Brake problems are emerging with the 3rd generation Toyota Prius.

Toyota owners, and for that matter Lexus and Scion owners, should be outraged at the way that the Toyota Motor Corporation has responded in the wake of known engineering and technology glitches which have caused numerous accidents that have injured or killed many. Evidence is emerging that Toyota knew about its gas pedal problems as far back as early 2007, but now a new problem is emerging: the latest generation hybrid Prius may have brake problems.

Slipping Brakes

The problem with the Toyota Prius surfaced when customers began to complain of brakes slipping under certain conditions. Beginning in late January, Toyota tweaked the software controlling the brakes of cars which had yet to be sold, but they still have not offered a fix for customers who already own the car. The third generation Prius has been available since early 2009.

Complaints from American drivers have been sent to the National Highway Safety Transportation Administration (NHTSA) who has been behind a pair of investigations related to the runaway Toyota issue. Japan’s Ministry of Transportation is also investigating Prius complaints logged by Japanese drivers.

SayEducate first mentioned the runaway Toyota issue last November on the heels of an ABC News investigative report detailing several fatal accidents and incidents involving runaway Toyotas and the fatal runaway Lexus case last summer. Since then, numerous media outlets have helped put pressure on the NHTSA to follow through, with the federal government ordering Toyota to stop selling eight affected models.

ABS Braking

According to Automotive News, Toyota Managing Officer Hiroyuki Yokoyama said yesterday that the slipping feeling is caused by a lag time in the shift between the car’s regenerative braking system and the antilock braking system.

That situation has become most apparent on slippery or bumpy roads particularly in December as icy road conditions resulted in more frequent use of ABS braking. Yokohama added, “When ABS comes into play, you may feel a little bit of slip, but if you continue to apply the brake it will work. It may cause customers a little unease.”

Millions Recalled

Toyota’s problems continue to mount and has extended recalls to cover more cars than it sold last year. Thus far, at least eight million vehicles in North America, Europe, Japan, and elsewhere are subject to a recall, with fixes ranging from replacing the driver’s floor mat to swapping out the accelerator pedal.

Those repairs are expected to begin by early next week with all cars serviced within the next few months.

Meanwhile, not selling its eight affected models has hurt Toyota financially. According to the Detroit Free Press, the automaker is losing $100 million daily with no date set when the company can fully resume sales.

Photo Source: Wikipedia file photo

Tags: ABC News, Automotive News, Detroit Free Press, Lexus, NHTSA, Scion, Toyota

Japanese automaker sounds the alarm

This beefy Tundra pick up is one of 8 affected models being recalled and pulled from the market.

Last November Say Educate reported that the Toyota Motor Corporation (TMC) was coming to grips with a problem which revealed that several of its cars were involved in serious accidents due to one or more defects. Those accidents have reportedly killed or injured hundreds of people, leading to ABC News and other media outlets to launch their own investigation.

Defective Accelerators

We followed up that earlier report with news that Toyota would be replacing gas pedals on affected models, recalling millions of cars. But that recall may only be the tip of the iceberg as TMC has now suspended the sale of eight of its models. What is more, the eight affected car lines account for 57 percent of Toyota’s sales which means that until a solution is found, then Toyota sales will grind to a slow crawl.

TMC has yet to announce how they will handle a recall which may replace floor mats, gas pedals, or both on certain cars. Indeed, reports this week in Thursday’s edition of The Wall Street Journal indicate that current owners do not know what to do with some people choosing to keep their cars off the road until Toyota offers clarification.

Eight Toyotas

The affected models being recalled and part of the stop sale initative include:

• 2009-2010 RAV4
• 2009-2010 Corolla
• 2009-2010 Matrix
• 2005-2010 Avalon
• Certain 2007-2010 Camry
• 2010 Highlander except hybrid models
• 2007-2010 Tundra
• 2008-2010 Sequoia

Unaffected Models

TMC was quick to point out that no vehicles sold under its two other brands, Lexus and Scion, are affected. Nor are other Toyota models including the Tacoma, Yaris, certain Camrys, Venza, 4Runner, Land Cruiser, FJ Cruiser, Sienna, Solara, and Prius. If you plan to shop for a car this weekend at your Toyota dealership, you may see signs in place on affected models saying “no sale” or “currently unavailable” while unaffected models will still be marketed.

In addition to sales being stopped for a time, Automotive News reports that TMC will be shutting down five North American factories which produce these vehicles until further notice. At the moment, TMC does not have a solution in place which means your dealership is not in the position to handle recall related repairs. If you own an affected model, you will receive notification over the coming weeks on what steps you should take.

The recall comes just as Toyota begins to recover from an industry wide drop in sales last year and its first yearly loss ever. TMC’s fiscal year ends on March 31, with another multi-billion dollar loss expected.

Source: Toyota Motor Sales, USA, Inc.

Photo Credit: Wikipedia file photo

Tags: ABC News, Automotive News, gas pedal, Lexus, recall, Runaway Toyota, Scion, Toyota

Cold weather can place an enormous burden on your car with your battery straining to provide the juice needed to help it run. If your battery is not working optimally or dies, then you may find that heat and lights are not working at full capacity or your car’s engine might not turn over, leaving you stranded.

Your car's battery is under assault due to winter weather conditions.

CarMax, the nation’s largest used car retailer, offers some timely advice about car batteries that we’re happy to share with SayEducate readers. “Car batteries supply electrical energy to retain the memory in the onboard computers as well as the energy needed to start the engine,” said Tom Damon, ASE Master Technician for CarMax. “Proper maintenance is vital to keep your vehicle running year round, especially during the harsh winter months.”

