Toyota Feds To Investigate New York Runaway Prius Claim Today

Toyota, fresh from tests that contradict the story of a "runaway Prius" driver in San Diego County, California, is in Harrison, New York today to inspect a Prius that, according to a 56 year old woman, sped up and rammed into a stone wall.

The company and federal investigators will be going over that car using the same methods as they did in San Diego...with a critical eye on how many times the driver hit the brakes and the accelerator.

Full story from the Associated Press here.

Prius owners are talking about it on the Prius Chat forums.

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How to choose the right tires for the car

The only component that connects the car to the road are the tires. On the bus load of lies, which should provide a reliable contact with the road car, as they are responsible for turning and braking, depreciation should be a high resistance to road roughness and other factors. So you should always pick the tire according to the season, observe the rules of operation and check the tire pressure. In the selection of winter tires should consider the following factors. To ride on city streets is best frictional winter tires. Of course, the main factor behavior of vehicles on the road in winter is the tread pattern and chemical composition of rubber, but not the presence of spikes and / or lack of them. The most popular types of winter tires from popular manufacturers are: Goodyear, Bridgestone, Gislaved, Nokian, Yokohama. The following manufacturers are only slightly behind in popularity: Cordiant, Kleber, Dunlop. In the most recent positions are such firms as: Amtel, Toyo and Kumho. All firms winter tires for cars produce different models of non-studded and studded with different indices of speed, respectively, and the price of winter tires is different. For Russian roads, should choose the Scandinavian type of tires or European. European species of winter tires is different diagonal pattern. This contributes to great traction tires and the road surface and the moisture. European style of winter rubber prevents the effect of "aquaplaning". Scandinavian type of tires is different placement on the tire tread spikes arranged in several rows. This promotes better adhesion of rubber to the road surface. These tires keep the car well on any asphalt and dirt road.

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How to Remove the Door Trim on a 1990 300E Mercedes Benz

1. Warm up the heat gun by turning it on and letting it stand for a few minutes.
2. Run it back and forth over the trim but not touching it. Just enough to soften up the adhesive backing.
3. Set a cloth under the beginning part of the trim and slide the trim removal tool along the cloth and up under the trim to pry it up.
4. Work the removal tool and the cloth along the entire length of each piece of trim to pry it off the vehicle. Do this carefully if you wish to reuse the trim because it can crack or chip easily.
5. Pull the trim gently away from the vehicle door and set it aside.

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How to Change Headlights on C230 Mercedes

1. Open the hood and pull down on the plastic tab on the backside of the headlight housing.
2. Pull the housing cover off of the back of the headlight.
3. Unplug the electrical power connector from the back of the headlight.
4. Squeeze the tabs on the retaining clip together on the back of the headlight with needle-nosed pliers and pull the clip off the back of the headlight.
5. Pull the headlight out of the back of the headlight housing.
6. Insert a new headlight into the housing. Be careful not to touch the glass bulb on the headlight or the oils from your fingers could cause catastrophic failure of the headlight.
7. Replace the retaining clip.
8. Plug the electrical power connector back into the headlight.
9. Snap the plastic cover over the back of the headlight assembly.

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How to Tell If the Transmission Is the Problem

