Fire risk sparks GM recall of 1.5 million cars

A beleaguered General Motors is taking another PR and financial hit as it recalls nearly 1.5 million cars because of a fire hazard.

The affected vehicles are equipped with non-turbocharged, 3.8L, V6 engines and include:

• 1997-2009 Buick Regal
• 2000-2003 Chevrolet Impala
• 1998-1999 Chevy Lumina
• 1998-2003 Chevy Monte Carlo
• 1998-1999 Oldsmobile Intrigue
• 1997-2003 Pontiac Grand Prix

The recall was spurred by concerns that drops of engine oil may leak onto the exhaust manifold during hard braking. If the manifold is hot enough and the oil runs beneath the heat shield, it could ignite. The small flame could spread to the nearby plastic spark plug wire channel or beyond that, increasingthe risk of a fire under the hood.

The fix is to replace the piece holding the spark plug wires in place with two separate wire retainers. The recall is expected to begin in May, and the dealer will swap the pieces free of charge.

Owners may contact Chevy at 800 630 2438, Oldsmobile at 800 630 6537 and Pontiac at 800 620 7668, or they may obtain information online.

This is GM recall No. 90047 and National Highway Traffic Safety Administration recall No. 09V116000.

New gadget notifies parents when their teens are speeding

When I think about my driving habits as a teenager, I shudder to think about either of my kids climbing behind the wheel in a couple of years. The increased congestion on the roads and the alarming stats about vehicle fatalities involving teens only compound my fears.

But 20-year-old Jonathan Fischer has invented a device that may help alleviate some of my worries. The Speed Demon is a black box of a different kind. It mounts inside your vehicle and will alert you by email or text message when your teenager exceeds pre-set speed limits and will tell you where your teenager is at the time. It combines a GPS unit, cell data modem and software to determine which roadway your teenager is traveling on and can accommodate different pre-set limits  for various types of roads, such as highway and secondary.

The device also features a curfew alarm, which will alert you if the car is driven during off-limit hours. You’ll also receive an alert if your teen tries to outsmart the device by turning it off. For emergencies, Speed Demon features a panic button that will phone home for help.

While Speed Demon will tell you where your young driver is traveling when he/she speeds, it doesn’t track a vehicle’s every move. For that level of tracking, you’ll need a different device. “As a teenager, I feel that teens deserve their privacy,” Fischer said. “My device only alerts when you’re driving dangerously. Drive safe, and you get to keep your privacy.”

Fischer has been working on Speed Demon since he was 16, inspired by the tragic death of a friend in a high-speed collision. The device is available at www.livefastdriveslow.com for $250 and a $15 per month service fee. For me, the invesment may be nothing compared to the peace of mind I get when I send my oldest out onto the road by himself.

Source: Boston.com