Dealer trying to get me to pay for cat ECUs - Federal warranty?

I thought it was an 8 year federal mandate...

http://www.epa.gov/oms/consumer/warr95fs.txt

 

Good luck. I don't understand how the federal emissions warranty works...

I have a 6-7 year old BMW. Smog pump went out. Clearly, I thought this would fall under the federal emmsions warranty. Not according to the dealer, or the websites I saw...

It seems odd that a purely "emmissions related part" isn't always covered...

Bo

 

Don't know about the warranty but suspect that the extended duration (6~7 years) applies to the hardware of the system and not the control components. I've only read of people getting the cats or manifolds replaced under the warranty.

Worn mounts? I don't see any cause for seeking warranty on those. It is a seven year old car!

 

Cat ecu's have nothing to do with controlling emissions. They are a safety backup system to prevent engine damage.

 

That is "an" answer but it may not be the one you're looking for.

Anyway, armed with that, I'd certainly recommend asking the dealer, but don't rush in, just ask the question and see how he reacts.

 

I don't know why I am still amazed at how dishonest dealers can be.
Good luck you have a damn soild case.

 

He's got no case.


Not covered, never have been.

The warranty manual that came with the car has a specific list of Federal and California covered items. Cat temp warning system isn't on it.

 

Where in the OP is there any dishonesty suggested?

+1 on THEY AIN'T COVERED!!! you'll find enough Cat ECU threads to keep you busy for a while. They are a PIA, they constantly fail, welcome to old Fcars ownership costs.

 

I'm a little biased having never had a good experience with any auto dealer and after working with more than a couple crocked dealership owners over the years.

I would have thought that CAT ECUs would be covered since they are part of the emissions system and the emissions system is covered under warranty. Makes sense in my world.

If I'm wrong it won't be the first time...

 

Several of us have bypassed the OEM system for a fool proof one. I will never have that problem again. I'm surprised our fix has not become more popular. It seems that people like contributing to Ferrari's retirement plan. What is a CAT ecu cost today $1200/pair?

 

Ok, disclaimer here, my 360 runs fine, no issues so I am only asking for learning purposes, besides my 360 is a 1999 so long out of any possible warranty.

The OP on post 6 on this thread quotes the federal website that clearly states exhaust ECU's are covered for 8 years. Then 2 extremely respected people state its not just like the OP's dealer and Rifledriver says its not in the cars manual as covered.

Ok, I am confused are we talking about the same parts ? how can the Fed's say its covered and Ferrari say its not ?

Is it the terminology ? Rifledriver calls it a "Cat temp warning system" and not a ECU which is clearly in the Fed's book. Can it be that simple, if Ferrari called it a ECU it would be covered but because its a Cat temp warning system its not ?

Remember, i am just asking for my learning only, my car is working fine and too old no mater the answer.


And to the OP's question about motor mounts...yeah, they go bad. It sometimes feels like they go bad yearly or at least as often as the car needs belts. I have not tried changing the top one yet but the other 2 are easy if you have a lift and I will find out about the 3rd one in a few weeks since the labor seems high and I do have a lift.

And last item, bypassing ? ooh tell me more.

 

Sorry about that.. I misread our post and thought it was the Cats.. I've had those replaced on my Boxster for free with that 8 year rule. ECU's... There's got to be a workaround....

 

A catalyst control station is not an ECU. In Federal nomenclature and "Engine Control Unit" is an ECU.

The Feds could give a **** what the FChat crowd call a catalyst control station.


I know it is no longer fashionable but language really does count.


Lots of emission equipment is not covered and cat temp monitoring is not by any stretch an emission part in any event. That is about as logical as saying the tires carry the cats around so they are covered for 8 years.

The Feds and California apply a price standard. In my truck the only covered part is the cat.



Now will the freebie crowd and those that assume and call all of us in the car business a bunch of crooks please go back to what you were doing.

 

My speed-reading of the federal law link revealed to me two things.....

1. There's a mention of the general thrust of the laws relating to failure of components which result in "causing your vehicle to exceed emissions" - a thermocouple and/or cat ecu doesn't control emissions, if anything, a fault here will reduce emissions.

2. "..... An emission control part is any part installed with the primary
purpose of controlling emissions......" - again a a thermocouple and/or cat ecu doesn't control emissions, just monitors temperature and relays a warning to the driver.

That's why I suggested not going rushing in to the dealer demanding rights.

 

Now that's the RD I know!

Welcome back.

 

Jason- If one of your two Motronic DMEs (digital motronic ECUs) goes out, that is covered by warranty since that is what adjusts the fuel/air mixture. The catalyst ECUs do not adjust fuel/air mixture.

 

I'll chime in one more time because when you go to the dealer you will either pay the bill or storm out and need a solution. If you do the latter, then here is the solution: http://ferrarichat.com/forum/showthread.php?t=378429

I personally find the Slow Down Electronic Control Unit (SDECU) system a complete waste of time, effort and resources and am a fan of the above solution.

 

All fine and dandy until your cat overheats and sets the car on fire but?

I know the system is a PITA but it is there for good reason.

 

Most car manufactures have set policies regarding warranty work. In most cases the dealer has to request permission to perform the warranty work.At years end, they use a formula of units sold, gross parts purchases, and warranty costs to determine the final dealer discount on vehicles purchased. This in the trade is refered to as trunk money. At the model year end there is a audit of total cars purchased, parts purchased and yes the total of warranty claims filed against the factory. The dealer is looking for the largest trunk money return so if they can keep warranty claims down they are financially rewarded, at your expense.

It is in the dealers finacial interest to keep warranty work to a bare minimum. The factory has certian manufacture recalls(known), and "campains"(unknown) Recalls are usualy federally mandated and usually are a mater of public record. Campains are a rather unknown policy between the factory, the regional rep and the dealer. These are unofficial non published service issues that are taken care at the request of the dealer. If a dealer sees reoccuring issues with a specific model and based on local or from information from other delaers service departments he then can contact the factory rep, and will ask for special help with the problems. It is in the factories best interest to take care of these issues before the DOT gets involved and makes a "recall" out of it. If you are a heavy hitter and purchased your car from the dealer you most likely will get taken care of, if you only use the dealer for service, not so much.

Catalitic converters are fedrally madated to be covered by the manufacturer for a period of 8 years or 80,000 miles which ever comes first. You can find this information on the DOT emissions web site. This coverage does not cover o2 sensors, ecms, smog pumps, or other smog related parts unless specificly stated in the DOT web site or the manufactures warranty(good luck trying to read all the legalize).

As an interesting side bar, the seat belt restraint system is covered for life from 1995 on. This covers retraction, seat belt shredding or fraying, buckle operation. The dealer usually will try and blame you for the failure, but the law is the law. They however will not cover seat belts chewed up by your friendly pooch.

Now I am not suggesting any dealer of any brand will or will not try and solve your problems, just think about the overall economics of their operation.

Just sayin'

Howard Musolf
1981 308gtsi
1982 400i Cabriolet
1994 348 spider