1. Look at your instrument panel for any warning light that identifies a transmission-related problem. Vehicles equipped with electronic, or computer controlled transmissions will indicate warnings such as a service engine soon or a check engine light. Some models will display the silhouette of a transmission on the instrument panel.
2. Hook up a code scanner tool to the universal wire jack at the bottom of the dashboard on the drivers side. Start the engine. Write down any code numbers that appear. Refer to a trouble code book to decipher the code description. If a problem results from the transmission, the code book will pinpoint the exact component failure, such as speed control or vacuum control sensor. You can take your vehicle and this information to a repair center to verify and repair the problem.
3. Use a floor jack to lift the vehicle high enough to place two jack stands under the front frame and two under the rear frame. Take a shop light and look at the sides, front and rear of the transmission housing. Any leak will be evident on the housing, as well as the front and end of the transmission housing where the front main seal and tail shaft seal sit.
4. Look on the floor for puddles. Look under the radiator where the transmission lines connect at the nut fittings. Transmission fluid has a red syrup color to it, unlike any other vehicle fluid, with the exception of the power steering fluid. A front or rear transmission seal, line or pan that leaks must have the gasket or seal replaced.
5. Inspect the transmission mount for breakage, if you have heard a heavy clunk upon rapid acceleration from a standing start. This noise results from the transmission slamming against the floorboard. Look at the fabric damper between the two mount supports. Try to push a large screwdriver in the seam and push up and down. If the transmission moves freely downward and the seam widens, it indicates a broken transmission mount. Remember: this clunking sound mirrors the sound of a broken engine mount.
6. Drive the vehicle normally for a while. If you notice slippage while the transmission shifts, this could be a low fluid level or contaminated fluid. Accelerate moderately and feel for any delayed or lag in the shifting. Transmission slip happens with a low fluid level, burned or contaminated fluid or worn internal clutches and bands. In the case of a manual transmission, slippage results from a worn clutch and weak pressure plate. An engine that races without engaging the transmissions points to no fluid, a bad pump, or worn-out bands and clutches.
7. Pull the dip stick from the transmission fill tube and smell the fluid. Burnt automatic transmission fluid will have a bitter acrid smell to it. Burnt fluid will have a gritty texture to it when you rub it between your fingers, and appear brown in color. For a manual transmission, smell the gearbox case near the bell housing. Any burnt odor will indicated the asbestos fibers on the clutch have slipped and burned. The odor will be bitter and strong. Do not mistake it for a brake pad or brake shoe smell that originates from the front and back of the vehicle.
8. Feel for any vibration that radiates up through the chassis, while the engine idles. A clanking, humming or whining sound, in addition to the vibration will mean the transmission torque converter has misaligned or one of its mounting bolts have broken. A vibration at idle will rule out the the entire drive train and suspension. The only other vibrating component might be the crankshaft damper, also called the harmonic balancer. Yet the crankshaft damper will not produce such noises with its vibration.
9. Notice how easily or difficult the vehicle shifts into gear, if you have a manual transmission. A transmission that grinds while shifting or pops out of gear while driving indicates a worn synchromesh gear, which can not be attributed to any other component on the vehicle.

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Fiat 500 least safe vehicle to drive according to insurance website

Fiat 500 least safe vehicle to drive according to insurance website When the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety crashed a 2012 Fiat 500, the little car got the best scores in all categories. Its a safe car, then, right?

Fiat 500 least safe vehicle to drive according to insurance website

Fiat 500 least safe vehicle to drive according to insurance website

"If safety is a priority, you should avoid the smallest cars," advises Russ Rader, spokesperson for IIHS. "Weight counts. Smaller, lighter cars are safer than they used to be, but all things being equal, people riding in bigger, heavier vehicles get more protection in crashes."

Thats why, despite its near-perfect crash-test score, the Fiat 500 is No. 1 on Insure.coms list of worst vehicles for protecting passengers from injuries. In an accident with a larger object, the Fiats safety cage and array of air bags do what they can to protect passenges, but like eggs in a coffee can, the passengers get thrown about and smashed up.

Fiat 500 least safe vehicle to drive according to insurance website

If the Fiat 500 is like a coffee can, then a fullsize GMC pickup (which tops the websites list of vehicles best at protecting passengers) would be a 50-gallon barrel. In a collision between the two, the barrel of eggs will win every time. The GMC Sierra 1500 is rated best at protecting passengers by Insure.com, but IIHS rated it just average in the side impact test and marginal in the roof strength test. Second place on Insure.coms best list is the Porsche Cayenne, which has not been tested by IIHS. The third through fifth place spots go to the GMC Yukon, Sierra 2500 and Terrain.

The listings are the result of Insure.coms analysis of personal injury protection and medical payment claims which affect what car owners are charged for insurance.

Check out videos of the IIHS crash test of the Fiat 500 as well as the 2009 GMC Sierra 1500 below.Fiat 500 least safe vehicle to drive according to insurance website

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Ferraris Enzo successor to cost 1M euros

Ferraris Enzo successor to cost 1M euros We do know the hybrid will serve up more than 900 horsepower thanks to a new naturally aspirated V12 direct-injection engine and an electric motor. The automaker says its HY-KERS hybrid system has cut fuel consumption by some 40 percent. Of course, adding an electric motor to the party has added some 330 pounds to the driveline, a fact Ferrari has offset by using carbon fiber for the machines chassis. Word has it the F150 will have a curb weight similar to the Enzo at a shave over 3,000 pounds.

Ferraris Enzo successor to cost 1M euros

Ferraris Enzo successor to cost 1M euros

If youre planning to pick up the newest hypercar from Ferrari, you may need to do more than save your pennies. Automotive News Europe reports the Enzo successor will cost more than 1 million euros, or $1.34 million at current conversion rates. Thats before taxes, too. All told, Ferrari will build just 499 examples of the tentatively named F150 according to reports. The Italian automaker has neither confirmed nor denied the price or production figures, though Fiat CEO Sergio Marchionne has said the machine is already sold out worldwide.

