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Jim
Grant has been working in the automotive industry for over twenty
years. In addition, Jim is an ASE Master Technician with advanced
L/1 certification. He works as manager and technician in his
family's automotive business in New Hampshire. He writes weekly
automotive consumer columns and is editor of an automotive newsletter
that is circulated throughout North America. |
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Jim Grant's Tech Tips
Hyundai, ECM Woes
Q:
We
recently took our Hyundai in and were told that the ECM unit needs to
be replaced. It is still under the 8 year/80,000 mile warranty. The technician
told us that the clip holding the wiring harness failed to hold and that
the wiring harness hit the axle and shorted out the ECM. Obviously their
fuse system failed as well. When the service manager said he could call
the district manager - the district manager told him over the phone it
was due to "outside influences" which, I guess, in automotive
speak means it was an act of God and therefore I get to pay the full freight.
My question is: If indeed their clip failed, their wiring harness was
not properly insulated, their fuse system failed - wouldn't it be Hyundai's
responsibility to honor their warranty? PS - I spent over 2 hours making
calls to Hyundai corporate before they finally informed me that this same
district manager has the final call on the warranty issues I am questioning.
"great system to be judge, jury and no one else to report to".
A:
You
know that's a really good question. But, I have to ask, if you drove your
car to the dealer with this problem what part of the computer failed?
My experience with bad computers is really bad, as in you can hardly get
anywhere with the vehicle. Or you just can't get anywhere. Car computers
are real tough pieces of silicone. I've seen wiring harnesses melted together
and after the repair the computer shook itself and went back to work.
Yet I do recall a Ford I was working on and I applied power to the wrong
wire, I didn't see the magic smoke (that's the white stuff that drifts
out of electrical type things when you really mess-up) but the computer
suffered irreversible damage from that faux pas. What that means is that
the engine did not run until I bought a new computer. Maybe that was an
act of god. Maybe that's why manufacturers hire those type of people to
be judge & jury. In any case I had no problem sleeping after buying
and installing the computer. I just never made that mistake again. I'm
sorry I'm wandering- back to your problem. I'd suggest calling your states
department of consumer affairs and see what they suggest. For our readers
info, a replacement computer for a Hyundai can easily exceed the value
of the car. So when it's all said and done, if the dealer can't help you,
I bet you can find a used computer for a much more affordable price.
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