Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com Autoblog http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.autoblog.com/media/feedlogo.gif Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com en-us Copyright 2009 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[GM recalling 1.4 million passenger cars over potential engine fires]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/04/13/gm-to-recall-1-4-million-passenger-cars-over-potential-engine-fi/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/04/13/gm-to-recall-1-4-million-passenger-cars-over-potential-engine-fi/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/04/13/gm-to-recall-1-4-million-passenger-cars-over-potential-engine-fi/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,



The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has just announced a major recall covering nearly 1.5 million General Motors passenger cars from the late 90's and early 2000s. The recall affects various Buick, Chevrolet, Oldsmobile, and Pontiac models equipped with normally aspirated versions of GM's much-utilized 3800 3.8-liter V6.

Apparently, some of these engines can drop oil onto the exhaust manifold during hard braking. If that manifold has gotten hot enough and the oil dribbles below the heat shield, it can start a small fire. The flames can then engulf the plastic spark plug wire channel, potentially resulting in a full-on engine compartment fire.

The fix? Dealer service departments will be asked to remove said spark plug wire retention channel from the front of the engine bay, and then retrofit two new retainers.

Models Affected:

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

The recall is slated to begin in May. Official NHTSA Release after the jump.

[Source: NHTSA]

Continue reading GM recalling 1.4 million passenger cars over potential engine fires

GM recalling 1.4 million passenger cars over potential engine fires originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 13 Apr 2009 12:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>BuickBuick RegalBuickRegalChevroletChevrolet ImpalaChevrolet LuminaChevroletImpalaChevroletLuminaChevyengine fireEngineFireGeneral MotorsGeneralMotorsGMGrand PrixGrandPrixImpalaIntrigueLuminaMonte CarloMonteCarloNHTSAOldsOldsmobileOldsmobile IntrigueOldsmobileIntriguePontiacPontiac Grand PrixPontiacGrandPrixrecallRegalMon, 13 Apr 2009 12:56:00 EST<![CDATA[Another Bright Idea: Maserati Lamp by Lumina]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/05/01/another-bright-idea-maserati-lamp-by-lumina/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/05/01/another-bright-idea-maserati-lamp-by-lumina/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/05/01/another-bright-idea-maserati-lamp-by-lumina/#commentsFiled under: ,

We know what you're thinking: What I need is a Maserati lamp. To go in the automotive Mecca you call a living room, of course, already complete with items like Porsche and Aston Martin sofas, an engine-block coffee table and a Ferrari sound system. Fret not, our car-obsessed friend, for the Italian fixture craftsmen at Lumina have answered your prayers.

Inspired by the grille of the Quattroporte, the Maserati Lamp by Lumina is crafted from sheetmetal backed with opaline glass etched with the grille design through which the light shines. Officially licensed by the Modenese automaker, the lamp is even emblazoned with the Trident badge so your guests will know just where your loyalties lie. Follow the link to find out more.

[Source: Lumina]

Another Bright Idea: Maserati Lamp by Lumina originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 01 May 2008 08:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>luminalumina maseratiLuminaMaseratimaserati lampmaserati lamp by luminaMaseratiLampMaseratiLampByLuminaThu, 01 May 2008 08:28:00 EST<![CDATA[Holden recalls 86,000 Zetas equipped with V6]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/01/08/holden-recalls-86-000-zetas-equipped-with-v6/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/01/08/holden-recalls-86-000-zetas-equipped-with-v6/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/01/08/holden-recalls-86-000-zetas-equipped-with-v6/#commentsFiled under: , , ,



GM's Australian subsidiary Holden has recalled 86,000 rear-wheel-drive Zeta cars with the V6 engine to correct a potential fuel leak that could lead to fires. The CNN Money article says that the recall doesn't impact the Pontiac G8, GM's North American Zeta variant, because that car's underhood layout is different. We should also mention that the G8 is not even on sale yet, so there are none in customer hands to recall.

VE and WM Commodores in Australia and New Zealand, Chevrolet Lumina and Caprice models in the Middle East, as well as the Chevrolet Omega in Brazil are all affected. When a clip chafes on the fuel line, it can apparently cause a leak with nasty results if the gasoline ignites. The risk is low, says GM's John Lindsay, but they're calling the cars back, nearly all of the Zetas with V6 engines sold since the car's redesign, and fixing them free of charge just to be on the safe side.

[Source: CNN]

Holden recalls 86,000 Zetas equipped with V6 originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 08 Jan 2008 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>australiabrazilcapricechevroletcommodorefirefuel leakFuelLeakgeneral motorsGeneralMotorsgmholdenluminamiddle eastMiddleEastnew zealandNewZealandomegarecallzetaTue, 08 Jan 2008 12:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Jealous Again: Holden VE / WM exports begin]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2006/09/20/jealous-again-holden-ve-wm-exports-begin/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/09/20/jealous-again-holden-ve-wm-exports-begin/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/09/20/jealous-again-holden-ve-wm-exports-begin/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

2007 Chevrolet Lumina SS - Middle East Market

The car above is a brand new 2007 Chevy Lumina SS, which is, in turn, a rebadged Holden VE Commodore SS. It's powered by a 6.0L LS2 V8 that dishes out 362 horsepower through the rear wheels. As you can see, it's left-hand-drive. It's ready to lay long, black strips of rubber on American tarmac.

There's just one problem.

