Probe into Tesla power steering loss

 

Tesla on the streets of San Francisco.

U.S. safety agency deepens probe of Tesla power steering loss

SAN FRANCISCO. 

Feb 6 - U.S. safety regulators on Friday upgraded their probe into Tesla vehicles over power steering loss to the status of an engineering analysis - a required step before the agency could demand a recall.

Tesla shares, which dropped more than 25% in January alone, fell more than 3% on Friday.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) said the investigation covered about 334,000 Model 3 and Model Y vehicles from the 2023 model year.

NHTSA said it is aware of over 50 vehicles allegedly towed as a result of the condition.

It remained unclear exactly what parts might need recalling or replacing to prevent the steering outages. Tesla has addressed some other issues with remote software fixes.

The automaker could face a much more expensive recall if NHTSA requires repairs or replacements of physical parts.

Michael Brooks, executive director at the consumer advocacy group Center for Auto Safety, noted the agency had identified steering rack part numbers, suggesting it was examining possible hardware defects.

The high failure rates of the new models suggest that "there is a significant issue here," Brooks said.

The agency usually upgrades safety probes into an engineering analysis, he said, as a way to pressure an automaker that is resisting a voluntary recall.

CRASH INSPECTION

The agency said it had linked one crash to the investigation in which a driver could not complete a right-hand turn at an intersection and struck a vehicle. Tesla and NHTSA jointly inspected the vehicle.

Some Tesla drivers reported that they had experienced steering outages that nearly caused accidents.

"It was pretty terrifying," said Jamie Minshall, who said he nearly went into a ditch after he felt the steering wheel on his 2023 Model Y jerk to the right. "It tried to kill me.”

Some drivers told NHTSA that the steering issues continued until the power-steering rack was replaced. NHTSA said the probe will examine the conditions leading to and resulting from the steering rack failures.

It can cost customers more than $2,000 to get a steering rack replaced for an out-of-warranty vehicle, according to customers' invoices reviewed by Reporter’s.

Tesla has had nine recalls in the United States for steering and suspension issues since 2018, NHTSA records show. Most affected a relatively small number of vehicles.

The largest, in 2018, involved replacing steering-rack bolts on more than 70,000 Model S vehicles because of the risk that corrosion could cause a loss of power steering.

NHTSA's move comes on the same day Tesla said it was recalling 2.2 million electric vehicles - nearly every one it has sold in the United States - because small font sizes on warning lights increased the risk of a crash. No crashes or injuries have been reported.

Tesla began releasing an over-the-air software update on Jan. 23, free of charge, to fix the issue. The software update will increase the font size of the visual warning indicators for the brake, park and antilock brake system (ABS).

Just two months ago, Tesla recalled 2.03 million vehicles in the United States to install new safeguards in its Autopilot advanced driver-assistance system. Consumer Reports has said that the new Tesla safeguards are insufficient.

NHTSA is currently reviewing whether the Autopilot recall is sufficient, Deputy Administrator Sophie Shulman said.

“Tesla has been under scrutiny for its autonomous driving aid that is intended to enable cars to steer, accelerate and brake automatically within their lane.”

Pigeon Post News, Richmond.

MetService Weather News Release

 

MetService

Waitangi Day Weather

05/02/2024

Covering period of Monday 5 - Friday 9 February

MetService is forecasting fine and dry weather for New Zealand for most of the week due to a large area of high pressure sitting over the North Island. However, across the South Island, stronger winds and high temperatures will be a key feature of this week’s weather with temperatures in the east forecast to reach highs of 34°C through parts of Canterbury.

Richmond weather today at 2:00pm: Fine, Light wind 6.4Km/h, Temperature 24.2 Degrees C., Humidity 49%,

  

With New Zealand set to mark Waitangi Day tomorrow many of us will be keeping a close eye on the weather, especially in Northland at the Waitangi Treaty Grounds. “High pressure will mean that for much of Aotearoa New Zealand, Waitangi Day will be a dry one with fine weather on the cards for those on the North Island,” says MetService meteorologist John Law.  

For those on the South Island there is still plenty of dry, fine, and hot weather in store for the east but there will be some stronger winds as well, especially for the inland parts of Canterbury, Otago and Southland. 

“The combination of dry conditions, high temperatures and strong winds through parts of Canterbury add to the fire risk for the region”, advises Law, “it’s important to keep up with the information from the team at Fire & Emergency NZ and consult their website checkitsalright.co.nz”. 

