A Letter to Dave Schembri - Dealers and Service Manuals

[mfoster]

I sent a three page hand written letter to Dave last week covering two points. 1, Dealer assignments and 2, Service manuals.

Yesterday I received a very nice telephone call from Dave's office and a follow up email on what we discussed on the phone.

Item 1 was specific to central PA reservations assigned to another state. They are looking into it.

Item 2 was regarding service manuals or lack of. The following is their response.

"Regarding your question about service manuals, smart USA is currently developing an online system that will allow customers to subscribe to service information on the smart fortwo, similar to those provided by other manufacturers."

I responded back emphasizing the subscription costs of some of those online systems being cost prohibitive for small repair shops and individual car owners. I hope they do the right thing.

[Flashman]

This is the same situation for any new car/model. Manufacturer's are not required to release any service manuals to third-parties (other than their own authorized dealers) until a certain percentage of the cars are out of factory warranty (anyone know this percentage or the exact wording of the NHTSA rule around this?).

So manufacturer's use that to their maximum advantage to promote their authorized dealers. That's why you see most new car documentation in some bizarre encrypted DVD/CD or sometimes even in a custom protected shop PC. This prevents unauthorized copies (I bet new car auto manuals are one of the earliest users of DRM).

Once a certain percentage are out of warranty, in compliance with federal regulations, they release that documentation for sale to third-parties. Nothing new here, smart is doing exactly what everyone else does. There is no financial or market pressure for them to do differently.

[Old smart]

There is a bill introduced into the U.S. House of Representatives, H.R. 2694, titled "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." If passed it would be enforced by the FTC and would solve the problem. Unfortunately, it has sat in committee for almost a year with no hearing or action.

Search Results - THOMAS (Library of Congress)

[VinceLA]

mfoster, thanks for doing this. I am definitely looking forward to the online manual.

[bigcritter]

Has anyone bought the DVD on maintenance that you see being sold in various places, e.g. e-bay, smart vendors, etc??? I'm just wondering what all this DVD has to offer for the money (usually $99) that they're asking for it. Anyone with more information?? Thanks in advance!

[Old smart]

Originally Posted by bigcritter

Has anyone bought the DVD on maintenance that you see being sold in various places, e.g. e-bay, smart vendors, etc??? I'm just wondering what all this DVD has to offer for the money (usually $99) that they're asking for it. Anyone with more information?? Thanks in advance!

Wait for Evilution's experience and comments.

[a2jack]

IMO. HR-2694, is probably best kept out of vote until the administration changes over from It's pro big business stance to a body more in line with we, the people.

It could happen !

[Old smart]

One of the tough nuts is that the chairman of the senior committee, the full House Energy and Commerce Committee, is Rep. John D. Dingell. He represents the Dearborn, Michigan district. So, how is that going to play with regards to little, foreign-built smarts??

At any rate, I have sent him a letter to ask that he do whatever he can do to get the bill a hearing and recommendation in the sub-committee, and to support its ultimate passage.

Heretofore, I have also written to my US Rep. (1st VA District), the chairman of the assigned sub-committee, and my two US senators asking them to review H.R. 2694 and to introduce a parallel Senate bill.

'Bout all I can do by myself.

[a2jack]

Oldsmart. Yes, All the Michigan legislators are in bed with the big 2.5.

Michigan even spent state money to help them push back higher gas mileage standards and Hybrids, by muddying the waters with the hydrogen power myth.

Lets hope change comes, but we might do better by going after Haynes, the Manuel Pubs. Then I wonder if MB would tie them up in court?

You know we've got to go to work on these cars ourselves, and not let the dealers hold us captive.

I went in for the 10k maint/oil thing today as I had other minor issues. $158 out the door. More about the oil and filter later. Thanks for your good work. A2Jack

[SMART]

Thats great that you are able to hear back from them. I myself have sent multiple emails to smart USA and have never heard back. My take is I'm either disliked or less important, and here I thought I was doing something good.