Three ways to deal with stuck throttle emergencies

I read a recent article discussing GM's problems with their faulty ignition switch. You have given the advice in the past to turn off the ignition if the throttle sticks. This was mentioned several times when "unintended acceleration" was a common topic in the news. Does the information in this article change that advice?

Very timely and important question. In past columns I have written about how to deal with unintended acceleration/stuck throttle situations. In short, a driver has three tools to mitigate the threat of crashing: Push the brake pedal as hard as humanly possible, shift the transmission into neutral or turn off the ignition.

With the recent news regarding unintended "ignition off" scenarios in certain GM vehicles, it's well worth revisiting this issue.

First off, even if the engine is not running and the ignition switch is in the off position, the brakes and steering remain functional. Without power assist provided by engine operation, considerably more physical effort will be required to brake and steer the vehicle, but it will still stop and turn.

Shifting the transmission into neutral in response to the threat from a stuck throttle or unintended acceleration will disconnect the engine from the drivetrain while maintaining power assist to the steering and brakes. While it may seem potentially destructive to the engine, most modern engine management systems have limiters to prevent the engine from over-revving in neutral by cutting spark and/or fuel to limit engine speed.

Obviously, switching the ignition off will stop any type of unintended acceleration or stuck throttle. And doing so will not lock the steering. The ignition switch cannot be turned to the locked position unless the transmission has been shifted into park.

To address your specific question as to turning off the ignition in response to unintended acceleration or a stuck throttle, keep in mind that the air bags and supplemental restraint systems are not instantaneously disabled if the ignition is switched off. These systems have some type of backup power supplies in case the battery is disconnected or destroyed in the first instant of a crash. These systems, often based on a capacitor storing enough electrical charge to deploy the airbags, can keep the airbags operational for several seconds after loss of battery power — but just as obviously, not long enough to completely deal with an unintended acceleration or stuck throttle scenario.

With today's motor vehicles, the best response to unintended acceleration or some type of stuck throttle is to simply shift the transmission into neutral, deal with the situation by steering and braking to a safe stop and then turning off the key. Every motorist should mentally anticipate this scenario and understand the steps necessary to safely deal with it.

A: little forethought and practice can prevent unintended acceleration or a stuck throttle from ending in tragedy.

I have a 1994 Honda Accord with less than 48,000 original miles. For the past five years it has been suggested to have the timing belt replaced because of the age of the car. I just hate to touch something that isn't broken. I do understand if it does fail, I will be in bad shape. Are there any signs that I could look for to let me know it needs replacement?

A: Yes, the engine suddenly stops running! And since this is a so-called interference engine, expensive valve-to-piston contact and damage can occur.

It is possible to inspect the timing belt by removing the top engine cover, turning the crankshaft with a ratchet and visually examining the belt for wear, damage or contamination from oil or coolant.

But since Honda's recommendation is timing belt replacement every 72 months, it's long overdue. I'd suggest having the timing belt and water pump replaced as preventive maintenance. But it's your call.

Paul Brand, author of "How to Repair Your Car," is an automotive troubleshooter, driving instructor and former race-car driver. Readers may write to him at: Star Tribune, 425 Portland Ave. S., Minneapolis, Minn., 55488 or via email at paulbrand@startribune.com. Please explain the problem in detail and include a daytime phone number.

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Cambridge nonprofit trains immigrants to be medical interpreters

When Claudette Aspilaire fled Haiti after the 2010 earthquake, she left the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere, where she had lived a relatively comfortable life as a teacher, to come to the wealthiest country, and find herself suddenly plunged into poverty.

In the United States, she couldn't find work but she had one crucial advantage: She spoke French, Haitian Creole and English.

"There comes a point where you realize this is an asset not everyone has," said Maria Vertkin, a Russian immigrant who runs the Cambridge-based nonprofit Found in Translation. "There's a shortage of bilingual talent, but there are so many bilingual people like Claudette who are overlooked."

Aspilaire enrolled in the 
medical-interpreter training program and today earns $20 an hour as an interpreter at Sharewood Project, a free-health care organization run by Tufts Medical School students and faculty in Malden.

"It's interesting helping others like me," said Aspilaire, a 60-year-old mother of three. "It's a stable job to help my family."

