I am starting this thread separately as it has been running in smart 450 maintenance & repair, but is a 2008 451 issue.
I still haven't found the current rule that makes availability of a repair manual for cars sold in the US mandatory. But this is in the bin: H.R.2694, the "Motor Vehicle Owners Right to Repair Act of 2007."
"To protect the rights of consumers to diagnose, service, maintain, and repair their motor vehicles, and for other purposes.
"Motor Vehicle Owners Right to Repair Act of 2007 - Requires the manufacturer of a motor vehicle sold, leased, or otherwise introduced into U.S. commerce to: (1) provide to the vehicle owner and service providers all information necessary to diagnose, service, maintain, or repair the vehicle; (2) offer for sale to consumers and service providers any related tool or equipment; and (3) provide the information necessary to enable aftermarket tool companies to manufacture tools with the same functional characteristics. Exempts trade secrets, so long as the information is not disclosed to authorized dealers or service providers. Authorizes enforcement of this Act by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and civil actions by state attorneys general, consumers, and service providers."
The bill was RE-intruduced in the House on 13 JUN 07 and was refered to the Subcommittee on Commerce, Trade and Consumer Protection on that same date.
And that is where it still is, with 39 sponsors.
Last edited by Old smart; 02-22-2008 at 03:29 PM.
Reason: added "RE-"
Actually, that is what should be done and I intend to. I will write to my US district Rep to urge him to support H.R.2694 with an explanation why, and to ask him to work to move the bill through committee. Also, I will ask my senators (Warner and Webb) to study the House bill and introduce a parallel bill in the Senate. It always works best when there are two parallel bills as each body forces action by the other.
With two years to go until smart-1 service begins to disappear there may be time to get something done before we are left high and dry.
Well the Goode is not taking e-mails over the weekend,
Got this response
" We will not be receiving emails again until Monday morning at 9:00AM. If you need to contact Congressman Goode, you may fax him at 540-484-1459 or call 540-484-1254. These messages will be checked throughout this time period."
Well the Goode is not taking e-mails over the weekend,
Got this response
" We will not be receiving emails again until Monday morning at 9:00AM. If you need to contact Congressman Goode, you may fax him at 540-484-1459 or call 540-484-1254. These messages will be checked throughout this time period."
It is MUCH better to construct a good paper letter, with your signed, full-style appended. Email is "vapor-ware."
Sure would be nice if Roger Penske sent his Washington Lobbiest a note to pester a Senator or two on this issue....OH wait.... that won't happen, works against their (PAG) bottom line... OH well...... it was a thought
Hummm crafting written snail mail letter to my representatives today
Great thing about election years... they kinda sorta listen a schoche better
I bought the CD "Smart Car Manual" from Dan Graves. Its OK, but NOT that much on the 451's. Its good reading though, Hopefully he can release a 451 Only soon. Here is the Link: http://www.dgraves.net/
This went out in the mail this morning. A slightly modified first and last paragraph version (urging a parallel Senate bill) will go sometime today to my two US senators.
Xxxxx X. Xxxxxx
Xxx Xxxxxxxxxx Xxx
City of Williamsburg, VA 23185
Tel: (757) xxx-xxxx Fax: (757) xxx-xxxx
Email: xxxxxxxxatxxxxxxxxx.com
23 February 2008
The Honorable
Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx
House of Representatives
Washington, D.C.
Dear Sir,
I am writing to request that you do what you can to get H.R.2694, the Motor Vehicle Owners Right to Repair Act of 2007, successfully moved through the Subcommittee on Commerce, Trade and Consumer Protection, and thence support its passage.
Mercedes-Benz Cars group has begun the sale of their smart® (all lower-case intended) brand cars in the United States as of January 2008 at between fifty and seventy dealers/service centers (“smart centers”) nationwide. Penske Automotive Group, Inc. and their subsidiary smart USA Distributor, LLC, exclusively handle the smart operation for M-B in the U.S. They are maintaining very tight control of the vehicles, dealers and smart centers, reserving all service and repair work for themselves. The maintenance protocol also involves their “smart-1®” road service which will retrieve an inoperable vehicle and deliver it to the closest authorized smart center for repair. On the surface smart-1 appears to be notable support, however, that service expires after two years or 24,000 miles.
A problem lies in the fact that many owners are great, even extreme, distances from their closest smart center, and will be faced with a dilemma after two years of ownership if they cannot have service and parts available at their local repair shop. So far, owners’ requests for copies (at their expense) of the M-B/smart service manual and parts lists have been denied, as is common practice with other M-B brands. If M-B/PAG/smart USA continue deny the technical information and parts availability, many owners will ultimately be left high-and-dry with a vehicle that is only two years old. H.R.2694, and its enforcement by the FTC, will alleviate this problem.
Therefore, I urge you to work for H.R.2694’s passage.
Best Regards,
X. X. Xxxxxx
Last edited by Old smart; 03-05-2008 at 10:52 AM.
Reason: corrected miles on original
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