Posted on 09/20/2015 2:48:12 PM PDT by kristinn
The Obama administration on Friday directed Volkswagen to recall nearly a half-million cars, saying the automaker illegally installed software in its diesel-power cars to evade standards for reducing smog.
The Environmental Protection Agency accused the German automaker of using software to detect when the car is undergoing its periodic state emissions testing. Only during such tests are the cars’ full emissions control systems turned on. During normal driving situations, the controls are turned off, allowing the cars to spew as much as 40 times as much pollution as allowed under the Clean Air Act, the E.P.A. said.
“We expected better from Volkswagen,” said Cynthia Giles, the E.P.A.’s assistant administrator for the Office of Enforcement and Compliance. She called the automaker’s actions “a threat to public health.”
Agency officials issued the car company a notice of violation and said it had admitted to the use of a so-called defeat device. The recall involves 4-cylinder Volkswagen and Audi vehicles from model years 2009-15.
A spokeswoman for Volkswagen confirmed that the company had received the notice and said the automaker was cooperating with the investigation. She declined to comment further on the case.
The software was designed to conceal the cars’ emission of the pollutant nitrogen oxide, which contributes to the creation of ozone and smog. The pollutants are linked to a range of health problems, including asthma attacks, other respiratory diseases and premature death.
Experts in automotive technology said that disengaging the pollution controls on a diesel-fueled car can yield better performance, including increased torque and acceleration.
(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...
They were not 40X. They were 1X on flat highways with cruise control. About 10X on hills according to the researchers. CARB and EPA made up the "up to 40".
Bingo. Mainly 1X on flat highways.
More like up, especially if you manage to keep your car "unfixed". It passes a meaningless emissions test (NOX) is not a serious health threat. It gets better mileage and has better performance than a car that passes. Those are all positives.
I bought a brand new TDI last year. I had the 20k maintenance over the summer - which coincidentally is the last one they cover - so I’ll never have to step back in a dealership again. I also live in a state (for now) that doesn’t have emissions testing.. There’s basically no way they could get me to comply.
I drive a leased 2014 Jetta TDi and love it. It's peppy, comfortable, high-tech, and stingy to the max on fuel. Lord knows if it's something we might like, it's got to be bad for us, taken away, and the company put out of business...
I wasn't sure if I'd keep the car or not, but if it won't pass emissions inspections, that pretty much is a kiss of death for me...
I bought a 2015 Jetta TDI in June. The big difference between it and a 2014 is that the 2015 has an SCR and uses urea. Wonder if the fix for the SCR cars in an increase in urea usage??
“I am my own warranty station.”
Thanks. I will be keeping track of this case. The Wall Street Journal was more accurate and had this quote you saw>>>>
“alleged Volkswagen used software that activates full emissions controls only during testing but then reduces their effectiveness during normal driving. The result is the cars can emit nitrogen oxides at up to 40 times the allowable standard, the agency said. Diesel-powered cars are a small part of overall U.S. car and light-truck sales.”
I am skeptical about everything that comes out of the EPA. The worst thing is Volkswagen will be afraid of making its case to the public. It doesn’t want to BP treatment....
VW should definitely delay paying any fines until the next president gets in. Hopefully Trump or and Republican
And when the VW diesel engines are putting out the high nitrogen oxides numbers on hilly terrain.....This is where fewer people live so the extra nitrogen oxides get dispersed and effect no one. Cities are on flat terrain for the most part
“VW will give out a software patch to remove the offending program. Then all the folks who own these cars will not be able to pass their emission tests”
Nor get the published ponies / mpg that buyers paid for, VW is in a world of hurt when all is said and done.
No - since the software actually turns on all the mission controls, it will not end up being disabled so no cars pass - it will clean them up and reduce performance/MPG.
But you probably figured that out right after you posted.
Why would anybody want to?..............................
Rest In Peace, old friend, your work is finished.....
If you want ON or OFF the DIESEL ”KnOcK” LIST jut FReepmail me.....
This is a fairly HIGH VOLUME ping list on some days.....
I remember the penalty that the big on-highway diesel engine mfgs. got several years ago for some tricky ecm programming.
The EPA probably has an entire division which is tasked with determining the number of deaths that will be caused by the slightest violation of the regulations, or the failure to implement the next tightening of the environmental noose around our necks.
The EPA-Nixon’s biggest failure.
YIKES! I guess I better hold onto my TDI for now. Doesn’t look like I’ll be able to buy another soon. Anyone know anything about or had any experience with the BMW 3 series diesels?
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