Tag Archives: Battery
APNewsBreak: GM willing to buy back Volts
NEW YORK (AP) — General Motors will buy Chevrolet Volts back from any owner who is afraid the electric cars will catch fire, the company’s CEO said Thursday.
In an exclusive interview with The Associated Press, CEO Dan Akerson insisted that the cars are safe, but said the company will purchase the Volts because it wants to keep customers happy. Three fires have broken out in Volts after side-impact crash tests done by the federal government.
Akerson said that if necessary, GM will recall the more than 6,000 Volts now on the road in the U.S. and repair them once the company and federal safety regulators figure out what caused the fires.
“If we find that is the solution, we will retrofit every one of them,” Akerson said. “We’ll make it right.”
The fires happened seven days to three weeks after tests performed by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. And GM has said there’s no threat of fires immediately after crashes. GM also has said that no Volts involved in real-world crashes have caught fire.
Still, NHTSA has opened an investigation into the fires and has asked other companies that make electric cars for battery testing data. NHTSA said the safety testing hasn’t raised concerns about electric vehicles other than the Volt.
“The fire broke out seven days later. Not seven minutes. Not seven seconds,” Akerson said, adding that the company wants to fix the problem so people continue to have faith in Volts and other advanced technology cars. The company is notified of any Volt crash through its OnStar safety system and dispatches a team with 48 hours to drain the battery, preventing fires, he said.
“I think in the interest of General Motors, the industry, the electrification of the car, it’s best to get it right now than when you have – instead of 6,000 – 60,000 or 600,000 cars on the road,” he said.
The NHTSA testing, Akerson said, intruded into the Volt’s battery pack by four to five inches, beyond the normal testing standard of about two inches. Then the cars were rotated 360 degrees to simulate a rollover crash. He said anytime there’s a new technology introduced like the Volt, problems will arise. GM is dedicated to fixing them.
He conceded that the fires may cause some potential buyers to shy away from the Volt. But he added that GM is trying to get the message out that they happened only after extreme tests. Akerson also stressed that standard gas engine cars also have problems with fires after crashes.
The Volt can go about 35 miles on battery power before a small gasoline generator kicks in to keep the car running. The car can be recharged with a standard home electrical outlet.
The Nissan Leaf, a fully electric car and the Volt’s main competitor, has not had any similar fires after crash tests or real-world crashes, Nissan said.
The Leaf battery is cooled by air rather than a liquid used to cool the Volt battery.
Akerson said investigators are looking at spilled coolant as one possible cause of the fires, although he said the coolant itself did not catch fire. Investigators are looking at everything from circuit boards to the way the battery cells are packaged into the Volt’s larger T-shaped battery pack, he said.
Investigators have some promising leads but no conclusions yet, Akerson said.
GM doesn’t expect many Volt owners to return their cars, given feedback from customers thus far, said spokesman Rob Peterson.
Earlier this week GM offered loaner cars to all Volt owners until the cause of the fires is found and fixed. So far, Akerson said 16 Volt owners have inquired and only two have taken the loaners.
Troubleshooting the Starter and Vehicle Starting Circuit
Before performing the tips in this article, it would be best if you conduct a starter performance test using an alternator or starter test bench. In doing this, if the starter is not performing well, it is necessary to resolve any additional vehicle side problem in the starting circuit that may have affected the starter. On the other hand, if the starter meets your vehicle manufacturer’s specifications, you should also look up the service manual in order to inspect the car’s starting circuit and to be able to identify the problem and possible solutions. Then, in order to identify the true starting circuit problem, you can use the following troubleshooting questions.
- Does the starter turn the engine too slowly? If so, verify the battery charge, battery cables, ignition timing, engine oil and engine modifications. You should check if the battery is fully charged, and if the battery cables and terminals are in good condition. If the engine has been modified and has increased compression ratio, these could influence the starter’s inability to turn the engine. Note that improper engine timing, if it is more advanced, or if the engine oil is excessively viscous, these are also factors affecting the starter’s performance.