Motor Trend, October 2006That boat it's getting on is headed to the Middle East. We have to wait (very impatiently) while the boys in Dubai, Saudi Arabia, etc. get to buy the car that belongs right here, right now. Oh, I know the word is that we'll see it as an '08 (or '09) Pontiac Grand Prix (see Oct '06 MT for more), but come on.

The development of the VE Commodore was not some state secret that never left Australia. Holden is a GM company. The General knew it was coming, and anyone with functioning eyes sees that Americans are more than willing to pony up for a rear-drive car. Or are those Chrysler 300s, Dodge Chargers, and Dodge Magnums I see all over the place just mirages?

The new Holden VE, its long-wheelbase WM siblings, and the absolutely killer HSV variants are great-looking cars with the right stuff under the skin. They would sell here today. Call it a Pontiac Grand Prix. Call it a Chevy Corsica for all I care. Just call it something and get it here -- the United States of America -- yesterday. This car should be The Big Deal for GM at the Cobo Center in January: a full-tilt-boogie, engine-revving, tire-squealing, Bob Lutz unveiling extravaganza. GM will own the show.

Own it.

So please, GM, just do this already. Bring the car. Market the living hell out of it. And watch it go.

(More photos, Holden's export press release after the jump)

[Source: GM Holden]

Continue reading Jealous Again: Holden VE / WM exports begin

Jealous Again: Holden VE / WM exports begin originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 20 Sep 2006 07:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>chevy luminaChevyLuminaexport luminaExportLuminaholdenholden exportHoldenExportluminalumina ssLuminaSsmiddle east marketMiddleEastMarketve commodoreVeCommodorewm capricewm statesmanWmCapriceWmStatesmanWed, 20 Sep 2006 07:57:00 EST<![CDATA[RWD Tease: Chevy Lumina SS spotted in Detroit]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2006/08/26/rwd-tease-chevy-lumina-ss-spotted-in-detroit/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/08/26/rwd-tease-chevy-lumina-ss-spotted-in-detroit/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/08/26/rwd-tease-chevy-lumina-ss-spotted-in-detroit/#commentsFiled under: , ,



Well, here's a fun vid from Streetfire.net: it shows a Mideast-market (they're set up with LHD) Chevy Lumina SS rumbling around the Detroit area while sporting manufacturer's tags. The Lumina SS, in case you didn't already notice, is a rebadged VZ-body (previous gen) Holden Commodore powered by a 340-horsepower Corvette-derived V8.

Chevy Lumina SSAs you can see, it looks great and the Bowtie looks perfectly at home on the imported Aussie bodywork.

Armed with the knowledge that RWD sedans are in the pipeline (the next Impala, the rumored Pontiac G8), the act of watching the video is far less infuriating than it would have been, say, two years ago. The new VE-series Commodores hint at what could be in store for us. There's good reason to be excited.

For now, let's sit back and enjoy this video while we wait. Sadly, we don't get any "in the wild" views of the front end. The driver made a concerted effort to get away (giving us a nice taste of the SS's exhaust rumble) when he saw he was being filmed.

No matter. The pic at right shows what the nose looks like, and we've attached a few more shots after the jump.

[Sources: Streetfire.net, GM]

Continue reading RWD Tease: Chevy Lumina SS spotted in Detroit

RWD Tease: Chevy Lumina SS spotted in Detroit originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 26 Aug 2006 14:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>arabaian luminaArabaianLuminachevy lumina ssChevyLuminaSsluminalumina ssLuminaSsmiddle east luminaMiddleEastLuminaSat, 26 Aug 2006 14:57:00 EST<![CDATA[GM slapped with gasket class-action lawsuit in Canada, claims could hit $1.2 billion]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2006/04/26/gm-slapped-with-gasket-class-action-lawsuit-in-canada-claims-co/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/04/26/gm-slapped-with-gasket-class-action-lawsuit-in-canada-claims-co/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/04/26/gm-slapped-with-gasket-class-action-lawsuit-in-canada-claims-co/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Earlier this month, Autoblog informed you about General Motors electing to handle a widespread intake manifold gasket defect on a vehicle-by-vehicle basis. But if Toronto-based law firm Stevensons LLP has any say in the matter, the automaker won't have the option to be choosy with some 400,000 Canadian vehicles.

The firm announced Tuesday that it is filing a class-action lawsuit against General Motors of Canada Ltd., as well as parent company General Motors Corp. The suit is predicated on the premature failure of intake manifold gaskets used in a wide range of the company's vehicles from 1995-2003. Given the 400,000 vehicle estimate by Stevensons and an average claim of $3,000 per vehicle, the class-action tab could balloon to $1.2 billion dollars.

A similar lawsuit in the U.S. was granted class-action status in January.

Click on the link to see further details, including a list of affected vehicles.

[Sources: The Canadian Press via Canada.com; Canadianally.com]

GM slapped with gasket class-action lawsuit in Canada, claims could hit $1.2 billion originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 26 Apr 2006 11:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>AleroAztekBonnevilleBuickBuick Park AvenueBuick RegalBuickParkAvenueBuickRegalChevroletChevyClass ActionClassActiongasketGeneral motorsGeneralMotorsGMGrand PrixGrandPrixintake manifoldintake manifold gasketIntakeManifoldIntakeManifoldGasketLawsuitLeSabreLuminaMonte CarloMonteCarloOldsmobilePontiacRendezvousRivieraStephenson LLCStephensonLlcToronto LawTorontoLawWed, 26 Apr 2006 11:31:00 EST