[ale] Time for this Grey Beard to stir up some stuff

[Jim Kinney]

BWAHAHAHAHA!!!!!

+1

On July 24, 2021 7:49:41 AM EDT, Boris Borisov <bugyatl at gmail.com> wrote:
>Seems like the channel is full with people that couldn't make it as
>good
>mechanics :)
>
>Only joke.
>
>On Fri, Jul 23, 2021, 21:07 Jim Kinney via Ale <ale at ale.org> wrote:
>
>> My biggest concern with computers in cars is if I will EVER get
>license to
>> fix/replace/upgrade as I choose. Having secrets that must be handled
>by a
>> specially trained flunky (plug in the box, turn on ignition, type in
>the
>> code that proves the owner will pay $X00) is beyond irritating. A
>> replacement key was $180, $80 for the key and $100 for programming
>the
>> computer to accept it. The valet key, with no chip, locks the car to
>under
>> 35mph (ok. That's nice.)
>>
>> I had an '81 Porche 924 Turbo that had a computer. And a vacuum leak
>at
>> the fitting into the sensor on the computer. They are everywhere. And
>they
>> all need to be 'open for business'.
>>
>> On July 23, 2021 7:21:50 PM EDT, Solomon Peachy via Ale <ale at ale.org>
>> wrote:
>>>
>>> On Fri, Jul 23, 2021 at 04:45:16PM -0400, Steve Litt via Ale wrote:
>>>
>>>>  Most of the cars I drove were made before 1990, most had
>carburetors,
>>>>  and at least three had no semiconductors of any kind. The
>considerable
>>>>  probing diagnostics you said were required required were mostly
>>>>  preventive maintenance:
>>>>
>>>>  * Replace the plugs if over 2 years old (gap the new ones)
>>>>  	- Keep the old plugs for later diagnostics
>>>>  * Replace the points if over 2 years old
>>>>  * Replace the spark plug wires if over 2 years old
>>>>
>>>
>>> Cars made in the last decade or so routinely hit 100K before _any_
>>> preventative maintainence (other than oil/filter changes) is
>recommended.
>>>
>>> (Indeed, it's pretty easy to find 100K warranties today, but 40
>years ago
>>>  even 24K was unusual!)
>>>
>>> * Change your oil every 3000 miles
>>>>
>>>
>>> Routinely 5-10K with modern cars, though that's more due to use of
>>> high-grade synthetic oils. It's also routine to have no fixed
>interval,
>>> instead having the vehicle tell the operator when the oil needs
>changing
>>> (based on mileage, time, and/or severity of service)
>>>
>>> * Change your transmission fluid every 48K miles if automatic
>>>>   transmission
>>>>
>>>
>>> Routinely closer to 100K, though it does of course depend on how
>badly
>>> one abuses it.
>>>
>>> * Look at your temperature gauge (not idiot light) every few minutes
>>>> 	- Necessary on modern cars too
>>>>
>>>
>>> It's good practice to sweep the instrument cluster every so often,
>but
>>> realisticly, the temperature gauge isn't soemething you're going to
>>> specifically monitor unless you already know the vehicle has issues
>or
>>> you are giving it a serious thrashing.
>>>
>>> (And it's also pretty easy to miss, which is why vehicles have
>routinely
>>>  had warning lights/chines for over-temperature situations.  At
>least as
>>>  far back as the late 60s)
>>>
>>> The preceding were usually between dead bang easy and pretty easy on
>>>> those simple cars. And the plugs and points were cheap as hell, the
>>>> wires were about 2-3 hours pay for a programmer. The preceding
>being
>>>> finished:
>>>>
>>>
>>> You enumerate all of these things as if they are things that
>everyone
>>> should be expected to know as a matter of course, and have handy all
>of
>>> the tools needed to undertake these tasks.  Whereas, in reality, the
>>> overwhelming majority of folks, even when those cars were new-ish,
>did
>>> not have the knowledge/expertise or tools to handle this stuff
>>> themselves.  They'd take their car to a mechanic or work something
>out
>>> with someone they know who "knows how to fix cars,"
>>>
>>> As far as modern "excruciatingly detailed diagnostics", look up all
>the
>>>> root causes possible for an PO420 OBD2 message. Careful you don't
>>>> replace a fabulously expensive catalytic converter bank when the
>root
>>>> cause is an upsteam O2 sensor, a downstream o2 sensor, an exhaust
>leak,
>>>> an intake leak, a faulty ECU computer, or faulty wiring.
>>>>
>>>
>>> In other words, at worst one has to follow the same diagnostic
>process
>>> as was necessary with any pre-OBD car that failed emissions tests or
>was
>>> exhibiting some sort of driveline problems -- which for most folks
>is
>>> "take it to someone who knows how to fix cars" ....and hope they're
>>> honest.
>>>
>>>  - Solomon
>>>
>>>
>> --
>> Computers amplify human error
>> Super computers are really cool
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-- 
Computers amplify human error
Super computers are really cool
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