http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/business/3513114.html By GRANT SCHULTE Copyright 2005 Houston Chronicle Washington Bureau Dec. 8, 2005 WASHINGTON - Those pesky u-codes - the electronic keys needed to fix everything from air bags to headlights - were confounding Richard Mendoza yet again. Sure, the Houston mechanic had just invested $6,800 in software that could read a car's computer, pinpointing virtually any problem. And yes, he could have figured out why the Chevy Impala's air bag light was on, had he gotten the right digital feedback. But the information Mendoza needed was hidden by an "underlining code," a PIN automakers create to protect trade secrets and stop car thieves. Mendoza, the manager of independently owned repair garage Auto Check, sent his customer to the manufacturer. "They normally don't come back," he said. "It leaves the impression that you can't handle the job." Such cases are rare . maybe once every three months, Mendoza said . but highlight a growing concern among small, independent garages and some lawmakers. With vehicles relying ever-more on computers, Congress is reviewing a bill to pry open the technology that runs cars, trucks and vans. Automakers, who oppose the measure, said the results would reveal codes for the security systems of newer models, putting them at greater risk of theft, and force them into court battles on several fronts. A mechanic with access to an air bag's "underlining codes," for instance, could reprogram the system in a way that renders the light unreliable, manufacturers said. Representatives for General Motors Corp., which owns Chevrolet, declined to speak about the bill. The Motor Vehicle Owners' Right to Repair Act, sponsored by Rep. Joe Barton, requires auto manufacturers to provide owners, or their mechanic, the software or tools needed to diagnose a car's problem. Barton, who heads the committee reviewing the bill, is "very optimistic" the measure will pass unless both sides reach an agreement on how to deal with such disputes on their own, spokeswoman Karen Modlin said. The Texas Republican also has contacted the Federal Trade Commission in hopes of creating an independent middleman that would help settle such disputes, Modlin said. Talks have failed An effort to resolve the argument through a similar group, the National Automotive Service Task Force, failed in September. The talks between automakers and mechanics show no sign of resuming in the near future. Both sides said they would rather avoid government involvement. But with expanding technology, the high cost of diagnostic tools and a growing source of income at stake, independent mechanics said inaction now will cost them customers later. "We're afraid that if the legislation goes away, so will any hope of cooperation," said Robert Everett, a New Jersey mechanic who testified last month before the House Commerce, Trade and Consumer Protection Subcommittee. Problems could worsen Mechanics and some automakers agree that the difficulties facing independent mechanics could worsen without a compromise. Everett said computer codes have already complicated efforts to fix dashboards, interior lights and brake systems on some newer vehicles. Representatives for the automakers said the most critical repair information is already available. With 240 million vehicles on the nation's roads, manufacturers said they rely on aftermarket businesses to keep customers driving and repair costs down. But releasing certain information, like the codes that control a car's antitheft system, would create a host of problems, they said. "If you allow everyone access to the computer key information, then what good would the protection be?" said John Cabaniss, director of environment and energy at the Association of International Automobile Manufacturers. Many automakers also worry that the bill . which accuses them of restricting information "in a manner that has hindered open competition" . will leave them vulnerable to lawsuits. Disclosing proprietary information could likewise force them into expensive legal battles against intellectual property thieves, they said, despite language in the bill that protects trade secrets. Getting data, tools costly Michael Stanton, vice president of government affairs for the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers, said independent mechanics can find most of the information they need through company-run subscription Web sites. "It's frustrating for them. I understand that," Stanton said. "But I think it's fair to say that the vast, vast majority of information is already available." Perhaps, but gathering the necessary data and tools is often too expensive and time-consuming for small businesses, said Christopher Garcia, a self-employed mechanic in Houston. In the past month, Garcia said, he accepted two customers whose cars weren't starting. Each should have taken five hours to fix. Instead, Garcia spent 15 hours hunting for the problem's cause in an unusual place: car repair manuals at the public library. _________________________________________ Earn your Master's degree in Information Security ONLINE www.msia.norwich.edu/csi Study IA management practices and the latest infosec issues. Norwich University is an NSA Center of Excellence.
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