Proponents say federal law could make repairs easier, less expensive
Some independent auto repair shops and others are at odds with major manufacturers over proposed federal legislation that would force automakers to provide information mechanics believe is necessary to repair vehicles.
The Motor Vehicle Owners Right to Repair Act of 2007 is needed because vehicles have become more complicated with the use of computers and electronics, according to the Automotive Aftermarket Industry Association, a trade group that supports the bill.
The act would mandate that automakers provide independent repairmen full access to all tools and service information needed to repair vehicles that are given to franchised dealer networks.
Not everybody backs the legislation, which was first introduced in 2001. Some say the information already is out there for mechanics who are willing to pay for it, and others claim the legislation would make public proprietary information — trade secrets — that could be used to make car parts.
U.S. Rep. James P. McGovern, D-Worcester, agreed to co-sponsor the legislation because of its strength as a pro-consumer bill, said Michael Mershon, a spokesman for Mr. McGovern. Competition is good for consumers, he said. Mr. McGovern knows how complicated vehicles are to fix and it’s difficult for corner shops to do the repairs if they can’t get necessary information, Mr. Mershon said.
But, he said, “I don’t think the bill will be seeing the light of day this year.”
The legislation faces opposition from U.S. Rep. John D. Dingell, D-Michigan, chairman of the Committee on Energy and Commerce. Mr. Dingell has called the legislation “ill-advised” and said it jeopardizes the rights of car manufacturers and their suppliers.
The bill has 34 co-sponsors, both Republicans and Democrats, and in the last session drew more than 100 co-sponsors, said Aaron Lowe, vice president of government affairs for the Automotive Aftermarket Industry Association. Consumer groups are among supporters, he said.
The legislation, which has also been introduced in Massachusetts, would give consumers more choice in where they get cars repaired and more competitive pricing, increasing the likelihood that cars would be safer and run cleaner, said Sandy Bass-Cors, executive director of the Coalition for Auto Repair Equality, a nonprofit whose board members include aftermarket car parts distributors.
Charles Pearson Jr., who teaches automotive technology at Massachusetts Bay Community College and used to own Pearson’s Auto Radiator Service in Fitchburg, supports the legislation.
“In our industry, with the technological changes, we need access to the information so we can service our customers,” he said.
While independent garages can buy information online, they need more than that, Mr. Pearson said. Mechanics working for dealers get more information than the independents, he said.
Mr. Pearson said some garages are reluctant to pay for the information.Bailey Wood, a spokesman for the National Automobile Dealers Association, said it’s untrue that independent repair shops or garages don’t have access to the information needed to fix cars.
Every dealer has to invest in training, tools and personnel to repair vehicles while “the other side” wants to get something for nothing so it can have a competitive advantage over dealers who have made this investment, Mr. Wood said.
“You can get this information anywhere,” he said. “You just have to be willing to pay for it.”
Mr. Wood said companies are trying to get access to proprietary parts information — to go around patents to manufacture parts.
But Mr. Lowe said the patent issue is “a red herring.” Car manufacturers wouldn’t be required to provide information that a parts manufacturer could use to copy a replacement part, he said.
Rusty Savignac, co-owner of Paxton Garage, described the legislation as “a solution to a problem that doesn’t exist.”
Getting access codes for automotive anti-theft systems is a small issue, he said, but an agreement is on the verge of being reached to make this information available.
Mr. Savignac said mechanics like himself pay third-party information providers to get access to repair information. If what’s needed isn’t available, they will get a short-term subscription from the manufacturer, he said.
Mr. Savignac believes most independent shops aren’t aware that information is available from Web sites or that they can own factory tools.
“There are some in my industry that feel it’s a price thing,” Mr. Savignac said. These mechanics believe paying $20 for a three-day subscription to get one piece of information is excessive, but he doesn’t agree, he said.
But Mr. Lowe, whose association is among groups supporting the legislation, said not all the information needed is available. An independent mechanic will get information needed for a repair only to get to the end of the work and find information needed to reprogram a computer or re-initialize a system isn’t there, he said.
Another issue involves access to factory-scan tools, mini-computers that allow mechanics to communicate with computers in cars, Mr. Savignac said. Aftermarket scan tools work for most popular functions on most popular cars, he said, but sometimes scan tools from manufacturers are needed.
Mr. Savignac said he has a few manufacturers’ scan tools and can get access to others through a company in the area.
Most cars today have 20 or more computers and it’s unusual to have a vehicle with fewer than 10, Mr. Savignac said.
“You’re not going to work on the space shuttle with a volt meter,” he said.
