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Jim Grant's Tech Tips
‘94 Jeep
Grand Cherokee, Safety Recalls
Q: I am interested in finding a listing
of the recalls (safety and other) for my ‘94 Jeep Grand Cherokee. Can
you help me find this list? All I am able to find are some safety recalls
and next to no Service Bulletins.
A: Any
person can check on safety recalls by calling the National Highway Traffic
Safety Administration at 888-327-4236 or at www.nhtsa.dot.gov. As for
TSB’s (Technical Service Bulletins) that is a different story. First you
have to understand that a TSB involves a problem. The first problem with
a problem is its definition. In the Webster’s big book a problem is defined
as 1. a question proposed for solution or consideration. 2. a question,
matter situation, or person that is perplexing or difficult. 3. in mathematics
(hey this doesn’t count here forget it, need the space) The problem is
there is no #4. who pays to fix the problem? Is it the tech? No, he/she
works for the dealership. After all you can’t feed a family or own a house
if you don’t get paid. The dealership? Yea at first they’re stuck with
the cost until they get the money out of the folks who designed and built
the vehicle. Of course the first thing they say is there’s no problem-
must be your techs. Once enough dealerships are screaming, (just like
their customers) the maker realizes Oh, maybe there is a problem. In the
interim the solution, or an in the field fix is found. Here’s where the
cost of a TSB really jumps. The maker has to get this information out
to all the other dealerships, to let their techs know how to fix the problem,
which may include redesigned parts. Also if the car is new enough the
repairs may be for free (eegkads!). Getting the TSB out to all the dealers
and techs, not to mention any parts, costs big bucks. Loss of big bucks
means loss of big bucks! There are research and development costs, warehousing,
distribution costs, transportation & delivery costs, installation costs,
not to mention the white shirts trying to justify their corporate existence,
it just plain cost money! Then a person like you or me comes along and
asks for this information for free? Right! Hey they got the investment
and need a return. Even the folks at ALLDATA Information Systems who help
us out have to pay for the information and the right to reprint it. Whether
it’s computers, medicine, law or cars information is not free. Someone
(that is you or me) has to pay for information in its final form.
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