Bose Recall

Fri Jul 19 16:05:36 EDT 2002

Apparently, I touched your upset button!

I admitted that I didn't know any details of what I was talking about, but I
have been aware of the problems since joining this list and that there was
no satisfaction from Audi.  If the original amplified speakers are no longer
in the car, their replacements are proof of an expense greater than the cost
of this current Audi recall, and the replacementof which may well have been
influenced by Audi's refusal to acknowlege a safety hazard.  Using 12V caps
in a 14.5 V system is not safe design, originating at day one, IMO.

Further, I have little faith in the PO.  They just lost a Bentley set that I
had shipped.

The real war has not been won.  Only the war of attrition has been won by
Audi, inasmuch as there are apparently few of the hazardous amplifiers still
on the road.

Bernie

> From: Phil Rose <pjrose at frontiernet.net>
> Date: Fri, 19 Jul 2002 17:16:17 -0400
> To: Bernie Benz <b.m.benz at prodigy.net>
> Cc: Brett Dikeman <brett at cloud9.net>, 200q20V mailing list
> <200q20v at audifans.com>
> Subject: Re: Bose Recall
>
> What are you smoking, Bernie?
>
> First of all, expecting reimbursement without any proof of expense is
> just plain silliness.
>
> Secondly, what leads you to conclude that Audi had knowledge of a
> safety hazard from these speakers for 10 or 12 years?  That would be
> from the "get-go", so to speak. It's not likely that any serious
> problems started to appear so early. Not that I've heard about,
> anyway. The Nissan recall on Q45 cars with Bose amplified speakers
> was issued around 1999. My own letter to Audi of America was sent in
> December 2000. Steve Bednarski's fire ocurred in mid-'96 and his
> buy-back settlement with AoA did not happen until mid-'97. From my
> information, Audi must've had reason to take a serious look at the
> issue by some time in 1997. That's 5 years ago, at most. In my
> opinion they could and _should_ have acted at the same time as
> Nissan, which would be no later than1999/2000. But knowing about this
> as a safety hazard for 10 or 12 years is not a reasonable supposition.
>
> Third: Why will you not not write a "real" letter to AoA? It would
> have far greater significance, IMO, than e-mail.
>
> Finally,  when the war's been won, so to speak, it appears you're
> asking Brett (or someone else) to write now on your behalf. Are you
> completely unaware of the efforts that have already been made by some
> of us in contacting Audi and NHTSA? Did *you* ever write a letter to
> AoA and NHTSA a couple of years ago--when I made a request-- here and
> on the qlist--for listers to do so?
>
> Too little, too late, Bernie.
>
> Phil
>
> At 12:34 PM -0700 7/19/02, Bernie Benz wrote:
>> The recall notice also states:
>> "Please write us at the address below, if you have incurred out of pocket
>> expenses for a rear amplifier replacement, and we would be pleased to review
>> your request for possible reimbursement.  Include any receipts you have."
>>
>> In lue of writing a hard letter, I have talked with their CR rep. asking for
>> a direct e-mail address, was refered to their web site CS page, through
>> which I asked for a direct e-mail address so that I could retain a copy of
>> my contacts.  This address is: Auditalk <auditalk at audi.com> Subject: Safety
>> Recall LM.
>>
>> My thoughts are that, we who have replaced our amplified rear speakers over
>> the years because of actual or potential damage to our cars due to the
>> defective amps, and inasmuch as we as well as AOA have been aware of this
>> safety hazard for many (10 or 12) years, and AOA has until recently refused
>> to acknowlege the hazard, thereby forcing us to correct the hazard by our
>> own means and at our own expense, should be elegiable for a cash
>> reimbursement under Safety Recall LM of an amount equal to the cost of parts
>> and labor for the current LM dealer recall service, without having to
>> furnish receipts for same, inasmuch as AOA has been negligent in its long
>> delay in acknowleging the hazard to which they have knowingly subjected us.
>>
>> My request to Brett, or anyone else that has a full knowledge and
>> understanding of the history of this problem, is that he compose an e-mail
>> form letter addressed to both AOA and the NHTSA that explicitly and
>> sucinctly describes this issue and makes this point, for the individual
>> e-mail use of us 200-20V listers.
>>
>> Thanks in advance,
>>
>> Bernie
>>
>> Bernie
>>
>>> From: Phil Rose <pjrose at frontiernet.net>
>>> Date: Fri, 19 Jul 2002 14:18:53 -0400
>>> To: Kneale Brownson <knotnook at traverse.com>
>>> Cc: "Brennig, Rakesh (CORP, GEAccess)" <rakesh.brennig at geaccess.com>,
>>> "'200q20v at audifans.com'" <200q20v at audifans.com>
>>> Subject: Re: Bose Recall
>>>
>>> I believe Rakesh's dealer is mistaken. My reading of the recall
>>> notice is that if your car is in the specified group (and has the
>>> Bose amplified rear speakers) the amps in those speakers (not the
>>> entire speakers) _will_ be replaced.
>>>
>>> There is no "inspection" and "if defective", etc, etc. Of course
>>> perhaps your dealer feels he needs to do an inspection to determine
>>> if you're ineligible because the rear Bose speakers have been
>>> replaced with another make.
>>>
>>> Phil
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> At 1:42 PM -0400 7/19/02, Kneale Brownson wrote:
>>>> --
>>>> The letter describes "Safety Recall LM" as "Replace Rear Speaker
>>>> Amplifiers" and explains that "It is possible that an electrolytic
>>>> capacitor in one of the rear speaker amplif9iers could leak electrolyte,
>>>> which could cause overheating and result in a fire."  It says Audi has
>>>> supplied dealers with new amplifiers and instructions on how to remove and
>>>> replace amplifiers.
>>>>
>>>> At 07:54 AM 07/18/2002 -0600, Brennig, Rakesh (CORP, GEAccess) wrote:
>>>>
>>>>> At the end of June I called both AoA and the local dealer to inquire
>>>>> specifically about any known problems with the rear speakers.  Of course
>>>>> neither group had the foggiest of what I was talking about.
>>>>>
>>>>> Suddenly, with the official word out both AoA and the local dealer are now
>>>>> aware, but I was not told what would be done.  I called again and was told
>>>>> that recall is to the effect of inspecting the unit and replacing if
>>>>> defective.  This would not be a blanket replacement of the unit.  Is this
>>>>> possible?  Can one simply replace a part (capacitor?) in the sealed unit?
>>>>> Or if the units seem good upon inspection what about 2 years
>>>>> from now?  The
>>>>> dealer seemed puzzled by this whole recall and was not too descriptive.
>>>>> Since I did not get a copy of the letter, does it say more than what I was
>>>>> told?
>>>>>
>>>>> This is a great list - I would not have known of this issue otherwise.
>>>>>
>>>>> Regards, Rakesh
>>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>>> 200q20v mailing list
>>>>> 200q20v at audifans.com
>>>>> http://www.audifans.com/mailman/listinfo/200q20v
>>>> --
>>>>
>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>> 200q20v mailing list
>>>> 200q20v at audifans.com
>>>> http://www.audifans.com/mailman/listinfo/200q20v
>>>
>>> --
>>>
>>> Phil Rose
>>> Rochester, NY
>>> mailto:pjrose at frontiernet.net
>>> _______________________________________________
>>> 200q20v mailing list
>>> 200q20v at audifans.com
>>> http://www.audifans.com/mailman/listinfo/200q20v
>
> --
>
> Phil Rose
> Rochester, NY
> mailto:pjrose at frontiernet.net
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> 200q20v at audifans.com
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