Contact Mary Jo Hill by e-mail at mhill@telegram.com.
http://telegram.com/article/20071115/NEWS/711150705/1005/NEWS06
Some independent auto repair shops and others are at odds with major manufacturers over proposed federal legislation that would force automakers to provide information mechanics believe is necessary to repair vehicles.
The Motor Vehicle Owners Right to Repair Act of 2007 is needed because vehicles have become more complicated with the use of computers and electronics, according to the Automotive Aftermarket Industry Association, a trade group that supports the bill.
The act would mandate that automakers provide independent repairmen full access to all tools and service information needed to repair vehicles that are given to franchised dealer networks.
Not everybody backs the legislation, which was first introduced in 2001. Some say the information already is out there for mechanics who are willing to pay for it, and others claim the legislation would make public proprietary information — trade secrets — that could be used to make car parts.
U.S. Rep. James P. McGovern, D-Worcester, agreed to co-sponsor the legislation because of its strength as a pro-consumer bill, said Michael Mershon, a spokesman for Mr. McGovern. Competition is good for consumers, he said. Mr. McGovern knows how complicated vehicles are to fix and it’s difficult for corner shops to do the repairs if they can’t get necessary information, Mr. Mershon said.
But, he said, “I don’t think the bill will be seeing the light of day this year.”
The legislation faces opposition from U.S. Rep. John D. Dingell, D-Michigan, chairman of the Committee on Energy and Commerce. Mr. Dingell has called the legislation “ill-advised” and said it jeopardizes the rights of car manufacturers and their suppliers.
The bill has 34 co-sponsors, both Republicans and Democrats, and in the last session drew more than 100 co-sponsors, said Aaron Lowe, vice president of government affairs for the Automotive Aftermarket Industry Association. Consumer groups are among supporters, he said.
The legislation, which has also been introduced in Massachusetts, would give consumers more choice in where they get cars repaired and more competitive pricing, increasing the likelihood that cars would be safer and run cleaner, said Sandy Bass-Cors, executive director of the Coalition for Auto Repair Equality, a nonprofit whose board members include aftermarket car parts distributors.
Charles Pearson Jr., who teaches automotive technology at Massachusetts Bay Community College and used to own Pearson’s Auto Radiator Service in Fitchburg, supports the legislation.
“In our industry, with the technological changes, we need access to the information so we can service our customers,” he said.
While independent garages can buy information online, they need more than that, Mr. Pearson said. Mechanics working for dealers get more information than the independents, he said.
Mr. Pearson said some garages are reluctant to pay for the information.Bailey Wood, a spokesman for the National Automobile Dealers Association, said it’s untrue that independent repair shops or garages don’t have access to the information needed to fix cars.
Every dealer has to invest in training, tools and personnel to repair vehicles while “the other side” wants to get something for nothing so it can have a competitive advantage over dealers who have made this investment, Mr. Wood said.
“You can get this information anywhere,” he said. “You just have to be willing to pay for it.”
Mr. Wood said companies are trying to get access to proprietary parts information — to go around patents to manufacture parts.
But Mr. Lowe said the patent issue is “a red herring.” Car manufacturers wouldn’t be required to provide information that a parts manufacturer could use to copy a replacement part, he said.
Rusty Savignac, co-owner of Paxton Garage, described the legislation as “a solution to a problem that doesn’t exist.”
Getting access codes for automotive anti-theft systems is a small issue, he said, but an agreement is on the verge of being reached to make this information available.
Mr. Savignac said mechanics like himself pay third-party information providers to get access to repair information. If what’s needed isn’t available, they will get a short-term subscription from the manufacturer, he said.
Mr. Savignac believes most independent shops aren’t aware that information is available from Web sites or that they can own factory tools.
“There are some in my industry that feel it’s a price thing,” Mr. Savignac said. These mechanics believe paying $20 for a three-day subscription to get one piece of information is excessive, but he doesn’t agree, he said.
But Mr. Lowe, whose association is among groups supporting the legislation, said not all the information needed is available. An independent mechanic will get information needed for a repair only to get to the end of the work and find information needed to reprogram a computer or re-initialize a system isn’t there, he said.
Another issue involves access to factory-scan tools, mini-computers that allow mechanics to communicate with computers in cars, Mr. Savignac said. Aftermarket scan tools work for most popular functions on most popular cars, he said, but sometimes scan tools from manufacturers are needed.
Mr. Savignac said he has a few manufacturers’ scan tools and can get access to others through a company in the area.
Most cars today have 20 or more computers and it’s unusual to have a vehicle with fewer than 10, Mr. Savignac said.
“You’re not going to work on the space shuttle with a volt meter,” he said.
Contact Mary Jo Hill by e-mail at mhill@telegram.com.
http://telegram.com/article/20071115/NEWS/711150705/1005/NEWS06
