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<title>Acura, Honda & Bmw Withholding Service Information</title>
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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"
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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> </p>
<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><b>" It's Been Said Often In The Automotive Industry That
<br>
"You Learn Something Everyday"</b></big></big>
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<p align="center"><small><i><font color="#000000">(Printed in the Journal
of The Alliance of Automotive Service Providers, AASP) <br>
<br>
</font></i></small></p>
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It's been said often in the automotive industry that "You learn something
every day." <br>
<br>
That brief statement sure held true for me recently. While checking the
shop's email, I came across one from a Honda Civic owner in Rhode Island.
The writer had stumbled on our web site while browsing the Internet. The writer
gave us some compliments on our web site and then went on to question us
about a trunk water leak he could not locate on two Honda Civics that he
owns. In his lengthy email, he wanted to know if I could find any service
bulletins or related information on IATN regarding leaking Civics. I checked
our Alldata system and did not come across any bulletins regarding water
leaks in the trunk area. In addition, I checked IATN but that search also
came up dry. I fired back a reply indicting my results and I also included
Alldata's web address so that he could purchase the Honda information if he
so desired. I must say that I was surprised when he sent me a response that
stated that Alldata would not sell him any Honda service information. To
be exact, his reply stated: <i>"I appreciate your checking IATN. Unfortunately,
I had already checked alldata.com for the Honda service bulletins before I
sent you the previous email and their website stated: American Honda Motor
Company has requested ALLDATA to deny access to Acura and Honda repair information.
Effective immediately you will not be able to register for access to Acura
or Honda vehicle repair information, Technical Service Bulletins or Recalls."<br>
</i> <br>
Naturally, I was very concerned with the accuracy of what this guy said
Alldata told him. We all know that technical information in this industry
is hard enough to get now. The last thing we need is a manufacturer totally
slamming the door on us. Now I decided I would go on line to the customer-order
area of the Alldata web site. Sure enough, whenever I clicked on Honda or
Acura as a model I got the identical disclaimer message as this customer had
claimed. It was time to call Alldata directly for some answers. <br>
<br>
As luck would have it, my Alldata representative was awaiting a call back
from me this week anyway regarding our annual contract renewal. I called
my representative to see if he could shed some light on this issue. Interestingly,
the Alldata representative was well aware of the Honda/Acura information
issue. Even more surprising to me was the fact that this information lockout
had been going on for about three years now. Fortunately, he assured me that
we as repairers would still have access to the information. Honda/Acura has
only requested that Alldata stop selling it directly to vehicle owners. When
I asked if any other companies had this odd request, he stated that BMW was
the only other company that had requested they suspended sales of information
to its vehicle owners. <br>
<br>
In closing, I am not sure why Honda/Acura & BMW have decided to withhold
service information from its vehicle owners. The same Some on the repair
side might say that this is a good thing in that it gives us the technicians
a service advantage. I suppose that is true. One could also argue that a
person dishing out $30,000 on a vehicle ought to have the right to purchase
factory service information for their investment. <br>
<br>
As a side note, I did hear back from the Civic owner again. He stated that
he called American Honda to inquire as to why he can not purchase the information
from Alldata. He quoted the Honda representative as stating: <i>"Because
Alldata is an outside company trying to get access to these Honda Service
Bulletins for free and then reselling them for a profit." </i><br>
<br>
That excuse does not seem to wash in that they still allow Alldata to sell
the information to us as repairers. Who knows? Something tells me we have
not heard the last of this issue. <br>
<br>
As they say in the automotive service industry, "You learn something every
day."<br>
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