Meanwhile, still in Iowa, the check-engine light came on. Before seeking out a dealership, I called Chevy public relations. They told me that my E85 Impala was an early version and thus needed a software update to the engine computer, and then they set me up with Tim O'Neill Chevrolet in Council Bluffs to get me back on the road in a jiffy. But an hour after dropping off the car, I had the following conversation with the service adviser:
"The problem is that there's too much alcohol in the fuel," he said.
"I know that. I put the alcohol in there because I'm writing a magazine story on E85."
"Well, there's too much alcohol in the fuel. We reset the engine computer, but you need to put some gasoline in the tank."
"I'm not going to put gasoline in the tank. I'm doing a magazine story on E85 fuel. And the Chevy people I talked with said that resetting the check-engine light won't fix the problem."
"Yeah, you've got to lower the alcohol percentage in your tank."
"The Chevy people told me this car needs a software update. I want to make sure that you've addressed that issue."
[Indifferent silence.]
Of all the problems facing the future of ethanol, I did not expect the dealer network to be the weakest link. An average customer would have been left with a car that would not run on E85. Lucky for me, a second call to Chevy PR sent them into panic mode, and they straightened out the dealership. But no, Tim O'Neill Chevrolet was not happy to see me again. On a long and lonesome highway, east of Omaha, I could only wish to be on the road again. But I don't feel much like riding, and I certainly wish the trip was through. Thank you, Bob Seger. Your lyrics are the only comfort in my five-hour delay.
As many bad experiences as I had in the Hawkeye State, there is one redeeming quality about driving through Iowa, and that is free wireless Internet access at all rest areas. At home, I have to buy an overpriced latte for "free" wireless; Iowa has it in the bathrooms.
Nebraska was highway heaven compared with Iowa, thanks to straight roads, 75-mph speed limits, and (best of all for this trip) E85 signs before each highway exit. I even dared to stop without consulting OnStar. But later that night, near Colorado, I needed someone to talk to, and I would need fuel before turning in for the night. So once again, I called OnStar, and the operator not only found me a filling station in Denver but also called ahead to make sure it was open twenty-four hours. That is the beauty of OnStar. They will do anything for you--call a hotel, call a gas station--they'll even look up Web site information if you ask. But that's when they're on their A game. Much like E85 itself, OnStar's E85 support is not quite ready for prime time. Most of the time it works. Other times, you get put on hold so long that the system hangs up.
...
>>next page