Vertkin started Found in Translation in 2011 with a $40,000 grant after graduating from Regis College with a degree in social work. She wanted to help women find work as a way out of poverty, but she knew that minimum-wage jobs weren't enough.

She discovered that the need for medical interpreters was expected to grow by 42 percent over the next decade, with a median annual wage of $45,430.

"I thought: This is a perfect fit," she said.

In January 2012, Found in Translation began offering a 12-week medical interpreter certificate course that, unlike other programs, was free to income-eligible women.

The first year, Vertkin had 164 applicants for 21 openings. The second year, she had 195 applicants for 31 openings. And this year, she had 235 applicants for 32.

"They act not only as interpreters, but also as liaisons to the communities we serve," said Elena Hill, the sexual- and reproductive-health director at Sharewood Project. "They show compassion and help us understand our patients better. So it's mutually beneficial to us, to the patients and to the interpreters."

Recently, the program was one of 128 startups the MassChallenge accelerator selected to receive free office space, mentoring and a chance at a share of $1.75 million in cash prizes — money that could help Found in Translation become self–sustaining and eventually branch out into training women to become interpreters in other fields, such as the law, Vertkin said.

"The program is innovative and empowers women economically," said Imina Nosa, one of Found in Translation's language coaches. "I see them growing from being powerless immigrants to people who bring value by applying what they have to help others and earn a livelihood. It's gratifying to see that transformation."

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The Ticker

FDA approves antibiotic from Lexington's Cubist

The Food and Drug Administration yesterday approved a new antibiotic from Lexington-based Cubist Pharmaceuticals to treat common skin infections often acquired in the hospital.

Regulators cleared the company's Sivextro as a pill and as an intravenous solution for adults with skin infections caused by bacteria that are often resistant to older antibiotics.

The FDA gave Sivextro an expedited review under a 2012 law designed to encourage drug makers to invest in researching and development of new antibiotics. Under the measure, Cubist will receive an additional five years of exclusive marketing rights to the drug.

Casino hopefuls present traffic plans

Mohegan Sun and Wynn Resorts laid out plans yesterday to help alleviate Boston-area traffic created by their proposed casinos.

The casino giants are vying for the lucrative eastern region gambling license, which is expected to be awarded in late August or early September.

Mohegan Sun officials, at a meeting before state gambling regulators at the Hynes Convention Center, said the casino's planned $1.2 billion resort on the Revere side of the Suffolk Downs horse racing track would include an estimated $45 million in transit-related improvements.

Wynn Resorts officials said their proposed $1.6 billion casino on a former chemical plant site in Everett would include about $50 million in such investments.

Both casino operators put forward a range of traffic-mitigating plans, including improvements to some of the area's most congested traffic circles. The casinos also said they would be limiting employee parking onsite and encouraging mass transit use while also staggering work shifts so that employees are not on the road during rush hour drive times.

Dow, S&P reach record highs

U.S. stocks rose yesterday, driving the Dow and the S&P 500 to close at record highs as the shares of 330 companies hit 52-week highs on the New York Stock Exchange.

The S&P 500 scored its third record closing high in a row while the Dow surpassed its previous record close on June 10. The blue-chip index hit an all-time intraday high at 16,978.02, coming close to the 17,000 mark.

For the week, the three major U.S. stock indexes rose 1 percent as investors brushed off geopolitical concerns about Iraq and focused on the Federal Reserve's comments indicating that it will keep interest rates low for a long period of time.

Sperry Van Ness International Corp., a commercial real estate franchisor based in Boston, announced that Diane Danielson, previously the company's chief platform officer, was promoted to chief operating officer. Danielson is responsible for the day-to-day operations that support the more than 180 Sperry Van Ness franchises nationwide. She previously worked as a new media and marketing technology consultant for several industries.

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High-end Southie condos going fast

In a testament to just how hot the South Boston condo market is, four high-end condos just went on sale at 45 A St. and two are already sold.

This four-unit building on a short spur of A Street just past West Broadway has direct elevator access to each condo, contemporary custom cabinetry, red oak floors and even garage parking spaces. Two 1,580-square-foot units are still available on the second and third floors, listing for $899,000 and $949,000.

