Auto News
News volume 1: https://carkiller.com/scottykilmer/qa/news/
News volume 2: https://carkiller.com/scottykilmer/qa/news2/
Residents of Santa Monica are seriously fed up with Waymo's self driving cars. "They beep as they back out of charging spots, and beep as they reverse to navigate around each other. They beep in the morning as they head out to pick up early passengers, and beep late at night as they return to charge up."
@hixster "noise pollution" . My Samsung cooktop is like that.
Just how bad is it getting? Interview with a former GM powertrain engineer:
@chucktobias very illuminating. Thank you Chuck.
@chucktobias Related video: heavy duty transmissions and Allison branding
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m2GwZ0JPAMM
Ford is recalling more than 335,000 vehicles due to four separate issues. One recall is so severe Ford issued a "do not drive" warning.
https://www.carscoops.com/2025/06/ford-drops-four-new-recalls-including-a-do-not-drive-order/
@hixster it was just a missed spring. How important could it be? Who needs working brakes anyway ...
@imperator For owners missing a pushrod retaining spring..
Ford is now recalling over 1 million Ford vehicles due to those those pesky backup cameras. https://unionrayo.com/en/ford-recall-affected-safety/
Apparently, they're having issues with Sync 4. They started having issues with backup cameras in Sync 3, which is what my 2017 Mustang is. Look in all of your mirrors, and you shouldn't need a backup camera. 18-wheelers don't have backup cameras.
@justin-shepherd Of course, not surprised! Ford=Found On Road Dead
Ford used to be decent quality until the bean counters took over around 10 years ago. My '14 F-150 is fine. I didn't get all that fancy backup camera stuff. Haha. The only "improvements" from my Ranger are my F-150 has cruise control, and it has satellite radio. I bought the XLT. Most 3.7L V6s were geared toward fleet sales, not private party. Ford pushed the EcoBoost instead.
In a recent video, Scotty announced he was going to take a break from making daily videos for YouTube.
He stated he would still make videos, just not daily videos.
Scotty's YouTube channel has provided literally billions of viewers with car help.
@hixster well deserved. He said he would still answer questions so I presume he means here.
He hasn't published a video answer to any recent question for quite some time.
Last few videos are compilations of old reviews.
Perhaps now he will have more time to test all the stuff he gets.
Ford is at it again with backup camera issues: https://thehill.com/business/5323300-ford-recall-rearview-camera-issues/ Ford says it's aware of the issue after it caused minor property damage. Apparently, Ford still can't get backup cameras to work properly, my Mustang was recalled for the same issue, and it's 7 years old.
@justin-shepherd Ford can’t make anything right these days it seems. I thought Ford previously had a recall for Back up cameras?
They did. My 2017 Mustang is part of the first recall. I never took it in because I use my mirrors, not the camera.
Jim Farley at Ford is now apparently worried about financing for new cars being increasingly stretched out. He's worried about potential troubles ahead for the economy as a whole. When Ford only produces $65,000 top-of-the-line pickup trucks and SUVs for private sales, what does Ford expect to happen? Not every person needs all of the bells and whistles, nor Ford's "Blue Cruise" self driving feature. To afford most brand new cars these days, you need to drag out the payment period as much as possible.
https://tnj.com/ford-ceo-warns-of-dangerous-auto-financing-trends-in-u-s/
@justin-shepherd Maybe if this Farley clown was truly worried about the economy he would make a vehicle that’s reliable and affordable it would sell like hot cakes
@fishingandcarsenthusiast123 If only! That'll be the day.
@ fishingandcarsenthusiast123 if it sold like hot cakes they would have done it a long time ago. Unfortunately what sells is trendy looks , gadgets, and superbowl commercials.
@justin-shepherd @imperator you’re right… I mean most people these days desire the latest and greatest rather than what’s the most reliable long term..
I had to really look around to get the newer truck that I wanted. My Ranger's frame rail started cracking at that rotted crossmember and I'm scrapping it.
