<html>
This is great news , however I wouldn't hold any breath for a drastic
change in what diagnostic , programming<br>
information actually gets released to the public domain. Interesting, in
the fact that during the lobbing effort to <br>
afford this bill to pass into California Law the ONLY auto manufacturer
to oppose it in the final stages was G.M.<br>
OBD1 service and software detail , release to the
Aftermarket have been tied up in various court proceedings<br>
since 1981. OBD2 information is likely to continue to be a money maker
for lawyers and not for the Aftermarket. All<br>
that's necessary is for an auto maker to tie it up in the courts , for
years or decades . Interestingly , Ford has made<br>
some OBD2 programming and calibration information available to the
Aftermarket , prior to the California Law enactment.<br>
We applaud the APSA , SEMA and others for their efforts , still
there's much work to be done. <br>
Len <br>
<blockquote type=cite cite><font face="arial" size=2 color="#0000FF">Just
came across this. I wonder what the process is to get the
information.</font><br>
<font face="arial" size=2 color="#0000FF">Bob</font><br>
<font face="Helvetica, Helvetica" size=4 color="#0000FF"><b>News
Release<br>
</b></font><font face="Palatino" size=2 color="#0000FF">For Immediate
Release<br>
October 2, 2000<br>
For more information, contact
<a href="mailto:rich.white@aftermarket.org">Rich White</a>, (301)
654-6664. <br>
<hr>
</font><font face="Helvetica, Helvetica" size=2 color="#0000FF"><b>Aftermarket
Wins Three-Year OBD II Battle<br>
<i>Governor Gray Davis Signs SB 1146<br>
</i></b></font><font face="arial" size=2 color="#0000FF"><br>
</font><font face="Palatino" size=2 color="#0000FF">BETHESDA, MD -
October 2, 2000 - After three years of relentless grassroots campaigning
by state and national aftermarket groups, California Governor Gray Davis
signed SB 1146 into law on Saturday, September 30, announced the
Automotive Parts Service Alliance (APSA). <br>
This is a monumental victory for the aftermarket and consumers. SB 1146
ensures that car owners will continue to have access to the most
convenient and affordable vehicle aftermarket in the world, said Al
Gaspar, President and CEO of the Automotive Aftermarket Industry
Association (AAIA). <br>
</font><font face="arial" size=2 color="#0000FF"><br>
</font><font face="Palatino" size=2 color="#0000FF">Specifically, the
bill mandates that the independent aftermarket will have access to
service information and tools necessary to repair and maintain vehicles
equipped with on-board diagnostic computers. The bill further requires
that independents have access to information necessary to ensure that
replacement components are compatible with the on-board computers. <br>
< Snip> <br>
Our job is only three-quarters complete, cautioned Jim Eady, President of
the Automotive Warehouse Distributors Association. The Alliance now looks
forward to working with the California Air Resources Board in developing
regulations in order to implement the SB 1146 requirements. With a
January 1, 2002 deadline, there s still a great deal of work to be done.
<br>
The bill, which passed by a 70-3 vote on August 29 in the California
Assembly, passed the Senate by a vote of 36-1 the next day. In June, the
California Transportation Assembly unanimously passed the bill 17-0.
Governor Davis signed the bill into law on September 30. <br>
</font><font face="arial" size=2 color="#0000FF"><br>
</font><font face="Palatino" size=2 color="#0000FF">Specifically, SB 1146
would provide:
<ul>
<li>Full access to all emissions related service information, enhanced
diagnostic tools and reprogramming
capabilities.</font><font face="arial" size=2 color="#0000FF">
</font><font face="Palatino" size=2 color="#0000FF">
<li>Disclosure of information which will assist aftermarket manufacturers
build parts that work properly with OBDII systems.
<li>Yearly reports by the California Air Resources Board and the Bureau
of Consumer Affairs to the State Legislature regarding the availability
of competitive parts and repairs for emissions related systems.
<li>Ability of manufacturers to petition courts for trade secret
protection, while still requiring disclosure if necessary to provide for
competition in the
aftermarket.</font><font face="arial" size=2 color="#0000FF">
</font><font face="Palatino" size=2 color="#0000FF">
<li>Prohibition against the use of any encryption or defeat devices that
would prevent the installation of a non-original equipment
part.</font><font face="arial" size=2 color="#0000FF">
</ul>< Snip
></font><font face="Palatino" size=2 color="#0000FF"><br>
</font><font face="arial" size=2 color="#0000FF"><br>
</font></blockquote></html>