Story Time: I recently had an issue with the ECU (Electronic Control Unit; basically the car's computer) in my car. After taking it to my trusted mechanic, he told me the only way to fix it is to take it to a dealership because fixing it required GM-specific programming or something (I'm not exactly a car expert). Well, I was pretty irritated by this since dealerships have a reputation for overcharging, and this issue seemed ripe for it. However, I lucked out when I called the dealership and was told by an honest mechanic that ECU issues are actually covered by a blanket warranty across all cars made after 1995. Apparently, the Clean Air Act requires that anything related to controlling emissions be repaired free of charge for 8 years/80,000 miles. Hooray!
Imagine my surprise when a different mechanic at the same dealership quoted me $500 for an ECU issue after officially diagnosing the problem. Incredulous, I fought back against the quote, explaining that this issue would be covered under the Clean Air Act. After "checking with her supervisor" she apologized and agreed that the repair would indeed be covered.
So, there were a few lessons here: 1. Research your car's issues to see if they're covered under a warranty you didn't know you had. 2. Don't be afraid to fight back if you think you're being fleeced. 3. A mechanic you can trust can save you hundreds in the short term and thousands in the long term.
For the curious, a quote from meca.org: "The 1990 Clean Air Act Amendments established, beginning with the 1995 model year, the warranty for the catalytic converter, electronic control unit, on-board diagnostic device, and other equipment designated by EPA, as a "specific major emission control component" will be 8 years or 80,000 miles; all other emission related parts will be warranted for two years or 24,000 miles."
TLDR: I saved $500 because of the Clean Air Act and an honest mechanic. If you have a car problem that's even tangentially related to emissions, a dealership may be legally required to fix it for free, as long as the car is under 8 years/80,000 miles.
June 15, 2018 at 08:43AM
