Eddy replied:

But a series 111 landrover before they get too rare!

desert replied:

Just because the new fan-dangle , electronic bar-mix, toy vehicles are all electronic, doesn't mean you have to buy one does it? Plenty of mechanical diesels and carby petrols are going to be chugging along for the next 20 years or so. Or did you think that this diesel bug was a flash-in-the-pan fad?

Sam from Weipa Auto Electrics replied:

I think electronics in cars are a non issue theres already 1hdt-fte motors in cruiser with as much kms as 300,000 running around and they dont seem to have any major issues.

arthurking83 replied:

The only problem I see with vehicle electronics, is that it's not compulsory to have a user freindly "diagnosis centre" fitted or optionally available for those inclinded to self diagnosing problems (as most of seem to be!!)

Haven't there been compulsory changes in about 2000, where the manufacturers had to make the computer codes available and standardised, so that "Joe Average Serviceman" had a fleeting chance to stay in business.
That is.... against the rising popularity of manufacturers tendency to incorporate undecipherable diagnosis codes the electronics, forcing the public to seek a dealer with the correct computer equipment, when a problem struck!

My understanding is that anyone can purchase the diagnosis software, plug it into the main electronics brain in the vehicle, and troubleshoot the problems him/herself(??)

This can only be a good thing, as when a problem exists, it makes problem finding easier!

I'm waiting for the day when I can afford a "new" vehicle (and therefore pension off my old greenhouse gas factory ;-).

I fear for my kids future, and "our" insatiable appetite for all things polluting(!!) is going to impact on their lives!
Imagine the levels of "legislation" they're going to face, if "we" don't do our part to make their world an 'environmentally happier' place.

cheers.

Member - Geoff M (Newcastle) replied:

Now here's a thing,

What if I said you'd had solid state electronics in your car since the early 70's and didn't even know it!!
When we went to the much higher output and reliable alternator we actually inherited solid state devices in the form of diodes. (Did you know that the commutater on the armature of a generator is actually a very rough mechanical rectifier)
Then we received solid state electronics in tacho's, speedo's and even the whole dashboard. Still in the 70's.
What about the very first dual battery systems, I had one in my HJ45 all those years ago. It was 2 diodes mounted on a lump of aluminium and encapsulted in some epoxy to keep out the water!!
I've got a VL Commodore too, funny thing, it's got a Nissan engine and Nissan computer. The bugger is 20 years old. Do you know what's let me down in 20 years? (I bought it off my parents who bought it new, no mystery in the history)
2 x Starter Motors
1 x Alternator
X x sets shockies and strut cartridges
1 x Auto Sump gasket
1 x rear muffler hanger
1 x rust

I guess what I'm trying to say is it's called evolution. We once crank started cars and I'm sure somebody once said, "Bloody new fangled electric motor, bound to chit itself"

Electronics has given us more powerful, fuel efficient, user friendly and informative cars than we've ever had.

As Sam from Weipa mentioned, not a lot of trouble from the ECU's in the 78 Series Cruisers he deals with. Same can't be said for the 100? year old design of the 100 Series front diff.

Just my perspective and opinion,

Geoff.

F4Phantom replied:

as for car cpu's it seems they are very reliable and really have proven themselves over time. When you say electrics I still think there are going to be huge electrical problems in modern cars once they become a bit older, not from computers though, but from all the accessories. I have heard of airbags going off by themselves at around 15 years old (obviously the first airbags, so maybe they are made better now?) dash board components with inbuilt tv, mp3, cd, dvd, are all worth a fortune to replace, electric seats dont last forever, all the little servo motors and wiring that do more and more in modern cars I think will be the biggest cause of problems. The discovery 3 even has a soft touch rubber handle in the rear door which remotely opens the door for you with a minimum of effort but what will be the cost when it breaks, and you cant open the door, the mechanical lever is non-exsistant. many cars also have self closing boots too and doors. When electonics have to physically move something the wear process sometimes has a worse/more expensive outcome than mechanical only parts wearing out.

Ray Bates replied:

Hi. The elctric starter motor killed the Stanley Steamer.
I had a HJ troopy a few years ago and the motor that opened and closed the fuel pump cacked it. The replacement cost was humungust so I fitted an old choke cable that I had to open and close the pump. No trouble after that