Letter from VDO North America...

[Kris Tewkesbury <tewkes@engin.umich.edu>]

I wrote a letter to VDO regarding my damned odometer gear and this is the
response that I received.  It's basically a bunch of B.S.  The guy must be
a salesman!



>>From EKent@vdo.com Tue Aug 26 10:01:22 1997
>From: "Kent, Eric" <EKent@vdo.com>
>To: "'Kris Tewkesbury'" <tewkes@engin.umich.edu>
>Cc: "Klinger, Reg" <RKlinger@vdo.com>
>Subject: VW OEM Speedometers
>Date: Tue, 26 Aug 1997 10:00:58 -0400
>
>Dear Kris,
>Thank you for your inquiry concerning VW speedometer failures.  Our
>North American plant here in Winchester VA provides parts and service
>for many original equipment customers, including VW of America.
>
>>While you suggest that "there has been problems with many mid-1980's OEM
>Volkswagen speedometer/odometer units" I am unaware of any consistent
>failure or recall campaign.  For more information on recalls you should
>contact a local VW dealer or the NHTSA.  The NHTSA maintains a list of
>manufacturer recall notices and maintains an office to handle consumer
>inquiries.
>
>As for odometer failures in general, we maintain a service repair
>department in Winchester and have extensive experience in gauge failures
>and their causes.  Mechanical number wheel type odometers in particular
>present a number of technical challenges, operating environment,
>materials, lubricants, accuracy, and not the least, tamper resistance.
>The latter point is important as we see a number of failed units that
>have been damaged by tampering.  Other failure modes include drive gear
>fractures, odometer housing wear, pinion gear failure, movement seizure,
>and in the case of electrically driven units, printed circuit board and
>motor failure. Should your car suffer a failure I highly recommend a
>trip to your authorized VW dealer.  The dealer will charge more than the
>local garage, but has access to parts, special tools, and service
>information that most local garages don't.
>
>While the vast majority of VDO odometers have a life span in excess of
>the original vehicle, a limited number of failures do occur and are
>covered under the car makers warranty where it applies.  Failure outside
>of the manufacturers warranty period, much the same as any other
>mechanical part on the car, is a cost of ownership you and I must expect
>and pay for.
>
>Sincerely,
>
>EB Kent
>Service Manager
>VDO North America - Parts and Service
>Ekent@vdo.com
>540 678 2177 (fax2183)
>
>
-------------------------------------------------
Kristoffer Tewkesbury
University of Michigan - College of Engineering
http://www-personal.engin.umich.edu/~tewkes
email: tewkes@engin.umich.edu or tewkes@teleweb.net


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