Ford didn't make many of those 3.7L V6 engines in F-150s for private sale, even more so not with every bell and whistle known to man in 2014. Most of those engines in the F-150s were intended for fleet sales. With private party sales, Ford pushed the hell out of the EcoBoost engine and everything known to man as far as bells and whistles. Ford profits off of "keeping up with the Jones'es", not quality vehicles.
Hey Scotty what is your thought now that EPA secretary Lee Zeldon is ending the stop start system in cars? I think that will be good because that wears your engine faster unless you use a hybrid.
@gabriel_del it's just talk. Don't hold your breath
@gabriel_del @mountainmanjoe Some of the promises and statements made by members of the Trump administration have been followed up with actual actions. I'm typically a huge skeptic of anything government but I absolutely detest stop-start technology. Maybe this proposed change will come to fruition. One can hope.
@hixster Maybe, but it's too soon to say. Federal judges have already blocked Zeldin's previous attempts to undo climate grants put in place by Biden.
I don't know if you've all heard, but Kia plans on releasing a pickup truck come late 2025 to early 2026. They plan on making it with an 8 speed automatic transmission with a 4 cylinder diesel motor. They call it the Tasman. Honestly, a lot of its planned features will greatly compete with the new Ford Ranger.
@fordfan do you know if it will be for sale in the US market?
According to https://www.kia417.com/kia-tasman-us-release-date-2025/ it is not currently purposed for the US market however it may come in the years to come.
@fishingandcarsenthusiast123 According to https://www.kia417.com/kia-tasman-us-release-date-2025/ it is not currently purposed for the US market however it may come in the years to come.
Sorry about the triple post. It was an accident and it won't delete.
so GM is apparently walking back their all EV stuff: a new article suggests that the ICE Chevrolet Blazer will be continued into the 2026 model year: https://gmauthority.com/blog/2025/05/there-will-be-an-ice-2026-chevy-blazer-as-gm-changes-plans/
@fishingandcarsenthusiast123 How pleasant!🙄
Just gives another reason why older cars are better. You don't have all that advanced computer junk in them.
Scotty,
What do you think of new vehicles data recording and privacy ?
Article from Prophecy News watch
https://www.prophecynewswatch.com/article.cfm?recent_news_id=8211#google_vignette
@nightworker it's a very one-sided, deceptive and uninformed scaremongering article for the paranoid, on a nuanced topic. Most people are happy about the benefits of satellite navigation and tire sensors. Nobody is spying on you, unless it's a rental car or you signed some kind of contract. If you use a smartphone or computer then your car is the least of your worries. If you don't like these features then you're free to rip them out.
GM will now replace affected 6.2L gas engines rather than increase oil viscosity.
@chucktobias what a clown show. The lengths they go to satisfy to envirofascists.
A huge amount of the problems with modern cars is due to the increasingly insane demands of environmentalist wackos who have no concept of "diminishing returns". Thin oils (some down to 0W8 now), auto stop start, cylinder deactivation, smart charging, replacing reliable V8s with small turbo engines, some with only 3 cylinders. Engineering focusing on compliance rather than quality and longevity - all done to eke out another tiny amount of efficiency that means nothing in terms of real-world benefit. We could turn the clock on regulations back 20 years and everything would be just fine.
@chucktobias well stated Chuck.
@chucktobias reminds me of communism and 5 years plans. Tremendous waste just to satisfy the bureaucrats and meet quota numbers at the end of the year. Just to project an illusion of some flawed ideology, without actually acting in the spirit of it. Typical government mismanagement.
I wasn't going to use the "C" word but that's pretty much on target.
GM recalls 600,000 vehicles in U.S.
General Motors recently announced a recalling effecting 721,000 SUVs and trucks.
"Dealers will inspect the engine and, if needed, repair or replace it. Vehicles that pass inspection will be provided a higher viscosity oil, which will also require a new oil fill cap and an oil filter replacement", GM said.
@hixster Moved to "News" topic.
