DETROIT – Microsoft Corp. has signed a worldwide deal with automakers Hyundai and Kia to use its in-car software that allows people to use voice commands to control personal music players and telephones.Microsoft (nasdaq: MSFT – news – people )’s exclusive, one-year agreement with Ford Motor Co. (nyse: F – news – people ) for offering Microsoft Auto in the U.S. expires in November. Ford’s system, called “Sync,” connects mobile phones, iPods or MP3 players to the car’s audio system.Fiat (nyse: FIA – news – people ) sells cars with the software outside the U.S.Hyundai Motor Co. and Kia Motors will be entitled to sell cars equipped with Microsoft Auto around the world starting in November, but the companies are working on new capabilities and probably won’t be ready this fall, said Velle Kolde, senior product manager for Microsoft Auto.Kolde wouldn’t say what types of features Hyundai and Kia may add but said the software could include navigation and an emergency call service activated when air bags inflate.”What specific features you see will be tailored toward the types of vehicles they go into,” Kolde said.The two Asian automakers also will tailor features to geography and needs of each country where their cars are sold, he said.Microsoft is now free to license the software to other automakers as well.Ford’s system, called “Sync,” connects mobile phones, iPods or MP3 players to the car’s audio system.Sync is standard on some Ford Motor Co. models but optional others. On Ford’s Focus and Fusion cars, about 50 percent of buyers pick the Sync option, said George Pipas, Ford’s top sales analyst. News source: Forbes
Topping Off Tank
As rising gas prices seem to show no sign of letting up any time soon, you could actually be your own worst enemy, adding fuel to the fire, by overfilling your tank!Have you ever found yourself at the gas pump trying to fill your gas tank up with an unreasonable amount of fuel? Have you ever thought, “If I can just squeeze 25 more cents into this tank I will not have to fill up for another ¼ of a mile”?The truth is, there are many risks, and factors to take into consideration, when overfilling your tank. The parts of your fuel system that are supposed to be soaking in gas 24-7 are designed and formulated to do their job for years. But the parts that aren’t supposed to soak in it – things like your fuel filler tube or the rubber seal where the filler meets the chassis – can suffer from continual saturation.Those things were not made to be soaked in fuel on a continual basis, and if one of those parts is damaged, you could be shelling out some serious cash in auto-repair bills.We have been told for years, that if we don’t fill – up, we will leave more air space for the gas to evaporate. With that in mind, ignorantly people will top off their tanks, sometimes causing more damage than good.I actually have a friend who can never seem to fill his tank, without somehow wasting it on his hands, clothes, or shoes. So, while he thinks that he is saving money by topping off, he is actually wasting Fuel, harming his clothes, and possibly even damaging his vehicle.And if you are one of these “save the earth” types, think about all the pollution from the wasted fumes floating up into the atmosphere when it is spewing from your tank. Fuel vapors contribute to bad ozone days and are a source of toxic air pollutants such as benzene.Vapor recovery systems on Fuel pumps are designed to prevent vapors from escaping into the air. Continuing to pump gas after the automatic shutoff can damage this system, and result in Fuel spills.The bottom line is this. When you are at the pump and the nozzle clicks, causing the pump to stop, hang it up. Anything more that you decide to squeeze in is not even going into your tank, causing you to pay for pollution and possible future auto repair!Chris Chism is committed to providing consumers a way to use the internet to obtain the best services and merchants in their geographical location. News source: Bettercarbetterearth
Maintenance
Compared to the vehicles of a generation ago, modern cars require about as much maintenance as a yo-yo. Freedom from the oil, lube and tune merry-go-round. Most of us haven’t adjusted their thinking to new car maintenance schedules. They still run their vehicles until the dash warning lights burn out, while many, like myself, worry about running synthetic oil more than 2,500 miles without a change. The trick to a long life is giving your car the maintenance it was designed to receive. Every car is supplied with a maintenance schedule – in the owner’s manual or in a separate log book. Read it and pay attention to the normal and rough service schedules.Proper Tire Inflation and RotationTires leak naturally and need the occasional check. Under-inflated tires use excessive Fuel and wear out sooner, and overinflated are dangerous. So check them now and at least once a month. Use a good tire gauge and check the accuracy often, I use a digital to assure accuracy and a medium priced metal gauge. Wiper TalesHere’s a news flash: It’s much easier to avoid hitting things you can see. That’s why