Volkswagen's Clean Air Act violations on 2009+ TDIs spark huge recall, investigations

[JDenyer232]

You must be in Cumberland or York county

Sagadahoc, but they don't fail you for environmental reason like they do in Cumberland and York. You are failed for safety, the oil could contact the exhaust and catch fire, or so they say. All leaks are failed, even if you just weep a little oil. To pass the engine must have no visible oil on it other than the normal oily dirt that accumulates on any engine. This rule is state wide as it's the Maine State Police that enforce our inspection laws. Now of course there are some inspection stations that are more lenient towards this just like any inspection program. And the way the law is written every piece of the car must function as intended, even down to the radio, but obviously they don't enforce this. I have never heard of anyone being rejected for a non functioning radio, at least not yet

 

[autdi]

Maybe. I usually drive about 500 miles at a time between breaks, unless I or my dogs need to use the restroom, and even that is 5 minutes at most. I still wonder if supercharging on a regular basis will kill the life of the battery in the long term.

http://www.greencarreports.com/news...del-s-does-supercharging-cut-battery-capacity

 

[pkhoury]

Yeah, you seem to drive long distances a lot and would not be a good candidate for an EV.

I was thinking the same. In just the first three months of this year, I've already racked up about 9K miles, only driving in-state. Last year, I racked up over 40K.

I hate the thought of driving an EV just like the guy who just asked me if I knew the difference between need and want, but the truth is, the vast majority of us would waste a lot less time if we could charge while at the office or at home. If all the driving we ever did were long hauls those 20 minute stops might start getting annoying, but I think most people in passenger cars almost never drive 100 miles in a day, let alone 200.

Most people, anyways. I think several have mentioned their commute is 80-150 miles a day. Here, I don't drive every day (no need to with my work), but when I do, a short trip is about 430 miles round trip. I usually put in 400-500 miles on longer trips before stopping for a quick break (about 15 minutes), putting in up to 1000 miles a day. And when I lived in CA, my one way commute was about 85 miles (more if I couldn't get on Cajon Pass due to snow or fire).

http://www.greencarreports.com/news...del-s-does-supercharging-cut-battery-capacity

It was an interesting article, but still didn't seem to have definitive answers on whether supercharging is detrimental to battery pack longevity. I'm also shocked that all the supercharger stations depicted don't have canopies to protect against inclement weather (snow, hail, etc). Even most diesel pumps aren't that bad (I loathe filling up at stations where the diesel pumps have no canopy and it's pouring down rain).

 

[2015vwgolfdiesel]

<snip>

I'm not sure what the Japanese principle is called in how their engineering is done but it's something VW appears to be trying to learn with TSI. Simplify their autos and give customers reliable cars with forgiving repairs, even if they do break down so it won't break our bank.

Well VW they're about to know how it feel to have their bank broke.

Morning Jeta

I was watching a history channel this week. We all remember the killing ability of their "TIGER"(?) tanks. In this show their tanks had to be "in down time" many many hours for maintenance and repairs.

Seems out tanks were not as good in many ways but they stayed in action longer by nature. Also we out produced tanks in numbers.

Guess we have history repeating. VW has the flash-dash --- and you pay the cash

the okie

 

[pkhoury]

The V16 was practical enough but expensive to build. It was built purely for the exclusivity of it. I've seen a couple 'in the wild' - the motor reminded me of a pair of Buick 'straight 8' motors grafted side by side. Each bank shares a common crankshaft. Displacement is somewhere around 450ci IIRC. It used a pair of updraft carbs to feed the beast. A V12 was also marketed around the same time - from 1931-39 I think. The similarities are striking but they are two different motors. The V16 is obviously longer - both are IMO works of art.

It does seem to be an engineering marvel, but I'd hate to be checking and replacing 16 points on that distributor. I'm sure the firing order has to be pretty complicated.

 

[mjLyco]

It does seem to be an engineering marvel, but I'd hate to be checking and replacing 16 points on that distributor. I'm sure the firing order has to be pretty complicated.

V16 is cool and all but less effect with a turbo bolted. I'm partial to V12 myself. Put two twin scroll turbos on it and you have a buttery smooth, super powerful, efficient(ish for the power it makes) supercar.... or smooth limo. And the sound it makes... amazing.

Aston Martin V12 Twin Turbo coming 2016 preview (youtube) <!-- If only

 

[pkhoury]

LOL, I'm SOOO jealous!! I drove the P85 version of the Model S, not the P85D. I would love to drive a P85D.

