Soviet-Era Recall & TSB Access On Line...

Soviet-Era Recall & TSB Access On Line...


Is it just me - or shouldn't the text of automotive
recalls and Technical Service Bulletins be freely
available on the internet? Is this 1950s Moscow,
or the Land of the Free???


I find it annoying, arrogant, communist, and
depending upon the the issue with your particular
vehicle, DANGEROUS to have to pay for access to,
or even have to register an account, to read this
critical information. And it doesn't matter if
it's a rattly glove box door or a gasoline leak
that could result in fire.


I encourage all automotive mechanics, technicians,
and even customers, with access to the full text of
TSBs related to their issues, to post that text
here on Usenet, or on Facebook, or where they deem
fit to share it.

Just something to think about...

wrote:
> Soviet-Era Recall & TSB Access On Line...
>
>
> Is it just me - or shouldn't the text of automotive
> recalls and Technical Service Bulletins be freely
> available on the internet? Is this 1950s Moscow,
> or the Land of the Free???

The USA is the Land of the Lawyers.
Government of the lawyers, by the lawyers, for the lawyers.

wrote:
> Soviet-Era Recall & TSB Access On Line...
>
>
> Is it just me - or shouldn't the text of automotive
> recalls and Technical Service Bulletins be freely
> available on the internet? Is this 1950s Moscow,
> or the Land of the Free???
>
>
> I find it annoying, arrogant, communist, and
> depending upon the the issue with your particular
> vehicle, DANGEROUS to have to pay for access to,
> or even have to register an account, to read this
> critical information. And it doesn't matter if
> it's a rattly glove box door or a gasoline leak
> that could result in fire.
>
>
> I encourage all automotive mechanics, technicians,
> and even customers, with access to the full text of
> TSBs related to their issues, to post that text
> here on Usenet, or on Facebook, or where they deem
> fit to share it.
>
> Just something to think about...

Every recall is available free online. Most TSBs are NOT for the DIY
crowd. BUT if you know where to look they are also free online.

--
Steve W.

I did the cold war thing. I've read opinions from other spooks that the new form of US with bosses always getting away with things is, in these professional opinions, very soviet.

I had a problem with some non-auto equipment, and asked for help, and searched, and by the time I found out what to do to fix it, too late. My "WTF" exasperated talk was met with "ooh, if they told folks how to fix it, they would know it wasn't perfect, and it would cost sales".

Steve W. wrote: - show quoted text -


"... Most TSBs are NOT for the DIY crowd. BUT if you know where to
look they are also free online.

--
Steve W. "


Well, it was a ground swell of grass roots customer research
that helped solve power steering and rear end alignment issues
causing their then new 2011-2013 Hyundai Sonatas to pull
one way or another or wander across lanes. Very often
dealer service departments were way behind on TSBs
concerning power steering modes available for adjustment
via the shop computers they plug into the dash, and didn't have
the latest rear alignment specs for the cars!

Because of this, they were telling customers:

"there is no setting/adjustment for that"

"You simply aren't used to electric steering"

"We would be deviating from factory setting"
(When it was the FACTORY that programmed the
damn things!!!)

etc etc.


So customers started doing research on line, and
discovered TSBs and procedures that had not
yet filtered down to the dealers for whatever reason,
and most were successful at having the adjustments
made. The ones that didn't get serviced were likely
the victims of dealer techs that didn't appreciate
being caught knowing less about their product than
their customers. (!)

You can browse the Hyundai Forums for the
threads concerning the steering mode solution.

wrote:
> Steve W. wrote: - show quoted text -
>
>
> "... Most TSBs are NOT for the DIY crowd. BUT if you know where to
> look they are also free online.
>


Well, it was a ground swell of grass roots customer research
that helped solve power steering and rear end alignment issues
causing their then new 2011-2013 Hyundai Sonatas to pull
one way or another or wander across lanes. Very often
dealer service departments were way behind on TSBs
concerning power steering modes available for adjustment
via the shop computers they plug into the dash, and didn't have
the latest rear alignment specs for the cars!

Because of this, they were telling customers:

"there is no setting/adjustment for that"

"You simply aren't used to electric steering"

"We would be deviating from factory setting"
(When it was the FACTORY that programmed the
damn things!!!)

etc etc.


So customers started doing research on line, and
discovered TSBs and procedures that had not
yet filtered down to the dealers for whatever reason,
and most were successful at having the adjustments
made. The ones that didn't get serviced were likely
the victims of dealer techs that didn't appreciate
being caught knowing less about their product than
their customers. (!)

You can browse the Hyundai Forums for the
threads concerning the steering mode solution.



TSBs are not written until a verifiable complaint/issue is actually
found as a "common" problem and a solution is found.

TSBs go out to the dealers as soon as the company publishes them on the
support systems. BUT the techs may not have access to them unless the
correct tools/parts used in the TSB are also available at that dealer
and the dealer has released them. However a TSB isn't treated like a
recall item, they don't do the repair/adjustment unless the vehicle is
brought in with a complaint that falls under the TSB.

So at the time they were saying that there is no setting, it is very
possible that the company had not identified the issue as a problem.

One thing that forums and tech help lines have done for auto repair is
made it somewhat easier to figure out if something is a real issue, and
if there are any real repairs possible.


--
Steve W.

Steve W. wrote:

- show quoted text -


"So at the time they were saying that there is no setting, it is very
possible that the company had not identified the issue as a problem.


--
Steve W. "


My local dealer said there was no setting for the
steering on my car LAST WEEK. In fact, the
lead tech insisted that my 2013 Sonata still had
conventional(Hydraulic) steering. (Theres that
old politburo mentality!)

It took a ride across town to the Kia dealership,
plus my finding the relevant TSB on line to finally
convince the Hyundai place that this car does have
electric steering, as have all Sonatas and Optimas
since 2011. I had my steering set to Sport mode
by a Hyundai tech and it was a vast improvement.