As pressure mounts to fix Toyota gas pedals that have the potential to stick and cause unintended acceleration, dealers across the region are training mechanics and planning repairs for today.Mechanics from Girard Toyota in New London, one of three dealerships owned by the Antonino Auto Group, were to be trained by Toyota engineers in New Haven early this morning and were expected to be repairing cars by early afternoon, John Antonino, a group partner, said Wednesday.

Mechanics from Girard Toyota in New London, one of three dealerships owned by the Antonino Auto Group, were to be trained by Toyota engineers in New Haven early this morning and were expected to be repairing cars by early afternoon, John Antonino, a group partner, said Wednesday.While parts came in early Wednesday, training could not be done until today, he said.

While parts came in early Wednesday, training could not be done until today, he said.Repairs will be made whether or not customers experience problems or have received recall letters from the Torrance, Calif.-based Toyota Motor Sales, so long as the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) is among those listed for eight models under the recall, Antonino said.

Repairs will be made whether or not customers experience problems or have received recall letters from the Torrance, Calif.-based Toyota Motor Sales, so long as the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) is among those listed for eight models under the recall, Antonino said."As long as the serial number falls in that sequence of numbers that we have to do, and as long as their gas pedal is a CTS pedal, we'll do it," he said.

"As long as the serial number falls in that sequence of numbers that we have to do, and as long as their gas pedal is a CTS pedal, we'll do it," he said.CTS is the manufacturer of the pedal believed to wear to the point of roughness and stickiness.

CTS is the manufacturer of the pedal believed to wear to the point of roughness and stickiness.Despite the flood of customers' calls earlier in the week, no one at any Antonino dealership has complained of a sticking gas pedal, Antonino said. Still, he doesn't plan to make customers wait for the recall paperwork before addressing problems.

Despite the flood of customers' calls earlier in the week, no one at any Antonino dealership has complained of a sticking gas pedal, Antonino said. Still, he doesn't plan to make customers wait for the recall paperwork before addressing problems. "If it's one of the faulty pedals, it has to be replaced," he said.

"If it's one of the faulty pedals, it has to be replaced," he said.Toyota said Wednesday making repairs without having the recall letter in hand was a good way to handle the onslaught of consumer concerns.

Toyota said Wednesday making repairs without having the recall letter in hand was a good way to handle the onslaught of consumer concerns.Dealers "want to get going on it and we would like them to get going on it," said Cindy Knight, a Toyota public affairs manager in Washington, D.C. "This is a situation we want to get fixed as fast as possible, and so do they."

Dealers "want to get going on it and we would like them to get going on it," said Cindy Knight, a Toyota public affairs manager in Washington, D.C. "This is a situation we want to get fixed as fast as possible, and so do they."Antonino and Bill Goodwin, general manager of Valenti Toyota in Westerly, said Wednesday they received up to 400 repair kits apiece, and were going to start training mechanics immediately.

Antonino and Bill Goodwin, general manager of Valenti Toyota in Westerly, said Wednesday they received up to 400 repair kits apiece, and were going to start training mechanics immediately.The new part is a steel shim that can be inserted in pedal assemblies in a short period of time, said Wade Hoyt, a Toyota spokesman based in New York.

The new part is a steel shim that can be inserted in pedal assemblies in a short period of time, said Wade Hoyt, a Toyota spokesman based in New York."Inserting the shim is the shortest part of the job," Hoyt said. "It's getting to the place where it has to be inserted that takes a little time. Customers' wait depends on work flow at the dealership."

"Inserting the shim is the shortest part of the job," Hoyt said. "It's getting to the place where it has to be inserted that takes a little time. Customers' wait depends on work flow at the dealership."At Valenti, master technicians and the mechanics they are training fixed a test sample of a half dozen cars on the lot Wednesday afternoon, Goodwin said, after receiving a detailed instructional breakdown on how to do it during a conference call with Toyota engineers. Ten of 14 mechanics will be doing the repairs, he said.

