Date: Sun, 1 Mar 1998 21:40:57 -0500
Reply-To: Scot Douglas <sdoug@CONCENTRIC.NET>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <Vanagon@vanagon.com>
From: Scot Douglas <sdoug@CONCENTRIC.NET>
Organization: Mitsubishi Motors R&D of America
Subject: Re: re; smog sympathies
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii
Larry Carter wrote:
> I realize that not everyone can do what I've done to clean up the
> air they breathe, but I don't think my gutted cat is putting any strain on
> global ecological picture. Go ahead and snipe away, I won't change my
> stance.
I appreciate your view on this issue Larry, but I must insist on saying
one thing: Every car must be maintained to the original emission
specification it is certified as. Period.
So the air is cleaner. Smog isn't as bad as it used to be. There's a
reason for pollution control devices on vehicles; they fucking work. If
you could maintain your vehicle as originally equipped, i.e. O2 sensor
if equipped, catalytic converter and even the pesky smog pump on the
older cars, the CARB and EPA could relax the regulations just a bit.
Instead, we keep striving toward stricter regulations to compensate for
the people that think they get a little more power from a gutted cat or
those that drive cars that were built before strict regulation. The
same people that shitcan their EGR valves, remove fuel injection to go
an aftermarket carburetor that makes the vehicle seem to run better by
being overly rich.
Do you have any idea what a problem improper vehicle maintenance is?
You've heard of OBD II? It's the current vehicle's (96 MY and newer)
self diagnostic system that senses when any part of the emission system
or related part fails and illuminates a check engine light (MIL). The
dealer can then check the code that the ECU stores and replace the
defective part. I hear alot of people that disconnect the light and
ignore it. The EPA / CARB has decided this little light might not be
enough and are considering OBD III; can you say big brother (sic)? The
focus of OBD III is to *Alert* the dealership via whatever
communications necessary at the time of the MIL illumination. They will
then send you a reminder via mail or whatever telling you your car needs
service. How long will it be before you can be issued a violation
because you've ignored the warnings?
In closing, if every person decided to take the same viewpoint as Larry
(and many do, I'm also guilty of a past vehicle), the air quality will,
if not continue to deteriorate, recover at a far slower rate.
Besides, how much does a replacement catalytic converter cost?
--
Best Regards,
Scot Douglas
Project Engineer; Chrysler/Mitsubishi Joint Programs
Mitsubishi Motors R&D of America
P: (313) 971-0900 x32
F: (313) 971-0901
