auto parts: May 2010

Lincoln MKE (.com)?

This is interesting.

http://www.lincolnmke.com points to the Lincoln web site.

So what is an MKE and MKL?

Should Ford Kill Mercury?

Bloomberg reports via unnamed sources that Ford's leadership is planning on killing Mercury in about four years.

Reasons they should: It's a small brand which probably doesn't make much money; it's a damaged brand which doesn't seem to stand for much. Many of the major automakers only have a couple of U.S. brands, such as Toyota/Lexus, Nissan/Infiniti, Honda/Acura, VW/Audi, BMW/Mini, Mercedes/Smart.

Reasons they shouldn't: Mercury sold 92,000+ cars last year. That's more than Saab, Mitsubishi, Suzuki, Smart, Infiniti, Porsche, Mini, Volvo, Audi, and Lincoln brands. Many Lincoln dealers need the product to stay afloat, unless Lincoln is going to break out somehow into a larger volume brand. Oh, and Mercury has Jill Wagner.

What's In HR5381, the Motor Vehicle Safety Act of 2010

The House committee on energy and commerce has voted to release HR 5381, the Motor Vehicle Safey Act of 2010, to the full house for a vote.

So what is in it? Here is a quick synopsis. You can read it for yourself here. My comments in italics.

Section 101: The NHTSA will create a Center for Vehicle Electronics and Emerging Technologies to focus attention on electronics. The Secretary Of Transportation will set up an honors recruitment program which will make an effort to recruit from the top 10% of engineering students, particularly among minority institutions, and to provide a stipend for students who participate. (What is this doing in an auto safety bill? No wonder people are angry at congress!)

Section 102: The NHTSA has one year to design a safety standard for a bake-throttle over-ride system. The system may be user defeatible, and may allow two-pedal driving under some conditions. (I think this is reasonable, as long as NHTSA has flexibility in how they do this)

Section 103: The NHTSA will update FMVSS 124 within two years with a rule that requires at least one redundant control to be present in an accelerator control system. (This is not necessary. All electronic throttle control systems that I am aware of have multiple redundant sensors and controls.)

Section 104: The NHTSA will consider a rule, within 18 months, to regulate the design of pedal spacing and clearance. If NHTSA decides that the rule is appropriate, it will be in force within 4 years.

Section 105: The NHTSA will consider a rule, within 2 years, to require minimum performance standards for electronic control systems. If NHTSA decides that the rule is appropriate, it will be in force within 4 years. (This is a difficult task. Will NHTSA require certain levels of EMC testing, for example? Lots of work for engineers going forward...)

Section 106: The NHTSA will, within 2 years, issue a rule to standardize the operation of push-button start systems. (I have no problem with this, as long as there is flexibility in the rules to allow for future technologies)

Section 107: The NHTSA will, 1 year, issue a revision to FMVSS 102 to make automatic transmission gear selectors easier to use, and to make neutral obvious. (This will be an intrusive regulation, but I don't really object, if it makes cars easier to use. It may however force everyone to have similar shifter styling.)

Section 108: Event Data Recorders will be required starting in 2015 model year. EDRs will store at least 10s of data, and will have a standard interface. EDR information will be readable with commercial equipment. EDR data is the property of the vehicle owner or lessee, and cannot be retrieved without his consent other than by a court order. Government agencies can get the data if personal information has been scrubbed, for study purposes. EDRs will be tamper resistant.

Section 201: NHTSA early warning data from defect investigations will be made publicly availible.

Section 202: NHTSA's vehicle safety database will be made more accessible to the public.

Section 203: NHTSA will require automakers to put a sticker in each vehicle which informs the owner how to submit a vehicle safety defect complaint to NHTSA. (This is lame. Why put it on each car? Don't we have enough nanny stickers everywhere? Why not put it in the owner's manual, where the warranty coverages and other related information go?)

Section 204: NHTSA will set up a hotline for dealership personnel to report potential defects. (Can't mechanics use the existing system?)

Section 205: Automaker executives will be required to sign submissions to NHTSA, certifying that they have reviewed the reported information. Anyone found to make a false report will be fined up to $5,000 per day. (Ouch)

Section 206: Allows people who have been rejected in claiming a defect to appeal the rejection to their court of appeals.

Section 207: If NHTSA can't make a deadline, they must explain why and also submit a new deadline.

Section 208: Sets up some reports NHTSA must make to congress regarding defect and crash investigations.

Section 301: There will be a $9 per car tax to help fund the NHTSA. It will be indexed to inflation. (In a 12 million car market, that will be a nice sum of $108,000,000. Our cars will all get $9 more expensive)

Section 401: The maximum fine per vehicle that NHTSA will be able to levy for rule violations increases from $5,000 to $25,000. The total cap increases from $15,000,000 to $200,000,000.

Section 402: If NHTSA determines that a defect is an "imminent hazard", an imminent hazard order will be issued within 10 days. (This isn't a recall, just a quick notification to the public, if I understand it correctly.)

SOLD - Honda DC 2 - Type - R - Half Cut

Sold To Local Customer

This Half Cut - DC 2 Type-R , Engine B18C - Manual With LSD Gear Box , Selling Together With All The Parts Shown In The Photos

Selling As Is Where Is Basis

To View Engine Idling, Click Video Below :-

Front View Of The Half Cut

General View Of Speedometer

Mileage Reading :- 077397

Chassis Number

Front View Of The Engine

Side View Of The Engine

Inner Part Of The Engine - Clean

Engine Number

Gear Box With LSD Wording

Front Bumper With Lip - In Good Condition

Front Bonnet - Dented

White Circle Indicate Dented Area

Driver Side - HeadLamp - In Good Condition

Driver Side Fender - Damaged

White Circle Indicate The Driver Side Fender - Dented

Closed View Of The Driver Side Fender - Dented

Driver Side - Knuckle

Passenger Side - HeadLamp - In Good Condition

Passenger Side Fender - White Circle Indicate - Damaged Area

Closed View Of Passenger Side Fender - Dented

Passenger Side - Knuckle

Rear Knuckle

Tail - Lamp - In Good Condition

General View Of The DC 2 Parts

One Of The Orignial Rim - Diameter Scratched / 3 units In Good Condition

Diameter - Scrached

Closed View Of The Damaged Original Rim

Tyre Size - 195/55/15

Original Side Skirt

Closed View Of The Side Skirt - Torn

DC 2 - Petrol Tank With Fuel Pump

Original Rear Bumper - Dent

Original Rear Bumper - Cut / Torn

DC 2 - Tail Gate

Tail-Gate - No Chipped Or Cracked On The Glass

DC 2 - Doors

Driver Side Door

Closed View Of Driver Side Door - White Circle Indicate Dented Area

Rear Panel - Good Condition

Rear View Of The Half Cut

SOLD - JZX 90 Half Cut

SOLD To Local Customer

This Half Cut JZX 90 - Model Mark II - Engine 1JZ-GTE - Manual , Selling Together With Long Shaft , Rear Axle And Some Aftermarket Parts

Selling as Is Where Is Basis / What You See Is What You Get

To View Engine Idling , Click Video Below :-