replacing your windshield wipers often is a good idea.Tune-Up’sThere are no more “tune-ups.” Valves no longer need adjusting, ignition timing is computer controlled and there are no carburetors. About all that’s left of the old tune-up are the spark plugs. These are often good for 100,000 miles, so don’t change parts just to change parts. Instead, save up for those big 60,000- and 120,000-mile services when the timing belt, spark plug wires and coolant are due for replacement. If you have Dexcool do it now.Octane Requirements Higher-than-required octane does not yield more power or mileage, only oil company profits. Here again red the owner’s manual.Oil Change TimingOil changes every 3,000 miles used to be required jobs, just like cleaning the accumulated fuzz from record player needles or defrosting freezers. Today, advances in engine design and lubricants make oil changes something to be done when the schedule calls for it, not when granddad says it’s time. Some cars call for 5,000-mile change intervals, some up to 15,000-mile. Follow the schedule and use the oil called for by the manufacturer.Tired TiresTires wear out, but they also time out. The tire industry says tires are toast after six years. It all depends on heat, sunlight and ozone conditions. If you’re not sure how old your tires are, a tire shop can read the date code stamped into the sidewall.Dirty Air FilterSemi-clogged air filters hurt fuel economy for the same reason you don’t like to run with a potato in your mouth. The question is when is your filter dirty? Under a Norman Rockwell schedule of small-town errand running and church duty, an air filter might not see much grit. But grimy city surface streets or just looking at a dirt road on a map are often enough to overwhelm air filters. This one is about conditions. If you go near dirt, the air filter may need changing twice as often as the schedule calls for.Brakes If you notice anything different about your brakes – sound, feel or response – they are telling you to visit a mechanic. Now.Tighten Your Gas CapIs the Check Engine light on? Then make sure the gas cap is on tightly before calling the dealer. No joke, this is one of the most common ways of setting off your car’s diagnostic system, since a loose gas cap defeats the fuel system’s venting arrangement.The Garage Is for Parkinglet’s review. Your house is your most valuable investment. Your car is likely your second most valuable investment. If you’re paying all that money, then why are you storing junk? Pitch that junk and get the car in the garage!
Dale Earnhardt B Day
7th Annual Dale Earnhardt Day celebration April 29: Dale Earnhardt Inc. will host the seventh annual Dale Earnhardt Day at its corporate headquarters in Mooresville, N.C.The birth date of the seven-time NASCAR Champion, also serves as a major benefit for the Dale Earnhardt Foundation, with a percentage of the event’s merchandise sales being donated to the Foundation. ESPN’s “NASCAR Now” will broadcast a special one-hour show live from Dale Earnhardt Inc. on Tuesday, April 29 from 6-7pm/ET.I still miss the smile below the moustache, the arm around the neck hug. And I would like to see any of the current Cup driver’s try to execute the crossover pass like he could. None of them have the timing or control of a car like he did .HAPPY BIRTHDAY AND THANKS FOR THE MEMORIES DALE
HMMMM
WHY IS IT WITH 10 OR LESS LAPS TO GO, A CAUTION CAUSED BY SOMETHING DROPPING OFF A CAR OR A CAR DROPS OIL ALL OVER THE TRACK CAUSING A YELLOWAT ODD TIMES A CAR, OR DRIVER WILL DROP BODY OR BRAKE PARTS WITH NO CAUTION?WHY IS IT THAT KYLE PETTY IS RIDE SHOPPING BUT NO ONE HAS OFFERED.DERRICK COPE NEVER FINISHES MORE THAN 10 LAPS? JR IS IN THE TOP 5 AND LEADS RACES EVEN WITH EURY JR. SAME AS LAST YEAR JUST BETTER FINISHES BUT THEY STILL OVERCORRECT. WHERE IS JAMIE MC MURRAY LATELY? IS HE STILL EMPLOYED?DANICA FINALLY WINS WHAT NEXT?RUSTY WALLACE CALLED DANICA THE BEST FEMALE RACER WHAT ABOUT HIS NIECE?$52000 FOR A YUKON HYBRID IT BETTER SAVE MONEYIT COSTS $4.00 MORE A YEAR TO FEED A CHICKEN BUT THE PRICE OF EGGS TRIPLESWHERE IS THE SAVING WITH ETHANOL IF THE FOOD PRICES KEEP CLIMBING OF COURSE IF FUEL PRICES KEEP RISING WE WILL HAVE TO MAKE A CHOICE FUEL OR FOOD. IF IT AINT BROKE DON’T FIX IT IF IT IS USE DUCT TAPE
Right To Repair Act
With new cars and trucks increasingly complex and computerized, repair shops need access to highly technical information and software. Everyone agrees on that. But one group of industry associations wants the government to make sure automakers provide the technical information and tools to everyone, while the other side argues for trusting the auto industry to make the information and tools available under a voluntary agreement. As such it is a battle between those incompatible ideals – equality and liberty. The pro-equality group argues that auto manufacturers provide full diagnostic and service information to their own dealerships, which make some 50 percent of their profits from their service departments, but not to small independent repair shops, which get information that is either limited or late, or both. This