RE: Letter from VDO North America...

["Brubaker, John" <JBrubaker@AMF.com>]

Yeah, this does sound like a bunch of bull.  One thing I did notice 
that sounded a little interesting (to me at least) was that VDO has a 
plant in Winchester, VA which is my hometown.  For the 18 years that I 
lived there (left for college and haven't went back 'cause it really 
sucks there) I never realized that VDO was there.  I'll have to check 
this place out next time I make a visit to my parents.  Go figure.

John
80 Scirocco S
85 GTI

-----Original Message-----
From:	Kris Tewkesbury [SMTP:tewkes@engin.umich.edu]
Sent:	Thursday, August 28, 1997 2:32 PM
To:	scirocco-l@privatei.com
Subject:	Letter from VDO North America...

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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