The white Hardiplank building with a brick first floor is styled to suggest a Southie rowhouse and it has front balconies that overlook the gentrified area around the Broadway Red Line T station.

The interiors have a contemporary European look as seen in the staged model unit. The large open kitchen/dining/living areas has eight windows on two sides bringing in lots of light.

The recessed-lit kitchens have custom two-tone Leicht oak cabinetry, stylish white quartz counters and waterfall-style island, glass-mosaic backsplashes and Thermador appliances, including a refrigerator and dishwasher behind cabinets, a gas stovetop and double wall ovens — plus a wine cooler and lots of drawer space.

The living area features a 60-inch Heat-n-Glo gas fireplace with a large honed black granite surround, and a glass door from the recessed-lit dining room opens onto a Trex-decked front-facing balcony.

The master bedroom suite, which also has access to the balcony, features a large walk-in closet and en-suite master bathroom with heated porcelain tile floor, a large glass-doored walk-in shower with multiple Hans Grohe shower heads, and a floating white quartz-topped vanity also with Grohe fixtures.

The slightly smaller second bedroom faces the rear, and there's a second full bath across the hall with heated tile floors, a floating vanity with Grohe fixtures and deep soaking tub/shower.

At the end of the hall is a bit awkward leftover space styled as an office alcove, adjacent to the direct access elevator. There's three closets along a sconce-lit hallway, one holding a stacked white Electrolux washer and dryer, a second with a Navien tankless water heater system and a third with a gas-fired heating and central air system.

Each unit comes with a deeded garage parking space on the first floor of the building. But 45 A St. sits on a small lot and there isn't any common yard space.

Home Showcase

• Address: 45 A St., South Boston, Units 1 and 2
• Bedrooms: Two
• Bathrooms: Two full
• List price: $899,000-$ 949,000
• Square feet: 1,580
• Price per square foot: $569-$601
• Annual taxes: To be determined
• Monthly condo fee: $350 (estimated)
• Location: Near the corner of A Street and West Broadway a half-block from retail and restaurants along Broadway as well as Broadway Red Line T station.
• Built in: 2014
• Broker: Dom Lange and Lindsay Smith of Broadway Village Real Estate at 617-482-9200

Pros:

• High-end kitchen with Leicht cabinetry, Thermador appliances
• Living room has 60-inch granite-surrounded gas fireplace
• Private front balcony with access from dining area and master bedroom
• Lots of windows and red oak floors
• Deeded parking garage space on first floor

Cons:

• Home office alcove an awkward use of leftover space
• No common yard space

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City wants projects more 
accessible to the disabled

The city wants to change the mindset of real estate developers "hard-wired" to comply with only "bare-minimum" federal and state accessibility mandates for people with disabilities.

New development review guidelines adopted by the Boston Redevelopment Authority on Thursday are intended to instead convince developers to incorporate "ideal" accessibility and "visitability" accommodations into their building projects.

Developers will be required to complete an accessibility checklist at the start of the project review process. The city's Commission for Persons with Disabilities also will play a greater role in the process, starting with "pre-filing" meetings between the BRA and developers so issues can be considered during initial project design.

"Our expectation is … it will yield projects that do more than mere compliance with minimum standards," said acting BRA executive director Brian Golden, referring to the federal Americans with Disabilities Act and state Architectural Access Board requirements.

"This is not a coercive device, because we don't have the authority to coerce in this regard," Golden said. "We think that if developers are shown options and discuss options early, they can incorporate them at minimal costs and maybe at no cost."

But while the BRA technically can't force developers to include "ideal" accessibility features in projects, it can use the permitting process as leverage, said David Begelfer, CEO of NAIOP Massachusetts, a commercial real estate development trade group.

Begelfer, who had yet to see the new BRA guidelines, said he's "cautiously concerned," citing already strict federal mandates and state requirements that exceed them, and possible added costs. "To go beyond the state and federal (requirements) … seems to be asking a lot," he said.

But, getting all city departments involved early in the project review process would be a good thing, Begelfer said. "There are a lot of other departments that don't get involved until much later ... and that gets to be a problem," he said.

