and brake lights. Loss of any of these lights could increase the chances of an accident. Owners wanting more information about the recall can contact the Ford Motor Company customer relationship center at 1-866-436-7332. The vehicles involved in this recall include:
Seven Steps To A Good Lemon Law Defense
Thursday, July 21st, 2011If you think you own a lemon these are the 7 most important defenses to create a good lemon law case to help to get your car repurchased.
- Bring your car in early. At the first sign of a manufacturing problem get a repair order from an authorized dealer. If the manufacturer buys your car back, the lower the mileage of the first repair, the lower will be the use fee deduction, and the greater the amount you may get back.
- Always get a copy of the work order when you leave the vehicle; and always get a copy of the actual completed repair order when picking up the vehicle. Be sure the work order accurately shows your complaints. If the problem recurs, even if only 5 minutes later, get a new and separate repair order. Do not let the dealer add on to the earlier one. If possible, have the technician write on the repair order that they verified your complaint.
- Be consistent in your complaints. The California lemon law states that the manufacturer must be allowed a reasonable number of repair attempts to fix the same problem. So be sure that the way your complaint is written on the repair order shows that you are describing the same problem.
- Check the technical service bulletins or TSBs. These are issued by manufacturers for common defects for your specific year and model. Usually the dealer will not tell you about TSBs, unless you ask. Even if they tell you none exist, make sure that your request is written on the repair order. Check our website at lemonlawspecialists.com to see the current technical service bulletins for your car.
- Watch out for bad advice. Dealer service personnel are not lawyers. They may give you bad advice about the California lemon law which may affect your decision about how to handle your problem. If you have a question call us. Don’t be swayed by remarks that you are the cause of your car’s problems, like you don’t know how to use the brakes, or the NAV system, or it’s because you live on a hill, or you are using bad gas. These are just excuses for a problem the dealer doesn’t know how to fix.
- Watch out for arbitration. Some manufacturers suggest that you have to go through arbitration before you can use the California lemon law. That is not true! In fact, it can be very dangerous because the ruling of an arbitrator has the same effect as if it were a decision made in a court of law. And if the ruling is against you, it could then become considerably more difficult to later win your case.
- The final step is to call our offices for a free consultation as soon as you think you have a lemon. And in most cases we will not charge you any fees for handling your lemon law case. So call us today at 888 ex lemon or 888-395-3666 or complete the short submittal form on our website lemonlawspecialists.com.
Life is too short to live with a lemon, especially if we may get rid of it for you and get you your money back. We look forward to hearing from you.
- California Lemon Law in Los Angeles: 310-475-1700
- California Lemon Law in San Francisco: 415-285-5366
- California Lemon Law in Fresno: 559-382-0359
- California Lemon Law in Long Beach: 562-282-9909
- California Lemon Law in Oakland: 510-545-9083
- California Lemon Law in Orange County: 949-856-4333
- California Lemon Law in Palm Springs: 760-395-1000
- California Lemon Law in San Diego: 619-229-6900
- California Lemon Law in San Fernando Valley: 818-837-0500
- California Lemon Law in San Jose: 408-681-8033
Honda Recalls ST1300 Motorcycles
Tuesday, July 19th, 2011Honda is recalling certain ST1300 motorcycles because they could experience a loss of brakes. When the rear suspension of the motorcycle is repeatedly bottomed out, the rear brake reservoir hose may become damaged leading to a brake fluid leak. The rider will experience a loss of rear brake performance and could eventually lose braking power completely. The motorcycles involved in this recall include:
- 2008-2010 ST1300 motorcycles built between November 2007 to May 2010
- 2008-2010 ST1300A motorcycles built between November 2007 to April 2010
- 2009 ST1300PA Police motorcycles built between November 2008 toDecember 2009
Owners wanting more information about the recall can contact Honda at 1-800-999-1009.
Ford Recalls Sedans For Fuel Tanks
Monday, July 18th, 2011Ford has announced a recall that will involve certain 2007 Ford Five Hundred and 2007 Mercury Montego Sedans built between September 5th -11th, 2006, for problems with the fuel tanks. The welds between the fuel tank and the filler neck were not done properly which could affect the strength of the joint. In the event of a rear impact, the welds could break allowing fuel to leak out and possibly cause a fire if there is an ignition source. Owners can expect to start receiving their recall notice starting August 15, where dealers will replace the fuel tank free of charge. Anyone wanting more information on the recall can contact the Ford Motor Company customer relationship center at 1-866-436-7332 .
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