Ferraris Enzo successor to cost 1M euros

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How to Set Memory Seats

1. Open your car door and sit down in the drivers seat. Close the door, as you will also need to position the drivers side mirror.
2. Use the levers and mirror adjustment buttons to configure the seats and mirrors until everything is as comfortable as possible. There is a lever that adjusts the horizontal position of the seat by moving it closer or further away from the steering wheel, as well as a lever that adjusts the vertical incline of the seat back.
3. Locate the memory seat buttons on the side of the seat, between the seat and the door. Depending upon the model of your vehicle, there will be two or more numerical buttons, as well as an M, Memory or Set button.
4. Press the M, Memory or Set button, then press the number to which you are assigning these seat settings. If your memory seat controls only have numerical buttons, hold down one of the number buttons for five seconds, or until your hear a noise.
5. Move an aspect of the seat settings, then press the numerical memory seat button that was just assigned to verify that the seat settings have been saved to memory. If the memory seats are set correctly, then the seat will move to the settings you previously saved.

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How to Change Oil on Car Ramps

1. Place the car ramps on a firm, level surface in front of the car. Line the ramps up to the same width as the front tires on the car.
2. Carefully drive the vehicle up onto the ramps, stopping on the flat section at the top. A second person to help guide you up can be helpful, but is not required.
3. Place wheel chocks or a block of wood behind the rear wheels of the car to keep it from rolling.
4. Open the hood of the car and remove the oil fill cap on the engine. Setting it on the top of the engine will remind you that you have not refilled the oil. Do not put the cap back on until you do so.
5. Place an oil drain pan under the oil pan drain plug and carefully remove the plug using an appropriately sized socket and ratchet. You may need SAE or metric sockets depending on the make and model of the car. The best way to find out what size you need is to check a repair manual for your car or try a few different ones until you find one that fits.
6. Allow the oil to drain into the drain pan. It wont take too long to drain. The average car holds 4 to 5 quarts of oil.
7. Locate the oil filter on the engine block. You will need to decide what kind of filter wrench you want to use, but band clamp filter wrenches are typically very effective.
8. Place the oil pan drain plug back into the pan and tighten it until it is just snug. Move your drain pan under the oil filter and remove the filter. Turn the filter upside down and set it into the pan for now.
9. Open one quart of the new oil you will be using. Wipe a small amount of the fresh oil onto the filter gasket of the new filter. This will help it seal and keep it from sticking when you are ready to change it again.
10. Pour the contents of the quart of oil into the top of the oil filter until it is full. Filling the filter reduces the stress of the oil pump and engine when you first start it after a complete oil change.
11. Screw the filter into place on the engine by hand. Do not use a wrench on the new filter. It will seal fine being hand tightened. Over-tightening will make it hard to get off at the next oil change.
12. Fill the engine with the remaining oil but do not overfill it. If you are not sure what the oil capacity of your motor is, check your owners manual or shop manual. You can also add a quart at a time and then check the dipstick to monitor your progress.
13. Replace the oil fill cap and check under the car for any leaks. Tighten anything that is leaking before taking the car off the ramps.
14. Close the hood and remove the wheel chocks. Slowly back the car off the ramps and dispose of the waste oil and old filter.

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Nissan mini Z Nissan works to smaller Z

The story goes in the rumors around that Nissan is working on circuit a compact sports car on the platform of the Juke. This would be indented on the successful introduction of the ToyoBaru, who collectively were developed GT86 and BRZ.

Although Nissan with the earlier Z "Fair lady" and the more modern 350Z and 370Z is anything but a rookie in the field of compact sports coupes with Argus eyes looks brand currently to Toyota and Subaru. These two compatriots know at this moment the auto world on fire to put properly know with the playful GT86 and BRZ. Of course would like to benefit from this success and Nissan. Reportedly they are even already started developing a mini-Z.

Compact Sports Concept
Nissan already last year came with a possible Harbinger in the form of the Compact Sports Concept. This was fitted with a 1.6-litre turbo engine that 190 HP sent to the asphalt. This engine would just go find his way to the mini-Z can. And because the Juke will be used as the basis of the car will most likely be equipped for wheel or four wheel drive. Mind you, all concrete plans yet, so expect a possible introduction, therefore, not for the end of 2013.