At Valenti, master technicians and the mechanics they are training fixed a test sample of a half dozen cars on the lot Wednesday afternoon, Goodwin said, after receiving a detailed instructional breakdown on how to do it during a conference call with Toyota engineers. Ten of 14 mechanics will be doing the repairs, he said."We're trying to make sure we do it right," Goodwin said.

"We're trying to make sure we do it right," Goodwin said.Adding to consumers' confusion, U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood retracted comments Wednesday that drivers should not drive Toyota vehicles subject to the recall, saying instead that they should get them repaired as soon as possible. Antonino called the earlier remarks "grandstanding."

Adding to consumers' confusion, U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood retracted comments Wednesday that drivers should not drive Toyota vehicles subject to the recall, saying instead that they should get them repaired as soon as possible. Antonino called the earlier remarks "grandstanding.""Ray LaHood's comment doesn't help matters. It just fans the fires of mass hysteria," said Jon Linkov, managing editor of autos at Consumer Reports.

"Ray LaHood's comment doesn't help matters. It just fans the fires of mass hysteria," said Jon Linkov, managing editor of autos at Consumer Reports.While Linkov advises consumers to wait for the recall letter, he acknowledged that different dealers may be handling the issue in different ways.

While Linkov advises consumers to wait for the recall letter, he acknowledged that different dealers may be handling the issue in different ways."If the dealer can do it, that's fine," Linkov said of the repair work. "With any recall people just want to get things taken care of because of the hype, because there are so many vehicles involved. But it's the recall for the floormat issue that has been linked to deaths. That's not the case with the sticking pedal."

"If the dealer can do it, that's fine," Linkov said of the repair work. "With any recall people just want to get things taken care of because of the hype, because there are so many vehicles involved. But it's the recall for the floormat issue that has been linked to deaths. That's not the case with the sticking pedal."At the Lorensen Toyota dealership in Old Saybrook, customer Angela Smith of Groton said she received a loaner vehicle Wednesday after experiencing what she thought might be some stickiness in the gas pedal of her 2009 Corolla. She had been planning to wait for the recall notice and instead brought the car in.

At the Lorensen Toyota dealership in Old Saybrook, customer Angela Smith of Groton said she received a loaner vehicle Wednesday after experiencing what she thought might be some stickiness in the gas pedal of her 2009 Corolla. She had been planning to wait for the recall notice and instead brought the car in. Staff at the dealership said they would be making repairs once all mechanics were trained, she said. A service manager at Lorensen declined comment.

Staff at the dealership said they would be making repairs once all mechanics were trained, she said. A service manager at Lorensen declined comment."They're taking care of me, so I have no complaints," Smith said. "It could be I was just being paranoid, but it's better safe than sorry. And they're taking action, so they're not giving me the run-around."

"They're taking care of me, so I have no complaints," Smith said. "It could be I was just being paranoid, but it's better safe than sorry. And they're taking action, so they're not giving me the run-around."Linkov said the incidence of sticking accelerators remains rare and, if it happens, the driver should shift the car into neutral, apply the brakes and pull to the side of the road.

Linkov said the incidence of sticking accelerators remains rare and, if it happens, the driver should shift the car into neutral, apply the brakes and pull to the side of the road."Don't get yourself so overwhelmed with worry that you worry if the car is accelerating or not and lose focus on everything else around you," he said. "Go to the parking lot and practice what the car can do. If you're so worried it's causing you anxiety, don't drive. Park your vehicle and wait until you get the recall letter."

"Don't get yourself so overwhelmed with worry that you worry if the car is accelerating or not and lose focus on everything else around you," he said. "Go to the parking lot and practice what the car can do. If you're so worried it's causing you anxiety, don't drive. Park your vehicle and wait until you get the recall letter."p.daddona@theday.com

p.daddona@theday.com