Posted on 06/28/2024 9:44:16 AM PDT by Enlightened1
It has officially happened-- Mechanic says he can’t work on your car because they’ve officially been locked out of computer systems
The car companies want to put small guy out of business
A mechanic went viral when he posted a TikTok about technicians being locked out of computer systems in a new Dodge Ram.
TikTok user Shorty of Shorty’s Speed Shop (@shortysspeedshop) garnered over 301,000 views when he showed viewers what mechanics had to do to be able to repair newer car models.
“It has officially happened. 2024 Ram 3500, authorization denied,” Shorty said as he showed viewers the computer screen. “Cannot get into anything on this except generic OBD2 Software.”
Shorty went on to explain that this update made his “manufacturer software 100 percent irrelevant.”
Then, Shorty showed viewers the Vehicle Security Professional (VSP) Registry on the National Automaker Service Task Force (NASTF) website. According to NASTF, automakers require mechanics to become credentialed VSPs if they want to purchase key and immobilizer codes, PIN numbers, and special tool access from Automaker websites. A VSP is required to “verify proof of ownership/authority prior to performing any security operation.”
“It’s all part of the NASTF Security Professional Registery,” Shorty explained.
Shorty believes that this rule allows manufacturers to lock mechanics out of anything they “deem security sensitive.” Shorty then broke down the “requirements to gain VSP access.” According to him, these include a $325 fee “every two years” and a $100 fee for every subsequent two-year license renewal. He says mechanics also need “commercial liability insurance of $1 million” and a “fidelity or employee dishonesty bond of $100,000.”
The VSP application page on NASTF’s website confirms that there is a $100 Application Fee that covers a “Two Year Renewal” and a $325 Primary Account fee that covers a “Two Year License.” It also confirms his claims about the required commercial liability insurance and fidelity or employee dishonesty bond.
“There’s a lot of people that don’t know that this is going on, and it’s going to affect everybody getting their cars fixed,” Shorty remarked.
Viewers were furious with this newest hurdle that kept mechanics locked out of computer systems.
“Right to repair legislation is a necessary thing,” a commenter stated.
Shorty replied with an explanation about how “right to repair covers generic OBD data,” which he already has access to.
https://imgur.com/a/techs-locked-out-of-vehicle-computer-networks-FtYz2TK#5J8mnRZ
https://www.dailydot.com/news/mechanic-officially-been-locked-out-of-computer-systems/
Once again, I say:
Die, corporate scum!
I would think that would all be covered by the warranty except for the tampering.
Kind of the same thing when my wife’s German import needed a battery. The guy at autozone said they didn’t even carry a replacement for my vehicle.
He went on to explain that the new battery would have to be “registered” with the manufacturer and to do that the shop doing the work would have to have the “proprietary” software from the manufacturer.
Failure to do all that would result in the vehicle not functioning properly, or even at all.
Fortunately we have a great shop we use for maintenance that allows us to avoid the dealer thank goodness.
So after all was said and done, battery and labor was $300.....and that’s HALF what the dealer wanted.
Everybody is a terrorist and that extortion is “for the safety of the children”.
Right to Repair...
The automobile manufacturers don’t want the small, independent shops out of business but they do want them relegated to older vehicles.
Ford is not the only one that does that.
BMW does too
The manufacturers are also making replacing major components like transmissions with good used units impossible because the computer system won’t resync with the used unit and car.
Crash or rodent damage wouldn’t be covered by warranty.
Manufacturers are using soy based wire insulation now. Rodents LOVE the taste.
Accidents are not covered by warranties.
“Or it was in for performance enhancing custom reprogramming in defiance of EPA regulations.”
Reprogram the computer
utilizing unauthorized
software voids the warranty.
(on the entire car, not just
the engine)
Not that many new car buyers
are willing to give that
up.
Went thru this with a
new Ford Mustang.
To keep the warranty,
I went with Ford’s
performance tune.
I’m sure Dodge and GM
have similar restrictions.
Correctly written codes
for performance enhance-
ments can actually increase
MPG and lower emissions.
I’ve thought for some time that the main objective of supplying mechanical/electronic specs for these newer cars is mostly the price of subscription.
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