The Commission on Persons with Disabilities previously got involved in the BRA development reviews about halfway through the process, when many design decisions already had been made, commissioner Kristen McCosh said.

"The goal is really to map out the accessibility features of a project at the beginning … rather than having them try to fit them in at the end," she said.

More than 77,000 Bostonians identify themselves as disabled. The city wants to develop not only accessible buildings, but accessible routes to accommodate them, McCosh said.

"We ask the developers to look at things like accessible transit stations in proximity to the development, sidewalk conditions ... accessible pathways … and visitability," she said. "Developers don't have that lens when they look at their projects.

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Yukon SLT claims high-end territory

Slide into the leather captain's seats, grasp the contrast stitched leather steering wheel, flip on the premium sound system and enjoy the quiet comfortable ride. But make no mistake about it, the fully redesigned 2015 GMC Yukon SLT is still a truck.

So don't be afraid to pack a six-man crew into the three rows of seats, hook on the trailer and get everyone to the job site and — as with many full-sized premium SUVs — you'll still be able to hit the car wash on the way home and take your favorite person to dinner. MSRP of the SLT is $57,735, but add on some niceties and you get the $64,520 test model we drove.

GMC uses the 5.3 Liter 
355 hp V-8 Ecotec3 engine, with its active fuel management system that shuts down four cylinders under certain driving conditions, to average around 18 mpg. I glided up Interstate 95 and got 22-plus on the highway while traveling in effortless comfort. Based on a rear-wheel drive platform the SLT has on-demand all-wheel drive controlled from a switch knob on the dash. I ran into heavy rain during my test and switched to four-wheel drive on the fly and marveled at how secure the truck was in the storm.

The nicely appointed Yukon succeeds in delivering on many fronts, and although its curb appeal may not swivel some heads, the full-sized vehicle is a must shop in the premium workhorse field. Our tester was fitted out with the $3,255 Sun and Entertainment package that added on the sunroof, and upgraded the navigation and sound and rear entertainment systems. The 8-inch touchscreen LCD worked easily, and the smartphone integration was a snap.

I really like the big simple analog gauges on the dash. Forgoing some of the electronic wizardry in other cars, the GMC presents a six-gauge array wrapped around the electronic display that is easy to read.

The safety features engage all the senses. Lighted blind spot alerts, a driver's seat that vibrates when you drift off lane, and audible tones when you get too close keep you on your toes when driving. The front and back parking cameras and electronic assist steering make maneuvering this nearly 6,000-lb truck quite easy. Parallel parking the 17-foot-long truck still takes some skill, but you'll be surprised how manageable the powered rack and pinion steering makes it. Cup holders, a huge center-mounted storage bin and multiple USB connections hint at the workman heritage of these trucks.

An additional $2,000 kicks on the 20-inch aluminum wheels and more importantly the max trailer package — a 4-ton tow capacity. An upgraded rear axle, dash-mounted trailer brake controller, a two-speed transfer case and heavier duty air suspension turning this into a powerful construction workhorse or the king of weekend camping.

The power operated 60/40 split third-row seats fold flat and are a tight fit for adult passengers. Other GMC SUVs, such as the Acadia we tested last fall, are better suited for extra passengers but these will work for short trips or kids. The second-row captain's chairs are sharp-looking and comfortable, though. Lower trim levels use rear bench seats, so this may be a better option if people are the priority.

Available in three trim levels, some of the vehicles the Yukon competes with for your SUV dollars include the Land Rover LR4, Ford Expedition and Toyota Sequoia.

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Presbyterians to divest as protest against Israel

DETROIT — The Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) on Friday became the most prominent religious group in the United States to endorse divestment as a protest against Israeli policies toward Palestinians, voting to sell church stock in three companies whose products Israel uses in the occupied territories.

The General Assembly voted by a razor-thin margin — 310-303 — to sell stock in Caterpillar, Hewlett-Packard and Motorola Solutions. Two years ago, the General Assembly rejected a similar divestment proposal by two votes.

The American Jewish Committee, a policy and advocacy group based in New York, said the vote was "driven by hatred of Israel." But Heath Rada, moderator for the church meeting, said immediately after the vote that "in no way is this a reflection of our lack of love for our Jewish brothers and sisters."

