What follows may
well be the results of too many glasses of fine red wine but nevertheless I reckon it might also be the basis for a discussion on the many advances in technology that is evident in each generation of new 4WD.
There seems to be a tendency for many on this and other forums to baulk at the thought of advances in engine and other vehicle technology. I been wondering if this apparent "electrophobia" is something that is justified on the evidence or simply a by-product of human psychological resistance to change and perhaps an inability of many (and I'm probably included in this group) to get their minds to move on with the quite significant advances that have been achieved in terms of power and torque output, fuel consumption, incredible improvements in injector design, emissions management, resource usage, longer service intervals, NVH improvements....and dare I say it......reliability. I accept that some of these improvements may
well be related to improved technology in terms of fuels, oils and lubricants.
Granted there are some things that remain a bit too exposed in modern 4WDs and you can no longer submerge the vehicle to the highest point of the
snorkel for fear of drowning the ECU and a few other chips/black boxes (eg 4WD actuators that aren't adequately sealed), but by and large the vast majority of modern engines are reliable and the economy/hp increases with each model. Sure things still break - so long as we have things mechanical they will continue to do so.
Not too many people I know are afraid to get on a modern passenger aircraft - and guess what - while the engines provide the thrust and the final bits of the flying controls are mechanical they certainly wouldn't achieve much without all the electrickery between them and
the pilot. Sensor everywhere, gauges everywhere, bells and whistles....all to ensure that the aircraft stays in the air....and this staying in the air thing has improved with advances in technology....which shock horror...includes a fair dose of electronics. I don't think there is a passenger aircraft built today where there remains a physical connection between the cockpit and engine(s)/flying controls.
I agree there is noting better than getting out there and flogging around in something that does the job and doesn't challenge me with the complexity of its design - me being of the old school where twin Strombergs or Hollys on the 179 (with a 149 head) EH Holden ute was so easy to fix (could do an engine change is half a day). I think the most technologically advanced piece of kit on board was the HMV valve radio that took at least a minute (sometimes 10) to warm up before the dulcet tones of
John Laws made through the speaker (yep there was only one speaker). I recall that the most challenging thing in setting up my old EH was tuning the carbies.....and this especially became the case when I tried (and failed) to fit a third 97 to the inlet manifold.
What I'm getting at I guess is that technology has not, is not and will not stand still and, while there may be some shortcomings along the way, I'm betting that these will be resolved and "bush fixes" will be developed just as they always have. In terms of the modern diesel it is only a matter of time before we will be carrying our own plug in computer to diagnose problems and this will also suggest what the "fix" might be. Indeed, we are already part of the way there with OBDII compliant vehicles and Scangauge. While Scangauge doesn't tell you the possible fixes it does allow you to scan the ECU for fault codes...and if you have the manual then you "may" be able to get underway again. Indeed, I had two "failure to proceed" situations with a Pug 308 and in both cases I resolved the problem with the "Microsoft solution" - disconnected/reconnected the battery - and the ECU reset and off we go.
Reckon I've rambled on enough but FWIW and IMHO we can't halt progress...and if that means more (and better) engine/vehicle management systems...bring it on...but then again....(lot to be said for equivocation:-))
Flame suit is on......over to the
forum but before I go I thought that some may enjoy the following illustration of the human condition of "rationalisation":
The Rural Recession has been explained in simple terms by an old-time farmer:
It all started back in 1966 when we changed from pounds to dollars - that doubled me bloody overdraft.
Then they brought in kilograms instead of pounds - me bloody wool clip dropped by half.
After that, they changed rain to millimetres and we haven't had an inch of rain since.
If that wasn't enough, they brought on Celsius, and it never got over 40 degrees, no wonder me bloody wheat won't grow.
Then they changed acres to hectares, and I ended up with only half the land I had.
By this time I'd had enough and decided to sell out.
I put the property in the agent's hand and then they changed
miles to kilometres.
Now I'm too far out of town for anybody to buy the bloody place.