You have to love GM treating the engines in these vehicles as though they were worn-out 1949 Hudsons - fill 'em with high-viscosity oil to mask out-of-spec bearing clearances. That's what we used to do back in the day to get a few more miles out of a clattering, oil-burning jalopy.
@hixster oof more 6.2 problems. These things used to be reliable workhorses. What happened.
@chucktobias I highly doubt that a thicker oil is going to prevent the problem. It will probably delay it further down the road. When the problem does inevitably rear its ugly head again later on, they're hoping that by then the problem will have shrunk, as more people will have sold their vehicles, and many will just roll over and take it. By then it will cost them less to address it, and there will be less risk of lawsuits and complete engine replacements. It's all a numbers game.
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Not only is this a bandaid, but I think using heavier oil will reduce the overall lifetime of the engine (and therefore the vehicle).
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As for GM "losing its customer base". Nope. Not even close. GM still sold the most trucks in 2024 (880k units). They already know they'll get away with it, over and over again.
@chucktobias @imperator Ray's take is similar to mine... Some ppl considered the 6.2 as one of GM's better engines so this is quite sad. Of the 700K recalled, they don't even know how many are defective? Dealership mechanics determine 'corrective measures' ? One might get a new engine, or one might get 'better'oil.. Why would I buy a new 6.2? GM just let 700K bad motors slip by!
@hixster @imperator @chucktobias GM has not had quality control in at least two decades
@hixster Another (very detailed) analysis of the problem:
This video also brings into question whether it is really unsafe in general to use a different viscosity oil in modern engines.
@chucktobias good info thanks.
@hixster Here is one torn down
https://youtu.be/812Uxr2z0xs
@hixster A GM tech in the comments "The main oil circuit feeds the lifters first, then the mains/rods. When(not if) the solenoids go out they drop shrapnel right into the mains and lifters, causing what you see here.... The BTR truck norris, and texas speed delete kits are fantastic... they still pass emissions, and usually get the exact same mpg."
@chucktobias I can't tell how Lake feels about GM's band-aide viscosity solution. I understand he feels 0W-40 should provide better engine life for a 6.2 than a 0W-20 oil, but how much engine life does this save? Notable - he cautioned about changing the oil viscosity in another car/engine. He essential said test the manufacturer's recommended viscosity oil before trying to use a higher viscosity oil. Then test the higher viscosity and compare.
@hixster To me the main takeaway is that GM is using the band-aid approach apparently in the hopes that the heavier oil will kick the can down the road long enough that they won't have to replace all those engines. It's a trick that we used decades ago to get more life out of worn engines, that and "motor honey" type additives such as STP.
As far as using heavier oil in other engines I would not want to tell someone to use something different than the manufacturer's recommendation and then have them experience problems. (All my cars are so old they call for old-school 10W30 and 10W40 oils.)
@hixster yeah heavier oil may improve film strength, but what about flow. You also need to flush out and carry contaminants away from the wear areas and to the filter.
@mountainmanjoe I noticed that comment too and he's right. One reply to him mentioned he used a kit and it worked wonderfully, plus he only lost 1 mpg. So giving up one mpg enabled him to forget about his engine exploding, plus it run's better and his engine will last longer.
The initial recommended oil of 0W-20's is NOT the problem. The lack of protection for those rod bearings is because of GM's poor design, poor quality. Changing oil viscosity won't fix this. In the video you linked, the engine rods were literally baked and that's with less than 50K miles.
@hixster exactly it's poor manufacturing. However the baked rods were probably caused by the head gasket being installed upside-down by someone who worked on it, blocking the cooling system, as is pointed out in the top comment.
@hixster Lake says in the video "They're using it [the oil] as a band-aid". I think that sums it up.
@imperator I somehow missed that, tks. Disturbing how large corporations get away with such crap.
