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Avenue of the Giants Weekend Run - Sat. March 23, 2024

Saturday will be a very full day of cruising from Novato up through the Avenue of the Giants and ending at Eel River Brewing in Fortuna. Sun...

Electric Power-Steering System Failures May Be An Industry-wide Problem

Yesterday we reported that the NHTSA was investigating power steering pump failures in 2004 and 2005 MINIs. The Auto Channel cites James R. Healey at USA Today for the proposition that "it also could be harbinger of a deluge of future steering complaints as automakers overhaul the most basic control system on a car, often making it feel unfamiliar." While electric power-steering systems (EPS) can add 0.1 of a mpg, or more, by eliminating drag on the engine caused by hydraulic pumps, they are hard to tune to make them feel similar to the age-old hydraulic systems. The NHTSA since about 2006, has "seen an increase in investigations of vehicles equipped with electric power steering," but, it is not known if this is because EPS is inherently troublesome or now simply more common according to the agency.