plus 3, What to do if your gas pedal gets stuck - Providence Journal

What to do if your gas pedal gets stuck - Providence Journal
Autoliv buys Delphi safety operations in Asia - CNBC
CTS Q4 EMS Revenue Down Sharply - Circuits Assembly
Two Clemson graduates honored for automotive research - Anderson Independent-Mail

What to do if your gas pedal gets stuck - Providence Journal

Posted: 29 Jan 2010 12:45 PM PST

Toyota Motor Corp. has stopped selling and building eight models, saying there's a possibility that the accelerator pedals may get stuck in a partially depressed position or return slowly to the idle position. Toyota and experts have advice for drivers if a vehicle's accelerator pedal sticks.

Basic advice

Consumer Reports magazine's instructions are simple: First, brake hard. Then put the car in neutral. When you come to a stop, turn off the engine.

The engine may keep revving loudly while you try to stop, but don't turn it off if you can avoid it. Turning off the engine means you lose power-assisted steering and brakes, and if you turn the key too far, you could lock the steering wheel.

The revving isn't good for the transmission, but that's not important, said John Heywood, director of MIT's Sloan Automotive Lab.

Consumer Reports has a video demonstration on its Web site at http://tinyurl.com/yegvesp.

Don't pump the brakes.

Instead, press firmly and steadily.

Toyota warns that pumping the brake pedal will deplete the vacuum assist, which boosts the braking force using power from the engine. If that's depleted, you'll need to put much stronger pressure on the brake pedal, and it still might not be enough force to stop safely.

"If the engine really goes to wide open throttle it's really scary," Heywood said. "You have to jam your foot on the brake really hard."

If all else fails, turn off the engine.

If you can't put the vehicle in neutral, then turn the engine off. This will not cause loss of steering or braking control, but the power assist to these systems will be lost. Toyota advises:

• If the vehicle is equipped with a conventional key-ignition, turn the ignition key to the accessory (ACC) position, but don't remove the key from the ignition, because that will lock the steering wheel.

• If you start your car by pressing a button instead of turning a key, push and hold the start-stop button for at least three seconds to turn off the engine. Do not tap the button.

Sources: Toyota documents, Consumer Reports, AP interviews

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Autoliv buys Delphi safety operations in Asia - CNBC

Posted: 28 Jan 2010 10:45 AM PST

NEW YORK - Auto parts supplier Autoliv Inc. said Thursday it would acquire the Asia-based passenger safety operations of Delphi Automotive LLP.

Stockholm-based Autoliv said the purchase includes intellectual property and physical assets located in Korea and China.

Auto sales in Asia, especially China, are booming and companies are positioning themselves to move into the market.

The operations acquired by Autoliv employ 600 workers and is expected to generate $250 million in annualized sales in 2010, the company said.

Delphi, which supplies parts mostly for Detroit automakers, emerged from a multiyear stay in Chapter 11 protection in early October.

A transaction price was not disclosed. Customers include Korean automakers Hyundai and Kia, China's Chery and India's Tata. The sale is expected to close March 31.

Shares of Autoliv fell 74 cents, or 1.8 percent, to $40.60 in afternoon trading.

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CTS Q4 EMS Revenue Down Sharply - Circuits Assembly

Posted: 27 Jan 2010 02:42 PM PST

ELKHART, IN – Electronic components manufacturer and assembly services provider CTS Corp. today reported fourth-quarter 2009 revenues of $133.9 million, up 6% sequentially, and down 18% year-over-year.

Net earnings were $4.1 million, compared to a third-quarter net profit of $4.5 million.

EMS segment sales decreased 3% sequentially and 35% year-over-year to $68.4 million, primarily as a result of lower sales in the defense and aerospace market. The segment reported operating profits of $700,000.

Components and sensors segment revenues increased 17% sequentially, driven by a 24% improvement in automotive product shipments with improved market share. Sales in this sector were 49% of total CTS sales in the fourth quarter, compared to 44% in the third quarter.

Sales of electronic components increased 5% over the third quarter of 2009, primarily from higher demand for wireless infrastructure applications.

Sales in automotive sensors and actuators increased 44% compared to the same period last year.

Full-year 2009 revenue was $499 million, down 28% from 2008.

The firm posted a 2009 net loss of $34.1 million, compared to earnings of $28.1 million in 2008.

Management anticipates 2010 sales to increase in the range of 10% to 15% year-over-year.

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Two Clemson graduates honored for automotive research - Anderson Independent-Mail

Posted: 29 Jan 2010 03:44 PM PST

CLEMSON UNIVERSITY — Two Clemson University graduates have been recognized by the National Transportation Research Center Inc. for being among the top researchers in the nation.

John Limroth of Greenville, a recent Clemson graduate with a doctorate in automotive engineering, was named Student of the Year. Michael Arant of Williamston, a master's student in mechanical engineering, was named Outstanding Student Researcher.

Clemson awarded Limroth a Ph.D. in automotive engineering in December 2009, the first doctorate in automotive engineering in the United States. After earning bachelor's and master's degrees in mechanical engineering at Texas A&M University, Limroth worked for National Instruments for 10 years before coming to Clemson in 2006. While working on his doctorate, he was an investigator on the National Transportation Research Center project "Co-Simulation of Heavy Truck Tire Dynamics and Electronic Stability Control System." This project was conducted with in cooperation with the center's Heavy Truck Rollover Consortium, which conducts research on ways to improve heavy truck safety. Limroth is now a tire performance research engineer with Michelin Americas Research Co. in Greenville.

After receiving a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering from Clemson, Arant worked in the cutting tool industry as a manufacturing engineer. For the last 11 years, he has worked for Michelin Americas Research Co., where he served in a variety of roles, including tire performance, new product development and most recently as a heavy vehicle handling analyst for Michelin. He also was a member of the Heavy Truck Rollover Consortium and conducted research in the area of assessing heavy truck rollover events.

"Having two such prestigious awards from NTRCI given to John and Michael speaks volumes about the quality and capabilities of our students," said Thomas Kurfess, holder of the BMW Endowed Chair of Manufacturing at Clemson and director of automotive engineering at the Clemson University International Center for Automotive Research. "They are absolutely top-notch and are well-respected throughout the automotive community."

The National Transportation Research Center Inc. is dedicated to development of new technologies in the field of transportation.

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