@hixster inside sources say critical engine parts were sourced from Mexico. Surprise surprise. "crankshafts didn't meet the necessary machining tolerances"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z6sJJy9e4sI
@hixster The Engineering Explained take on the engine recall (also an interesting look at JD Power, and a VERY good explanation of oil viscosity): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i0VoEhW2I-E
@imperator GM needs better quality control of all their outsourced parts. Too early for cheers but building the replacement blocks/engines at the Tonawanda plant might be a step in the right direction in helping consumers, but only if serious steps are taken to improve quality. (Your Eng Explained link could be the best explanation of oil viscosity I've encountered)
GM announced 700k engines might be affected.. Since dealerships will determine "your degree of remedy", many remedies will be a new oil cap & diff oil viscosity, it's all they'll one might get. The new oil won't put the crank specifications back in line, GM will avoid engine swaps at all cost.
@hixster not all engines are bad though. There are many with no sediment or tolerance issues, which will last their expected lifetime. The engines that don't get replaced are covered for 10 years or 150,000 miles. That is a very long coverage. More than long enough for initial quality issues to surface. And longer than most people keep new vehicles.
OSHA fines two repair shops for overinflated tires (one Firestone and one independent mechanic), killing two employees
So the Ford saga continues. Apparently, they're recalling those same Escapes and Bronco Sports with potentially faulty injectors again. There were errors in the software that was uploaded into the car's PCM. Could it really have hurt to just redesign the fuel injectors and avoid all of this embarrassment? I feel like Ford is becoming Beavis and Butthead in manufacturing automobiles. Jim Farley, Ford's CEO should just resign at this point. https://www.caranddriver.com/news/a64339644/ford-bronco-sport-escape-fuel-leak-recall/
So the GM-Ford 10-speed automatic transmission is officially being recalled by Ford yet again: https://www.autoevolution.com/news/transmission-issue-prompts-ford-recall-over-potential-reverse-gear-failure-248820.html The recall includes the 2024 Ranger, Explorer, Lincoln Navigator, and of course the F-150.
Well if you think quality at GM is not going downhill then you may want to think again… GM is recalling over 90,000 vehicles due to potential internal transmission damage that could cause the front wheels to lock up, thus increasing the risk of a crash. The fix? A software update!!!!! What’s going on w/ GM Lately??????!!!
Article link: https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/cars/2025/03/14/cadillac-ct-chevrolet-camaro-recall/82415215007/
@fishingandcarsenthusiast123 Chevy Camaros are all rear-wheel drive as far as I know, why would a RWD transmission affect the front wheels at all?
@justin_shepherd I wonder the same thing- maybe ask GM???
@fishingandcarsenthusiast123 The author must have made a typo. The front wheels free-wheel on cars with RWD. I'm not sure of the configuration with the Cadillac cars, though. I've never really been a GM guy. I have a soft spot for old Pontiacs, though.
@justin_shepherd
the NHTSA document says front wheels
https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2025/RCAK-25V148-1022.pdf
That is really weird. Unless I'm missing something obvious, rear wheel drive cars free-wheel on their front wheels. There's no transmission hooking them up to the engine.
The CT-5 is either rear-wheel drive or all-wheel drive. The all-wheel drive version would make sense. The front wheels in those can possibly lock up and result in crashes because they’re driven by a transfer case. Camaros are RWD only, as far as I knew.
@fishingandcarsenthusiast123 I don't get it either. It makes zero sense to me. Did somebody who knows nothing about cars write this bulletin?
@fishingandcarsenthusiast123 Maybe. I noticed that dreaded 10-speed automatic transmission is the culprit again. I won't be touching any vehicle with that transmission, even with a 10-foot pole.
@fishingandcarsenthusiast123 100%. that's a cursed transmission.