One spot that does see rain over the coming days is the far southern parts of Aotearoa New Zealand. Northwesterly winds are expected to push rain into the region from the Tasman Sea.  

“Fronts moving up the country are set to bring rain into Fiordland and Southland for Waitangi Day,” says Law. “The high pressure over the North Island is set to slow the movement of the rain up the South Island,” he added.  

Severe Weather Warnings for heavy rain have been issued for Fiordland and a strong wind watch covers Fiordland and Southland, where winds could reach severe gale in the most exposed places.

MetService Comms.

Pigeon Post News, Richmond.

METSERVIVE - Watches for western Tasman and the Nelson Lakes

WAKEFIELD HOTEL 1 February 2024 (nice day). Photo Credit R Therkleson.

 

Wet and windy until Saturday, then mostly sunny for Waitangi Day

01/02/2024

Covering period of Thursday 01 - Tuesday 06 February

The atmosphere is going to have a weekend like a festival-goer – wild on Friday and Saturday but worn out and sedate by Sunday. MetService is forecasting a strong cold front to reach the southwest tonight (Thursday) and move quickly across Aotearoa New Zealand on Friday and Saturday, before a ridge of high pressure arrives on Sunday.

MetService.

MetService meteorologist Alain Baillie says, “The front will bring further heavy rain to the South Island’s West Coast. Orange Heavy Rain Warnings have been issued for the Westland, Grey and Buller Ranges during Friday, with Watches for western Tasman and the Nelson Lakes, and the headwaters of rivers in North Canterbury.”

“Keep an eye on the MetService Warnings page for updates as the situation unfolds.”, Alain says. 

MetService

The western South Island received well above average rainfall in January; Milford Sound recorded 1006mm (average 647mm), Haast received 449mm (248mm) and Hokitika 359mm (212mm).

Baillie continues, “By Friday afternoon, northwesterly winds ahead of the front are forecast to reach severe gale in central areas of Aotearoa New Zealand, with gusts of 120 km/h in exposed parts of Wellington and Wairarapa.”

An Orange Strong Wind Warning for those areas runs from 1pm to 9pm on Friday, with a Watch for the Marlborough Sounds from noon to 7pm Friday.

“Saturday will be wet and windy across the country, but conditions should ease in the evening. These strong winds do bring the potential for some tricky driving conditions, especially on our exposed roads like the Auckland Harbour Bridge, so are worth factoring in for your travel plans over the weekend. They also bring the possibility for large waves along the western coastlines of the North and South Island.”

“Saturday will also be quite cool for the time of year, with maximum temperatures in the mid-to-high teens in Otago and Southland, 4 to 6 degrees Celsius below average. Taumarunui and Taupō are forecast to reach only 17°C, 6 to 8°C below average.”

By Sunday the front will have cleared to the east and a large area of high pressure begins to dominate our weather into next week. Hot conditions return to the eastern South Island on Monday, with Blenheim and Ashburton expected to reach 32°C and Christchurch 30°C.

Sneaking a peek at Waitangi Day, Alain says, “It should be fine and warm for most New Zealanders – hot again for Marlborough and Canterbury. However, those south of Dunedin should prepare for a damp Waitangi Day.”

MetService Communications.

Pigeon Post News, Richmond.

Moutere Eastern - WATER UPDATE

 

Tasman District Council Press Release

Moutere Eastern reaches Stage 3 consent restrictions, cease take for Moutere Surface Zone

1 February, 2024

An expected decline of groundwater levels in the Moutere Eastern Zone has prompted a shift to higher restrictions for Tasman water consent holders next week, while a Cease Take for the Moutere Surface Water Zone is also set to commence. 

Water Shortage Directions which come into effect on Monday 5 February, 2024 will mean Stage Three rationing – or a 50% cut from authorised weekly usage for the Moutere Eastern Groundwater Zone. 

This is in line with Moutere Deep Groundwater levels now at their lowest on record – the Eastern Groundwater Zone is now below the Stage Three trigger of 31 metres. 

The adjacent Moutere Western Groundwater Zone is also dropping and if dry weather and high water demand continues, rationing is likely to be introduced in that zone soon. 

With flow in the Moutere River dropping below 20l/s, the Council has also issued a cease take to those users taking surface water from the River. This action, encoded in each of the associated water user consents, is to support the health of the River as the flows continue to drop. 

Stage One restrictions – or a 20 per cent reduction in authorised weekly water usage – remain in place in the Dovedale and Motupiko management zones, including the Rainy River area. 