group advocates passage of the Right to Repair bill that would require automakers to provide the same information and tools to independent shops and consumers that it provides to the service centers at their dealerships, with the Federal Trade Commission providing oversight. The act was last introduced in the U.S. House by Rep. Joe Barton, R-Texas, as a consumer-rights bill in 2005 News source: ProJo Meanwhile, the pro-liberty group argues that the information automakers currently provide under a voluntary industry agreement is adequate and timely, and that having the government involved through legislation would result in unnecessary bureaucracy. “It’s a philosophical difference; that’s how I would rate it,” said Steve Johnson, president of Number One Tire in Warwick and vice president of the Rhode Island chapter of the Automotive Service Association, which argues that automakers do provide the necessary information on a timely basis for affordable prices. He said the independent repair shops typically do not see new vehicles, which are serviced by the dealerships, and argued that independents have access to all the information they need through the National Automotive Service Task Force (NASTF). The NASTF is a collaboration between the service, equipment and tool industries and the auto manufacturers that was established in 2000 to provide technical information to repair technicians. The ASA signed up with NASTF in 2003. “The information (text service bulletins and software updates) is available,” said Johnson. “It’s not often that we don’t get it.” Stan Morin, president of New England Tire in Attleboro and Warwick and national treasurer and past president of the Alliance of Automotive Service Providers, disagrees. “The difference is this,” he said. “There is no good reason for the car manufacturers to continue in this process.” As he sees it, Johnson – who is a friend – is too trusting, relying on a voluntary agreement by the industry not to favor their own dealerships. He cited a 2002 agreement between automakers and repair shops in Europe that went awry, resulting in the European Commission getting involved and forcing four manufacturers – Fiat, General Motors Worldwide, Toyota and Chrysler-Daimler – to accept a fine of 10 percent of their sales if they were found to be favoring their dealership repair shops. He said if the European Commission had to get involved to that extent, why trust the automakers on this side of the Atlantic? “We are willing to pay for the information, but we want it to be identical to the information that the local franchises are getting,” he said Morin cited an example of purchasing a 25-page service bulletin from one manufacturer only to find out that the dealership was armed with a 41-page bulletin about the same subject. “If there is a page 26, I want a page 26,” he said, let alone pages 26 through 41. The AASP supports the federal Motor Vehicle Owners’ Right to Repair Act, which would prevent manufacturers from withholding information necessary to diagnose problems and service or repair vehicles from owners and repair facilities. Other organizations supporting the bill include AAA, the Automotive Aftermarket Industry Association and Service Station Dealers of America. They argue the bill would prevent an auto repair cartel through exclusive access to necessary information, increase competition and reduce auto repair costs. They add that it would also protect the kind of trusting relationship that consumers develop with their local repair shops, which are also often cheaper and more conveniently located. Morin told of his 84-year old mother-in-law who wanted to have her vehicle serviced at her neighborhood service station – “the owner is her former paper boy” – but who was told by the dealership that “we are the only place where you can get your car fixed.” He said it was not currently possible to complain to the Better Business Bureau or the office of the Massachusetts Attorney General because there is currently “no functioning law.” But he said a state Right to Repair bill has been introduced in Massachusetts and foresees a push to establish one in Rhode Island if Massachusetts makes it law. On the other hand, industry groups such as Johnson’s ASA and the National Automobile Dealers Association stand by their agreement with carmakers to provide technical information and tools. They argue that the Right to Repair Act would affect manufacturers’ ability to control the quality of work on their vehicles and lead to unnecessary monitoring by the Federal Trade Commission. They are also concerned the bill might require the release of proprietary information. Indeed, they argue that independent service shops as well as vehicle owners already have the right, through a voluntary agreement following a ruling by the Supreme Court, to access the diagnostic information and tools (read software) needed to maintain their cars and trucks. And perhaps most of all, this group has a distrust of government involvement and regulations. “There is no need to regulate the information that is coming out,” Johnson said. “It would be a nightmare.”