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How to Recharge a Mercedes Benz Auto Air Conditioner

1. Open your hood and locate the high and low pressure ports of your air conditioning system. These ports are located on two pipes that are attached to your condenser and are marked with an "H" or an "L" on their caps to identify which is which (high and low, respectively).
2. Remove the cap on the low side and connect the blue gauge to the port. You can remove the cap by unscrewing it by hand, then screwing the blue hose onto the port.
3. Remove the cap on the high side and connect the red gauge to the port. You can remove the cap by unscrewing it by hand, the screwing the red hose onto the port.
4. Record the PSI readings on the gauges and compare them to the recommended PSI ratings for your AC system in your owners manual.
5. Connect a refrigerant can to the yellow hose on your AC gauges and allow it to charge the system. Continue filling until the blue gauge reaches the same PSI as recommended in the owners manual.
6. Disconnect the refrigerant can, then remove the red hose, and finally disconnect the blue hose.
7. Screw the caps back onto the high and low ports.

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How to Reprogram BMW Keys

1. Get in your vehicle and shut the doors. Insert the key into the ignition and turn it to the ON position (without cranking). Hold it for two seconds, then turn the ignition off and remove the key.
2. Hold down the unlock button and quickly press the lock button three times.
3. Release the unlock button. The door locks will flash, signaling that the programming is complete.
4. Place the key in the ignition and toggle between ON and OFF to finalize.

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How to Install a 1992 BMW 325 I Heater Control Valve

1. Disconnect the negative battery cable. The BMW 325 battery is located in the trunk. Let the vehicle cool off for at least 30 minutes prior to beginning procedure.
2. Remove the two screws mounting the air box assembly on the right side of the engine bay. Removing the air box assembly will allow you easier access to the heater control valve. Remove the clamps connecting the air intake hose and set the box and hose aside
3. Disconnect the electrical module from the base of the valve. Use the flat-head screwdriver to remove the clamps holding the upper and lower valve hose. Make note of their position; the upper and lower hoses cannot be swapped during installation. Clamp off the hoses to minimize leakage and prevent contaminants from entering the system.
4. Use the torx screwdriver to remove the three screws mounting the heater control valve, and then remove the valve.
5. Place the new valve in its spot and attach the screws to mount it. Remove the clamps and reconnect the upper and lower hose to the proper location on the valve. Replace the electrical connection to the valve and reinstall the air box assembly.

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How to Find a Mercedes

1. Talk with people you know who have purchased a Mercedes-Benz. Any friends, family members, co-workers or neighbors who have a Mercedes-Benz may be able to help steer you to a reputable dealer.
2. Utilize the Mercedes-Benz dealer locator online. You can enter something like locate Mercedes-Benz dealer in a search engine on your home computer, or find the Mercedes-Benz website and hover your mouse over the Find a Dealer option in the menu bar. Type your zip code into the search box and click Find.
3. Scroll through the list of Mercedes Benz dealers near you to find the closest one. You can change the search radius by increasing or decreasing the mileage in the drop-down menu. You can click on dealership names for more information such as additional contact information, hours of operation and a link to the dealers local website.
4. Consider checking with the Better Business Bureau to determine if any Mercedes-Benz dealers in your area have dramatically more complaints registered with BBB than other dealers in the area. Substantially higher rates of complaint might be reason to view certain dealers warily. A complaint or two, or possibly even a handful, is probably not enough to discourage you, considering that auto dealers in general are not entirely viewed with a great deal of goodwill by the American consumer base.

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How to Remove the Mirror From a Mercedes Benz 450

1. Park the car in a sunny spot. Try to park the car in an area where the internal temperature of the car reaches above 75 degrees. If you are working in the winter, you can use a small heat gun or hair dryer to warm the adhesive that holds the mirror in place. Allow the Mercedes to sit in the sun for at least two hours.
2. Locate the area where the mirror attaches to the button glued to the windshield. A small screw holds the mirror on this button. Unscrew the screw and set it aside.
3. Remove any electronic wires attached to the mirror by pulling the wires gently with pliers. These wires control the thermometer inside the mirror, the auto dim feature and sometimes a heating mechanism. Your mirror may have some or all of these features, depending on the features included on your Mercedes 450.
4. Turn the mirror gently clockwise to loosen it from the button on the windshield. Set the mirror down in a safe place where it will not get broken, scratched or sat on.
5. Grasp the sides of the button with a crescent wrench. Gently twist the button in a clockwise direction until the button pops off of the glass surface. If this does not work, insert a razor blade between the glass and the button and apply gentle pressure to pop the button off of the glass.
6. Place a small amount of adhesive remover onto any glue remaining on the surface of the glass. Allow the remover to sit for 10 minutes. Then wipe the residue away with a soft cloth. You can also use the razor blade to scrape away the adhesive.