Did you get to play with "insane" mode and experience 0-60 in 3.2 seconds??

IIRC, "ludicrous" mode in the P90D version of the Model S is beyond insane mode and does 0-60 in 2.8 seconds. That's into motorcycle territory!

I don't suppose the battery range estimates include driving in those modes 100% of the time, do they? I've found that I always do hard accelerations, so 99% of the time, I'm the first to leave the intersection when the light turns green, and even after I always ensure it's safe to do so.

 

[kitarkus]

Alienation

VW has alienated governments, states, regulatory agencies, consumers, a dealer network, and now its labor union and employees http://europe.autonews.com/article/...bosses-clash-with-brand-chief-diess-over-cuts

Despite it all...VW issued and refuse to forego their bonuses http://europe.autonews.com/article/...bosses-clash-with-brand-chief-diess-over-cuts

I s'pose this is one way to run a company. Surely these Germans know what they are doing

 

[2015vwgolfdiesel]

VW has alienated governments, states, regulatory agencies, consumers, a dealer network, and now its labor union and employees http://europe.autonews.com/article/...bosses-clash-with-brand-chief-diess-over-cuts

Despite it all...VW issued and refuse to forego their bonuses http://europe.autonews.com/article/...bosses-clash-with-brand-chief-diess-over-cuts

I s'pose this is one way to run a company. Surely these Germans know what they are doing

WOW --- VW is-was facing a 5% wage hike -- before dieselgate

 

[2015vwgolfdiesel]

no more goats - no more goats - no more goats

 

[Jeta Life]

Morning Jeta

I was watching a history channel this week. We all remember the killing ability of their "TIGER"(?) tanks. In this show their tanks had to be "in down time" many many hours for maintenance and repairs.

Seems out tanks were not as good in many ways but they stayed in action longer by nature. Also we out produced tanks in numbers.

Guess we have history repeating. VW has the flash-dash --- and you pay the cash

the okie

Hey Okie !

Heard about those German Tiger Tanks, named so by none other than VW founder Ferdinand Porsche.

Just read on the Tiger:
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tiger_I

It was a beast but broke down a lot, true. Our 3300 lb "golden unicorns" we call TDIs sure do cost a lot of cash to fix, I know.

The $1000 Goodwill package was a nice gift to dealers and owners by Mr. Michael Horn, I guess he didn't connect with Muller, Deiss and Piech the golden boys.

If you're unemployed and reading this, thanks Michael Horn.

 

[bubbagumpshrimp]

VW has alienated governments, states, regulatory agencies, consumers, a dealer network, and now its labor union and employees http://europe.autonews.com/article/...bosses-clash-with-brand-chief-diess-over-cuts

Despite it all...VW issued and refuse to forego their bonuses http://europe.autonews.com/article/...bosses-clash-with-brand-chief-diess-over-cuts

I s'pose this is one way to run a company. Surely these Germans know what they are doing

Yup. Keep up the good work VW. They need to bring back the "drop it like it's hot" commercials from back in the day. They can do one about how they're dropping their their market share like it's hot, lol.

 

[cqk56]

There will be no winners in this mess, all will lose except maybe lawyers. owners will lose, stock holders will lose , VW employees will lose, dealers will lose, EPA will lose, CAS will lose, VW contractors will lose, FTC will lose. remember this is a global problem for VW not just North America. I think VW is in this mess so deep there is absolutely nothing they can do to make this mess go away and appease all the affected parties. I think they will litigate this, drag it out and eventually lose. In the end VW will go Bankrupt. But not before VW executives suck as much as they can into their own pockets. I can't see how they survive this scandal, they are fighting too many fronts and the cost will be more than VW can possibly absorb.

 

[Nicolae]

I can't see how they survive this scandal, they are fighting too many fronts and the cost will be more than VW can possibly absorb.

It's easy, just buyback my car or give me a new one! If this is done the customers will flock their dealers! Everybody wins, jobs all over the place!

 

[2015vwgolfdiesel]

Hey Okie !

Heard about those German Tiger Tanks, named so by none other than VW founder Ferdinand Porsche.

Just read on the Tiger:
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tiger_I

It was a beast but broke down a lot, true. Our 3300 lb "golden unicorns" we call TDIs sure do cost a lot of cash to fix, I know.

<snip> If you're unemployed and reading this, thanks Michael Horn.