The Future
There was a time when you switched on your car, waited a few seconds for the oil to circulate, then drove off. But now there s a whole bunch of bits and bytes that need to power up too.Technology is playing a major role in vehicles today. No kidding. It s there to keep you safe, help you get the most out of your fuel, go somewhere new and be entertained along the way.Some cars, like the top-end Mercedes-Benz S-Class sedan, are brimming with the latest gadgets and gizmos. For example, it will turn on the wipers when it starts to rain, it will slow down if someone cuts in front of you, and turn up the radio if the highway noise is too loud.Although few of us will own an S-Class, it s important to pay attention to the top end of the market since many of their advanced features will eventually trickle down to Planet Earth where the rest of us buy our cars. Today s top-end vehicles have infrared cameras that help drivers see living objects in the night. Because humans and animals give off heat, a special camera is able to expose those hidden obstacles for drivers on a small screen.Ford and Microsoft, meanwhile, have teamed up to offer an in-car digital entertainment system known as Ford Sync. It s supposed to get all of your personal devices, such as cell phones, personal digital assistants (PDAs) and MP3 players to work with the onboard audio system. Sync will chat with your device through either a common USB computer plug or a Bluetooth wireless connection, which is a popular feature on most phones. Memory-card slots are also available. For starters, you can play your portable device s (an Apple iPod, for example) music collection through the audio system, letting you pick the song, artist or album by voice command. Ford Sync will read out text messages for you and let you make hands-free calls.A recent development has been the use of light-emitting diode (LED) lights, both inside and outside of the vehicle. They shine brighter, are supposed to last longer and use less energy than conventional bulbs. In the case of brake lights and turn-signal indicators, they re quicker to react with shorter warm-up times and almost no after glow as you would get with a standard filament-style bulb.A whole lot of technology comes with hybrid gas/electric vehicles, which continue to grow in popularity for 2008. These still use a traditional gas engine, but it s helped by at least one electric motor during high-fuel-burn situations such as acceleration. These aren t electric cars, but a mix of old and new. You don t have to plug this one in as the batteries that run the electric motor usually around 200 volts are automatically charged as you drive.Technology can also affect a vehicle s ride quality. Gadgets exist to change a car s suspension setting as it s driving down the road. A system used by some companies, such as General Motors, uses magnetized metal particles in the shock absorbers to either stiffen (more voltage) or soften (less voltage) ride control.Audi and others hope to curb accidents resulting from drivers not checking their blind spots with lane-change warning systems. A radar placed in the rear bumper of the car will warn the driver if another vehicle is lurking in the blind spot by flashing small lights on the corresponding side mirror.Over at Nissan/Infiniti, the company s lane-departure warning system, which is optional on the entry-level new EX35 wagon, not only lets you know when you re drifting out of your lane, it now has the ability to automatically apply the brakes either left side or right side to get you back where you belong. Even more interesting is self-healing paint for the EX35 that will repair light scratches all by itself. Depending on the scratch and ambient temperature, an average self-repair can take about a week.What s in store for the future? Daimler, which makes Mercedes-Benz vehicles, is working on a technology that informs other cars of dangerous conditions on the roadway. Dubbed Car-2-X Communications, vehicles talk to each other using radio frequencies. The idea is that on-board sensors would capture fog, black-ice, obstacles and traffic conditions, sending valuable data to following vehicles. The system has a range of about 600 feet. The network functions between vehicles and doesn t require a central transmission tower. Mercedes is hoping that other manufacturers will jump on board and put similar technology into their cars. After all, it won t work if it only works with Mercedes-Benz.So that s just a sampling of some types of technology you can get on your next vehicle and some you can look forward to. And as technology gets cheaper and smaller to squeeze into tight spaces, look for it in your next entry-level car.n Maurice Cacho is a feature writer with Wheelbase Communications. You can drop him a note on the Web at [url”>www.wheelbase.ws/mailbag.html. Wheelbase Communications supplies automotive news and features to newspapers across North America. News source: MercuryNews
