so, other than the fact that usa today are suckered into running another
story that serves the protectionist interests of domestic car makers and
what used to be their highly profitable suv niche, where's the news?

events occurred before july. nhtsa still inactive. so why the
astroturf big guy?

[astroturf = fake grass - term also used to describe fake "grass roots
public opinion" generated by interest groups posing as ordinary members
of the public]



Nino NoSpam wrote:
> The count for Honda CR-V fires is now up to 60. How many more have to burn
> before Honda issues a recall ?
>
> USA Today
> Sept. 9, 2004 08:23 AM
>
>
> Honda, which has reports of 60 fires from oil-filter leaks in some CR-V
> sport-utility vehicles, plans to step up communication with its dealers and
> remind all oil-change shops of proper service procedures.
>
> The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration closed a preliminary
> investigation July 1 despite 22 reports of fires after oil changes in 2003
> CR-Vs. Honda said at the time it was notifying dealers that the oil filters
> could stick and oil drips could cause a fire if the work wasn't done
> properly.
>
> Since then, the agency and automaker have become aware of 38 more fires. All
> but 10 of the incidents occurred before mid-July, and all but one were in
> '03 and '04 models. The exception was a single fire in a 2002 model, the
> year the vehicle was redesigned.
>
> Spokesman Andy Boyd says Honda did not change manufacturing or repair
> procedures for the '03 and '04 models and is looking into whether there were
> flaws with the filters or how they were installed. The fires have occurred
> only when original filters were in place.
>
> It has no explanation for why repair work could suddenly go so wrong for the
> more recent versions of the redesigned CR-V. Says Bill Willen, Honda's
> managing counsel: "It 'is' unusual."
>
> NHTSA says that if service technicians failed to remove the old seals when
> changing oil filters, oil leaks from stacked or otherwise damaged seals
> could cause exhaust-system fires. The CR-V's exhaust manifold is positioned
> in a way that makes it easier for leaking oil to hit it, Honda says.
>
> There are about 290,000 2003-04 CR-Vs on the road. Honda recommends oil and
> oil-filter changes every 10,000 miles, but Boyd says some customers have the
> work done at about 5,000 miles.
>
> NHTSA is monitoring Honda's response to the problem and could reopen the
> investigation or negotiate a recall. But the agency believes it is a
> technician error.
>
> The Washington Post has reported that several CR-V owners had narrow escapes
> from fiery vehicles, although, Boyd says, smoke should provide enough
> warning for people to get away from vehicles safely. No injuries have been
> reported, though at least two owners have filed lawsuits against Honda over
> the problem.
>
> Before its decision this week to notify all independent lube shops and
> increase communication with dealers, Honda had notified all of its dealers
> and included information in its quarterly publication for independent shops,
> which will be distributed next month.
>
> "We're not looking to downplay customer concerns, but in a certain sense,
> this is a self-curing issue," says Boyd. "Looking underneath and making sure
> there's nothing stuck underneath the (engine) block is standard operating
> procedure, and with very few exceptions, dealers are doing it."
>
>
>