Carl F. Thelin

The material here is brought over from my comments in TheCarConnection within High Gear Media.

It is not part of the BOOK. Jump to:

Handicapping the Competition

Toyota Corolla being Reviewed for Steering Issue

Spy Shots: 2010 Alfa Romeo Milano

2010 Toyota Corolla And Matrix Get Standard Traction Control, VSC

Handicapping the Competition

Maybe I am just dreaming but I have fifty years as a consumer advocate, and have been instigating and rebutting auto-safety recalls about that long. The well publicized recalls affecting Toyota and Honda might be, at least partially, attempts by Government Motors to handicap the competition. Why do I think so?

In general, each recall is made to cover a broad range of vehicles so that any of the “dangerous” ones would be included. So, when the recall is alleged to bring in millions of Toyotas because of a defect in the brakes for instance, it gives the typical consumer serious worries.

But, within that huge bunch of vehicles, maybe the defect might be within a few produced during a month’s time at the factory. So, out of millions recalled, only a few thousands actually have a problem. Even among those “sick” cars, the problem that does exist might become serious for the last week of production – after which the defect was discovered and corrected.

That is only part of the difficulty in telling the public how a recall really works. Suppose the problem with the brakes, serious as it can be, will manifest itself only when the driver tries to use the brakes very hard during a rainy day while driving on a banked section of asphalt pavement. One-in-a-million, you say. If the crash does kill someone, triggering an extensive NHTSA / NTSB investigation – that could result in the massive recall.

If you doubt me, ask your friends at the NHTSA, the NTSB or in the auto industry. They don’t want to say out-loud what I just explained. No one wants to be accused of covering up for the bad guys. If you want to argue with me, here is my email cfthelin@gmail.com

***

Toyota Corolla Being Reviewed For Potential Steering Issue

TheCarConnection, February 9, 2010

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration confirmed to Automotive News that it is reviewing a large number of steering complaints concerning the electric power steering system used in 2009 and2010 Toyota Corolla sedans.

Going back to April 2008, NHTSA has logged a total of 83 complaints so far related to the steering, according to AN, with 76 of these reporting that the vehicle would unexpectedly pull to the side at higher speeds.

In all, the complaints cite a total of six accidents and ten injuries due to the phenomenon, which is described as a strong pulling to the side, like being buffeted by crosswinds, requiring two hands on the wheel to maintain a straight path.

Beginning with the 2009 model year, Toyota replaced the previous hydraulic power steering unit in the Corolla with an electric one. Newer electric power steering systems typically include logic to correct for environmental variables like the crown of the road as well as crosswinds, although we're not sure if the system in the Corolla does.

***

My reply in comments

@Damien. You’re correct. The feeling that the front drive car pulls to the side when you get on or off the throttle quickly is called torque steer. If you think the Corolla is bad just because of electric power booster steering – not likely.

When GM introduced the Oldsmobile Toronado with a 7 liter V8, there was lots of throttle-on steer. It required that the longitudinal engine / transaxle offset had to be eliminated by using a jack shaft that extended the passenger side CV joint equally far off center as the left side. That made the angles, as seen from the front, of the axle shaft and the wheel spindle to be the same.

There are a lot of things that affect straight line stability on crowned roads or in cross winds. The whole three-dimensional picture of the front and rear suspensions has to be just right. Most European chassis engineers know how.

Despite learning how to handle the torque steering for the 1966 big FWD car, GM’s people forgot the lesson when the 1980 X-cars were introduced. Those cars had an inline four or a V6 engine located crosswise. Even the V6 is puny compared to a big block V8.  Torque steer was again due to unequal length axle shafts. It was a problem only with the manual transmission cars. Why? The sharpness of the power-on / power-off transitions are much worse with a clutch car compared to the torque converter car.

            Based on that experience, my guess is that the wayward Corollas have manual transmissions – and lopsided front geometry. 

TOP

***

Marty and I have comments to this story

Spy Shots: 2010 Alfa Romeo Milano

By TheCarConnection Staff June 15th, 2009

With Fiat now allied with Chrysler, fans of affordable Italian sheetmetal are pining for the first examples to be offered on American soil in over a decade. One of the first of the cars to make the Fiat-Chrysler transition will be the 2010 Alfa Romeo Milano, which could be re-made into a Chrysler sedan for U.S. consumption.

The Alfa Romeo version of the car isn't expected to make its official debut until the Frankfurt Motor Showin September, but a set of spy shots captured byMotorAuthority's snoops gives us a peek at what's in store.

The photos don't reveal much in the way of the folds of its body, but with the Alfa penchant for clean exterior design, don't expect it to venture far afield from the themes laid out by the 8C and MiTo, two solid examples of Alfa's current-generation design language.

The new Milano is should also share Fiat’s C-Evo platform with the Lancia Delta and Alfa Romeo Bravo, contrary to earlier reports that the car would get an all-new platform. As for engines, the same core range is expected, including a smallish 120 hp four-cylinder and ranging up to a 3.2-liter V-6 good for 265 hp. A high-performance GTA variant could add some more spice to the lineup down the track as well.

It's not yet known if Fiat has any plans to sell the Milano alongside its Chrysler sibling, and if so, what that might mean for sales or market positioning.

COMMENTS

1.                     By Steve#1, Posted: 6/15/2009

Should be interesting to see what type of design language Fiat gives Chrysler. Currently, Chrysler seems to lack any theme throughout the line up as the 300C and the Sebring look nothing alike. One can only hope Fiat turns Chrysler around.

2.                     by Marty Padgett#2, Posted: 6/15/2009 

Is there any way to build this with a Plymouth badge, now?

3.                     By Carl F Thelin#3, Posted: 6/15/2009

Marty - that's a good one. Let's hope Fiat revives the DeSoto name as well. I seem to recall that the DeSoto was the Oldsmobile of the Xler lineup.

TOP

  ***

2010 Toyota Corolla And Matrix Get Standard Traction Control, VSC

By Colin Mathews

Comment
By Carl F Thelin#1, Posted: 1/24/2009

"Annual model changes"

Surely you recall that in the 1950-70 period, new models were always introduced in September or October of the years before the model-date. 
I was still in the auto industry then, and I heard a Mercedes-Benz engineer tell me that the whole concept of a "1959" anything was strange to a European. M-B made engineering changes steady without notice. Only when a new design was ready would they bother to apply a date to the title, although the model name, such as "C325D" was enough.

I agree that the majority of owners will never appreciate robotic assists of handling and braking functions - even when it works and avoids a crash -- that is what it is for. Long ago, I wrote that drivers who benefit from robotic-assist will generally not credit the gadget for the feat of not having serious crash. No one, not even the pro- and con- safety critics keeps statistics of "near misses".

Finally, give credit to Toyota to using laminated side window glass beginning with the 2009 model. Benefits: reduced interior noise and vastly improved break-in (theft) resistance. I wonder why Toyota didn't add it to the Camry line, too.

***