54.1 cents a mile
An American Automotive Association study shows the cost of driving a passenger vehicle in the United States has increased 1.9 cents per mile in the last year and now averages 54.1 cents per mile.Some expenses declined in 2007, higher Fuel prices offset these savings and the overall cost of vehicle ownership and operation climbed higher this year,” said John Nielsen, director of the association’s Approved Auto Repair network. In 2008, the association estimates it will cost $8,121 to own and operate a new passenger car driven 15,000 miles per year. This compares to $7,823 per year in 2007, or 52.2 cents per mile.Costs for maintenance, full-coverage insurance, and depreciation are all slightly lower this year, while the costs for fuel, tires, financing, license, registration and taxes showed increases.I am glad that I am not a traveling salesman with costs like this. I just dont see how some of them make it.
Protect Electrical Connections
Your car has hundreds of electrical connections. These days, everything is controlled by some sort of electronic management. Each of these systems performs an important duty. Most of the electrical connections involved are well protected, but there are always a few that for one reason or another seem to be susceptible to corrosion. I can think of more than a couple of models that chronically developed leaks in the lower windshield trim that dripped water right on the fuse box. Not good. If your car has an electical connection that is bad, or a connection that you think could be susceptible to corrosion due to its proximity to the weather (especially plugs that are used to connect trailer lights), there is a simple way to keep them from getting all mucked up.Lucky for us, corrosion has been an enemy of electrical connections for quite some time, and there is an easy, cheap solution to the problem. Dielectric grease acts as both a conductor of electricity and a shield against corrosion. Corrosion is caused by moisture coming into contact with the metal parts of anything electric. Because there is current passing through the metal connections – even if it’s just a little – the connections attract and hold onto all sorts of little compounds. As these stuck compounds build up, they eventually break the connection between two electrical contacts. They do this by actually coming between the electrical lovers. Dielectric grease, when applied correctly, will prevent almost all corrosion from starting. That’s why it’s a good idea to be proactive and protect any connections that you think might become corroded over time.Protecting your car’s electrical connections against corrosion is quick and simple — and cheap, just the way we like it.*It’s a good idea to disconnect the negative battery terminal when doing any type of electrical work on your car.First you’ll need to disconnect the plug or other electric component you will be protecting. If you’re doing more than one connection, I suggest doing one at a time to avoid confusion. Most automotive plugs will only go into the proper socket, but it can still get a little confusing. With the metal connections visible, squeeze a small amount of dielectric grease onto the q-tip. Rub the grease over the entire metal surface of each connection. You don’t need very much to do the job, but be sure to get a good layer all over. Plug your connection back together and you are now protected from the green monster of corrosion. News source: About Auto Repair
Cerberus and GMAC
I was reading Forbes about the fact that AM Best is about to drop GMAC insurance rating down from an A- because they may have to problems with their mortgage division. So who is the majority holder of GMAC, Cerberus, who just purchased Chrysler? My problem here is how entwined are the big 3 I had no idea they owned all of one and the finance arm of another. I am now worried that if one fails will they all go down or will they try to protect each other and risk going down together. How much involvement is there among them? Also who owns the majority of Cerberus, I would bet the house of the rising sun is in there somewhere. Will do more research and write more on this later.