CONTENTS:
Increasingly Complex Automobiles Combined
With Technician Shortage Causes Service Delays.
Our E-mail Address: samgauto@samscars.com Our Phone Number Is 508-999-3213
|
|
Increasingly complex automobiles combined with a shortage of technicians,
is causing a nationwide trend of service delays. It's a known fact that
today's automobiles have more computing power than the first Apollo space
capsule. The current Cadillac Catera has 17 onboard computers that control
the operation of the entire automobile. The Cadillac Seville has 29 onboard
computers. In addition, Cadillac Coupe DeVilles use over 4,600 feet of
wiring per car to transmit signals from a network of sensors and actuators.
With the continuing shortage of technicians customers across the country
are noticing increased delays in making service appointments. The quality
facilities with good service reputations are often booked up several weeks
in advance. Many modern automotive service departments like ours
are supporting school-to-work programs at the local vocational schools
in order to help facilitate vocational student's interests in automotive
service technology. Look for an article about the approval of our
facility for the Vocational YES Program in an upcoming issue of Giammalvo
Quarterly.
Recently a customer with a 1996 Acura RL Premium asked us to research how to correctly make spare keys for their car. It seems that this customer had a department store make a key only to realize that it would turn the ignition switch on but the engine would not start. At the same time the customer reported that there was a warning light shaped like a key that flashed on the dash. When the customer told the department store manager about the problem key he advised that the vehicle may have a special security system and they would most likely have to go to the dealer for spare keys. We promised the customer we would investigate the situation. After researching the Acura service bulletins we found one that explained that all Acura RL models are equipped with the "Immobilizer System." This system uses special keys with electronic coded transponders hidden in the head of each key. The vehicle's starter will not engage and the fuel injectors will not deliver fuel to the engine if an authorized key is not used. This is why the car would not start for the customer. When the new key was inserted, the ignition lock did not receive an authorized code from the new key. We called the Acura dealer and asked them to make two keys for the vehicle. The first thing the parts manager at the dealership stated was: "You'd better hope the customer has the learning key." "Learning key" we said. "What's a learning key?" When we pressed the manager for more details, we were in disbelief with what he said. The Acura parts manager went on to explain that each Acura RL comes with a special red colored key called a "learning key." This key is placed in a small case which is marked: "Do not misplace & never insert in ignition switch" This learning key is specially coded to the immobilizer computer hidden in the dash of the vehicle and is necessary in order to make new authorized coded keys. The dealer needs this learning key and a special Acura lap top computer to program new keys. The dealer advised us that without the learning key spare keys could not be made. We contacted the customer and inquired about the learning key. The customer stated that they did not have the learning key. We called the dealer back to advise them of the situation. The dealer stated that there was only one way to make spare keys for the vehicle. A new immobilizer computer with a matching learning key must be purchased from Acura and installed in the car. The total cost installed with an extra set of spare keys? Bet you can't guess. How's a whopping $527.00 sound? As these vehicles progress over the years through layers of ownership there is likely to be more upset owners wishing they had a learning key. Well, you might say, it is a lesson learned.
We wish to thank you for calling to let us know when you're canceling or rescheduling your service appointments. We find more and more of you doing this and we think it's great! Just like dentists schedule their "chair" time, we schedule our "lift" time. When we know in advance that you can't make your appointment, the technician won't be standing around with nothing to do and we can now help a customer sooner that may have been waiting for a future appointment. Thanks again.
House Bill 549 has been introduced in Ohio to allow township zoning
inspectors to remove "junk" certificate vehicles from private property,
and then obtain a salvage certificate of title and scrap the vehicles as
part of the township's nuisance abatement authority. Under the bill, the
zoning inspector would notify the owners or lien holder of confiscated
vehicles by certified mail, who could then reclaim the vehicles upon payment
of any expenses incurred during its removal and storage, by presenting
proof of ownership.
Several automotive manufactures have introduced "smart" air bag systems.
