David
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Posts by David
A Look Back and Forward
Feb 2nd
2010 was the fourth-largest year for auto recalls since the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration started keeping those records in 1966.
A total of 20.3 million vehicles were recalled during the year with Toyota leading the pack, with 17 separate recalls totaling almost 7 million vehicles. General Motors held the second spot with 21 recalls encompassing four million vehicles. Honda came in third, with 15 recalls totaling 2.4 million vehicles. Nissan was fourth with 16 recalls totaling 2.1 million vehicles and Chrysler rounded out the top five, with 17 recalls totaling 1.6 million vehicles.
Ford, Volkswagen, BMW and Mazda were the remaining major car manufacturers with recalls in 2010. They totaled 29 separate recalls and another 1.5 million vehicles.
These recalls covered the spectrum in problems and systems. They include defective parts and faulty construction that affects safety and quality.
While the manufacturers stand on their soapboxes and sanctimoniously preach against the quality and safety of aftermarket parts, on average 394,231 of their vehicles were being recalled every week in 2010. These are the people that should preach safety to us?
Already, 2011 has started off where 2010 left off. In January, Toyota has recalled 1.7 million vehicles, Honda 22,000 vehicles and Chevy 160,506 vehicles. Hang on it maybe another bumpy ride in 2011.
One thing should be very clear, the car manufacturers need to stop their self-serving campaign against aftermarket parts and concentrate on solving their own numerous and serious problems.
I suggest to the manufacturers coming back and preaching safety and quality when you can show a 60-year record of both, like aftermarket parts can.
Tis The Season
Jan 5th
I don’t mean the real holiday season. The big three holiday’s, Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Years are over, unfortunately. No, I’m talking about the new legislative season.
The state legislatures are coming back into session and, of course, the new United States Congress has returned. That means legislation is being introduced now that will affect all of us that drive or own cars.
One piece of legislation that I feel very strongly about is called, The Right to Repair (RTR). I know this particular legislation well because I helped conceive and write it. For nearly ten years, I worked hard in several states and in Washington to get it passed. Although not ultimately successful myself, others in the aftermarket industry are still working to get this legislation passed.
The RTR legislation is very simple. It says that if you own a vehicle – you have the right to all the information necessary to maintain, service and make repairs on it.
Why is this needed? Today’s vehicles are equipped with computers that monitor and control every system as well as almost all parts on the vehicle. This includes, but is not limited too, systems like the tires, brakes, engine performance, pollution controls, fuel consumption and even your radio and seats.
This is a good thing. Having these systems allows you to know, as the vehicle driver and owner, if something is wrong or if your vehicle needs service. All good.
However, with everything good comes some bad. And this bad is really bad. In order to have your car repaired or serviced, you have to be able to read the codes coming out of the computers. If you can’t read the codes, you will not know what is wrong and what needs to be repaired. Right now, the only people that have the ability to read all of the codes coming out of the vehicle systems are the car dealers.
In addition, once you service or make a repair to your vehicle you need to reset the system. Reprogram the computer if you will. Without that, the vehicle may not run properly, if at all. If you don’t know the codes, you cannot reset the system. Again, only the dealers have all of this information.
Control the information and you control who can repair your vehicle. Monopoly is what that is called. RTR would allow you as the owner of the vehicle, the right to choose were you have your vehicle repaired or even do-it-yourself.
The legislation does not require any proprietary information too be released. We specifically included language to say just that. The aftermarket does not need that information to service or repair vehicles.
RTR is very important legislation for vehicle owners. If you are a vehicle owner and want the opportunity to choose where you have your vehicle serviced and repaired, you need to support this legislation wherever it may be introduced.
We will track RTR legislation on this site. Come back often to see were the legislation has been introduced and what you can do to help.
SAW Fascination??
Nov 11th
This past summer, the car manufacturers, most notably Ford, have become fascinated with the fact that an electric saw is able to cut through an aftermarket car bumper. Imagine that.
The engineers at Ford have been like little boys that have discovered a new toy. They have been running around with their saw cutting bumpers here and there all over the place. I can’t say whether they have also been playing with the box that the saw came in, but, as excited as these boys are with their new toy, I think it is highly possible.
The Ford engineers have even taken the time to produce and film a video of them selves cutting through a bumper. What fun they must be having. No word on if Spielberg produced or filmed it?
Why would “highly” educated car engineers be taking time away from trying to solve serious problems with their own cars, parts and manufacturing to play with saws? Problems like, why Ford SUVs continue too roll over or, why some of their other models have fuel tanks that explode when hit from behind. You know real world issues. It’s very simple; it is all part of the on-going campaign by the car manufacturers and their minions to scare people into not buying aftermarket parts. They want a monopoly pure and simple.
You see, these “brilliant” car company engineers believe that if you can cut a bumper in two, with a saw that is designed to cut things in two, it proves with out a doubt that aftermarket parts are inferior. Therefore, you should not purchase or, put them on your vehicle.
What a joke!
The question has to be asked. Why does a bumper being able to stand up to a saw have anything to do with protecting your car? Oh I guess it might come in handy if I am traveling through Texas and the chain saw massacre gang attacks my car, but other than that, what does it matter?
Saws are designed to cut through things, any thing, while bumpers are designed to protect the headlights of a car in a minor accident, not protect you from a saw wielding maniac or, car company engineer at play.
Aftermarket bumpers and parts are designed and built to the specifications required by the US government. Specifications I might add, lobbied for by the car companies. Aftermarket crash parts have an unblemished 60-year history of never having caused an injury or death because of a design or manufacture failure. Can the car companies make the same claim? NO!
This is all about achieving a monopoly for the car manufacturers. They do not want the American vehicle owner to have a choice. They want you to have to pay more for your parts because that goes right into their pocket. No competition, bigger profits. They don’t care about you.
But, lets not be too mean here. Maybe these educated Ford engineers are on to some thing. Just watch the following video. A Ford Crown Victoria police cruiser is cut in half using an electric saw similar to the one used in their video. It takes just two minutes and one second to do this. Imagine that.
Guess that means you should not buy a Ford. Not if you can cut in half with a saw anyway.