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8492 messages, Last post on Nov 28, 2009 at 12:39 PM
You are in the Automotive News & Views Forum. Your Hosts are steve_ & claires
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By Bill Visnic Jan. 13, 2009 In announcing a plan to assemble in Michigan the lithium-ion battery packs for the Chevrolet Volt extended-range electric vehicle, General Motors Corp. also is forming an education cooperative that aims to train a new breed of engineer that can commingle electrical and automotive knowledge. Part of GM's multi-faceted approach to build a foundation for the domestic development and supply of advanced batteries for the auto industry is a $5-million, 5-year program that establishes at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor the GM/U-M Advanced Battery Coalition for Drivetrains (ABCD). Ann Marie Sastry, the Univ. of Michigan's Arthur F. Thurnau Professor of Mechanical, Biomedical and Materials Science and Engineering - and U-M's co-director of the ABCD - said at the Detroit auto show here the program also incorporates a new Master's degree called Energy Systems Engineering. About 25 U-of-M students and 50 GM engineers last week began the one-year Energy Systems Engineering track, Sastry said. The course is available online and focuses on three competencies that interrelate for vehicle battery development, she said: portable electronics, vehicle technology and electricity-grid infrastructure. Sastry said portable electronics are an area of concentration because many battery developments currently are driven by the personal-electronics industry. And understanding of the energy-grid infrastructure is vital because it will be important to optimize the connection between advanced hybrid and electric vehicles and the grid. "Michigan is going to become a hotbed for this kind of activity," said Jim Queen, GM's group vice president of global engineering. "This is a larger societal problem we're addressing together." The 75 or so students enrolled in the initial Energy Systems Engineering track are just a start, however: "We need thousands of engineers in this space," said Sastry. Go to: http://www.autoobserver.com/2009/01/gm-initiative-to-be-incubator-for-battery-en- gineering-education.html http://interpro.engin.umich.edu/igpinfo.htm?itemid=74&id=9 |
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Replying to: circlew (Jan 14, 2009 4:26 am) No, I believe you, and it doesn't surprise me. |
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Replying to: 62vetteefp (Jan 14, 2009 4:55 am)
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Replying to: bpizzuti (Jan 14, 2009 5:39 am) Ok, you expect a Saturn dealership to have mechanics which have been trained and have the tools to work on a Corvette or CTS-V? Not going to happen. I seriously doubt a Toyota dealer would be able to service an LS-460 either.
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Replying to: 62vetteefp (Jan 14, 2009 4:55 am) It looks like Caddy is giving any non Cadillac GM dealers an out. My question would be, why not just have the part sent to the non Cadillac dealer for installation? I had a similar situation with Chrysler. My Mercedes Sprinter RV had the front spring break. I called the 800 number and they gave me the Dodge dealer in that town, great. I called and they did not work on the Sprinter. Closest dealer was 100 miles away and Chrysler would not pay towing because the local dealer should be able to repair. I drove slowly the 100 miles to Boerne Chrysler near San Antonio. They took me right in ordered the spring, gave me a Durango loaner. I was back on my vacation in 2 days. No cost to me. I was very pleased with Chrysler service once I got the right dealer. I would imagine that is the case with all brands. Dealers vary from place to place. |
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Replying to: gagrice (Jan 14, 2009 6:32 am) My neighbor got his 07 Escalade broke down in the middle of nowhere in Idaho, but managed to drive it a bit to the nearest town. Alas, the town had no Cadillac service center, so he stopped at local GMC dealer for assistance. The mechanic told him the rear suspension broke down, and sparepart was avaliable there, but he wouldn't replace it in fear that the Slade might lose it's warranty. My neighbor then called Cadillac for assistance, which rep simply said they couldn't dispatch any roadside assistant because it was "too far from nearest service center". The rep then "talked to his manager", who took over and told him it's ok to temporarily replace it with the GMC Denali suspension, as they're actually the same anyway (albeit with slightly different damper rate). He had to pay for the suspension, but when he return he could get the replacement from Cadillac under warranty. He agreed and asked for a form of agreement, the manager said it's been recorded in their database (which he foolishly believed). When he returned home he visited local Cadillac to get the proper replacement, however he was told the warranty was void as he used non-Cadillac part. He called Cadillac again, who replied "The use of parts not from Cadillac voids the warranty without exception." He then reminded them of the database records he was told about, and was answered with "We have no such records available". He then asked for the manager, who replied shortly with "We will check this out immediately". Never happened, instead Cadillac sent him this letter basically saying: "The warranty for rear right suspension item for your vehicle is no longer honored by Cadillac nor GM. This due to the use of improper replacement parts that was not from Cadillac. However, looking at your history and loyalty to GM in the past, we have decided to re-activate your full warranty once the vehicle receive full service at any of our certified Cadillac service Center. This reactivation does not include initial service, in which you will be required to pay for all parts and service fees". GM made the mistake, refused to honor warranty, and then sent this ridiculous letter almost as if the customer's at fault. What kind of joke is that? He didn't file a lawsuit as he thought it's a waste of time and money. However he swore it'd be his 13th and last GM car for the rest of his life (oh, the irony...). GM just lost another customer. A loyal one, unless you think buying 13 GM cars isn't loyal enough. So much for "premium service" isn't it? LOL... Naturally, he signed the "GM customer no more" petition. He even pressed the pen so hard he actually signed THROUGH the paper instead of on it. Here is the story again. "somebodies" neighbor had an issue that a GMC dealer would not service a Cadillac. I guess it could be true that some service guy in the middle of nowhere would turn down warranty work and actually charge for the service. No, BOGUS. The dealer warranty systems are common for all GM dealers. The GMC guy would have put in the VIN and nothing would have been said. Heck the parts were even common. Then the "neighbor" got a letter from Cadillac stating that improper parts were put on. As shown before Cadillac service can be had at any GM dealership under warranty. So again the bogus continues. |
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Replying to: dieselone (Jan 14, 2009 6:29 am) If corporate says the one dealer should be able to service they other makes, then they should. If they can't, then the right and left hands should gets their respective acts together and get on the same page. Likewise, if GM is not going to require that those dealers be able to service any GM model, then THEY needs to spell that out, instead of saying any GM dealer should be able to fix it in an emergency. Toyota and Lexus don't have this problem...primarily because toyotas go to toyota dealers, instead of Chevy's going to Pontiac or Saturn dealers (or trying to). Yet another pitfall of having TOO MANY BRANDS!! ARE YOU BLEEPING LISTENING TO ME GM??? |
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Replying to: 62vetteefp (Jan 14, 2009 6:43 am) |
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Replying to: 62vetteefp (Jan 14, 2009 4:55 am) Regards, OW |
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Replying to: dieselone (Jan 14, 2009 6:29 am) Regards, OW |
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