Volkswagen is confronted with a monumental challenge.
The company has admitted that 11 million of its cars used illegal software to cheat emissions standards.
Now, many owners are demanding that the offending cars be fixed.
That's easier said than done, and Volkswagen has already tried — and failed — twice.
Here's the issue, according to the US Environmental Protection Agency: Cars with Volkswagen's2-liter TDI turbo-diesel four-cylinder engines include software that detects when the car is undergoing emissions testing and turns on a suite of pollution-control systems.
More
DelMarVa's Premier Source for News, Opinion, Analysis, and Human Interest Contact Publisher Joe Albero at alberobutzo@wmconnect.com or 410-430-5349
So they recall them and either reflash the engine control module or replace the computer entirely. Instead of a re-mappable ECU, they'll replace it with something with ROM, with unmodifiable preset factory parameters...that detune the car so it will now pass emissions.
ReplyDeleteAnd it suddenly turns into a crappy little slug, that runs like crap...but hey, it passes emissions!
I suspect the factory original "cheater" computers will become quite desirable, and all but a few grouches will resist efforts to bring the cars in for the "mandatory recall".
Time to invest in Greddy, Apexi, and whoever else makes aftermarket engine control computers for VW's.
Or the govt stops being such piecirs of crap. The entire word uses deisel engines but the US seems to have a problem with them. Is it becaue they last so long? Is it becaus eit actually gets good mileage? Is it because the foreign markets have a lock on small deseil engines and the us car makerts couldnt compete? Yes to all. Keeping deseil engines out of the US has nothing to do with clean air.
ReplyDeleteWonder what kind of emission controls are on all those big rig trucks on the road? Maybe the government should worry about them instead of a few diesel engined cars.
ReplyDeleteMost of the cars we drive in the US are available in Europe but 90% all have Diesel engines. Why? Why is the US so afraid of diesel in consumer/non commercial vehicles? Because it defeats the automakers "planned obsolescence" business model because these cars are capable of 2-300,000 miles of service?
ReplyDeleteIf I had one of those cars, the last thing I would want is to get it "fixed." The fix will ruin the MGP and performance. I would get rid of it before I would get it fixed.
ReplyDeleteDo diesel engines really last longer? I've had three Acuras all go over 250,000 miles. Two were taken off the road because they were involved in accidents, and the repair cost exceeded the cost of the vehicle. One is still running, but it's coming due on expensive maintenance and the car doesn't really fit my lifestyle. It makes more sense to sell it and move on.
ReplyDelete