Vehicle Airbag Defects
by: Alan Haburchak
Airbags have been an important innovation in the way Americans live their lives and drive their vehicles. Since the airbags became mandatory in vehicles have we seen a decrease in deaths and injury among many vehicle drivers involved in crashes. Airbags are supposed to protect an individuals head from being smashed into a window or steering wheel during a severe auto crash. Sensors are the main determinant of the severity of a crash after an automobile accident. An onboard computer, called the Electronic Control Unit (ECU), processes the information and, in an event of moderate to severe crash, it sends a signal to the inflater inside the air bag module. At that point the airbag is supposed to inflate, protecting the vehicle's occupants from serious injury as a result of striking the vehicle's interior. As a result of the effectiveness of initial driver and passenger front airbags, the adoption of rear-passenger and side-impact curtain airbags has become more common over the last decade, in an attempt to create the highest degree of safety possible. Unfortunately, as the number of airbags being placed in new cars has increased, so has the overall need for the airbags themselves. The quality of airbags has decreased as the increase of airbag manufacturing has occurred. One way this decrease in quality has become apparent is in the increasing incidence of defective airbags and airbag failure in automobiles produced both in the United States and abroad. There is a possibility that an airbag is defective or faulty in many types or brands of vehicles, which is why there are many manufacturer recalls. If there is the potential for airbag malfunction or airbag failure. The following is a non-comprehensive list of airbag failure-related automobile recalls instituted in April through June of 2007 from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA): April 2007 BMW is recalling 225 MY 2007 6-Series passenger vehicles for failing to conform to the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 208, 'Occupant Crash Protection. The front passenger seat has a sensing system that detects if the seat is occupied. This sensing is programmed to detect if the seat is occupied by a small adult or certain child restraint seats. Automatic deactivation on a the passenger's front seat may occur when a child seat is placed in this front seat. In some cases, the sensing system may misinterpret a properly seated small adult as one of these specific child seats, resulting in deactivation of the front passenger airbag when the airbag might be beneficial for the adult, increasing the risk of injury in a crash. May 2007 DaimlerChrysler is recalling 270,958 MY 2005 Town and Country and Dodge Caravan minivans originally sold in or currently registered in the 27 states plus the District of Columbia that use greater amounts of salt for winter road deicing. Brass bushings that were installed into vehicles may over time corrode causing water to enter the sensor in the up-front airbag sensor. These sensors provide enhanced air bag performance in certain types of frontal crashes. In one of these crashes, with one or both of the vehicle's UF sensors inoperative, the occupants will not benefit from the enhanced air bag protection that these sensors would provide. Hyundai de Puerto Rico is recalling 2,967 MY 2005-2007 Tucson vehicles. Static airbag deployment testing conducted by NHTSA using fifth percentile female dummies indicated that a small stature adult driver not wearing a seat belt and involved in a frontal or near frontal crash, the deployment of the driver air bag may result in an insufficient margin of compliance as measured by the test dummy used in the NHTSA test. In severe vehicle crashes, this could increase the potential risk of injury to a driver. June 2007 DaimlerChrysler is recalling 798 MY 2007-2008 Sebring and MY 2008 Dodge Avenger vehicles. The front seat track position sensors utilized for the air bag system may not function properly. In certain vehicle crashes, front seat passengers risk of injury is increased. DaimlerChrysler is recalling 39 MY 2007 Dodge and Freightliner Sprinter 2500 and 3500 trucks. Hairline cracks and fractures may exist within airbag module diffuser material in a window. In the case of a crash with a trigger signal for the window airbag module, it is possible that such a diffuser may crack at the beginning of the airbag activation. As one can see from this small sampling of the defective airbag recalls that have been instituted either voluntarily by auto makers, or at the insistence of the NHTSA, there are many occasions in which one or many of the airbags installed in a vehicle will not operate as intended and therefore be a defective airbag that might cause an airbag failure in an accident.
About The Author
Alan Haburchak Use http://www.LegalView.com to learn more about manufacturer recalls of vehicle airbags. Also use the LegalView homepage to search an expansive list of legal issues affecting thousands of Americans including the latest on the Baxter Heparin side effects, which is located at http://baxter-heparin.legalview.com , and the Avandia risks.
