Ethics Question, Removing ABS from a Street Boxster |
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Ethics Question, Removing ABS from a Street Boxster |
Series9 |
Oct 20 2011, 07:13 PM
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#1
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Lesbians taste like chicken. Group: Members Posts: 5,444 Joined: 22-August 04 From: DeLand, FL Member No.: 2,602 Region Association: South East States |
I have a Boxster customer with a brake problem. She's had the car for 140k miles and has taken it with her to Hawaii and back.
Late in August, she experienced a very strange brake failure about 50 yards from her driveway. The pedal went to the floor. She stopped with the parking brake. Immediately after stopping, the brakes worked normally again. She took the car to her old mechanic, who replaced the master cylinder. Last week, it happened again. This time, she was going 45 and had to swerve to miss traffic. She ended up in the grass, facing the other way by the time she stopped. Once again, the brakes were back immediately and she drove home. When she returned to her mechanic, he told her the car was a liability and said he couldn't help her any more. That's when she found me. There are no fault codes stored or active for the ABS and she is now afraid of the car. She wants to keep it, though. She's a school teacher who can't afford the $4000+ bill to replace the ABS (if that were to become necessary). We have discussed bypassing the ABS hydraulically, but I told her I have ethical questions I have to ponder before doing so. I would like your opinions, please. |
Series9 |
Oct 20 2011, 08:45 PM
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#2
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Lesbians taste like chicken. Group: Members Posts: 5,444 Joined: 22-August 04 From: DeLand, FL Member No.: 2,602 Region Association: South East States |
These are all good perspectives, but have you ever tried to get Porsche to do something like this? Even if it had stored codes, the car is a 2000 model with 140k miles.
They are going to say "We can fix that for $4000. It needs a new ABS module. DO NOT drive it until it's fixed at a FACTORY service center." This car has not been under warranty for many years. Porsche does not offer lifetime warranties on safety items. If your $2000 airbag throws a code out of warranty, it's your bill to pay. |
bigkensteele |
Oct 20 2011, 09:00 PM
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#3
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Major Member Group: Members Posts: 2,197 Joined: 30-August 04 From: Cincinnati, OH Member No.: 2,660 Region Association: South East States |
They are going to say "We can fix that for $4000. It needs a new ABS module. DO NOT drive it until it's fixed at a FACTORY service center." I think that you might have answered your own question, which is probably why you posted this in the first place. I understand that you want to do her a favor, but it is not worth putting YOUR neck out there. She might not like shelling out 4 large to keep her car on the road, but you know that you don't want to disable here ABS either. You seem to be one hell of a nice guy, but sometimes a nice guy has to tell a customer "You really need to have this fixed properly, and it is going to be expensive". |
Series9 |
Oct 20 2011, 09:15 PM
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#4
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Lesbians taste like chicken. Group: Members Posts: 5,444 Joined: 22-August 04 From: DeLand, FL Member No.: 2,602 Region Association: South East States |
They are going to say "We can fix that for $4000. It needs a new ABS module. DO NOT drive it until it's fixed at a FACTORY service center." I think that you might have answered your own question, which is probably why you posted this in the first place. I understand that you want to do her a favor, but it is not worth putting YOUR neck out there. She might not like shelling out 4 large to keep her car on the road, but you know that you don't want to disable here ABS either. You seem to be one hell of a nice guy, but sometimes a nice guy has to tell a customer "You really need to have this fixed properly, and it is going to be expensive". Would you be saying the same thing if the car in question was a 1988 944? Because that car is so far out of warranty, probably not. The point I'm making is that this car is no more Porsche's responsibility than a 1971 914. If a 914 had a brake failure, would anyone say "take it to Porsche. It's a safety issue that's their problem." Of course not. This Boxster is 11. I think about it no differently than a 914 in these terms. |
bigkensteele |
Oct 20 2011, 09:31 PM
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#5
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Major Member Group: Members Posts: 2,197 Joined: 30-August 04 From: Cincinnati, OH Member No.: 2,660 Region Association: South East States |
They are going to say "We can fix that for $4000. It needs a new ABS module. DO NOT drive it until it's fixed at a FACTORY service center." I think that you might have answered your own question, which is probably why you posted this in the first place. I understand that you want to do her a favor, but it is not worth putting YOUR neck out there. She might not like shelling out 4 large to keep her car on the road, but you know that you don't want to disable here ABS either. You seem to be one hell of a nice guy, but sometimes a nice guy has to tell a customer "You really need to have this fixed properly, and it is going to be expensive". Would you be saying the same thing if the car in question was a 1988 944? Because that car is so far out of warranty, probably not. The point I'm making is that this car is no more Porsche's responsibility than a 1971 914. If a 914 had a brake failure, would anyone say "take it to Porsche. It's a safety issue that's their problem." Of course not. This Boxster is 11. I think about it no differently than a 914 in these terms. I agree with you on all points if you know without question that disabling the ABS will correct the issue. If it is only an educated guess, then I stand by my comments. To really equate this to your 71 914 example, you would be disabling the second circuit on the 914 master cylinder, and I know that you wouldn't do that. As far as the 944 goes, if I owned a shop, the only way I would disable the ABS would be if the customer agreed that the car would be for track-use only. Trust me, I am not trying to argue with you. I only want you to be in business for a long time. This lady might be a great person, but you don't know about her heirs. And God forbid, if she cashes all her chips in on brake failure in her Boxster, you will be hearing from lawyers of said heirs. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/beerchug.gif) |
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