[Vwdiesel] Recall Campaign?

paulr reichp at earthlink.net
Sat Nov 27 23:21:22 EST 2004 

Another dealer horror story. At least the service writer got a laugh out
of it ;-)

FWIW, the VW shops in metro CHI get ~ 105 - 125 an hour, with 1 hour
minimums....

Just don't like software "upgrades".   What is it, I.E. what exactly will
it *do*?? No way to tell what extra cargo VWoA might put in the car. Good
thing it doesn't have a GPS system!

Sent a copy of the notice to Ross-Tech. Guess I'll know what VWoA did if
if Uwe does a new release of Vag-Com.


Regards,

Paul

2000 Golf TDI


James Hansen wrote:
> In an ideal world, you would actually own the car you buy, and have some say
> in it's maintenance, but yeah shops are no longer in the business of
> allowing the owner to participate in the maintenance for a variety of
> nonsensical reasons.
> 
> I had a right rear brake locking up on the truck (1991 3/4 ton 4X4 ext cab
> GM with a 6.5 and banks turbo) when I was in Phoenix last winter, far from
> tools etc.  I pulled into a GMC dealership, and bought a half hour of
> service from them- asked that the offending wheel and drum be removed so I
> could see if the wheel seal was leaking, or a bearing was going south, etc.
> and to stop there so I could see it myself.  I tried to stay with the
> vehicle, but the scowling belligerent mechanic refused to work on the truck
> while I was present.  After waiting in the service room full of happy suits
> drinking coffee and vacuuming dougnuts from the table for an hour, I
> demanded to see the truck.  I got there in time to see all four wheels off,
> both rear drums, as the mech was starting to tear the front calipers off
> (they were NEW, along with the rotors)  He launched into a long dissertation
> as to why I needed new stuff on all four corners, that the front rotors were
> shot, and the pads were so worn that it was "throwing the truck into abs
> lockup" and "what kind of shittty pads did I have on the front anyway".
> yeah.  Dad had just had new rotors, and pads installed at the GM dealer in
> town here before I left, and new rear shoes.  It's also single channel abs,
> off the speedo sensor, to tell if the driveshaft stops turning or not,
> nothing more. I pointed this out to him, that abs on a 91 gmc 4X4 is single
> channel abs, and can't lock up a single wheel.  also that the pads were GMC
> NEW pads and shoes, with under 2000 miles on them and the front rotors.
> "Put the wheels on thanks, I see the wheel bearing and seal are fine."
> "Please don't f*** with me, I don't like it."  The service writer almost
> peed himself laughing.
> 
> 
>   I would hazard to say that software updates are an optional thing should
> you wish it to be so, on computers, cars, internet refrigerators, etc.
> I really love that mandatory probing you get for the $90 bucks to do
> "diagnosis"... if that's what you call reading dtc's. So what is the 70/hr
> for? shop towels?  oh yeah, they charge for those anyway...
> 
> Never had Uwe's stuff be interrupted before, so unsure what they are getting
> at exactly.  Uwe figured out the whole shootin match I'm thinking, so I
> doubt very much they would ever keep him out of the ecu for long.  I recall
> reading an article entitled something like "automotive hacker" where they
> describe him as a hacker gone mainstream commerce. It was pretty good.  If
> vwoa wants to screw with Vag-Com, they would be shutting down 3/4 of their
> dealers shops as well.  Every dealership that I know has the mandatory dusty
> vw scantools, and a couple laptops with Uwe's software that they use all the
> time.  His works better, and costs a tiny fraction of the VW boxes.
> 
> I'm really glad I have my own shop.  Own two cars in a lifetime, and you
> could pay for your own shop and tools these days.
> -James
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: vwdiesel-bounces+jhsg=sasktel.net at vwfans.com
> [mailto:vwdiesel-bounces+jhsg=sasktel.net at vwfans.com]On Behalf Of paulr
> Sent: Saturday, November 27, 2004 5:26 PM
> To: VWDiesel List
> Subject: [Vwdiesel] Recall Campaign?
> 
> 
> Got a recall notice from VWoA Wednesday.  It's for a campaign
> called "Emission Service Action VS".  It's described as "Reprogram
> Instrument Cluster Relay Switching Software".
> 
> The recall letter states that
> 
>     'Volkswagen has found that the instrument cluster
>      switching relay software in the affected vehicles
>      may require reprogramming (reflashing). A random
>      data communication problem may exist in certain
>      vehicles.  If this occurs, it could cause communication
>      with the diagnostic scan tool to be interrupted'
> 
> and further that
> 
>      'In order to correct this condition, we will electronically
>       update the instrument cluster relay switching software.'
> 
> Car runs fine. Vag-Com works fine.
> 
> Is VWoA trying to prevent use of Ross-Tech's Vag-Com program?
> Would make sense for VWoA to lock out Vag-Com and protect their
> scan tool revenue stream! **
> 
> Won't be able to ignore this one -- the timing belt needs
> replacement soon  :-(    Would expect that the dealer to do
> this service when I bring it in.  Don't think I'd have any
> choice...
> 
> 
> Regards,
> 
> Paul
> 
> 2000 Golf TDI
> 
> ** Dealer automatically writes in $99 at every service call
>     to read out scan codes - no questions asked...
> 
> --
> *********************************************
> Paul Reich                Electrical Engineer
> 
>        Support the Freedom To Innovate
> *********************************************
> 
> _______________________________________________
> Vwdiesel mailing list
> Vwdiesel at vwfans.com
> http://www.audifans.com/mailman/listinfo/vwdiesel
> ---
> Incoming mail is certified Virus Free.
> Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com).
> Version: 6.0.782 / Virus Database: 528 - Release Date: 10/22/2004
> 
> ---
> Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free.
> Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com).
> Version: 6.0.782 / Virus Database: 528 - Release Date: 10/22/2004
> 
> _______________________________________________
> Vwdiesel mailing list
> Vwdiesel at vwfans.com
> http://www.audifans.com/mailman/listinfo/vwdiesel
> 

-- 
*********************************************
Paul Reich                Electrical Engineer

       Support the Freedom To Innovate
*********************************************

More information about the Vwdiesel mailing list