Automotive Trucks information on net.

More and more fleet maintenance managers are steamed up over the fact they can get little or no electronic data needed to service or change ECM (electronic control modules) settings on their engines. Almost anything requiring a change or recalibration to diesel engine settings now requires a trip to an authorized truck or engine dealer--or sometimes both.

In a flurry of e-mail exchanges I've been part of lately between unhappy fleet managers and OE service personnel, the pot is definitely building up pressure and may pop during the September meeting of TMC (Technology and Maintenance Council of ATA). I now see why this is happening. What I don't yet see is an easy solution.

A couple of my e-mail excerpts illustrate the points.

"Our new trucks are becoming more and more complex and we are finding it very difficult for us and ANY service dealer to repair them in a timely fashion and/or correctly the first time. This is increasing our costs substantially and is also forcing us to keep more 'spare' vehicles."

Here's another: "I received your e-mail the very same day when I had a small problem ... speedometer calibration. My truck dealer couldn't repair it and I then had to take the tractor to my engine dealer to have the ECM reburned, the only way to fix it. If we're forced into truck dealers for repairs like this, they better have the tools and knowledge to do it."

Other e-mails said "right on," this is a serious issue.

"How do we get the OEMs to release us the information we need to repair our own equipment? Specifically, we need the ability to download data from the factory for ECM reprogramming; we need to be able to acquire all the necessary equipment/programming to handle repairs as needed."

# posted by Medical Information : 3:20 AM