[Land-speed] Electronics

[race427 at aol.com]

Ed,

    The entire automotive industry among others is totally governed by
electronics.  Electronic parts are less expensive to manufacture than
mechanical parts. Electronic stuff does not wear out, it burns out or
simply fails.   Much more difficult to diagnose, requires specialized
tools and equipment, much smarter people to do the work.  Call them
mechanics or technicians, it does not matter, the bottom line is they
must be smarter to survive in today's automotive world. They must also
make a huge investment in tools and equipment.    Cars, trucks are no
longer easy to work on.  But, we already know this.  :)   I teach
automotive tech to high school kids,  most do not see the big picture.
Still too young and immature.   Maybe when they get older and have to
survive in the real world.

  Tony




-----Original Message-----
From: 23weldon <23.weldon at comcast.net>
To: saltfever at comcast.net; land-speed at autox.team.net; race427 at aol.com
Sent: Tue, Feb 16, 2010 11:32 am
Subject: Re: [not Land-speed]

I think Toyota is singing a some like that this year. The Japanese have
never been strong in software and this particular weakness has bitten
out of
their automakers, at least Toyota, a big nasty chunk.  They sure got
away
with blaming the floormats for a long time.
Toyota (and I'm sure other auto manufacturers) is learning what
Microsoft is
struggling with.  Systems so complex that they area beyond the ability
of
humans to completely control.  A software crash in your PC is a
nuisance.  A
software crash in your automobile is a bit more of an inconvenience.
I wonder how long it will be before some government requires that all
cars
sold must have a big red emergency stop button (like you see on lots of
industrial machinery) right in front of the driver.

Ed Weldon

----- Original Message -----
From: <race427 at aol.com>
To: <saltfever at comcast.net>; <land-speed at autox.team.net>
Sent: Tuesday, February 16, 2010 7:46 AM
Subject: Re: [Land-speed] A-arm and other bushings


> ........    Sad to say, but I do not think we will ever come back to
> what we once were.