The decision is expected to reverberate beyond the 1.8 million-member church. It comes amid discouragement over failed peace talks that have left activists desperate for some way to affect change and as the broader movement known as BDS — or boycott, divestment and sanctions against Israel — has gained some momentum in the U.S., Israel's closest and most important ally.

Presbyterians who advocated for divestment insisted their action was not part of the broader boycott movement. Israeli officials, along with many American Jewish groups, denounced the campaign as an attempt to delegitimize the Jewish state. Separately, the assembly also voted to re-examine its support for a two-state solution.

In a statement on its Facebook page, the Israeli Embassy in Washington denounced the resolution as "shameful."

"Voting for symbolic measures marginalizes and removes its ability to be a constructive partner to promote peace in the Middle East," the statement said.

Omar Barghouti, a co-founder of the BDS movement, praised the vote as a "sweet victory for human rights."

He said Presbyterian supporters of Palestinian rights have introduced divestment into the U.S. mainstream and have given Palestinians "real hope in the face of the relentless and intensifying cruelty of Israel's regime of occupation, settler colonialism and apartheid."

The top Presbyterian legislative body has been considering divestment for a decade. Representatives of the Presbyterian socially responsible investment arm told the national meeting in Detroit that their efforts to lobby the three companies for change had failed. Carol Hylkema of the Israel/Palestine Mission Network, a Presbyterian group that advocates for Palestinians and spearheaded the drive for divestment, said their action was modeled on the divestment movement to end apartheid in South Africa. The 2012 assembly had endorsed a boycott of Israeli products made in the Palestinian territories.

"Because we are a historical peacemaking church, what we have done is, we have stood up for nonviolent means of resistance to oppression and we have sent a clear message to a struggling society that we support their efforts to resist in a nonviolent way the oppression being thrust upon them," said the Rev. Jeffrey DeYoe, of the Israel/Palestine Mission Network.

The vote was the subject of intense lobbying both from within and outside the church. Rabbis and other members of Jewish Voice for Peace, which advocates for Palestinians, lined the halls of the meeting and prayed in vigils outside the convention center wearing T-shirts that read, "Another Jew Supporting Divestment." Other rabbis and their Presbyterian supporters held panel discussions and sent letters to delegates urging them to vote no.

Rabbi Rick Jacobs, head of the liberal Union for Reform Judaism, which is the largest branch of American Judaism, addressed the delegates twice, urging them to reject divestment. After the vote, Jacobs said the denomination as a whole is no longer "a partner for joint work on Israel-Palestine peace issues."

In leading an effort to strike down the proposal, Frank Allen of the Central Florida Presbytery told delegates, "Divestment will create dissension. Dialogue and relationship building will lay the groundwork for true peace."

Bill Ward of the Presbytery of the Inland Northwest, based in Spokane, Washington, argued the proposal was not an attack on Israel. The measure adopted Friday reaffirms Israel's right to exist. "It is motivated by stewardship integrity, not partisan political advocacy," Ward said.

Two smaller U.S. religious groups have divested in protest of Israeli policies: the Friends Fiduciary Corp., which manages assets for U.S. Quakers, and the Mennonite Central Committee. Last week, the pension board of the United Methodist Church, the largest mainline Protestant group in the U.S., revealed plans to sell holdings worth about $110,000 in G4S, which provides security equipment and has contracts with Israel's prison system. However, the United Methodist Church had rejected church-wide divestment.

Motorola Solutions said in a statement that the company follows the law and its own policies that address human rights. Hewlett-Packard said its checkpoints for Palestinians were developed to expedite passage "in a secure environment, enabling people to get to their place of work or to carry out their business in a faster and safer way." Caterpillar has said it does not sell equipment to Israel, just to the U.S. government.

A church spokeswoman estimated the value of Presbyterian holdings in the companies at $21 million.

____

Zoll reported from New York.

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Gunmen attack port in Libya's eastern Benghazi

CAIRO — Gunmen in Libya attacked the port of the restive eastern city of Benghazi Saturday, firing wildly with small arms into the area for hours, a Libyan security official said.

