Eric's Autos: Own a VW? What should you do?
If you own a VW equipped with a diesel engine, what should you do? For the moment, nothing. Continue to drive your vehicle. It's perfectly safe. This is unusual.
Usually, when there is a recall, it is because a defect or flaw that could affect the safety of the vehicle has been identified. For example, the classic horror story of Ford Pintos that had a tendency to go up in flames when rear-ended, due to a design defect in the way the gas tank's filler neck was designed.
But in this case, the affected cars are not unsafe to drive. The issue has to do with their emissions control programming - with the software that controls the operation of the computer that controls the engine. VW has been accused of - and has admitted to - adjusting the software such that the cars emit more than the allowable maximum of certain emissions when driven normally, but can still pass the emissions tests required in many states. So, what will happen?
VW is in the process of getting in touch with the registered owners of all the affected vehicles. You will receive a call or a letter or an e-mail (depending on the contact information VW has) that will give you details about taking your car in to a VW dealer for the necessary adjustments, so that it complies with the applicable federal (and state) emissions laws. These adjustments do not involve and mechanical alterations to your vehicle.
It is a relatively simple matter of reprogramming the computer. The process should not take long and it is likely that VW will provide each owner with a free loaner in the even the service cannot be performed on a drive-in/drive-out basis. It is also likely VW will offer each owner something int he way of a goodwill offering, such as free oil changes or similar.
You can find more information here: www.vw.com/owners-recalls/ (or call 1-800-822-8978).
The main thing is to not ignore the recall; to schedule an appointment for service as soon as you're contacted by VW. Even though your vehicle will still run and drive normally, if the reprogramming is not performed, the vehicle will likely not be in compliance with your local (as well as federal) emissions laws and it's possible that you will fail your next smog test - in which case, you may find that you are not able to renew your vehicle's registration until the necessary service has been done.
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www.ericpetersautos.com or EPeters952@aol.com for comments.