 

[2015vwgolfdiesel]

There will be no winners in this mess, all will lose except maybe lawyers. owners will lose, stock holders will lose , VW employees will lose, dealers will lose, EPA will lose, CAS will lose, VW contractors will lose, FTC will lose. remember this is a global problem for VW not just North America. I think VW is in this mess so deep there is absolutely nothing they can do to make this mess go away and appease all the affected parties. I think they will litigate this, drag it out and eventually lose. In the end VW will go Bankrupt. But not before VW executives suck as much as they can into their own pockets. I can't see how they survive this scandal, they are fighting too many fronts and the cost will be more than VW can possibly absorb.

Respectfully hope you are wrong.

 

[TCBinaflash]

There will be no winners in this mess, all will lose except maybe lawyers. owners will lose, stock holders will lose , VW employees will lose, dealers will lose, EPA will lose, CAS will lose, VW contractors will lose, FTC will lose. remember this is a global problem for VW not just North America. I think VW is in this mess so deep there is absolutely nothing they can do to make this mess go away and appease all the affected parties. I think they will litigate this, drag it out and eventually lose. In the end VW will go Bankrupt. But not before VW executives suck as much as they can into their own pockets. I can't see how they survive this scandal, they are fighting too many fronts and the cost will be more than VW can possibly absorb.

Possibly, but realizing how big this is and what an impact that could have on the German economy - anything near the scale you describe would involve government intervention.

VW is another too big to fail with 300,000 employees in Germany alone. So this will be resolved, but I haven't a clues as to the "how".

But if this turns into a 50-60 billion adventure I see the German Gov't financing a healthy portion of it.

 

[mjLyco]

There will be no winners in this mess, all will lose except maybe lawyers. owners will lose, stock holders will lose , VW employees will lose, dealers will lose, EPA will lose, CAS will lose, VW contractors will lose, FTC will lose. remember this is a global problem for VW not just North America. I think VW is in this mess so deep there is absolutely nothing they can do to make this mess go away and appease all the affected parties. I think they will litigate this, drag it out and eventually lose. In the end VW will go Bankrupt. But not before VW executives suck as much as they can into their own pockets. I can't see how they survive this scandal, they are fighting too many fronts and the cost will be more than VW can possibly absorb.

The number of new cars purchased doesn't depend on VW so it's good for the manufactures of other brands. Their assets will go somewhere and do something. It's not like VW is just turned off like a light.

Also, speculation.

 

[Torque17]

Drop in the Bucket

There will be no winners in this mess, all will lose except maybe lawyers. owners will lose, stock holders will lose , VW employees will lose, dealers will lose, EPA will lose, CAS will lose, VW contractors will lose, FTC will lose. remember this is a global problem for VW not just North America. I think VW is in this mess so deep there is absolutely nothing they can do to make this mess go away and appease all the affected parties. I think they will litigate this, drag it out and eventually lose. In the end VW will go Bankrupt. But not before VW executives suck as much as they can into their own pockets. I can't see how they survive this scandal, they are fighting too many fronts and the cost will be more than VW can possibly absorb.

Some on the forum have quoted earlier that the fines/payments will be a drop in the bucket for vwag.

 

[romad]

Hey Okie !

Heard about those German Tiger Tanks, named so by none other than VW founder Ferdinand Porsche.

Just read on the Tiger:
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tiger_I

It was a beast but broke down a lot, true. Our 3300 lb "golden unicorns" we call TDIs sure do cost a lot of cash to fix, I know.

The problem was Germany over-engineering the Panther, Tiger I, & Tiger II. While they concentrated on fine craftsmanship, the Russians just built a slew of T-34s with very few refinements. In addition Germany used gasoline engines because they couldn't develop a reliable diesel (sound familiar?) while the T-34 used a diesel engine. I don't know how reliable the Russian diesel was, but when you build tanks by the caseload, if one has engine problems, just jump into another T-34 and continue on.

 

[cqk56]

Possibly, but realizing how big this is and what an impact that could have on the German economy - anything near the scale you describe would involve government intervention.

VW is another too big to fail with 300,000 employees in Germany alone. So this will be resolved, but I haven't a clues as to the "how".

But if this turns into a 50-60 billion adventure I see the German Gov't financing a healthy portion of it.

World wide I think 60 billion will be on the low end, 11 million cars affected countless lawsuits, fines, litigation, could easily be over 100 billion. This will take years.

 

[2015vwgolfdiesel]

Possibly, but realizing how big this is and what an impact that could have on the German economy - anything near the scale you describe would involve government intervention.

