It seems counterintuitive: Replacing a simple, trusty, low-tech part with costly sensors to measure oil. But this is why some automakers are going that route. Call it the case of the disappearing dipstick. Stellantis customers with the new Hurricane twin-turbo six-cylinder engine in their Jeep SUVs and Ram pickups may be in for a surprise […]

In electric vehicles and those with self-driving capabilities, the 12-volt battery has a role in critical safety systems and in reducing emissions. The old-fashioned 12-volt lead acid battery hasn’t changed much since the mid-1950s. Now it’s getting a makeover to handle a host of new responsibilities in electrified, automated and software-defined vehicles. In electrified vehicles […]

Ford is also recalling tens of thousands of small SUVs for a fire hazard!  Ford issued another recall for tens of thousands of small SUVs over concerns cracked fuel injectors could leak, increasing the risk of sparking a fire in engines. A notice posted by the NHTSA said the recall is for certain 2022-2023 Bronco Sport and 2022 Escape models […]

THE INTERNATIONAL HARVESTER SCOUT HAS BEEN DORMANT SINCE 1980 UNTIL VOLKSWAGEN DECIDED TO RESURRECT IT UNDER THE VAG UMBRELLA The international Harvester Company produced the Scout SUV beginning in 1960. It continued to build this rugged and dependable SUV up until 1980 when it was then named the Scout II. Volkswagen just broke ground in […]

The issue has been linked to 234 complaints in the U.S. between Nov. 29, 2022, and Feb. 6 of this year, four of which involved accidents and three involved minor injuries. General Motors is recalling nearly 56,000 midsize pickups in the U.S. over an issue that could cause the automatic emergency braking system to activate unexpectedly. The issue […]

GM and Llink Technologies have collaborated to eliminate 95% of headlamp waste  As we progress toward an all-electric future, General Motors remains committed to implementing sustainable practices and a circular economy model, a system where old materials find new life through remanufacturing, recycling and reuse.  An opportunity to remanufacture headlamps  When a vehicle is involved […]

The car rental agency will sell a third of its U.S. electric fleet and reinvest in gas powered cars due to a downward spiral of EV sales. Hertz Global Holdings Inc. plans to sell a third of its U.S. electric vehicle fleet and reinvest in gas-powered cars due to weak demand for the battery-powered options. The sales […]

Some Cybertruck owners say orange-tinted specks on their bare-steel pickups look like rust. Tesla engineer Wes Morrill said its surface contamination that can be cleaned off easily. Tesla Cybertruck owners have sounded an alarm over orange-colored specks that have appeared on the truck’s bare stainless-steel exterior after being exposed to the rain. And some fear that […]

EV vehicle sales have increased, but the tire industry needs to address a serious pollution issue.  As a car’s only point of contact with the road, tires do more work than they get credit for. Tires need to grip the road firmly enough for cars to accelerate, turn and brake without skidding, but they also […]

The late country music singer Toby Keith agreed to continue his partnership with Ford for a fraction of the pay when it needed to cut costs. Here’s a story that just came to light that should make all of you country music fans delighted as well as anyone who appreciates an outstanding individual. During the Great […]

<REPORTS SAY THE CAR SHOULD BE RECALLED Hundreds of Honda HR-V owners have reported that their rear windows shattered suddenly, a problem that Consumer Reports says warrants a recall due to the safety risk posed to drivers from “spontaneous shattering of glass.” The issue impacts 2023 HR-V models, with Consumer Reports noting that the publication […]

NOW’S THE TIME FOR STANDARDIZED DIAGNOSTIC SYSTEMS TO MORPH INTO THE ELECTRIC VEHICLE AGE! Back in the day of the invention of the transistor, you had to be Alan Turing who was the person who broke the German’s Enigma code system during World War 2 to be able to perform automotive diagnostics when car makers […]

Is it possible for a burned-out taillight bulb replacement to get into the four digit figure category? Owners of 2015 and later Ford F150 trucks that were purchased with high trim options, beware what awaits you sooner than you think. In the name of anonymity protection, we will refer to our victim as Harry. Harry […]

Hyundai will begin sales of its full portfolio of vehicles via the Amazon shopping platform.  Hyundai said it will begin sales of its full portfolio of vehicles via the Amazon shopping platform in January 2024, enabling consumers to complete the full car-shopping and buying experience within a familiar digital environment. Hyundai said it will begin sales of its full portfolio of […]

AN ELECTRIC CAR WITH AN EXHAUST SYSTEM…DID I HEAR THAT RIGHT!  Yes, there is an exhaust system in the new 2024 Dodge Charger EV. How is that possible you ask, the short answer is science and technology.  In the previous article I wrote about the demise of the Chrysler 300, which is soon to be […]

A LOOK BACK AT THE LEGENDARY CHYRSLER 300 LETTER CARS The Chrysler 300 has been one of America’s favorite cars since it’s release in 1955. It has been a main stay vehicle throughout its illustrious history which makes this writer sad to say that the 2023 model year will be the last internal combustion engine […]

Ford was hoping its F-150 Lightning would be the next hot item on the EV Truck scene. In new footage obtained by CNBC through a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) shows a close-up look at the February fire that burned through several F-150 Lightnings at a holding lot in Michigan, in an alarming wake-up call on Ford’s quality control and the […]

AUTOMAKERS & INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOPS HAVE REACHED A NEW AGREEMENT Groups representing automakers and independent repair shops say they have an reached agreement the week of July 10. This agreement includes the much fought over vehicle data and telematics which are required to perform certain repairs requiring information that was formerly forbidden by the original […]

Autonomous Driving Legal and Regulatory Issues Will Rear Their Ugly Heads as Level 3 Driving Looms Closer    As autonomous driving leaps from Level 2 to Level 3 this year with the introduction of  Mercedes Benz model equipped with their Drive Pilot system, which is a Level 3 system, regulators are scrambling to enact laws […]

Ford Motor Company is recalling 252,936 2020 to 2022 Explorers with 10R80 transmissions and all engines as well as hybrid models for the possible danger of a rollaway threat. The recall includes Explorers, Explorer Hybrids, Police Interceptors and Explorer Plug-In Hybrids. The defect that causes the threat is caused by a rear axle horizontal mounting […]