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<center><big><big><b><i><font color="#3333ff">Giammalvo Files</font></i></b></big></big></center>
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<img src="mark3.jpg" alt="Mark Giammalvo" height="180" width="167">
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<p><i><font color="#000000">Mark Giammalvo specializes in driveability
diagnostics </font><font color="#000000">at his family
business, Sam Giammalvo's Auto Sales & Service, Inc.
in New</font> <font color="#000000">Bedford, MA. </font> </i>
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<p><i><font color="#000000">Mark, who has been with the business for
over 20 years, is an ASE Master Technician
and Parts Specialist. He also holds the ASE L1 certification,
and has an associates degree in business</font>
<font color="#000000">management. <br>
Mark is also a writer for Motor Age Magazine and is the past
secretary of the Alliance of Automotive Service Professionals, (AASP).<br>
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<big><big><big><b>Say Bye, Bye - Part 2 <br>
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<div align="center"><small><i><font color="#000000">(Printed in the Journal of The Alliance
of Automotive Service Providers, AASP) </font></i></small><br>
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For those of you who don't remember my original article: <a href="gf37.html">"Say Bye, Bye,"</a>
it was about my frustration with the automotive industry regarding information
access and repair lockout. In that past article I was unable to repair a
1999 Mercury Sable. The repair (updated engine computer software reprogramming)
could only be done with the "Ford Worldwide Diagnostic System." Or as we
say: "Take it to the dealer."<br>
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Well, here goes part two of the non-serviceable car saga. This week I found
myself under the hood of a 2000 Honda Accord. The customer had brought in
the car because the check engine light was on. A quick connect of a Scan-Tool
revealed the lone code P1149. According to the Honda Service Manual, code
P1149 is defined as an "Air/fuel ratio sensor range/performance problem."
Just as I was about to print out the trouble chart for that code, I realized
that I had forgot to check for Honda Service Bulletins. As it turns out,
it's a good thing I checked. I found Honda Bulletin # 01-031 quite amusing.
The bulletin states that if code P1149 is found on a 1998 thru 2000 Accord,
the vehicle's ECM/PCM (computer) must be replaced. Seems like the original
computer's program is too fussy about the performance of the air/fuel sensor.
Now, how much could that little black box be? How does $667.00 plus labor
sound? I knew that breaking this bad news to the customer would be difficult.
After I helped the customer pick her jaw up off the ground, she reminded
me that she had purchased an aftermarket-extended warranty. That's when I
realized that I would have to give her the rest of the bad news. Talk about
adding insult to injury. Now I had to tell her that her aftermarket warranty,
like most, does not pay for repairs called out in a manufacturer's technical
service bulletin. The warranty provider views a service bulletin as an admission
of design fault by the vehicle manufacturer. After a little more discussion
the customer decided to continue with the repair. Before I called the dealer
to order the computer, I decided to find out exactly where the computer is
on the Accord. Before I found that information, I stumbled across a little
note at the bottom of the procedure to replace the computer. The note stated:
<i>"The ECM/PCM is part of the immobilizer system. If you replace the
ECM/PCM, it will have a different immobilizer code. In order for the engine
to start, you must rewrite the immobilizer code with the Honda PGM Tester."</i>
Another words, the new computer will not recognize the special Immobilizer
ignition key that prevents the car from being stolen. Well, that was enough
nonsense reading for me for one day. Knowing that we did not own a "Honda
PGM Tester" what was I supposed to do? Install the new computer then explain
to the customer that she also has to pay for a tow job to the dealer so they
can finish my repair job. Right, like that makes me look really professional.
Thanks Honda. Once again, I was left advising another customer to take the
car to the dealer. Once again, the manufacturer has taken the control away
from the customer as to where their car can be serviced. As the customer
drove away I remembered one of Sean Connery's lines in the movie: <b><i>The Hunt For Red October</i></b>... <i>"And once more, we play our dangerous game. A game of chess...against our old adversary..." </i><br>
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<b><big>Does information lockout bother you? Do you
want to be forced to have your car serviced at the dealer? Make a difference,
tell your legislators by clicking below: </big></b><br>
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<td valign="top" align="center"><a href="www.righttorepair.org"></a><a href="http://www.righttorepair.org"><img src="right_to_repair.gif" alt="Right to Repair" width="500" height="105"></a>
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