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Right To Repair - A Hot Issue

576 messages,  Last post on Feb 04, 2013 at 8:06 PM

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What is this discussion about? Electrical

Messages Page 56 of 58

#551 of 576 Re: shaking out the vote [hpmctorque] by thecardoc3

Nov 21, 2012 (6:02 am)

Replying to: hpmctorque (Nov 20, 2012 7:55 pm)
Good! Maybe Edmunds can support passage of similar legislation in the other states.
 
To what end? I guess you don't see where this is going to raise costs for shops who try to be able to fully serve the publics needs, and therefore cause higher prices to the public? Remember the lowest denominator of shops will simply raise prices when they have the room to without adding any more capability for the public. Or worse they hold their pricing and take an even larger share of the easy work and then the top shops will either be forced to get out of the technology race and join the others at the bottom or they will have to be able to command a much higher price for the more technical stuff. No matter how you slice this the legislation can't and won't make things better. Your only going to see higher costs, and even fewer shops that can do all of the work a consumer may need.

#552 of 576 Re: shaking out the vote [thecardoc3] by steve_ HOST

Nov 21, 2012 (7:23 am)

Replying to: thecardoc3 (Nov 21, 2012 6:02 am)
What I'd hope to see would be cars designed by the factory to be easier and cheaper to fix, with more built-in diagnosis and repair functions. Telematics is getting there already, what with people being able to call OnStar and get their doors opened and codes read.

#553 of 576 Re: shaking out the vote [steve_] by thecardoc3

Nov 21, 2012 (8:11 am)

Replying to: steve_ (Nov 21, 2012 7:23 am)
If you wish in one hand and........
 
What I'd hope to see would be cars designed by the factory to be easier and cheaper to fix, with more built-in diagnosis and repair functions.
 
The factory cannot write trouble trees that can guide a technician through vehicle loss of communication faults. It's up to the tech to have the training, the equipment, and then take a disciplined approach to solve network issues. Your not going to have techs that can do that without them first having a career worth learning.

#554 of 576 Re: shaking out the vote [steve_] by thecardoc3

Nov 21, 2012 (8:16 am)

Replying to: steve_ (Nov 21, 2012 7:23 am)
http://uptimeblog.enigma.com/the-uptime-blog/tabid/50748/bid/91519/Fewer-Mechani- cs-Fixing-Harder-Problems.aspx
 
They recognize the issue, but fail to comprehend that software won't be the answer. Although they do have quite a chance of adding an additional layer to the CODB. Does that really sound like what you want?

#555 of 576 Re: shaking out the vote [thecardoc3] by Mr_Shiftright HOST

Nov 21, 2012 (9:40 am)

Replying to: thecardoc3 (Nov 21, 2012 8:11 am)
perhaps but it would prevent customers from being hijacked every time a check engine light goes on.
 
Right now, the trouble code system is arcane and the explanations so badly written you have to wonder if the authors are born english-speakers.

#556 of 576 Re: shaking out the vote [Mr_Shiftright] by thecardoc3

Nov 21, 2012 (11:10 am)

Replying to: Mr_Shiftright (Nov 21, 2012 9:40 am)
perhaps but it would prevent customers from being hijacked every time a check engine light goes on.
 
How many still think that all they need to do is put a piece of tape over the light?
 
As far as "hi-jacking" them goes when you promote that kind of a perspective it's no wonder nothing that we do ever gets to be "right".
  
There is an 05 Durango with a 5.7l sitting outside the shop that a back-yarder, ( DIY'er), was throwing parts at. If anyone hi-jacked her it was that wanna-be tech. With $900 in parts thrown at it and it still couldn't be driven around the block she finally got it towed out of his yard. So what did I find? It has a bent exhaust valve Cyl #2. Now the way it was running made it tough because it wasn't just that one cylinder that was misfiring, it was shutting down the all four front cylinders, and wouldn't idle at all. It wasn't setting any misfire codes. The diagnostics were all done through experience and by using the most up to date routines. (Compression testing with the O-scope and a transducer)
 
Now we are doing the real dance, she is convinced that replacing the car makes more sense than repairing the engine. So she's prepared to spend $30,000 to fix a $2000 problem........
 
Right now, the trouble code system is arcane and the explanations so badly written you have to wonder if the authors are born english-speakers.
 
Hey if you really don't like the scan tool and trouble code method you could try your hand at the loss of communication problem that I repaired on that 99 4-Runner that had neither trouble code generation or scan tool capabilities.

#557 of 576 Re: shaking out the vote [thecardoc3] by Mr_Shiftright HOST

Nov 21, 2012 (2:17 pm)

Replying to: thecardoc3 (Nov 21, 2012 11:10 am)
hey don't knock the black tape method. If you own a German car, it's just about essential equipment. Every time I climb into the mountains on a long upgrade, it'll light up a fuel trim code. The car runs fine, the light goes off. It's just a game we play. Been doing it for years.

#558 of 576 Re: shaking out the vote [Mr_Shiftright] by thecardoc3

Nov 21, 2012 (2:30 pm)

Replying to: Mr_Shiftright (Nov 21, 2012 2:17 pm)
Every time I climb into the mountains on a long upgrade, it'll light up a fuel trim code. The car runs fine, the light goes off. It's just a game we play. Been doing it for years.
 
Did you ever consider pulling over and doing a key off/on to allow the system to recalculate for the lower barometric pressure caused by the altitude increase?

#559 of 576 Re: shaking out the vote [thecardoc3] by steve_ HOST

Nov 21, 2012 (2:38 pm)

Replying to: thecardoc3 (Nov 21, 2012 8:11 am)
Loss of communication faults can somewhat be eliminated or at least narrowed down with alternate circuit routes. Lots of boards do that already and the screen output is such and such a trace is bad. From there you go to a self-repairing board, simply by re-routing the circuit.
 
Isn't it about time for wiring harnesses to simply go away?

#560 of 576 Re: shaking out the vote [thecardoc3] by Mr_Shiftright HOST

Nov 21, 2012 (3:38 pm)

Replying to: thecardoc3 (Nov 21, 2012 2:30 pm)
No, I hadn't thought of that, but I figured what's happening is that the supercharger, being on high boost for long periods, is screwing up the fuel mixture. That little 1.6L is working pretty hard at 8,000 feet, to propel the car at the legal limit uphill.

Messages Page 56 of 58

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