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Toyota research ‘far from over’ at SIUC
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JAMES DURBIN | DAILY EGYPTIAN
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e need to see how Toyota’s systems compare with other manufacturers. We need to see how their systems work on other models.
GENNA ORD | DAILY EGYPTIAN
Students sit in class in Automotive Lab 1 Tuesday at the School of Transportation Automotive Technology in Carterville. Despite being one of the best automotive schools in the nation, the program uses facilities built in the 1940s, said Blaine Heisner, an assistant instructor in ASA Automotive Technology. (LEFT) Automotive technology professor Dr. David Gilbert speaks to the media at a press conference Thursday in his office in Carterville.
Professor hopes to work with company to solve problem, find truth NICK JOHNSON Daily Egyptian SIUC automotive professor Dr. David Gilbert said at a press conference in his office Thursday he will continue to research unintended acceleration in Toyota vehicles. Gilbert, who has more than 30 years of experience in the automotive field, spoke to reporters after presenting his preliminary findings to the House Subcommittee of Oversight and Investigation in Washington, D.C., Tuesday. In what he described as a “whirlwind affair,� Gilbert was swept from SIUC’s automotive campus in Carterville to Washington, D.C., less than two weeks after he and Omar Trinidad, an assistant automotive technology professor, began testing vehicles for flaws Feb. 11. Gilbert said continuation of his and Trinidad’s research would help the automotive department obtain grants and other financial support. Toyota donated $100,000 Nov. 6, 2008, toward the planned SIUC Transportation Education Center and major equipment purchases,
including hand-held diagnostic equipment. The company has also donated several vehicles to the university’s automotive technology department, which is currently housed in the barracks facility in Carterville. Bidding is set to begin next month for the Transportation Education Center and two other buildings that would replace the barracks facility, said Phil Gatton, director of the Physical Plant, at a separate press conference Thursday. “There’s a real good possibility that we’ll see some real good results from this (research),� Gilbert said. At the hearing, Gilbert testified that he and Trinidad found that a “fault,� an instance of SUA, could be introduced to the computer system in Toyota vehicles without the computer reporting it as an error. Without an error code, the vehicle would not enter fail-safe mode, an emergency mode that reduces power to the engine, and acceleration would continue, Gilbert said. Toyota has recalled more than 6 million vehicles over the past several months because of instances
of SUA, and Congress held three hearings this week to evaluate the carmaker’s response to the problem. Gilbert said he and Trinidad only tested four cars, and even though all four reacted in the same manner, more research needs to be conducted. “This research is far from over,� Gilbert said. “We need to see how Toyota’s systems compare with other manufacturers. We need to see how their systems work on other models.� The manufacturer first blamed oversized floor mats, then sticky accelerator pedals, for the potential of SUA in 11 of its models. But that doesn’t explain SUA, Gilbert said. “Those circumstances don’t fit what people are saying,� said Gilbert, who teaches a class on electronic engine control. “You’re not just going to be driving down the highway and suddenly a floor mat gets jammed underneath there and you take off. That’s not the way it works.� Please see GILBERT | 2
Bidding to begin on transportation facilities RYAN VOYLES Daily Egyptian Scott Weber said the 10-year wait is about to come to an end. Weber, the supervising architect for the Physical Plant, was one of several speakers present Thursday in the Student Health Center Auditorium as contractors from around the region planned final preparations for bids to construct three new facilities for the department of aviation and flight and the automotive department. “This has been a project that has been a long time coming,� Weber said. “It’s been over 10 years since we’ve been planning and moving this project forward all the way to this point.� Thursday’s presentation allowed more than 30 contractor groups to hear engineers, architects and members of the Capital Development Board explain the details of the project before turning in bids next month. Marci Boudet, project manager for the state of Illinois, said because the construction is a state project, all bids must be approved by the CDB. She said contractors must
send in their bids for the project by 2 p.m. March 25. Boudet said prospective bids must have a team consisting of 10 percent minorities and 4 percent females, or the bid would be rejected by the state. Tony Holsey, a representative of Do-All Construction group in Caneyville, Ky., said the problem was organizing that sort of team within a month. “It would be great if this job was six months down the line, get to know one another and how our work skills would go together,� he said. “But one month to do all that will be tough.� Boudet said she was aware how difficult it could be to organize a team so quickly, but every contractor was required to do so anyway. She said groups may be exempt if they could show a documented “good faith effort� to hire minorities and women. The CDB will spend about four weeks reviewing all the bids before awarding any contractors the project. Please see FACILITIES | 2