Rain over the Nelson Anniversary long weekend provided some assistance to areas such as Golden Bay (between 30mm – 81mm) and lesser amounts to the east of Takaka Hill – Motueka to Waimea. 

However, the rest of the district averaged 3 – 10 mm, which offered minimal boosts to river flows. 

Dry areas continue to be Moutere/Dovedale/Motupiko, with the latter falling below trigger levels after an initial boost last week. 

If the Dove River drops much further, we will have to consider the next step  for this zone.  

Some rain is predicted for Friday/Saturday this week (between 10 – 20 mm) – this may help some areas.   

However, the Moutere Deep Groundwater is likely to decline further until demand starts to ease. With the Tākaka River flows declining the Upper Tākaka River takes will continue to be affected by the flow which is governed by what the Cobb Dam releases. This is not an unusual situation at this time of year. 

The Wai-Iti River is also getting low but has the benefit of the Kainui Dam being full to augment flow. The initial flow release starts this week so there is good storage available to be used. 

Wairoa River is being helped by Waimea Dam spilling which is greater than 1000 l/s with the river flow being 3700 l/s below the Wairoa Gorge at present. 

Staff will continue to monitor and update information, with the Dry Weather Task Force team next reviewing the situation on Wednesday 7 February. 

In the meantime, it is important that consent holders were familiar with their Resource Consent conditions.    

These restrictions do not apply to users of Council-managed reticulated water supplies, which are subject to alternative restrictions.   

For more information, go to Current restrictions - consented and private supplies | Tasman District Council

Tasman District Council.

Pigeon Post News, Richmond.

MetService February 2024 Outlook – The return of the Northland ridge and long-promised westerlies

 

MetService - Figure 1: Map showing forecast rainfall for February 2024, relative to the February average.

February 2024 Outlook – The return of the Northland ridge and long-promised westerlies

As kids across NZ head back to school, it looks like the weather maps have been studying hard over the summer break with a textbook El Nino month on the cards this February. After El Nino impacts stuttered a bit through the first couple months of summer an enhanced westerly regime, with high pressure ridging persistent across northern NZ and regular fronts washing through south of the high (this is a classic signal during an El Nino summer), is likely to dominate over the next month. 

MetService

Figure 2: These maps show the forecast weekly temperature anomaly (deviation from the norm), in Celsius. The anomaly is calculated from averaging a group of models. The weekly temperature deviation for this week is shown on the left; next week is shown on the right.

The high might win out across South Island at times too, but not as much as we have seen through early summer, and a more unsettled, windier outlook is favoured for the SW corner of New Zealand than over recent months.

Near to above normal rainfall is expected for the west and south of the South Island, with the strongest signal for wetter conditions in Fiordland. Fronts should occasionally intrude into the dominant high pressure over the North Island, but any moisture these bring to western areas will likely be rapidly sucked out of the ground by persistent windy days. 

Figure 3: These maps show the forecast weekly rainfall anomaly (deviation from the norm), in mm. The anomaly is calculated from averaging a group of models. These plots should be used to identify wetter or drier than usual regions, but rainfall amounts differ significantly from rainfall anomalies. Use the latest MetService forecasts and warnings to assess rainfall at your place.

Eastern and northern areas are expected to be drier than normal, especially during the first half of the month.

A cool start to the month, but temperatures should rebound around Waitangi Day. The second half of the month should see regular fluctuations with plenty of warm days still, but interspersed with cooler outbreaks, before an overall downwards trend towards the tail end of summer.

Bottom Line: Longer settled spells for northern NZ, westerlies further south. Expect some windy days in the mix too.

MetService Comms.

Pigeon Post News, Richmond.

Tasman has New Chief Executive

Tasman District Council

 Tasman District Council appoints new Chief Executive 

Richmond 01 February 2024

Leonie Rae is Tasman District Council's new Chief Executive.  

Leonie has been the Council's Chief Operating Officer since August 2021, and is the first internal appointment to the most senior role since the Council was established in1989. 

Mayor Tim King says, “In making this appointment the Council was looking for a seasoned executive who has the experience and insight to identify what is working within the organisation and what can be improved.” 

“We were grateful to have received a good number of applications from very qualified people that met this expectation”.

Leonie has previous experience in the role having stepped up for a year from March 2022.

Mayor King says, “With her experience at a senior executive level in Christchurch City Council before, during and after the devastating earthquakes, and leading the recovery of that Council's regulatory building accreditation, we see an executive that has and will bring new and different perspectives to challenges.”

Leonie Rae will take up the role from 19 February 2024.

Tasman District Council.

Pigeon Post News, Richmond.