Computers in Vehicles going bad?

[COPPERHEAD85]

I like my Carbs and my 8-Tracks.
Not knocking EFI either.
A lot of shops around here that buy from me are telling me the same thing,hand held scan tools are being replaced with laptops using brand specific software on most new cars and trucks.

 

[Hopman]

I like my Carbs and my 8-Tracks.
Not knocking EFI either.
A lot of shops around here that buy from me are telling me the same thing,hand held scan tools are being replaced with laptops using brand specific software on most new cars and trucks.

Great!!! Now I have to worry about viruses in my ECU!!!!!

 

[TheOne]

Buckets of fail in only 6 words. Nice.

well some of the fastest cars arent EFI they are carbed....

as well alot of carbed cars got amazing fuel economy too.

there are tonz of good things about carbs...id run one if i could find a rig that has it. (84 and 85 b2 for instance)

then id totally swap over to propane

 

[adsm08]

well some of the fastest cars arent EFI they are carbed....

as well alot of carbed cars got amazing fuel economy too.

I would just like to point out that while both of those statements are true, there is absolutely ZERO overlap in those groups.

+1 on the propane swap tho.

 

[bobbywalter]

The computers they put in all vehicles today will eventually go bad in roughly 15 to 30 years on average. KEEP YOUR OLDER CARS!!!! They will last you longer. All the computers in newer vehicles (to be replaced) is a lot of money, unless you have a 3rd hand brand and the knowhow on installing them.

I think I will keep my out of date 84' Ranger with carb. It will last me 50 years + if I keep it in good shape, heck, maybe even longer than that!

(Look at Toyota, they put almost all the controls on a computer, and let it do the work, as to save money and 1 or 2 mpg).

 

[bobbywalter]

I singled out Toyota because they were one of the first to start using more computer than mechanisms.

I am not saying they are bad, but I'd rather have something more highly supported than a computer. Remember that computers outdate after around a year or so. I want something I can make cheaply, or buy off a shelf in the next 10 years, that wont cost me more than $20 or so.

This based on opinion mostly, but computers do outdate after a year or so. So after so long, the older ones become unsupported. And what happens if the electrical fails when driving? (slim chance, but still dangerous).

i do understand that and it is true to a point..especially with the eec4 mustang crowd...

..but cost effective retrofitting will always be there.....


why dont you factor that in?


there will be fuel cell powered 32 fords in the not so distant future....i am sure my ranger will be all electric some day crawling along some outlaw trail when i am old and gray.

 

[bobbywalter]

Bill Howell, Howell Engine Developments and GM Motorsports tech rep to ASA: The ASA stock car LS1 spec engines cost one-third less and last three times as long as last year’s engine--that’s $12,000 compared to $30,000. They make 430 hp with rpm held to 6,500 max. They use a GM computer, which any Chevy mechanic can scan with the normal dealer diagnostic tools. Seal the motor and seal a production ECM, and you can keep control and have fast, reliable, and affordable racing.

thats all one should need to know.