joec@u1100a.UUCP (Joe Carfagno) (05/07/84)
{}
Remember me? I'm the fellow who owns a 1983 Chrysler New Yorker 5th
Avenue with the skipping engine who is going through their arbitration
process. Well, the story continues.
I rejected the Board's decision that since Chrysler knows about the problem,
I just have to wait until a solution is worked out. This is what lemon
laws are all about. The Board actually ruled this case out of their
jusrisdiction because it was "an alledged design defect". I confronted the
Board on this matter :
I didn't feel this was a design defect. Chrysler must have, so please let
me know that, so I can inform the FTC and other appropriate federal, state,
and local consumer authorities.
On April 13, I received the following from the Board:
the Board wishes to correct itself in the area of a statement made in its
decision... The problem with your vehicle is not a design defect.
I also received an extension on my warranty until a fix is found. I didn't
get this in their earlier decision. I've also noticed that all the letters
from the supposedly independent board had its Exec. Sec'y signature
rubber stamped, and the postmark was from Tappan, NY (home of the Zone
Office), not Montvale, NJ (address of the Board). I find that very
interesting...
What would have happened if I didn't press??? How hard do I have to work to
get the thing fixed??? Well, I received the following from Chrysler a few
days later - THE FIRST RESPONSE DIRECTLY FROM CHRYSLER SINCE THIS STARTED
ALMOST ONE YEAR AGO!!! They said a repair package is undergoing EPA
APPROVAL!!! Why the EPA? Probably because they are changing some
emmission control mechanism. Of course, I'll believe it when I see it.
They've promised it in 90 days (if approved).
Of course, I'll want to know what Chrysler plans to do if the fix does
not work. And I want a 90 day evaluation period during which the fix
will be tested - the car can be made to run OK for a week or two, but it
always comes back. I also want technical info and identification because
I'm finding more and more people this problem. Consumer Reports hit it too
on a Plymouth Horizion (March 1984). They picked the wrong person to
$*%&#@ around with...
Joe Carfagno
{ihnp4,allegra,pyuxww}!u1100a!joec
p.s.
I'll report later on the fix, and on the "Letters to the Editor".
I'm writing several newspapers supporting Trade Rep. William Brock's
call for removal of foreign car import quotas. Only then will the American
automakers produce a quality, lower priced auto, AND BACK IT UP!!! Of
course, I'm appealing to Lee Iacocca to set aside $14K of his
undoubtedly huge bonus for my refund - he's taking credit for the
successes, why not take responsibility for the "lemon"!!!