First Name | Kevin |
---|---|
Last Name | McCartney |
Email Address | crashh@prodigy.net |
Affiliation | |
Subject | Warranty vs Repair Assistance |
Comment | The state bases most of it’s justification for a "super warranty" on it’s failures to win judgements against the Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEM). This seems to indicate that the OEMs will win similar judgements concerning warranty coverage of catalytic converters, EGR systems and other emission control systems. A much more effective alternative exists. The state has very effective low income repair assistance program (LIRAP) that successfully reduces emissions in a very efficient and cost effective manor without any potential for legal challenges to eliminate positive results. The state also has a very popular program that allows consumers to voluntarily pay a fee at the time of new car purchases to avoid future smog inspection expenses. Clearly, consumers are willing to pay the state to reduce their future emission related expenses. A state-controlled program that allows consumers to choose ANY state approved repair shop best handles high mileage emission repairs. The state then has control over what gets repaired without legal challenges. Licensed technicians under strict oversight and direct approval of state employees perform the repairs. Any super warranty option will be subject to legal challenges that the state has a well-established history of loosing. And, any repairs that actually are performed under a super warranty program would be legally performed by technicians that do NOT posses the state required smog license. Consumers will NOT be well served by a super warranty that causes them to be redirected to a dealership who charges them diagnostic fees only to confirm that the needed repair is not covered under the super warranty. A state run system similar to the very successful LIRAP program would allow consumers to have emission-related repairs performed with great efficiency and competence by their choice of state approved service providers. Phosphorous poisoning is a leading cause of catalyst failure. Phosphorous poisoning is believed to be responsible for over 90% of catalyst failures under existing warranty and and even higher percentage of higher mileage catalyst failures. Sulfur, sulfated ash and zinc also damage catalysts. But, this is ignored by consumers and California BAR has refused to convey this information to technicians (other states have informed technicians through newsletters, etc). The vast majority of consumers, technicians and service managers (including dealerships) are ignorant of the many compounds in readily available automotive products that will and do degrade catalytic converters. The catalytic converters that degraded due to phosphorous or other common contamination would not be covered under the existing super warranty proposal. Likewise, EGR failures and deposit related failures would often NOT be covered under this super warranty because such failures are often prevented by the use of OEM approved fuels. California clean air would be far better served by outlawing substandard fuels lubricants and lubricant products that are linked to the majority of emission system failures. A Super warranty would NOT cover most catalyst and EGR system failures because most such failures are caused by the use of OEM prohibited products. Catalytic converters in properly functioning cars eliminate about 99% of harmful exhaust emissions. A typical 1000 PPM NOx is reduced to 10 PPM by normal catalyst reduction. A super warranty that excludes that is useless if the OEM can argue that the catalyst failure was caused by the use of prohibited compounds (Phosphorous, sulfur, sulfated ash, zinc, chlorine, etc – all commonly used by consumers, shops and dealerships) |
Attachment | |
Original File Name | |
Date and Time Comment Was Submitted | 2006-12-06 11:50:28 |
If you have any questions or comments please contact Clerk of the Board at (916) 322-5594.