@imperator I’d say anything made by GM is cursed
I scrolled left on my phone earlier this morning, it has a feature where it brings up the latest news. Jim Farley at Ford apparently didn't meet quality improvement targets so he's earning a reduced salary. https://www.freep.com/story/money/cars/ford/2025/03/13/fords-struggles-to-fix-quality-will-cost-ceo-farley-in-his-bonus-pay/82377013007/
My wife and I can attest for this. We both have 2017 Mustangs, and their check engine lights constantly turn on because of the cars' inability to bleed up fuel tank vapors. She's on her 3rd purge valve; I'm on my 2nd. The check engine light in my car came on again for the same issue the other day.
@justin-shepherd poor guy . He's only making $24.M now. 😢
@justin-shepherd Soon he’ll be homeless! He better get his act together- or else- he’ll be out of a job! If he’s out of a job then he’ll really be broke!
When basically all Ford components are all hecho en Mexico to appease the bean counters, what did other Ford executives expect to happen? Paying cheap wages equals subquality parts.
It's a bad day to be a Cybertruck Owner: a Tesla Cybertruck sank in Ventura Harbor when launching a jet ski after Musk said you could use the truck to tow a boat. I guess those things aren't as capable as Elon is making them out to be! Article link: Video shows Tesla Cybertruck completely submerged underwater in Ventura Harbor
@fishingandcarsenthusiast123 How do you know? There is no footage or information about the actual event. Could have just been an idiot who forgot to set the parking brake.
I added a link--does it not have a video? For me when you click the link it leads to a video @imperator
@fishingandcarsenthusiast123 the video shows them pulling it out. Like I said ... there is no footage of what actually happened.
Well it's happened again... Ford is recalling 270,000 bronco Sports and Mavericks produced between 2021 and 2023 due to "manufacturing defects" with their batteries.. Bad quality control at Ford!
Article Link: https://abcnews.go.com/Business/wireStory/ford-recalls-270000-broncos-mavericks-due-loss-power-118055325
@fishingandcarsenthusiast123 I'm not surprised. The Maverick, Escape and Bronco Sport are already Hecho en Mexico. This is just the icing on the cake. They already had to recall almost all of those vehicles because they screwed up the fuel injectors and they could catch fire. Rather than replacing the fuel injectors, they put some dumb system in to detect fuel leaks. That reminds me of the Ford Pinto, which was notorious for the fuel tank catching fire or exploding when it was rear-ended. Ford quality is non-existent.
@fishingandcarsenthusiast123 Ford is also reviving the Model T. The 2025 Ford Model T is an electric car with simple original design starting at $25,750
@fordfan Me thinks you fell for some cheap AI garbage.
@MountainManJoe I triple checked sources and I don't believe I did.
@fishingandcarsenthusiast123 every search result I found led to some awful AI slop. Maybe post a link to a credible article then.
@imperator Not surprising. My favorite video shows how many 5 gallon buckets of hydrogen you'd need to fit inside a car to travel 300 miles on hydrogen. https://youtu.be/vJjKwSF9gT8
The parts supply chain apocalypse?
@chucktobias Everything always seems to boil down to short term profits and exponential growth.
Crazy cybertruck explosion while parked outside of hotel.
https://www.reddit.com/r/CyberStuck/comments/1hrafib/cybertruck_explosion_outside_trump_hotel/
@imperator Thanks for sharing. It's now all over the news. https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/tesla-cybertruck-appears-burst-flames-trump-hotel-las-vegas-rcna185932
That is crazy how often these trucks are on fire.
@imperator so a Cyber truck can be turned into a IED? Sheesh..
Turns out it was a suicide. Special forces vet. The truck was "packed with firework mortars and camp fuel canisters".
also interesting:
Detectives were able to track his movements through Tesla charging stations.
Advance Auto Parts to close 727 retail locations, four distribution centers and lay off a significant number of its workers.
Not great if you're desperate and need a part right away, or heaven forbid you have a break-down away from home.
if you're desperate and need a part right away,
Most times, from my experience, they never have what I need. Autozone always does.
@fishingandcarsenthusiast123
That may be, but this is a sign of things to come. A dozen or so other retail chains (unrelated to auto) are also doing massive closures in the next year. Online shopping is killing stores. Autozone's time will come.
