"Phil Ethier" <pethier@isd.net> wrote:
>
>Seriously though, I have a hard time believing that fly-by-wire throttles
>are necessary, a real advance, or even a very good idea.
Although we've never met that I'm aware of, Phil, my impression
of you from the above statement is that you also think that
fuel injection and electronic ignition are also useless advances
in automotive technology. Breaker points, condensers, choke
levers, and I dare say distributors all belong in a museum
in my humble opinion. My cone magnet is equipped with a Bosch
fly-by-wire throttle. Although I have griped about opportunities
not explioted in this first generation product, I do recognize the
importance of said technology and the possibilities for enhancement
in the future.
As for what tech inspectors should do, I just tell them that
the car is equipped with a fly-by-wire throttle. There is
no return spring on the throttle body for them to check. (Good
luck at even finding the throttle body under the "sealed hood"
in my car!) If the throttle pedal comes up when you step on it,
that's all that you can check.
It bears mentioning that the system includes an annoying but
necessary safety system. If the throttle is at WOT when the
brakes are applied, the computer shuts down the engine. Sounds
like a reasonable precaution for average drivers on public
highways. Just don't try and left-foot brake the thing while
you've got the throttle matted, or you'll purposely generate the
same "throttle error" condition and shut the engine down. Don't
ask how I know this..... :-(
-Arthur ("Ashamed to admit that I know how to gap breaker points"
edition.)
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