7 Cars get top marks in the high-tech security check

NEW YORK: seven medium-sized vehicles earned the top score in a test of the insurance industry in the high-tech security features, to prevent the front end collisions.

The Cadillac ATS and SRX, Subaru legacy and Outback, Mercedes c-class and Volvo S60 and XC60 won "superior" ratings in tests Insurance Institute for highway safety.

The Institute tested 74 medium-sized cars and SUVs from model years 2013 and 2014th those who are equipped with front collision warning and automatic braking systems typically better. The systems can alert either the driver or the car automatically to stop when they detect a possible collision.

The Institute of IIHS, a non-profit research group of insurance companies has pushed funded, Federal agencies and automakers require or offer new safety systems such as antilock brakes as an option. The Group urges auto manufacturers to strengthen front end crash resistance.

Since the frontal-crash systems offer car manufacturers more and more models as the price of the technology falls. The systems use radar, cameras, Ultrasonic sensors and computer local objects before cars and determine whether a collision is possible. The system applies the brakes themselves, or a driver can be warned to take action.

The IIHS said that its data Institute usually are not found that the devices help to avoid crashes, but even so, drivers auto insurance companies offer discounts for people who buy them.

Insurance companies say, how the systems in certain models of more popular insurance claims will go back. These models will eventually see a reduced price.

In the tests, six other cars received second-best 'Advanced' reviews, while 25 'basic' get reviews. A further 36 received no rating because they had not the systems or their systems not the Institute standards.

The Institute says that the tests will help people who decide, what features to buy and to encourage car manufacturers to adopt the new technology faster.

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Why your 'check engine' light on could be

DETROIT drivers get lit light nervously on their dashboard from the "check engine". It can signal that all of a missing $3 gas cap to repairs costing thousands of dollars.

But the light as a way to mean keep problems and prolong the life of a car. Often says it is warning about problems, which can be avoided by you with regular maintenance, CarMD, a manufacturer of vehicle diagnostic devices.

While maintenance is expensive, it is crucial how are people to their cars longer. According to r.l. Polk, an automotive data company, is the average vehicle on the road now 10.6 years, up from 8.8 years a decade ago.

Here are the five most common reasons that your "check engine" light could come, and what you can expect for the repair work, including figures according to CarMD:

1. Faulty oxygen sensor
The sensor measures the unburnt oxygen in the exhaust gases and tells the car computer is how much fuel in the tank. If a faulty one not be repaired, the sensor was at the car gas mileage deleted, because incorrect information sends the car. It will cost to fix less than $200.

2. Losing or missing gas cap
Technicians are often free of charge to tighten the cap of gas, or replace you for a few dollars. If it is not replaced, gas will evaporate from the car and reduce your gas mileage.

3. Broken catalyst
This one is not good news, because it can be up to $2000 to replace costs. The catalyst used catalyst - in most cases a precious metal such as Platinum - harmful gases to less harmful emissions from combustion left convert. CarMD says, that catalysts in general fail will not if has some related, such as such as a spark plug, malfunctions, so it is wise to keep up with the maintenance schedule of the vehicle.

4. Error mass air flow sensor
This sensor measures the amount of air supplied to the engine that determines how much fuel should be delivered. If it malfunctions, it can a loss which makes the car run surges during acceleration and a decrease in fuel economy. It costs around $375 to fix.

5. Misfiring spark plugs
Spark plugs are small but absolutely necessary, because they drive the car you make with the lighting of the compressed fuel in an internal combustion engine. Amazing may interfere with spark plug engine power and efficiency and can damage the catalytic converter also. You can replace spark plugs for less than $10 or numbers $300 for a technician to do it.

CarMD says, that the entire average repair costs in the United States $305.56, $202.28 for parts and $103,27 for labor, including is.

The most expensive cars to repair? Hybrids. They are rarely trained enough that their parts are more expensive and less technicians, to fix them.

The report is based on data from 170,000 vehicle repairs between 1996 and 2010. The data were downloaded from vehicle owners and technicians, the information on CarMD.

Copyright 2011, the associated press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or distributed.

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GM recalls 2011 Cruze cars, to check Steering

DETROIT - is to check whether the shaft is correctly installed on more than 154,000 its best-selling Chevrolet Cruze cars under Note General Motors co.

These vehicles are more than 120,000 vehicles with automatic transmission and also to ensure, that the transmission shift shortcut was installed correctly GM said on Wednesday.

The cars are built and sold in a factory in Lordstown, Ohio Township in the United States and Canada. The Cruze GM No. 2 vehicle sale was in April and the GM lineup is essential for a diversification in a time of rising fuel prices.

"Very few" of vehicles should have either problem and GM has quality process changes to ensure that no error occurs again, GM Vice President of global quality Terry Woychowski said in a statement.

In April GM reminded 2,100 Cruze cars, to check for an incorrectly connected steering wheel.

The largest U.S. based automaker announced two other smaller callbacks. No crashes or injuries were the from one of the callbacks.

The company said the mother on the windshield wiper motor crank arm on some 2011 Chevrolet Colorado and GMC Canyon pickup trucks, loosely could be affect 6,303 vehicles, including 4,674 truck in the United States.

GM also said that to remember, 8,723 Chevrolet Express and GMC Savana vans for the model year almost identical 2011 possible brake fluid leaks prompted.

Copyright 2011 Thomson Reuters.

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