The fragility of car computers revealed.
in [UK Drivers]
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From: GT on 21 May 2010 08:12 "Adrian" <toomany2cvs(a)gmail.com> wrote in message news:85n7gqFn9gU26(a)mid.individual.net... > "GT" <a(a)b.c> gurgled happily, sounding much like they were saying: > >>>> With regard to the toyota thing - I believe it was a automatic gearbox > >>> So move the lever to "N" > >> Not sure you can physically do that on a automatic when its moving? > > Have you ever driven an automatic? Of course you can. As with fail-safe > brakes and steering, it's a legal requirement. > >>>> and ignition control was a start/stop button so the key wasn't a >>>> tradition 'stick it in and turn it' job - pulling it out isn't >>>> possible while the engine is going. Bit of a safety oversight by >>>> Toyota really! > >>> If people bothered to read the handbook, they'd know that pressing the >>> button for a couple of seconds over-rode the software control - just as >>> it does on a locked-up PC. > >> A very useful piece of information - this should be more widely >> broadcast/. I am sad enough to actually read the manual for my car, but >> I'll bet that 98% of people never even open theirs! > > You're right. They should broadcast it more widely. They could put it on > a piece of paper, with similarly important information, and provide a > copy with each and every new car sold. Maybe bind it in book form, and > stick it in the glovebox? You mean a sort of 'guide book' type thing? We could call it a 'manual' and even put it in a nice leather case along with business cards for the garage and service dept etc. That might just catch on you know - still don't think people would read it though! I think we'll to go for a 'total recall' type approach. When you buy a car that has a stop/start button, you have to go in for mental programming that 'teaches' you how to override the off in case of an emergency. I wonder what Doug thinks of this idea - being brainwashed seems to be his specialist topic. (was that too harsh?!)
From: Man at B&Q on 21 May 2010 08:15 On May 21, 12:04 pm, Adrian <toomany2...(a)gmail.com> wrote: > Scott M <no_one(a)no_where.net> gurgled happily, sounding much like they > were saying: > > >> "...It is thought that modern vehicles have about 100 megabytes of > >> binary code spread across up to 70 ECUs..." > > <cough> Bollocks. > > > The only system in a car that would have anything in the way of hefty > > amounts of code would be the in-car Nav/UI job (like BMW's I-Drive, > > etc.) > > Whilst I'd agree that 100MB is probably OTT, you might want to read up on > the complexity of modern engine management, especially on common-rail > diesels. > > > And $DEITY knows what they're counting for ECUs - everything down to the > > PICs in the memory seats presumably. > > Given that multiplexed electronics are ubiquitous in modern cars, I don't > find it at all difficult to believe. > > Many modern brake/tail lights are LEDs which are merely pulsed more > regularly to vary the intensity, f'rinstance. Then there's the auto- > dimming LED front fogs used for "cornering lights" or dimming the DRL to > allow the indicator to be seen, or just to play tunes when switching > between sets of lights as a tailgate's opened (electronically...) The point is that they are not ECUs. MCUs maybe. MBQ
From: Conor on 21 May 2010 08:39 On 21/05/2010 12:13, Mrcheerful wrote: > my friends last prius showed just over 60mpg as lifetime average, the latest > one that he has shows 68mpg, but it is not really run in yet, his use is > commuting on back roads about 30 miles a day. the performance is certainly > adequate for any normal use, the new ones are quieter internally. there > will always be something that you can find which is more economical on > certain usage, particularly diseasels, but so what, it is horses for > courses. > At least with my Mondeo, I can seat four people. -- Conor I'm not prejudiced. I hate everyone equally.
From: Mrcheerful on 21 May 2010 09:05 Conor wrote: > On 21/05/2010 12:13, Mrcheerful wrote: > >> my friends last prius showed just over 60mpg as lifetime average, >> the latest one that he has shows 68mpg, but it is not really run in >> yet, his use is commuting on back roads about 30 miles a day. the >> performance is certainly adequate for any normal use, the new ones >> are quieter internally. there will always be something that you can >> find which is more economical on certain usage, particularly >> diseasels, but so what, it is horses for courses. >> > > At least with my Mondeo, I can seat four people. the new one has got better rear headroom than the old, (which was ok before as long as you were under 6 foot in the back) and comfortably takes 5 people inc. driver and a small shed load of luggage.
From: GT on 21 May 2010 09:17
"Adrian" <toomany2cvs(a)gmail.com> wrote in message news:85n7gqFn9gU26(a)mid.individual.net... > "GT" <a(a)b.c> gurgled happily, sounding much like they were saying: > >>>> With regard to the toyota thing - I believe it was a automatic gearbox > >>> So move the lever to "N" > >> Not sure you can physically do that on a automatic when its moving? > > Have you ever driven an automatic? Of course you can. As with fail-safe > brakes and steering, it's a legal requirement. I have driven an automatic, but I have never tried to pull it out of gear whilst moving. I've been told by a number of different people that it would strip the gearbox and is therefore restricted. If you have done it, then fair enough - they should have done that, but don't you think they would have tried that? OK, they were American, but even so... |