| President's Corner |
by Larry Magaw
| March/April 2010 |
As I am writing this I am listening to radio reports of a possible GM recall of power steering
motor defects. It reminds me of rumors at the time of the Fiero cease of production that a
possible electric power steering. It never came to pass. Perhaps it was not ready or too expensive
at the time. Maybe we were fortunate it was not released in time for the 1988 model. It might
have been another black mark on our beloved Fieros.
As spring nears and we begin to drive our Fieros more, please be aware that schools are still in
session. Be vigilant near schools and in residential areas for pedestrian traffic. Be especially
careful in your own driveway. It was recently reported a man accidentally struck his 6 year
old daughter as he was returning his car to the garage. With the poor visibility to the rear of
our Fieros extra care is required while backing. Just going real slow in reverse will allow time
for incidents to be avoided and damages to be minimized. Driving slow in parking lots will
prevent pedestrian accidents.
Another thing to check in the spring is if all the safety functions of your car are still
working. In a clear area, try starting your manual transmission car with the clutch engaged,
or your automatic transmission car in gear. Check the park brake to see if it will hold the car
on a grade. Listen for rubbing, squealing or swishing noises as you drive away. Did the park
brake release all the way? Lots of things can deteriorate during storage. How old is the brake
fluid, transmission oil, and coolant. How old are your tires? Are they properly inflated? Does
your windshield wipers and washers still work? Does the cruise control still engage and
disengage properly? Are bulbs burned out? Our first rides of the spring should be slow and
near home until we are sure these systems function properly once again. Remember life is a
journey, enjoy the ride.
Larry
motor defects. It reminds me of rumors at the time of the Fiero cease of production that a
possible electric power steering. It never came to pass. Perhaps it was not ready or too expensive
at the time. Maybe we were fortunate it was not released in time for the 1988 model. It might
have been another black mark on our beloved Fieros.
As spring nears and we begin to drive our Fieros more, please be aware that schools are still in
session. Be vigilant near schools and in residential areas for pedestrian traffic. Be especially
careful in your own driveway. It was recently reported a man accidentally struck his 6 year
old daughter as he was returning his car to the garage. With the poor visibility to the rear of
our Fieros extra care is required while backing. Just going real slow in reverse will allow time
for incidents to be avoided and damages to be minimized. Driving slow in parking lots will
prevent pedestrian accidents.
Another thing to check in the spring is if all the safety functions of your car are still
working. In a clear area, try starting your manual transmission car with the clutch engaged,
or your automatic transmission car in gear. Check the park brake to see if it will hold the car
on a grade. Listen for rubbing, squealing or swishing noises as you drive away. Did the park
brake release all the way? Lots of things can deteriorate during storage. How old is the brake
fluid, transmission oil, and coolant. How old are your tires? Are they properly inflated? Does
your windshield wipers and washers still work? Does the cruise control still engage and
disengage properly? Are bulbs burned out? Our first rides of the spring should be slow and
near home until we are sure these systems function properly once again. Remember life is a
journey, enjoy the ride.
Larry