Just throwing this out there

[Jeff Rager]

I have a freind of mine that's pretty high up in a local dealership, he has recently been told to watch out for "tuned cars", any deviations in the factory emmissions systems MUST be reported to the EPA. The owner of he car has the option to change everything back to factory specs at his own cost, If he refuses, then the dealership has to report this vehicle to the EPA and they take over with fines and penalties. If the dealership fails to report this and gets busted, It carries a $36,000.00 fine per incident.

I don't know how much of this is true, but given his stature in the dealership it might actually have bite to it.

I told him, well I guess my car won't be coming to you anymore for service

 

[SHOdded]

Well, true or not, you gotta figure this is going to be an issue to confront at SOME point. More so in CA right now because of CARB and their rules requiring you to stick with factory/OEM cats (visual inspection). The problem is at the ground level and with over-zealous mechanics & dealerships. All the more important to build relationships, which are most likely going to be with non-dealer service shops by necessity.

It also means that if you can, hang on to the OEM parts and be ready to swap as needed.

 

[BamSHO]

I think you will find out, its more for the diesel pickup truck. I'm sure you have noticed in your area, that some are removing the particulate filter so the can "roll coal" out there tail pipes or the stacks in the bed. I figure it would catch up with them.

 

[Orguss]

I don't understand why you'd receive a fine unless the manufacturers successfully lobby that the vehicles aren't property of the registered drivers.

 

[bpd1151]

Suffice to say, I suspect this "friend" was being completely overly alarming / cautious.

I can't think of one single incident, at all, ever communicated by any EB owners in the last 5yrs where this dooms day proposal has actually occurred.

I call b.s.

 

[rubydist]

I asked our service manager about this today - she said that she has not been told anything of the sort. things at Lincoln may be different from Ford in that regard, but at least here at Lincoln there is none of that type of threat being leveled against the dealership.

 

[SHOdded]

I don't understand why you'd receive a fine unless the manufacturers successfully lobby that the vehicles aren't property of the registered drivers.

I'm sure the govt could exercise "eminent domain" on autos just as easily as landed property. Do you REALLY own your home?

 

[Jeff Rager]

I think you will find out, its more for the diesel pickup truck. I'm sure you have noticed in your area, that some are removing the particulate filter so the can "roll coal" out there tail pipes or the stacks in the bed. I figure it would catch up with them.

He is over the diesel part of the dealership, didn't even think about the diesel mods, and come to think about it there are a bunch running in my area (Tennessee) that are running with stacks out of the bed and puffing a bunch of smoke and you can tell they are tuned wide open.

 

[BamSHO]

Yeah, kinda thought so. I figured it would catch up with them someday. I heard it's now illegal in NJ to "roll coal".