- Does the starter fail to crank the engine? If the answer is yes, you must check the battery, the battery cables and the terminals. Make sure that both the ends of the battery cables are inspected for proper connection and are kept clean.
- Does the starter try to turn the engine, but then just spins free? When this happens, check the flywheel ring gear or the flex plate, and inspect if there is excessive wear and missing or damaged teeth. Similar symptoms would be found in failed starter drives. Then, the flywheel teeth can be inspected through the starter access or mounting opening. In order to find excessive wear, check areas such as the four cylinder engines, two positions, 180 degrees apart, six cylinder engines, two positions, 120 degrees apart and eight cylinder engines four positions, 90 degrees apart.
- Does the starter click when trying to start the engine? Supporting questions to this are, has the ground circuit between the battery and the engine been checked for high resistance? Or have the battery cables and terminals been inspected for damage, wear, corrosion and loose connections? If the solenoid or relay clicks and your starter fail to turn, your problem could be a loose connection, or some damage in the wires. Then, you should check the battery cables’ voltage drop to ensure that the resistance is high enough to meet the vehicle manufacturer’s recommendation.
- Is there a clattering sound when trying to start the engine? If you hear such noise, one possible cause is a bad flywheel or ring gear. Another possibility could be an inoperable starter solenoid or low battery voltage. Make sure that your battery is fully charged, and all the battery cables and terminals remain in good condition.
Finally, keep in mind that these tips are mainly general information for troubleshooting your starter and vehicle starting circuit. While these tips might be helpful, they are best used along with the service manual that contains the proper specifications.
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Top 10 Tips: Taking Care of Your Car this Winter
Winter has once again arrived in many parts of the world, and like it or not, it usually means greater odds of car trouble. Do you know that approximately 70% of motorists do not prepare their car for winter weather? Don’t be one of them!
As they say, prevention is better than cure. A thoroughly-checked and prepared car is the best way to avoid slippery situations on snow-covered roads. It will also lengthen your car’s life, keep you safe through the difficult driving conditions and also let you save loads of money. Remember, it’s very easy to avoid accidents and other problems if you know what to check. So follow these tips to make your car well-equipped to conquer whatever winter throws your way.
1. Check your battery and electrical systems
- Cold weather forces the car battery to perform much harder—just imagine the higher power demands of the heating system, defrosters, windshield wipers and lights (due to shorter daylight), etc.
- Do a quick and simple battery test: run your headlights before starting the engine, and if the headlights get brighter once you start the engine, you might need to perform additional tests. To do this, you can use a voltmeter to measure metering voltage, or check electrolyte levels. If your car is more than three years old, you might want to bring it to your nearest certified repair shop for a more thorough checking.
- Also, make sure that there is no corrosion in any of the battery’s posts and connections, and that it has enough water to run smoothly.
2. Check your oil
- The lower temperature affects the oil causing it to have thicker viscosity. If the oil is thicker, it cannot properly lubricate the engine and may cause problems during cold start situations. So as the weather gets colder, it is best to change into a thinner grade oil. There is no standard type of oil for all vehicles, so make sure to use the one recommended by your vehicle’s manufacturer.
- So if you are nearing a 30,000-mile full service, don’t delay and have an oil change (including oil filter change) immediately. A clean, high-quality and correct engine oil will make your car start and run smoothly during winter.
3. Inspect your belts and hoses
- Even if you are driving a relatively new and modern car, it is best to check the belts and hoses for possible wear and tear, as they can be easily affected by colder weather. Be meticulous in looking for cracked, worn-out or frayed rubber, because they just would not survive the cold, especially if there are often quick and extreme temperature changes.
4. Check your antifreeze mixture
- Antifreeze testers are cheap means of ensuring that your coolant system will run as it should. Make sure to conduct the test when your engine is cold to properly check the freeze point. If the mixture is off, flush and drain your cooling system and start a refill from scratch.