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How to Order a Replacement Key for a BMW

Find the nearest BMW Authorized Service Center
1. Go to http://www.bmwusa.com/standard/content/dealer/default.aspx to find your nearest BMW Authorized Service Center.
2. Call the nearest service center to get a price quote for a new key. Tell them you need to replace a lost BMW key.
3. Appear in person at the BMW service center and bring original vehicle title, current vehicle registration, your VIN (Vehicle Identification Number), drivers license and payment for the replacement key.

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How to Change the Brake Lights on an Audi

1. Open the trunk and pull back the carpet in the cargo luggage area.
2. Locate the nuts holding the brake light housing cover. Remove these nuts with a socket wrench.
3. Remove the housing cover and disconnect the electrical wiring from the bulb housing.
4. Turn the bulb counterclockwise to unlock it from the housing. Pull the bulb straight out of the housing.
5. Install the new bulb, reassemble the housing and replace the carpet in the trunk. Installation is the reverse of removal.

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How to Extend a Mercedes Warranty

1. Call 1-800-FOR-MERCEDES to contact a Mercedes representative. Ask the representative for address information for a Mercedes dealership closest to you.
2. Go to your local Mercedes dealership prior to the expiration of your original warranty.
3. Talk to a sales person about obtaining an extended warranty for your vehicle. Ask the sales person about the cost of all the extended warranty options available to you.
4. Choose among warranty coverage options that extends to 5, 6 or 7 years from the original warrantys start date and up to either 75,000 or 100,000 total miles.

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How to Change a BMW Stereo Amp

1. Disconnect the grounding cable from the BMW battery. The grounding cable connects the negative lead to the chassis of the vehicle. Use a 10 millimeter wrench to loosen the cables clamp. Remove the cable from the lead and rest it away from the negative lead post.
2. Replace the ring terminal (included in the amplifier wiring kit) on the positive lead of the battery and route the new power supply wire into the cabin. Replace the rubber grommet in the opening of the firewall to protect the wiring. Remove the fuse from the ring terminal.
3. Remove the upper dash trim at the center of the dashboard. Pry the panel free at the bottom edge using a trim panel tool. Grab the panel and pull it free. Disconnect the power supply wire connected to the hazard button on the panel.
4. Remove the two screws at the top of the lower trim panel with a Phillips head screwdriver. Pull the lower panel free from the dash. Remove the screws on either side of the stereo deck and pull the stereo from the dash far enough to reach the wire connections in the rear.
5. Pull out the signal cable and turn-on lead from the stereo. Connect the new cables (from the amplifier wiring kit) to the stereo and route them from the deck to the location of the new amp.
6. Remove the old amplifier from the vehicle. Place the new amp into the previous amps location. Connect the power supply cable, the signal cable, the turn-on lead and speaker wires to the new amplifier.
7. Replace the BMW stereo deck into the dash. Screw the two screws into the stereo mounting bracket. Replace the lower trim panel and replace the two screws at the top. Connect the hazard power wire to the upper trim panel and replace it on the dash.
8. Place the negative battery cable onto the negative battery lead. Tighten the clamp with a 10 millimeter wrench. Place the fuse into the fuse holder on the ring terminal.

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How to Relpace the Blower Fan in a 1998 Audi A4 Wagon

1. Open the passenger-side front door. Remove the plastic trim on the side of the dash that rests against the door. The trim is held on with clips and can be pulled off by hand.
2. Open the glove box door. Remove the five 8-mm bolts that fasten the glove box to the dash with a socket wrench. Disconnect the wiring harness for the glove box light. Remove the glove box, noting how the lower rear edge of it clips into place.
3. Locate the blower motor, which is a large, black, round part bolted to the underside of the dash. Disconnect the wires that go to the blower motor. The harness may be behind the motor and difficult to reach.
4. Remove the bolts that hold the blower motor to the dash with a socket wrench. Plug the wiring harness into the new blower motor to ensure that the new blower motor functions properly.
5. Install the new blower motor by bolting it into place in the reverse order that the old motor was removed.
6. Reinstall the glove box. Install the bolts and tighten them. Plug the wires back in to the glove box light. Reinstall the dash side trim.

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