Ford however has outdone themselves with their new Advanced Restraint System,
(ARS) which is available on certain 2000 model year vehicles. This new
system takes into account the driver and passengers weight and size and
formulates that to the severity of the crash. In addition, the system knows
the drivers seat position in relationship to the steering wheel and whether
or not the seat belts are being used by the front seat occupants. All this
information is analyzed in fractions of a second so the air bag control
computer can determine how quickly and with how much force the air bags
should be inflated. Also, some other new Ford models now have adjustable
pedals to allow shorter drivers to sit further away from the steering wheel
and air bag cover.
Did You Know? 1. Have all doors automatically lock when shifting out of park and remain locked when the vehicle is shifted into park. 2. Have all doors automatically lock when shifting out of park and only the drivers door to automatically unlock when shifted into park. 3. Have all doors automatically lock when shifting out of park and all doors automatically unlock when shifted into park. 4. Have no automatic lock or unlock activity when shifting to and from park. 5. Have "delayed locking" in that when the car's computer sees someone
press the power door lock button, the doors actually do not lock until
five seconds after the last door closes.
(Obituaries Courtesy The Standard Times)
Bea Faunce lived in Fairhaven and was a communicant of St. Mary
Church. Mrs. Faunce was formerly employed by St. Luke's Hospital as an
admitting clerk until her retirement. She was employed part time by Bruce's
Carpets and formerly worked as a Realtor for both Margeson Real Estate
and Gardner Real Estate. She was the past president of the Board of Realtors
and has been a Fairhaven Town Meeting member since 1976. Selectman Win
Eckenreiter was quoted as saying: "Bea was the town of Fairhaven..."
Bea was the Mother-in-Law of Glenn Giammalvo.
Stanley J. Josefek born in Taunton, he lived most of his life
in New Bedford. He was a communicant of St. Casimir's Church. Mr. Josefek
was employed by the First National Bank of New Bedford until his retirement.
Gerard "Jerry" Dupont was a lifelong resident of New Bedford, he was a communicant of St. Mary's Church. He was employed by Alberox for 11 years until he retired and had previously worked at Chamberlain for 25 years as a general foreman. A Navy veteran of the Korean War, he was a member of the American Association of Retired Persons. His enjoyment was being with his family and grandchildren. Norbert Rebello, was a lifelong New Bedford resident, and was a communicant of St. Mary Church in New Bedford. Mr. Rebello was a Navy veteran of the Korean War and fought aboard the USS Robert H. McCard. He was a member of the East Freetown Veterans of Foreign Wars, Post 6643. He was a supervisor at the Acushnet Co. rubber division for 40 years, retiring in 1992. He enjoyed guitar music and spending time with the Barber Shop Musicians. We would also like to make note of a deceased customer that we neglected to mention several years ago. Ron and Flo Laventure e-mailed us to say that their uncle, Walter Ibbotson, passed away in September of 1995. They had his mailing address changed back then and have been receiving Giammalvo Quarterly ever since. After receiving a recent issue they remembered to advise us of his passing.
|
|
|
|
|
We are proud
to welcome aboard Mark Rosa in our reconditioning department. Mark is a
graduate of New Bedford Regional Vocational Technical High School and is
currently serving the government as a member of the 772nd Military Police
Co. of the Massachusetts Army National Guard. Mark's future goals are to
become a Massachusetts State Trooper.
We are also
proud to have Paul Sylvia aboard as another new employee. Paul fulfills
many duties including, facility maintenance, transportation of customers
and their vehicles, transportation of parts needed during the day by the
service department, etc. Paul is retired from an engineering position at
Raytheon where he worked for 26 years. Prior to that he was a radar technician
at RCA and a technical writer at Goddard Space Center in Maryland. On his
days off from our shop, Paul works as a driver for American Eagle Transportation
Company. Paul has two daughters and resides in Dartmouth with his wife
Judy.
Our customer,
Jeanne Costa, recently purchased a 1998 Ford Taurus station wagon from
us. One of the reasons Jeanne needed a wagon was for her 6 year old 175
lb. English Mastiff named Captain. Captain is seen here happily ready to
leave for his first trip in the new car.
