For the 2008 Econoline, Ford has added a dedicated Fuse (#29) to the vehicle OBD II connector power circuit. In 2007 and older vehicles, this circuit shared the same fuse as the cigar lighter (#26) which often caused the fuse to blow due to chargers being plugged in. The new fuse arrangement has eliminated issues with Gateway or scan tools not operating due to the fuse being blown.

The 2009 Ford Econoline will be available soon and includes many electronic enhancements over the 2008 model. We are taking advantage of these enhancements and will release updated versions of our Gateway, Guardian, and ILIS products that will have a significant reduction in installation time. Please note that current versions of Gateway, Guardian, and ILIS will not be compatible with the 2009 Ford Econoline. Part #'s for 2009 Chevy 610 and 560 will also change (firmware only). We plan to release updated part #'s for all 2009 models soon.

Taking a Queue From Kermit (the frog).....

InterMotive's new products are turning green - as in eco-friendly.

We recently launched a new field programmable road speed limiter (Speed Sentinel II) for Ford vehicles that will help end-users ensure that their drivers drive at safer speeds, help improve fuel economy and therefore reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

In the near future we will add GM products to the application chart for Speed Sentinel II.

Our green efforts don't end with Speed Sentinel II, however. Our next green product is Eco-Star, an automatic anti-idling device for a Ford and GM chassis. Studies have shown that more fuel is burned by idling for more than 5 seconds than by turning the engine Off and then back On. When you do the math on how many times a vehicle idles more than 5 seconds in Park , the potential benefit of Eco-Star to a fleet can be huge.

Eco-Star is unique in that it automatically shuts off the engine when specific, customizable conditions are met (e.g. vehicle in Park, A/C off, and VBAT above 12.5). When the driver depresses the Service Brake (before shifting out of Park) or certain criteria are met (i.e. VBAT drops below a minimum level), the engine starts automatically. The system does not require the driver to modify his/her driving behavior to maximize the benefit of the system.

If you would like more information about our new green products please contact Kyndra Moran, Dick Collier, or me at 530-346-1801.

A Simpler Function "Option" Added to the Gateway Fast Idle System

Gateway is a microprocessor system that can be a fast idle, lift interlock, or both. We have added another way that the system can be ordered - no automatic triggers. When systems are ordered with no automatic triggers the fast idle will only activate based on a low battery trigger point or by pressing the "Engage" button on the dash-mounted LED panel.

The manual triggers that have been in Gateway remain the same - using the "Engage" button, a Merlin Multiplex command, providing a Ground input command to pin 4 of the I/O Port (requires a specific configuration).

The standard Gateway's auto triggers include low VBAT, chassis A/C clutch commanded "On", and heater boost (cold engine and cold ambient air temperature - Ford diesel only) and will continue to be the default setup.

Free Product Training over the Internet

We have added the HawkEye Plus Reverse Assistance System to our catalog of product training sessions. The next class to be offered will be on Merlin, our multiplex system.

These classes cover a variety of topics; product description, installation, operation & troubleshooting. They are typically less than one hour in length.

If you cannot attend a live class, the classes will be recorded and available for viewing 24/7. Go to InterMotive Product Training to access the training classes or contact us for more details.

Tips from Customer Service to reduce "vehicle down time"

InterMotive Customer Service takes great pride in assisting our customers, and finds that the majority of calls received can be resolved over the phone within minutes without any parts being shipped out.

In some cases, parts are replaced on a vehicle, returned to us with little or no information of the problem, and are working as they should when tested.

Time To Get Serious about Fuel Economy

Let's face it. The economy is reeling and our budgets are getting cut faster and deeper than we've seen in a long time. To top it off (pardon the pun), the days of even $3.00/gallon for fuel are gone and probably won't be seen again.

Our customers are feeling the pinch and we need to respond with better values and new, innovative solutions. InterMotive has responded.....

Need Vehicle Electrical Training?

Our hands-on classes are designed to teach technicians the fundamentals of chassis electrical and electronic system diagnosis.

InterMotive has contracted with NMEDA (National Mobility Equipment Dealers Association) to teach these classes in various areas of the United States during 2008. Classes are typically 3 days in length, in a classroom environment, with an emphasis on hands-on exercises and "real-time" vehicle trouble shooting.

If you would like more information about these classes contact us at 530-346-1801 or visit the NMEDA Website.

Diagnosing today's vehicles is no easy task.

It is hard enough to keep up with new features and vehicle control systems; making it harder to diagnose and repair the vehicle. Diagnosing modern electrical systems without a schematic is much like driving in a big city for the first time without a road map. A lost driver will eventually arrive at the destination the same way that a technician will eventually repair the vehicle, however, if the correct path is used, the destination will be reached much faster and less time will be lost.