He said security forces and citizens blocked the city's surrounding roads after the attack, which left six people wounded. He said the attack was likely a reprisal by Islamist militiamen targeted by the forces of renegade Libyan Gen. Khalifa Hifter.

Hifter's forces have been shelling boats smuggling weapons to the militia, said the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to brief reporters.

Over the past weeks, forces allied with Hifter have bombed the camps of Islamist militias, which have attacked his troops in return. They also attempted to assassinate Hifter himself, but killed four others instead in the attack.

Benghazi, the birthplace of the 2011 revolt that led to the overthrow and killing of longtime dictator Moammar Gadhafi, has plunged into unrest and violence since then.

Libya is scheduled to hold parliamentary elections on June 25, aimed to end a standoff between Islamist and non-Islamist political groups.

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Alstom board approves GE bid to buy power business

PARIS — The board of Alstom SA has unanimously approved GE's $17 billion offer to buy the French company's power generation business, the companies announced Saturday.

GE says that if shareholders and workers' representatives approve, the deal to buy Alstom's gas and steam turbine-making operations will close sometime next year.

The move is another step for GE toward its new focus on building and servicing big, complicated industrial equipment such as aircraft engines, power plant turbines and oil and gas drilling equipment. The U.S. company sold its remaining interest in NBC Universal last year as part of the new strategy.

GE has been fighting for months to make the Alstom deal, and on Friday, the French government dropped objections and supported the company's offer. The deal is still subject to the French government buying a 20 percent stake in Alstom, and that deal is expected soon.

French President Francois Hollande said on Saturday that the government expects rapid progress on the talks.

"This is a major condition for the government's acceptance of the alliance," he said.

Also under the deal, GE agreed to sell its railroad signal business to Alstom for about $825 million. The sweetened GE offer also calls for the two companies to set up three 50-50 joint ventures: one for the power grid businesses, another for offshore wind and hydro-power operations, and a third for nuclear steam turbines.

Alstom's statement says the board received revised proposals from Siemens and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, but decided on the GE bid.

Alstom has favored a tie-up with GE but had to postpone signing any deal while the government intervened to seek assurances on jobs and decision-making.

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Lighter tracks smoking habits

Smokers attempting to kick the habit will soon be able to see exactly how they're doing with a lighter that keeps track of their daily cigarette breaks.

Quitbit, a lighter that syncs up with a cellphone app, shows how many times a smoker lights up per day and how long its been since their last fix. The device, which should start shipping in December, was invented by two Brown University grads who wanted to figure out a new way to kick the habit.

"If you're trying to quit gradually, this can help keep you on pace," said Ata Ghofrani, Quitbit's CEO. "Optionally, you can connect it to your cellphone and set up a reduction plan and it will show you where you are with your daily goals."

The Boston-based company has raised more than $150,000 from several investors, including Delta Dental of Rhode Island, and venture capital funds Betaspring and Haxlr8r. It was also able to raise more than $55,000 through a Kickstarter crowdfunding campaign, Ghofrani said.

A Quitbit can be preordered for $99, and when it hits retail, Ghofrani expects the product to go for $149. So far, the company has close to 600 preorders, Ghofrani said.

Quitbit is going to take the money and put it into production. An industrial design already has been put together, and a free version of the Quitbit app is already available, Ghofrani said.

Users can put "hard limits" on the lighter, Ghofrani said. It can be set up to work once an hour, and if the smoker tries to light up beforehand, Quitbit won't provide the spark.

Ghofrani and Kuji Nakano, the company's chief technical officer, came up with the idea while having a cigarette. They began brainstorming about ways to cut back, and the concept of a customizable lighter stuck.

"I had the idea of setting a limit on a half-pack or quarter-pack, but I wasn't really sure how the process worked," Ghofrani said. "We started tracking our process on our phones, but none of it was seamless, so we started to think of other ways to do it. We came up with a lighter."

Quitbit's founders ran a small, five-person trial to determine how it works. Everyone involved was able to cut their smoking 30 percent over a month, Ghofrani said.

Ghofrani was able to quit smoking using the device, but Nakano still puffs.

"That's because we wanted to keep one person smoking until we actually sell it," Ghofrani said. "When you do research about smoking every day, you really don't want one."

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