Monday, July 14, 2008
In Purchasing A Small Engine
Power And Other Factors In Purchasing A Small Engine
by: Ben Anton
Golf course managers are responsible for replacing parts in their course mowers, golf carts, trucksters when they begin to or completely go out. With proper maintenance, these kinds of replacements happen fairly infrequently. The engine may seem like one of the most difficult parts to replace because of the many details and factors that make up a good engine. It does not have to be difficult however. When looking for a new or rebuilt small engine, there are several major factors to consider before making a purchase. Small engines vary depending on brand, size, and purpose of use but basic quality factors should be considered standard. Keep the following in mind as you look for a replacement small engine. Power and Durability When looking at various brands of small engines or refurbished engines, gauge and compare the power levels. You want to make sure that your replacement engine provides equal or better power than your existing engine. Have your current engine make and model with you and ask your salesperson or online retailer how it compares to the one you are looking to purchase. It should also be a durable piece of machinery. Ask someone knowledgeable about the life expectancy of various small engine models or rebuilt engines. Additionally make sure that it can withstand heavy use in various weather and terrain conditions. Environmental Impact It is good to understanding how environmentally friendly the new or rebuilt engine is. Brands like Kohler and Briggs & Stratton have a reputation for building small engines that are less harsh on the environment because they give off less pollutants into the air and ground. They also tend to be more fuel efficient. Get a Warranty Always look for a good warranty on any small engine. While new engines nearly always come with a 1-2 year warranty, rebuilt engines do not. Always ask before purchasing to see what sort of warranty you can be guaranteed. A warranty will help in the event that your rebuilt engine has an existing problem when it arrives or it ends up being the wrong model or fit for your needs. Ask Questions Buying a new or replacement small engine is an infrequent experience. Don’t feel that you need to know everything about them in order to make a good decision. If you are unsure about what to buy, look first at brands that you know have a good reputation for creating robust, sturdy equipment that you can trust. Ask people you know what engine is in their carts, mower or other small engine equipped vehicle. Most will tell you of a small handful of well-known, respected brand names that you can then take to your retailer or online sales person to see about matching up a brand with the engine or rebuild kit you need. When purchasing new small engines or when buying rebuilt small engines, take the time to assess some of these key factors before making a purchasing decision. This way you will increase your chances of getting the best, most reliable piece of machinery possible. ~Ben Anton, 2008
About The Author
Ben Anton You are invited to read more about repowering small engines at http://www.repowerspecialists.com/
by: Ben Anton
Golf course managers are responsible for replacing parts in their course mowers, golf carts, trucksters when they begin to or completely go out. With proper maintenance, these kinds of replacements happen fairly infrequently. The engine may seem like one of the most difficult parts to replace because of the many details and factors that make up a good engine. It does not have to be difficult however. When looking for a new or rebuilt small engine, there are several major factors to consider before making a purchase. Small engines vary depending on brand, size, and purpose of use but basic quality factors should be considered standard. Keep the following in mind as you look for a replacement small engine. Power and Durability When looking at various brands of small engines or refurbished engines, gauge and compare the power levels. You want to make sure that your replacement engine provides equal or better power than your existing engine. Have your current engine make and model with you and ask your salesperson or online retailer how it compares to the one you are looking to purchase. It should also be a durable piece of machinery. Ask someone knowledgeable about the life expectancy of various small engine models or rebuilt engines. Additionally make sure that it can withstand heavy use in various weather and terrain conditions. Environmental Impact It is good to understanding how environmentally friendly the new or rebuilt engine is. Brands like Kohler and Briggs & Stratton have a reputation for building small engines that are less harsh on the environment because they give off less pollutants into the air and ground. They also tend to be more fuel efficient. Get a Warranty Always look for a good warranty on any small engine. While new engines nearly always come with a 1-2 year warranty, rebuilt engines do not. Always ask before purchasing to see what sort of warranty you can be guaranteed. A warranty will help in the event that your rebuilt engine has an existing problem when it arrives or it ends up being the wrong model or fit for your needs. Ask Questions Buying a new or replacement small engine is an infrequent experience. Don’t feel that you need to know everything about them in order to make a good decision. If you are unsure about what to buy, look first at brands that you know have a good reputation for creating robust, sturdy equipment that you can trust. Ask people you know what engine is in their carts, mower or other small engine equipped vehicle. Most will tell you of a small handful of well-known, respected brand names that you can then take to your retailer or online sales person to see about matching up a brand with the engine or rebuild kit you need. When purchasing new small engines or when buying rebuilt small engines, take the time to assess some of these key factors before making a purchasing decision. This way you will increase your chances of getting the best, most reliable piece of machinery possible. ~Ben Anton, 2008
About The Author
Ben Anton You are invited to read more about repowering small engines at http://www.repowerspecialists.com/
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