Recall conundrum <OT>

Got a letter from Chrysler today telling me my 10 year old 300,000 mile Jeep is being recalled because of an emissions problem.

Apparently the computer doesn't sense a failing catalytic converter like it's supposed to, so what they want to do is reprogram the computer and replace the converter IF it's rattling.

The converter DID rattle, a LOT, but it quit about 200,000 miles ago. The service manager at a dealership told me they would only replace the cat if it was actually rattling.

I suspect that the stuff inside the cat blew out years ago, and that's why it stopped rattling.

So currently I probably have a bad catalytic converter and a computer that doesn't know it, so the car passes inspection.

If I take it in for the recall they probably won't replace the cat, so now I'll have a Jeep with a bad cat, a computer that knows it, and it won't pass inspection.

Why on Earth should I take it in?

Jeff DeWitt

Reply to
Jeffrey DeWitt
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I don't know and I'm no longer qualified to answer such questions. Sounds like you need to Ask Dr. Z -

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Reply to
Kevin Wolford

Out here the smog test tests the actual gasses coming out of the tailpipe.What the computer says is not that important.

Reply to
Alex Magdaleno

We used to do that then the OBD II thing came along and the states computer just asks the cars computer how it's doing.

So now it's hard to find a place to inspect a pre 96 car, but fortunately if it's 35 years or older it's exempt from inspection.

Jeff DeWitt

Alex Magdaleno wrote:

Reply to
Jeffrey DeWitt

Sounds like you need to Ask Dr. Z -

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Now THAT's funny. Major write-up in WSJ today about how shittily the Dr.Z campaign has gone, and how it came to be. ("Scheissliche?")

Here's how major corporations make decisions on how to portray themselves: Agency-supplied focus groups found this program more believable than the others they were offered (even though real-worlders can't believe Z is not a fictional character). Staffers figured it worked for Chairman Lee, so what the hell. Then follows analysis of when, and how well, CEO ad appeals have ever worked.

Campaign is on hold, for the season of close-out sales and new rebates. Expect something else before the football play-offs. Maybe they'll wax the 'stache.

FWIW the new Ford Shelby 500 ad looks like a winner: Hamburg dock boss: You couldn't find a car in Germany you liked? (as car is un-boxed); Mustang owner: Naa, I couldn't find a speed limit in America I liked. (Scenes of Shelby on Autobahn). (See how easy advertising can be?)

Reply to
comatus

Heh... Just goes to show that the image (dead fish) of an "old world" Kraut hasn't changed.....

JT

" snipped-for-privacy@bex.net" wrote:

Reply to
Grumpy AuContraire

I'm finding less and less humor in this whole situation:

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Reply to
Kevin Wolford

Even less humorous!:

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Reply to
Kevin Wolford

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