Let’s review some of the do’s and don’ts of battery care as offered by the CarMax technicians:

Do’s

* Wear proper eye, hand and clothing protection when working with batteries.
* Check the terminals where cables connect to be sure they are tight and corrosion free. If corrosion is present, have terminals cleaned by a professional.
* Lubricate terminals with a dab of petroleum jelly to keep cables clean and free from corrosion.
* Make sure the battery is firmly secured to its mounting bracket. An unsecured battery can become damaged and cause short circuits.
* Check the fluid level unless it’s a maintenance-free battery. If the fluid is low, add distilled water. If there is no fluid visible, then replace the battery.
* Keep your battery case clean. Dirt conducts electricity and can discharge the battery. Use a solution of baking soda dissolved in warm water to clean the battery. Wet the case and agitate with a nylon bristle brush to scrub surface. Rinse well with plain water.
* Batteries come in many different sizes. When replacing a car battery, make sure you choose the right size for your vehicle. When it comes to car batteries, bigger is not always better.
* Prior to disconnecting the battery, check manufacturer specifications on what items may be disrupted when disconnecting the battery. For example, the radio may require a security code when the battery has been disconnected.
* Always disconnect the negative cable first and reconnect it last.
* Charge battery in a well-ventilated area.

Don’ts

* If your battery is frozen, do not charge it, as it may explode! One visual sign of a frozen battery is that the sides are bowed out. This condition is dangerous; the battery will need to be replaced.
* If you need to charge your battery yourself, switch the charger to a low-charge setting. Most chargers have this feature, but if not, have a professional charge the battery.
* Don’t charge a dead battery with a car’s alternator. An alternator is not designed to function as a charger, and it may be damaged or have a shortened life as a result.
* Never lean over a battery when charging, testing, or jump-starting the engine.
* Don’t disconnect battery cables while engine is running (your battery acts as a filter).
* Don’t let the battery get totally discharged. Most car batteries get their power from lead cells submerged in electrolyte and these cells can be damaged when the battery is totally discharged.
* Don’t let the battery get hot while charging.

If you are not familiar with battery maintenance, most any major auto parts retailer can test your battery for free. Some stores offer battery charging services too which can ensure that your battery is ready to take on winter’s worst.

Source: CarMax

Tags: battery maintenance, car battery, car care, CarMax, used cars, winter

You have seen the ads: if you have bad credit, we can provide a car loan for you! Unfortunately, if you take them up on their offer you could end up paying a very higher interest rate for your loan, costing you a mint in financing charges.

Before you trade in your old gas guzzler, make sure that your credit is in good shape.

Experian, one of the three credit reporting bureaus, says that a person whose credit score is above 700 “usually suggests good credit management.” They also say that most scores fall between 600 and 750 which means that if your score is below 600 then you pose a greater lending risk. (see Experian.com: What is a Good Credit Score?)

But bad credit does not mean you cannot get a new or used car. What it does say is that if you are patient and work first on improving your financial picture, then you can get an affordable loan to cover the cost of your new ride.

Let’s take a look at some steps you might want to take in a bid to improve your credit score:

Pull your credit reports. Did you know that you are entitled to one free copy annually of your credit reports? AnnualCreditReport.com is a site managed by the three credit reporting bureaus—Trans Union, Experian, and Equifax—where you can obtain copies of your reports.

All three reports contain important consumer information about you including your credit accounts, loan balances, payment history, job and personal information, and other details.

Review your credit reports. Examine your credit reports closely to make sure that the information contained in each is accurate and up to date. Wrong or outdated information can pull down your credit score, perhaps enough to affect what lenders will charge you for your car loan.

Nolo advises consumers to “complete the form the credit bureau provided to dispute entries in your report. List each incorrect or out-of-date item and explain exactly what is wrong.” After thirty days, that information must be removed from your credit reports if in error. (see Nolo.com: How to Clean Up Your Credit Report)

Obtain your credit score. Through AnnualCreditReport.com, you can obtain your credit score too. Unlike your credit report, you will need to pay a fee for this service.

Trans Union and Equifax offer credit scores through this service (Experian requires you to obtain it through their website), so choose just one company and pay that fee. This information will serve as a baseline score going forward, a number you will want to improve as you fix your credit.

Analyze your debt. In addition to reviewing your credit reports for mistakes or outdated information, these reports can give you a good indication of what is holding down your credit score.

You cannot do anything about negative, but correct bad credit information such as defaulting on a loan or filing for bankruptcy. Those events will show up on your credit reports for at least seven years. But if you have made late payments to your creditors, landlord, or utility companies then work toward making your payments on time while also paying more than the minimum balance on your credit cards each month.

Give it time. Certainly, if you want or need a new car right now there is not much to stop you from applying for a loan. But consider this: if you are considered to be a sub-prime borrower, then you could pay two or three times the going rate for your car loan. Better for you if you were to delay your purchase until your score improves.

Work actively to pay down your debt, resist taking out new credit, pay your bills on time and within six to twelve months you can pull your credit reports and obtain your credit score again. By then, your score may have improved enough to where you can get a car loan at a favorable rate.

Considerations

• When it comes time to get a car loan, shop around. Credit unions generally offer a lower rate than commercial banks.

• Put more money down. If you have bad credit, then make a larger down payment. If you assume a greater portion of the risk, then lenders may adjust their terms accordingly.

• The look, feel, and smell of a new car is enticing. However, your car can lose as much as one-third of its value within the first year of ownership. You may do better finding a late model used car whose price reflects its depreciation.

Adv. – If you’re planning to buy a new car, then you’ll want to get price quotes or find a dealer to arrange for a test drive. You may also want to arrange for your own auto financing which can save you hundreds of dollars on your next car loan.

Tags: AnnualCreditReport.com, bad credit, credit, credit bureaus, credit report, credit score