Thread: 2009 Colorado Engine Problem

Originally Posted by Ryan

Well, a computer is defined as:

"an electronic device which is capable of receiving information (data) in a particular form and of performing a sequence of operations in accordance with a predetermined but variable set of procedural instructions (program) to produce a result in the form of information or signals."

So it's not wrong to call them as such. Perhaps a general / anachronistic term. Semantics aside, I doubt anyone would not know what one was talking about if they used the word.

That definition says that the sensors are sensors and the ECU is the computer. The sensors do not tend to have microprocessors in them, most are either a switch, a hall effect device (detects metal/magnetic field changes), pressure or temperature sensors.

I corrected myself.

You're completely right GM.

Nope, microprocessors abound as I said.

Originally Posted by Tommy

Nope, microprocessors abound as I said.

They'll be doing good work here.

https://m.facebook.com/story.php?sto...04229246363923

Originally Posted by gadgetman

That definition says that the sensors are sensors and the ECU is the computer. The sensors do not tend to have microprocessors in them, most are either a switch, a hall effect device (detects metal/magnetic field changes), pressure or temperature sensors.

Originally Posted by Tommy

Nope, microprocessors abound as I said.

You're both right.

Modern cars are littered with CANBUS devices. Sensors, solenoids, actuators and other widgets. To simplify the wiring required, they each have a device ID and communicate digitally. The sensors do measure in an analogue way, but then the CANBUS device will digitise that signal (using microcontrollers and other digital electronics) for transmission to the ECU.

Don't get me started on aircraft.

Originally Posted by Ryan

Where do you come up with this stuff?

1. Given that the ECU and its associated sensors ("computers") are not dynamic components, they tend - unless one is referring to an over-engineered European marque - to be the most reliable components in a vehicle. I have never had to replace an ECU or sensor due to failure. The car I currently drive is 10 years old, no sensors have failed on it. The car before that would be 15 years old, no sensors failed on it either.

2. There is no "increasing computer content" - code content in an ECU is a constant. Newer cars receive newer processors - see "Moore's Law".

3. If you look around you'll find the majority of vehicles around were built before 2006 and still going well.

You must be lucky, Ive had a knock sensor and temperature sensor die in a Toyota 7AFE, that was a bit older though. Then the BCM in a 2005 Comodore, I managed to fix that, holden put an under spec relay on it the welds the contacts and stops the indicators from working. Now Im waiting for the ECU to die, its bolted onto one of the heads....

All that really matters is the RS6 is good fun to drive and a forum GC let me rape the shit out if his, aye @BRADS. Scared you a little, good thing you were wearing your brown pants

Originally Posted by Tussock

I have a 2005 Mondeo. Very simple compared to what you would replace it with today but it came off a farm with dealership servicing to 200K when I bought it. Its ready to be put off the road though it lools like new. Its faults have faults. Also the chassis flexes so much you can feel it and all the interrior tends to pop off violently.

It was Moores law I was referring to. The accelerating obsolescence of processors.

A laptop is getting sad at 5 years because it is a sea of switches and componentry and electronics get tired. Connections fade and you approach the point where the engineering specs are off on some parts. A fixed % of active parts in a system will have innacurate life expectencies.

Those life expectancies would expire early and the part would be revised in a 1980s car that staid the same for a decade. It probably had for ease of reference 5000 active parts.

Put a bunch if sensors and micro-processors on board and you have 500,000 active parts.

Most of those active parts are electronic and very cheap to "advance" in order to have a new model to sell.

The advance means the parts that were not to specification will be replaced with new parts, not revised.

As soon as a vehicle is a pile of processors its life expectency falls victim to Moores Law, rather than normal vehicle mechanical wear.

What I wonder about is what does a vehicle cost to a country. No one can afford new and the second hand market is violently contracting.

So the only option is finance for all. What is the total finance on a vehicle that will be put off the road inside 10 years?

I seriously doubt a 2016 vehicle will last till 2026.

The main laptop I use is 12 years old. Most of the others I have are about 5 years old and showing no signs of giving up. The only physical switches are really on the keyboard and they are easy and cheap to replace even for my 12 year old laptop. The electronic switches (IC's) have a life of at least 20 years, typically way longer than that. The main obsolescence comes from operating system support being dropped and the newer versions are bloatware that are too slow to run on the old gear, but typically the 5 year old machine with a 10 year old operating system will do things faster than a brand spanking machine.

Wow this has gone off on a tangent.

Turns out I couldn't help myself and bought the vehicle.

Got a set of injectors out of a vehicle that had only 20,000k for $470, took two hours to put them in after snapping a bolt while torquing them in. And now she runs like a dream, just need to get them coded now. Local Holden dealership wanted $250 to code them, Autotech said $75.

Originally Posted by Savage1

Wow this has gone off on a tangent.

Turns out I couldn't help myself and bought the vehicle.

Got a set of injectors out of a vehicle that had only 20,000k for $470, took two hours to put them in after snapping a bolt while torquing them in. And now she runs like a dream, just need to get them coded now. Local Holden dealership wanted $250 to code them, Autotech said $75.

Nice, well your busy spending money want to Chuck some in my account

Originally Posted by Nibblet

Nice, well your busy spending money want to Chuck some in my account

I'll forward your request to the wife.

Originally Posted by Savage1

Wow this has gone off on a tangent.

Turns out I couldn't help myself and bought the vehicle.

Got a set of injectors out of a vehicle that had only 20,000k for $470, took two hours to put them in after snapping a bolt while torquing them in. And now she runs like a dream, just need to get them coded now. Local Holden dealership wanted $250 to code them, Autotech said $75.

If it runs like a dream what does coding do? Im more of a mechanical injection kind of guy.

Originally Posted by veitnamcam

If it runs like a dream what does coding do? Im more of a mechanical injection kind of guy.

I'm no expert but I think the injectors are tested after manufacture and given a code which identifies it's exact performance, ie flow rate etc, so coding the ECU to the injectors is just fine tuning.

I could be completely wrong, as I quite often am.

Originally Posted by veitnamcam

If it runs like a dream what does coding do? Im more of a mechanical injection kind of guy.

They code is for how long it takes to open and shut
Your used to injection a fraction before tdc

New stuff does small injections before tdc and ecu needs to know how long it takes each one to open and shut
To work out the time each injection takes

Stroke of luck that it went, most won't start if codes don't match

Originally Posted by Tussock

Gadgetman
Your 12 year old laptop is 12 years old. Its like my Comodore. I worked in a spacious engine bay yesterday removing simple parts and now I can go up hills again.

Fast forward 12 years and things are a lot more snug.

Things changed more last year than between your 12 year old machine and 5 year old machine.

Accelerating obsolescence.

I've worked on ones from the last year and there is no difference. Vehicles on the other hand ... I'll stick to older stuff.