- In most cases, the recommended combination is 50/50 ratio of water and antifreeze coolant. This mixture will help prevent freezing even at extremely cold temperatures.
5. Replace wiper blades for maximum visibility
- Winter comes with shorter periods of daylight and snowfalls that reduce the driver’s vision, and since visibility is the primary key to safety, it is essential to make sure that the windshield wiper blades as well as the winter washer fluid are both in top condition.
- Although most windshields are geared for all-season use, excessive snow, ice build-up, road salt and slush can severely affect its performance. So, carefully check for a clean wipe on your windshield and enough amount of washer fluid (also note that ordinary washer fluid may have the tendency to freeze and become useless, so consider changing to winter washer fluid with de-icer and rain-X treatment). You may also choose to temporarily change to special winter wipers to have maximum visibility and security.
- Replacing your wipers and washer fluids are easy! You can do them by yourself if you know the correct blade size as recommended by your car manufacturer.
6. Check your tires
- During winter, most motorists stick to all-season tires, and swear they work just fine; that is, until they meet an accident! As it gets colder, the tire’s air pressure drops, and loss of air pressure also means loss of traction. So with all the snow, ice and road grime, it is much easier to skid and lose control.
- To avoid this, switch to winter tires! They are specially made to shed snow and ice more quickly, giving the driver more traction and safety. In fact, some car manufacturers specifically advise the owners to switch to winter tires during this season.
7. Check all your lights
- Visually inspect to make sure that all your headlights, brake lights, turning lights, fog lamps, flashers and any other lights are working properly. If they don’t work, they might just need a new fuse or a new bulb.
8. Protect your paint
- Snow, ice, road salt, or other chemicals on the road can damage your car’s paint. You can protect your car by applying an ample coating of high quality wax, preferably just before winter.
9. Clean and care for your car’s interior
- Although it is the car’s exterior that takes most of the beating during winter, you should not forget to look after the interior parts. Before vacuuming the floor and seats, make sure no big pieces of garbage remain. After vacuuming, you can use an upholstery cleaner to keep everything spotless and in tip-top shape. And because of all the snow and possible mud that your shoes might bring into your car, it is recommended to switch the carpeted floor mats into rubber mats or water-resistant vinyl mats. Then, you can finish everything with your favorite air freshener to add that special touch.
10. Keep an emergency kit handy
- Remember that even if you have done everything to keep your car in top-notch state, there is still a chance to encounter unfortunate and unexpected situations. So, for whatever season, above all during winter, it is necessary to keep an emergency kit on your trunk, especially if you will be having long drives.
- For winter, here are the recommended emergency kit items:
i. First-aid kit (with medicine and other injury remedies)
ii. Car tool kit
iii. Flashlight with working batteries
iv. Blanket, extra socks, gloves and hat (to keep you warm)
v. Emergency food and water (if you get stuck in major traffic)
vi. Ice scraper and snowbrush (with soft bristles to avoid damage)
vii. Portable shovel and road salt
viii. Spare tire and tire changing equipment
ix. Flares
x. Well-charged mobile phone with power charger
I hope that with these tips, you can protect yourself and your car from any unwanted winter accidents. Don’t be one of those careless motorists who regret lacking preparation when it’s too late. Fortunately, many of the parts you need are easily available online and can be delivered quickly right at your doorstep! Check http://www.autopartsway.com/ for more details. Keep safe and enjoy the winter!
2002 Toyota Prius Mileage Tested – Almost Same as New
Afraid that your electric or hybrid car will die within a few years because of the battery holding power? Not to worry. Consumer Reports re-tested a 2002 Prius with 206,000 miles on it and it delivered 46.3mpg, as opposed to 48.6mpg in the original test with a new car. Although the number is lower, it is not lower by much, especially considering that the car now has 206,000 miles. Remember to use auto site for all your Prius Parts 
needs.
