Dealer installed new battery 2010 or end of 2009. When January car registration due, rejected for smog test. Car only had about 10,000 miles on it, perfect condition, all service maintenance done at required miles at dealership. Took car back to dealer who first said over phone if I brought it in to reset computer would charge me $250. I was upset and took it in and they charged for their smog test and refunded part of what I had paid at another smog test place.
I was told that after a battery is disconnected, the OBD2 has to be reset by driving over 50 mph for 20 miles on the freeway. I don't drive the freeway, take regular roads. They claimed they had someone drive the car for me. They issued a Passed smog certificat.
November took car in for 15,000 miles service maintenance, no problems with car, running beautifully, but they say you have to have it serviced at the dealership to maintain the warranty, which is one of Hyundai's top selling features. The required maintenance was $200. They said that another $200 service was not required but recommended. I wanted to keep the car in best condition as possible so paid about $429 including tax.
Now, January the smog test is due by January 16 or pay State of Nevada $100 late registration fee if car is not or does not pass smog test. Car at first testing place was rejected for "Not enough information." They were nice, did not charge, told me to drive it 20 miles and it would. I took it to another place after driving 20 miles, againg rejected for "Not enough information." This place told me to drive it 50 - 100 miles within 2 days and bring it back. They charged $9 for the test. If it passes when I bring it back, will charge $24.95 for certificate. That mechanic said the car was find, that in the service someone must have disconnected something and the computer "Has to relearn how you drive.
I called the dealer and they were very rude and refused to reset the computer. The person on the phone said he was not the Service Mgr. But that the Mgr. Was standing right next to him. He denied they had disconnected anything, said I could either drive the car over 50 mph for awhile on the freeway or come in and they would charge me $250. I was told over the phone to drive the car more, faster.
Since the warranty is up to date and just serviced 2 months ago, why did they not tell me to bring it in and they would looke at it? Why should they charge me if the car's under warranty to just inspect it? What good is the warranty? The car had only 15,850 miles on it at that time.
I happened to find State Emissions Control in the phone book. Nobody had ever suggested I call them. They were very nice on the phone (I was sobbing) and told me bring it to the lab. Turns out, if a car is rejected once you can bring it in and they will for free plug it into their computer and diagnose the problem. People are not told about this.instead they drive around being repeated charged for smog tests when nothing is wrong but an unset computer.
They let me file a complaint and immediately assigned an investigator. The diagnosis was two of the monitors are unset. I still have no choice but to drive the car over 50 mph for 5 minutes (per State). I am still afraid to drive on the freeway. Furthermore I have read that if the old battery is kept connected through the cigarette lighter while installing the new one no computer codes will be lost. Or, a hand hel scanner can capture the codes.
I feel like I am being penalized for not speeding, not driving more and polluting the atmosphere more and contributing more to the global warming problem. I also think that I cannot be the only woman who does not know all this about disconnecting things in the car when having work done and that as part of the service they garage, dealer, whoever should know enough to keep the battery connected or use the scanner to preserve the codes. I believe many people are not provided the correct or sufficient information. If I had know all this I would have required the dealer to sign a statement saying they had preserved the computer information, and that if not, they would reset it at no cost to me.
I also believe that this is a multibillion dollar rip off knowingly participated in by the government agencies and car dealers and other involved parties to keep car owners in the dark so that they at least collect double each time registration rolls around and the smog test is required. The Emissions Control Lab technician stated to me that each failed or passed test the State collects $6. Having to retake tests ensures the State $12 per car registration, as well as double testing with no labor involved the easiest way for a garage to make money. Smog tests are now no longer using the tail pipe, but merely a cord is pluged in the car beneath the dashboard. How difficult is that? I would support any legal maneuver to file a class action to stop all this dishonesty and overcharging.
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