VW is another too big to fail with 300,000 employees in Germany alone. So this will be resolved, but I haven't a clues as to the "how".

But if this turns into a 50-60 billion adventure I see the German Gov't financing a healthy portion of it.

chicken feed

by comparison 'merica goes into debt at the rate of $2,500,000,000 per day

.... do we now have a $19,000,000,000,000 debt

 

[redbarron55]

The problem was Germany over-engineering the Panther, Tiger I, & Tiger II. While they concentrated on fine craftsmanship, the Russians just built a slew of T-34s with very few refinements. In addition Germany used gasoline engines because they couldn't develop a reliable diesel (sound familiar?) while the T-34 used a diesel engine. I don't know how reliable the Russian diesel was, but when you build tanks by the caseload, if one has engine problems, just jump into another T-34 and continue on.

The Germans were also running out of bearings and used plain bearings and it was said you could hear them squealing miles away.
They had a good gun, however.
Herr Docktor Porsche was also involved with the Panzer design as well as the Volkswagen.

 

[Jeta Life]

The problem was Germany over-engineering the Panther, Tiger I, & Tiger II. While they concentrated on fine craftsmanship, the Russians just built a slew of T-34s with very few refinements. In addition Germany used gasoline engines because they couldn't develop a reliable diesel (sound familiar?) while the T-34 used a diesel engine. I don't know how reliable the Russian diesel was, but when you build tanks by the caseload, if one has engine problems, just jump into another T-34 and continue on.

Despite its many faults, I can say I feel pretty safe inside my TDI. The quirky emissions system gets a bad rep, but the nuts and bolts and solid heavy feel of my Mark5 Jetta is reassuring.
German cars get a bad rep for reliability but I know people who buy them strictly for safety which when you think about it, is the most important feature. I will say there was one scary instance when I got cut off by a lost trucker making a wide turn and slamming the brakes ESC kicked in and I avoided a very scary spot.
As many times as I love to hate this TDI, there are reasons to still like them. My 2001 B5 Passat withstood a high speed collision against a drunken speeding 540BMW with airbags deploying and me only going in to hospital for a CAT scan, bad crash.
Safety is rarely a top consideration but it is the reason I chose a Volvo as my other family car. We get bent out of shape over CELs and high repair bills when there's bigger stuff to worry about.

 

[Rico567]

<snip>

It was an interesting article, but still didn't seem to have definitive answers on whether supercharging is detrimental to battery pack longevity. I'm also shocked that all the supercharger stations depicted don't have canopies to protect against inclement weather (snow, hail, etc). Even most diesel pumps aren't that bad (I loathe filling up at stations where the diesel pumps have no canopy and it's pouring down rain).

Some friends back East bought a Tesla 'S' about 3 months ago. They were told by Tesla that the use of supercharging stations should be limited.....she wasn't any more specific than that, or about how supercharging all the time would affect the warranty or etc.

 

[740GLE]

That's prob why the super chargers have been installed along highways on tesla's dime with free charging.

It's built into thier business model!

It's like VW giving away free diesel with no lubricity!!!

 

[2015vwgolfdiesel]

The Germans were also running out of bearings and used plain bearings and it was said you could hear them squealing miles away.
They had a good gun, however.
Herr Docktor Porsche was also involved with the Panzer design as well as the Volkswagen.

My Father worked for the War Department back then. We too had procurement issues with our ball bearings. Only from my weak memory the issue was in "packaging." Seems we packaged 144 units to a case. Then when we shipped to the Pacific Theater (one island at a time) -- many times only a few were needed. The rest just wasted .. As far as I understand our bearing were general good.

 

[2015vwgolfdiesel]

If you have a air bag recall

Please do it, quickly.

Just heard on TV one Honda lady died with the bags going off.

 

[Torque17]

Did vw issue a recall yet?

Please do it, quickly.

Just heard on TV one Honda lady died with the bags going off.

Any one get recall letter yet?

 

[bubbagumpshrimp]

The Germans were also running out of bearings and used plain bearings and it was said you could hear them squealing miles away.
They had a good gun, however.
Herr Docktor Porsche was also involved with the Panzer design as well as the Volkswagen.

They were running out of them because the 8th AF helped that process along. Schweinfurt...for some reason that popped into my head when I read your post. I remember watching a documentary about the 8th AF a LONG time ago and it specifically mentioned the raids on the Schweinfurt ball bearing plant.


https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Second_Raid_on_Schweinfurt