VW News: As the Diesel Emits: Volkswagen Could Implement Different Solutions For Diesel Vehicles

[William Maley]

Yesterday, Volkswagen CEO Matthias Mueller said that owners of affected diesel vehicles will need to have them 'refitted'. Muller didn't go into detail about what he meant, but Reuters has some possible ideas.

 

Speaking with experts, Reuters says Volkswagen might have to develop different solutions for the 482,000 vehicles affected in the U.S. This comes down to Volkswagen using two different systems for controlling emissions; lean NOx traps (most Volkswagen diesel vehicles involved in the scandal) and a urea injection system (Volkswagen Passat TDI).

 

For vehicles equipped with the lean NOx traps, Volkswagen could get away with using a software update says Marc Trahan, former executive vice president of group quality for Volkswagen. Trahan says the older engines shouldn't need to have newer hardware installed as it would require extensive "re-engineering" and cost a large amount of money. Others argue that a hardware solution may be the only way these vehicles meet EPA standards.

 

For the Passat TDI, that might only need a software update. But it might bring up another problem; more fill-ups for the urea injection system.

 

Most experts do agree these updates will cause the loss of performance and fuel economy.

 

Source: Reuters

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[G. David Felt]

I agree with what is being stated here, there will be a loss of performance and fuel economy which is what I see the lawsuits focusing on in addition to the loss of value.

 

I would hope that VW for those that have the DEF solution would get bigger tanks to hold more so they do not have to fill up so often.

 

In regards to the others, hopefully they can add a def solution to make them legal, otherwise buy back the auto, crush it and give the customer a new one that is legal.

 

Now while this would be a huge cost, they could build good customer karma by taking a page out of the Saturn Play book.

 

Many years back, Saturn shipped about 15,000 cars that had parts manufactured that had metal shavings left on them and could cause failure down the road, not injury failure but mechanical failure that would cause the engine to be replaced or rebuilt. As such they swapped out for each customer a new Saturn for the old one. Then they took them and crushed them.

 

I remember this as a coworker who had put almost 24K miles on his in the first year by the time Saturn did this swap was so happy he traded in his other auto and bought another Saturn. 

 

Yes this cost GM, but it also bought a very loyal customer.

 

VW, needs to look at how to turn this around into saving customers long term.

[regfootball]

The 'Saturn solution' is a good way to look at it.  But today, so many people are in this culture of 'taking people down'.  I would bet you could give someone a new car and they still would hate the mfr and bad mouth them forever.

[regfootball]

i would offer buyers a chance to upgrade to a new TDI that is full compliant for a ridiculously low price, and then take the trade ins and sell them in other countries where there are not much for emissions laws, LOL

[Guest Denver]

US keeps electing the wrong sort to Washington. Send folks up there that will pass legislation that would institute air quality standards the manufacturers can readily adhere to. 

[FAPTurbo]

US keeps electing the wrong sort to Washington. Send folks up there that will pass legislation lowering education standards the children can readily adhere to.