Robotic Audi

[cobram at juno.com]

Or, we may go back to basics.  In many parts of the world, these overly
complex systems are simply bypassed, and in many cases improved upon when
they fail or have problems.  Auto Electric shops (which are separate from
mechanical repair shops) in the rest of the world, may make a comeback. 
I have a friend who had a general vehicle electrical shop who now
dedicates his work to only repairing and converting complicated
construction equipment electronics.  His favorite is a joystick hack he
does in about 20 minutes and charges $300 for, which would cost the
machine owner $5000 just for the parts at the authorized dealer.

There are already many work arounds and hacks for these systems.  I do
suspect the higher end vehicles with lower production numbers may find
themselves orphaned from the fan or tech base which comes up with the
hacks.  Some of the non-related unnecessary stuff which is "bundled" in
with other important components is mind boggling at times.  Off to the
crusher they'll go.

BCNU,
Experience is the name everyone gives to their mistakes.


Mike Arman <Armanmik at earthlink.net> writes:
> 
> 
> Kent writes:
> 
> > Ha!  Let's see it in 10 years when its sensors start flaking out.
> >
> > "Oh, it needs a new infrared parking sensor. That'll be $945, 
> plus
> > 4 hours labor for installation."
> >
> > "No, we're not responsible for the dent in your bumper, or the 
> damage
> > it caused to the other car."
> 
> 
> 
> I see this as eventually becoming a serious problem.
> 
> First, as we well know, cars are becoming exponentially more complex 
> - integrated touch-screen 
> controls are a perfect example. When one of these fails (and as we 
> well know, they WILL fail), the 
> entire car becomes inoperable. There's no "limp mode", you're 
> stuck.
> 
> As the cars get older, replacement parts will become harder and 
> harder to come by, more and more 
> expensive, and eventually will simply be unobtanium. When that 
> happens, the REST of the car, most of 
> which may be perfectly serviceable, is going to be junked.
> 
> Here are two current examples - 2005-2007 Ford Focus - 
> non-replaceable air filter "never needs 
> service!!" Has an indicator to show it needs the entire air box 
> assembly (with the filter sealed 
> inside) replaced. $545 from Ford - for an AIR FILTER!!
> 
> I didn't believe it, and I had my parts guy at FLAPS look it up (he 
> didn't believe it, either) - 
> when he did, there it was . . .
> 
> Turns out Dorman makes a replacement air box for $120 or so, then 
> you can use a standard $10 air 
> filter when the time comes.
> 
> Next they'll weld the gas tank shut so they can say "Never needs 
> gasoline!" When the indicator reads 
> "E", you just buy a new car.
> 
> 
> Example 2 - Dodge PT Cruiser 2003 to 2005 or 6 (I think). Headlight 
> goes out, change a $10 bulb, 
> right? Nope, "Headlight Control Module" $2,500 (holy crap!). 
> Probably available rebuilt/exchange by 
> now, but since I gag every time I see a PT Cruiser, I haven't 
> investigated it.
> 
> Result will be many of these things will soon be scrapped because 
> nobody is going to spend $2,500 to 
> fix a headlight on a $2,500 car, and there will be a BIG market 
> developing in stolen PT cruiser 
> electronics. When these cars start disappearing into chop shops, 
> theft insurance on them is going to 
> go WAY up . . .
> 
> 
> 
> Many of these "can't-run-your-car-without-it" devices are totally 
> proprietary, so we will 
> increasingly be at the mercy of the dealers. The $945 parking sensor 
> will probably cost three times 
> that, remember it is imported from Germany (originally made in 
> China).
> 
> I don't even want to guess what the touch screen controller in the 
> new Caddies costs.
> 
> I'm looking at a Chebby Volt, but have serious questions if anyone 
> other than the dealer will be 
> able to fix it after the warranty runs out.
> 
> It appears to me that the car manufacturers are really looking 
> forward to making cars using the 
> consumer electronics mode. When the TV or cell phone or computer 
> breaks, we usually just pitch it 
> and buy a new one, nobody fixes these things, even when there isn't 
> much wrong.
> 
> That's where cars are going - constant upgrade cycles, don't repair 
> anything, just get a new one - 
> but cars are a LOT more expensive than cell phones as well as a lot 
> bigger and a lot harder to 
> dispose of.
> 
> They're going to price themselves right out of the market - incomes 
> are not rising anywhere as fast 
> as average car prices, and repair costs for these modern (and 
> future) electronics-laden cars are 
> about to blast off into orbit.
> 
> On the bright side, bicycles are still cheap, and the exercise is 
> reputed to be good for us . . .
>